Orchard: 9 card solitaire game

Orchard: 9 card solitaire game

Abstract StrategyCard GameFarming
Players
1
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
1 player
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
10 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
8+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
1.2 / 5
Year
2018

About the game

Orchard is a tiny nine-card solitaire game about harvesting fruit by carefully overlapping trees of matching fruit types. In under ten minutes, you'll lay cards so trees stack on top of each other, tracking your growing harvest with dice. A points-penalty rescue mechanic lets you place otherwise-illegal cards when you're stuck. Winner of the 2018 9-Card Nanogame Print and Play Design Contest, it's an elegant, pocket-sized puzzle for solo players.

Hobbli's Notes

Orchard proves you don't need a big box to deliver a satisfying puzzle: nine cards and a handful of dice is all it takes. It's the kind of tight, clever design that rewards a few plays to fully appreciate the layering choices. A perfect pick for solo gamers who like abstract, quick-hit puzzles.

What we like

  • Extremely quick to set up and play, at under 10 minutes.
  • Elegant layering mechanism packed into just nine cards.
  • Award-winning nanogame design shows real puzzle depth.
  • Highly portable, ideal for travel or downtime.

Keep in mind

  • Solo-only, so it won't work for group game nights.
  • Requires printing and assembling components as a print-and-play title.
  • Very niche appeal outside of solo abstract puzzle fans.

Who it's for

Ideal for solo players (8+) who enjoy quick abstract card-layering puzzles under 10 minutes.

Mechanics

LayeringMelding and SplayingPattern BuildingSolo / Solitaire GameTile Placement

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