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Winter is coming to Savernake Forest, and all the animals are in a flurry to gather and store the food they’ll need until spring. In the game Savernake Forest, you get to play a crucial role in helping the animals of your section of the forest collect their favorite foods and prepare for the colder months.
👥 2-4 players, ages 10+
⌛ Playing time: 20-40 minutes
📝 Designer: Rodrigo Rego
🎨 Artwork: Núria Aparicio
🏢 Publisher: 999 Games (Dutch version, review copy provided) Originally published by Devir.
Embarking on a Forest Adventure
This game takes you through 16 rounds where each player, turn by turn, picks a card to build a four-by-four play area. The choice involves picking from a display that always includes three path cards and one animal card.
Every animal in the game has its own basic storage cave and shows a liking (scored from 0 to 2 points) for four types of food. But it’s not just about collecting food; the path cards come with bonuses. Depending on where you pick them from the display, they can give you extra benefits like a water drop, an additional cave, or even the first player token.
When you pick up a cave card, you can assign an animal more storage space by giving it the cave token. With a water drop, you can make an animal favor a certain food type more on your board.
One tricky part is placing the animal cards. The game requires that no two animals share the same path. If they end up on the same path, they’ll fight over food, and neither will score points at the end.
After the last round, it’s time for the animals to collect food based on their cave’s capacity. They earn points for each food item collected, depending on their food preferences. The player who gathers the most points is the one who has helped their forest friends the best.
Introducing Savernake Forest: A Family Game
Savernake Forest, designed by Rodrigo Rego, is a game that welcomes family members aged 10 and up, supporting 2-4 players for around 30 minutes of gameplay. Our look into this game comes through the Dutch version, Bosbuit, generously provided to us by 999 Games, its Dutch publisher. The game initially made its debut in English, thanks to Devir.
Diving into the game doesn’t take much effort. The rulebook is clear and simple, which means you can quickly understand how to play. This simplicity makes Savernake Forest a good choice for people new to board games, or for anyone looking for a game that doesn’t require hours to learn. The game’s components are sturdy, serving their purpose without unnecessary frills. You’ll find custom wooden tokens and quality cards featuring artwork by Núria Aparicio that really fits the game’s theme. Plus, it’s all packed in a compact box, making it easy to bring along for any occasion.
Gameplay Experience: Strategy and Interaction
Playing Savernake Forest feels like weaving together a puzzle. It combines elements of drafting, tile placement, and pattern building in a way that’s engaging yet not overwhelming. It’s about making the best choices you can, even when the options seem limited. The game asks you to think about a few things, like whether to make a certain food type more valuable for an animal or to increase an animal’s storage space to gather more food.
Interaction between players is gentle; there’s no direct conflict, but there’s a tactical layer in choosing cards that your opponents might need. This can get a bit competitive, especially with four players, and can be a bit frustrating if you’re the last to pick and the cards you wanted are gone. Not grabbing the start player token can add to the challenge, particularly if you find yourself needing a path card but there’s only an animal card left, or vice versa.
Regardless of how many are playing, the game’s feel doesn’t change much. There’s an interesting tweak for two players, though, where you pick two cards per round and work on a larger, four-by-eight grid instead of the usual four-by-four. This variation adds a different flavor to the strategy and planning.
Final Thoughts
Savernake Forest offers a quick, enjoyable gaming experience. It’s easy to learn and play, making it great for players of all ages. The end of the game, where you see all the paths you’ve created, is especially satisfying. It’s a neat, compact game that’s good for those new to board games or looking for something light and fun.
📝 Disclaimer: We’re thankful to 999 Games for the opportunity to explore Bosbuit and share our thoughts.
