Takenoko is a whimsical and visually appealing board game where players act as imperial gardeners in feudal Japan. Their goal is to cultivate a bamboo garden under the watchful eye of a hungry panda, a gift from China to the Japanese emperor. The game, created by designer Antoine Bauza, revolves around strategic bamboo growing, garden expansion, and keeping the panda well-fed, making for an engaging balance of planning, luck, and charm.
In the game, two to four players work to complete specific objectives tied to bamboo growth, garden layout, and the panda’s diet. These objectives, represented by different types of cards, each offer ways to score points, and players must balance between them as they compete to achieve the highest score. The game unfolds on a hexagonal garden layout that players build as the game progresses, using colorful garden tiles and placing irrigation channels to help bamboo flourish. Players also use a miniature gardener figure to encourage bamboo growth and a panda figure to munch on bamboo—both of which add an enjoyable tactile experience to the game.
Players take turns performing up to two actions, which could involve expanding the garden, moving the gardener to grow bamboo, guiding the panda to eat, or drawing more objective cards. The game ends when a player reaches a set number of completed objectives, at which point everyone tallies up their points, and the highest score wins.
While there is an element of luck involved in drawing tiles and objectives, Takenoko offers a depth of strategy as players navigate limited actions, plan the layout of the garden, and work to accomplish their objectives. The game’s easy-to-learn mechanics and charming design make it approachable for both families and seasoned players, offering a gentle introduction to strategy games and a delightful experience for all ages.
