Llamaland

Stack farm tiles on mountain slopes, grow potatoes, corn and cocoa and trade the harvest for llamas.

Designer: Phil Walker-Harding
Published by: Lookout Games
Editions by: 999 Games, Gém Klub Kft., Hobby Japan, Maldito Games, ADC Blackfire Entertainment, Popcorn Games, Lacerta, Funforge

You are a farmer in Llamaland, where the plateaus are wild, the hills are steep and the llamas are everywhere. Growing potatoes, corn and cocoa on mountain slopes is hard work, so you fit your fields together at giddy heights, layering tiles to gather the crops you need. Those crops buy llama cards, which are worth victory points and let you place a llama on your farm. Several roads to points, end-game bonuses and variable player powers keep each game fresh. After about 45 minutes you have a tidy crop-growing landscape in front of you with some very smug llamas on it. It plays best with two, and it is pretty enough that the table will want to look at it.

Layer field tiles at different heightsCrops buy llama cards worth pointsVariable powers and end-game bonuses

Who it's for

You like tile-laying and farming Euros with a bit of puzzle in them, and want a two-player game with a charming animal theme.

Not for you if…

You want heavy conflict or a big strategic tree. It is a gentle puzzle, and the llamas are the main drama.

Vibe's take

Cozy and clever. You fit tiles together, count crops and spot the llama card you are one corn short of. Pleasant on the surface, with a decent bite in the optimizing.