Citrus
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 10+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.6 / 5
- Year
- 2013
About the game
Citrus is a tile-drafting and worker-placement game for 2-5 players who build and manage citrus plantations of oranges and lemons across the Mediterranean coast. Each turn, players draft landscape tiles or extend their fincas, weighing whether to grow their holdings further or harvest existing plantations to bring in the income needed to keep building. Points come primarily from evaluations that reward well-developed plantations, so timing your harvests to avoid losing points during a scoring round is crucial. The game includes a simplified family variant and a shorter version, and it's noted as being particularly strong as a two-player experience. With variable setups and around 50-60 minutes of play, Citrus rewards careful long-term planning without becoming overly heavy.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's team likes how much tension Citrus builds from a genuinely simple set of moves: deciding when to harvest versus when to keep expanding is the whole game, and it stays interesting through repeated plays. It scales unusually well, working nicely both as an intense two-player duel and as a fuller multiplayer experience. The variable setup keeps the map fresh each time you play. It's a strong pick for groups ready to move into moderate-weight euro territory.
What we like
- Satisfying tile-drafting and plantation-building puzzle.
- Tension between growth and timely harvesting for income.
- Works well across 2-5 players, including a strong two-player mode.
- Moderate complexity accessible to intermediate gamers.
- Variable setup boosts long-term replayability.
Keep in mind
- Farming and economic theme may feel dry to narrative-driven players.
- Requires upfront planning to avoid harvesting at the wrong moment.
- Moderate downtime can increase as player count goes up.
- Area-majority scoring can be swingy near the end of the game.
Who it's for
Good for strategy-minded players aged 10+ in groups of 2-5, with a particularly strong two-player experience for date nights or couples' game time.
