Spirits of the Forest
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 20 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 1.4 / 5
- Year
- 2018
About the game
Spirits of the Forest is a light drafting and set-collection game where 1-4 players take on the role of nature spirits gathering plants, animals, and sprites from a shared forest of tiles. Each turn, you draft up to two spirit tiles, collect favor tokens, and move or place gemstones, aiming to build a majority in as many of the nine spirit categories as possible. Play continues until the shared pool of 48 tiles is emptied, at which point nature points are tallied based on majorities and boosted by favor tokens. With a playtime around 20 minutes and gentle rules, it's designed by veteran designer Michael Schacht to be quick and elegant rather than punishing. The whimsical forest-spirit theme gives an otherwise abstract drafting game a soft, storybook feel.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's team finds this an easy, breezy pick when you want something strategic but not heavy: the drafting decisions have real bite without demanding a long attention span. It plays well solo as well as with a full table of four, which is a nice bonus for flexible game nights. The theme is light, more mood than mechanic, but it's pleasant and doesn't get in the way. It's a solid choice for filling the gap between heavier strategy games.
What we like
- Quick drafting and set-collection loop plays in about 20 minutes.
- Elegant, accessible design from a veteran euro designer.
- Scales smoothly from solo play up to four players.
- Whimsical nature theme adds charm to abstract mechanics.
- Low downtime keeps the game moving briskly.
Keep in mind
- Abstract presentation may feel thin for players wanting a strong narrative.
- Player interaction is limited mostly to competitive drafting.
- Majority-based scoring can lead to frustrating near-misses.
- Long-term replay value depends on tile variety staying interesting.
Who it's for
Good for families and casual strategy fans aged 8+, playing solo or with up to four, who enjoy quick drafting and set-collection games.
