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Step into the enchanting Redwood Forests, where lush landscapes and diverse wildlife await your discovery. Imagine yourself as a photographer, poised to capture the perfect shot, hoping to amaze your audience with the harmonious beauty of nature.
👥 1-4 players, ages 10+
⌛ Playing time: 45-60 minutes
📝 Designer: Christophe Raimbault
🎨 Artwork: Edu Valls
🏢 Publisher: Sit Down! (review copy provided)
Gameplay Overview
In Redwood, players become these photographers, starting at the forest’s edge and venturing through dense bushes, towering trees, and among the animals. Across five rounds, players will create a stunning panorama in their player area, showcasing the flora and fauna they encounter.
To move your photographer, you’ll use one of the movement templates. The challenge is to choose the right one without testing it first, estimating the length and curve needed. After moving, you’ll use a shot template to take your picture. This template clicks onto your photographer’s pawn and can be rotated to find the best composition.
First, you need to determine the background. The shot template points to one of five different biomes, and this determines the card you add to your panorama. Next, check which fauna and flora are completely covered by the translucent shot template. These can be added to the panorama card, and you’ll score points based on the revealed goal cards around the board. Each round adds a new goal card, offering more ways to score. After taking a picture, the animals you photographed move to another biome, ready to be captured in a new setting.
At the end of the fifth round, players score points for creating perfect panoramas, finding different types of animals, and collecting flower and sequoia tokens. The player with the highest score wins the trophy for being the most harmonious photographer.
Redwood is a family-friendly game designed for 1-4 players, ages 10 and up, and typically takes 45-60 minutes to play. Created by French game designer Christophe Raimbault, whose name you might recognize from the popular game Colt Express, Redwood features straightforward rules that are easy to pick up, making it great for a wide range of players.
Components and Artwork
The game features high-quality components, including a vibrant, round board with beautiful artwork by Edu Valls. You’ll find sturdy miniatures, colorful cardboard tokens, and durable plastic shot and movement templates that attach to the miniatures. The miniatures even have neoprene padding to help them stay in place during gameplay, which is a thoughtful touch that enhances the playing experience.
Gameplay Thoughts
Redwood is easy to learn, but the real challenge comes from estimating distances with the templates without measuring. To take a valid picture, you need to completely cover your photo subjects with the templates. This can lead to funny mistakes and sometimes missing the animals and plants you were aiming for.
Players can also influence each other indirectly. Using a template another player used in the same round or moving animals to less favorable spots can disrupt their plans. Blocking paths and taking pictures introduces a competitive edge to the game, making it more engaging.
Unique Elements and Replayability
Each game starts with a different setup card that determines the sun’s position and where the animals are placed. A random goal card is also assigned based on the sun’s position, ensuring that each game feels different and keeps things interesting.
Redwood includes several game modes. In team mode, players work together to plan and execute their shots, creating a new level of excitement and cooperation. For solo players, the game offers a solo mode where you can hone your skills and strategies on your own. The expert mode increases the challenge by adding constraints to the panorama cards and altering the scoring.
Final Thoughts
Redwood is a lot of fun. It’s a fast-paced game with minimal direct conflict, making it ideal for family and friends. Creating beautiful panoramas filled with animals and flowers is particularly enjoyable, especially if you have a passion for photography. The board’s clean design, with its intuitive division of biomes, lets the artwork really stand out.
Some players might take longer to make decisions with the templates, but the game remains engaging and satisfying. The well-designed components, including the neoprene padding on the miniatures, enhance the overall experience.
If you’re looking for a family game with a unique twist, thanks to its movement and shot templates, Redwood is a fun and original choice that also looks great on the table.
📝 Disclaimer: We received a copy of the game from the publisher, Sit Down!
