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You’ve been summoned by none other than King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. His grand vision? To honor his queen with a garden so stunning, it could stand alongside the Seven Wonders of the World. As one of Babylon’s most talented architects, it’s up to you to bring this dream to life. In Babylon, you’ll compete to design the most magnificent garden, proving your skills in a game that blends strategy, creativity, and a touch of ancient grandeur.
👥 2-4 players, ages 8+
⌛ Playing time: 40-60 minutes
📝 Designer: Olivier Grégoire
🎨 Artwork: The Creation Studio
🏢 Publisher: Geek Attitude Games (English/French/Dutch version, review copy provided by Geronimo Games)
Gameplay Overview
In Babylon, you and your friends are competing to design the most breathtaking hanging garden. Think fountains, statues, galleries, and even bridges and stairways. Your goal is to make your garden so impressive that you’ll go down in history as the greatest architect of Babylon.
Each turn starts in the quarry, which is cleverly represented by the center of the game box. Here, you’ll perform a digging action to choose a terrace tile. The tile you select determines how many columns you’ll get, based on the tile’s level and its neighbors. These columns are your building materials, so choose wisely!
Once you’ve got your terrace tile and columns, it’s time to build. Terrace tiles can be placed in your garden, supported by three or four columns. Each tile is marked with symbols, which show where you can add decorative elements like stairs, fountains, statues, or even belvederes (yep, those fancy pavilions). But there’s a catch: you’ll need to meet certain requirements to add these features, so having a solid plan in mind can make all the difference.
After building, you can store up to six leftover columns and one terrace tile in your personal stock for future use. Then, at the end of the round, the last player flips over a round tile. These tiles spice up the gameplay by introducing special effects for the next round. Sometimes they help, like letting you change a tile’s symbol, and sometimes they make things harder, like reducing the number of columns you can dig up.
The game continues until the final round tile is revealed, signaling the last chance to perfect your garden. At the end of the game, everyone’s gardens are judged from above, and points are awarded for visible decorations. The architect with the most points earns eternal glory as the king’s favored builder.
Game Info
Let’s start with the basics! Babylon is a medium-weight strategy game for 2-4 players, designed by Olivier Grégoire. If his name rings a bell, you might recognize it from his earlier works like Tiwanaku or Piratoons. This game comes to us courtesy of Geek Attitude Games, a small Belgian publisher, and it’s distributed here in Belgium by Geronimo Games, who generously provided us with this review copy.
A typical game session takes about 40-60 minutes, making it a great choice for an evening of focused but accessible fun. The recommended age is 8+, which we’d say is spot-on, as long as younger players have steady hands! One accidental bump, and your carefully crafted hanging garden might suddenly resemble the aftermath of a tropical storm. Luckily, that’s all part of the fun!
Components, Production, and Artwork
Now, let’s talk about what’s inside the box. First off, the production quality is fantastic. The components are not just functional but also beautiful. You’ll be working with a variety of pieces, like terrace tiles, single and double pillars, and charming decorative elements like statues, stairways, fountains, and belvederes. These pieces are made of durable plastic, and they feel sturdy in your hands, standing up to repeated play without any wear and tear.
The game also features a cleverly designed insert that doubles as an integral part of the gameplay. The quarry, where you’ll dig for terrace tiles, is divided into levels within this insert. It keeps everything organized and prevents tiles from sliding around during gameplay. Bonus: the insert has a plastic lid, so you can store the game upright on your shelf without worrying about pieces scattering everywhere. How’s that for thoughtful design?
Visually, the game is stunning. The multi-level gardens you create give the table a 3D pop that’s both immersive and satisfying. By the end of the game, your board looks like a miniature version of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It’s so pretty, you might find yourself snapping a photo before you pack it away.
Gameplay and Strategy
At its heart, Babylon is about drafting, planning, and building. Players take turns selecting terrace tiles from a shared quarry, and this is where the competition begins. Choosing the right tile isn’t just about what you need now. It’s also about outsmarting your opponents and blocking their plans. With symbols printed on the back of tiles, you can see at a glance which options are available, but you’ll still need to strategize carefully to get ahead.
The real magic happens as you build your garden, stacking tiles supported by columns to create a multi-layered masterpiece. Each level introduces new challenges, as you’ll need to carefully position tiles to meet the requirements for placing decorations. For example, statues must align in a straight line with previously placed statues, and fountains and staircases require precise positioning to fit the symbols below them.
It’s a game of spatial awareness and long-term thinking. One misplaced tile can throw off your plans, and since decorations score based on their visibility from above, you’ll need to keep your wits about you to ensure your hard work pays off. During one of our games, I planned a grand fountain centerpiece, only to accidentally cover it with a hasty terrace tile. Lesson learned: always check twice before building up!
Player Interaction
Interaction in Babylon is subtle but impactful. While you won’t directly mess with your opponents’ gardens (phew, no need to worry about anyone toppling your pillars), the shared quarry introduces plenty of opportunities for tactical play. Grabbing a tile someone else clearly needs can be as satisfying as placing the perfect decoration in your own garden. Just be ready for some playful grumbling when you do!
Final Thoughts
Simply put, Babylon is a delight to play and a joy to look at. The stacking mechanics add a literal new dimension to tile-laying games, creating a 3D experience that feels fresh and engaging. Building multi-level gardens is both challenging and rewarding, though it can get a bit fiddly when trying to slot in tiles or decorations mid-game. That said, the satisfaction of watching your garden take shape more than makes up for any minor frustrations.
Is it for everyone? Maybe not. If you’re not a fan of spatial puzzles or games that require precise positioning, this might not be your cup of tea. But if you love strategy games that reward planning and creativity, Babylon deserves a spot on your table. Plus, it’s hard to resist a game that looks this good in action!
📝 We received a copy of this game from Geronimo Games for review purposes.
