Whispering Woods
Publisher: Wonderbow Games
Player Count: 1-4 Players
Game Length: 25-40 Minutes
Complexity 2/5
In this crunchy, abstract, tile-laying game you’ll control the movements of spirit animals across the Whispering Woods in an effort to complete tasks, score points and preserve the forest’s peace and safety.
ON YOUR TURN
At its heart, Whispering Woods is a tile-laying game for players who love heavy planning. As you build your animal paths, you’re always considering the next move, next move after that and quite possibly 3 or 4 moves down the line. It can be very AP-inducing, but the game plays quickly and the payoff is very sweet when all the dominos fall in place.
On the surface, It’s not a complex puzzle. On your turn you draw 2 hex-shaped tiles from a community pool and place them adjacent to other tiles in your forest. Each tile is dual-sided. On one side, you have a color and on the other a pattern. Each player begins with a single animal in their forest and you’ll be tasked with building out patterns for your animal to travel. They can move freely across adjacent tiles as long as they don’t repeat any tiles they’ve already used.
Each pattern is worth a specific number of points equal to the difficulty of completing the pattern. So a 3-tile pattern task, while much easier to accomplish, is worth less than a 4 or 5.
You’ll have the option to choose a side of each tile you select and then place them in the forest. If you choose the pattern side, you bring another of your 4 spirit animals into the forest creating more opportunities to complete patterns in the future.
Once a pattern is complete, you remove that pattern tile for scoring and turn over the final tile of the previous pattern creating a new pattern to fulfill. This is where the game gets a bit more spicy. Players are rewarded for completing multiple patterns on a single turn, so stringing together multiple patterns that cascade together across this bee-hive inspired tile-forest requires a rich layer of planning. Add in multiple spirit animals and big-turns are just a few savvy moves away.
At first, it all seems very chaotic, but the game does a great job clearing showing each tile’s pattern on both sides of the tile. This really gives you an opportunity to look ahead and piece together your forest for maximum output. The game almost immediately slows down allowing you to plan and strategize.
Multi-turn scoring bonuses are limited and when a player completes a specific number of tasks the game ends potentially leaving you with that big turn just out of reach. In a strange way, it’s a bit of a race to the finish line.
ARTWORK & COMPONENTS
Whispering Woods features a very simple and earthy-production. The cardboard tiles are nice and thick and are stored in a giant, green drawstring bag. The wooden animal figures are simple yet well done. There isn’t a ton of artwork in the game, but it’s very ethereal and enchanting. The production as a whole doesn’t feel over-the-top, but very fitting for the style and theme of the game.
SOLO MODE
Whispering Woods features a campaign-style solo mode where you’re tasked with achieving certain animal and scoring goals all within a limited number of turns. I don’t love the solo mode as much as the base game since it doesn’t always reward the big, combo turns. But… It carries the essence of the game quite well and it plays like a breeze. I’ve found myself pulling this out for a late night solo game on many occasions.
PROS & CONS
➕ I’m really enjoying this abstract puzzle and its rich, think-y nature
➕ Despite the potential for AP, the games play very quickly
➕ Whether you’re fulfilling single or multiple patterns tasks… it’s all very satisfying
➕ Easy setup is a big plus for such a quick-playing game
➕ The deeper planning element might be a hurdle for younger players, but the ruleset certainly isn’t. This could be a solid family game for the right group.
➖ Like any tile-drafting game, the community pool might not have what you need when you need it. This may mean luck, while limited, could hi-jack your game at an inopportune time.
➖ The theme is very loose and not very engaged
➖ Probably not for players who struggle to plan multiple paths or dislike abstract games in general.
WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?
Players looking for a think-y, abstract game with a low-entry level and big-box style planning are going to be in heaven. Despite the simple ruleset, this is a rich game that requires you to be locked in. Again, while it’s simple enough for younger games, the real satisfaction kicks in when you’re able to see the fruit of your long-term plans.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?
Being able to plan and fulfill tasks feels big time. It’s a thrill when you are finally able to knock out that 2 or 3 pattern combo on a single turn.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Whispering Woods hits my wheelhouse on a number of levels. I really enjoy think-y pattern games and the planning and payoff are hugely satisfying. The gameplay and setup all come together quickly making this an attractive candidate for repeat plays.
Players that generally struggle with long-term planning or abstract games didn’t love it as much. I also got feedback that criticized the luck-factor. Yes, the game does have some luck, but you’re always pulling from a pool of 6 tiles and the pursuit or availability of some colors added to the game’s fun. Yes, you won’t always be able to complete every task and the tile you need may not be available. If that bothers you, this might not be your game.
I mentioned above that I don’t love the solo mode, but I keep playing it. I think this is a testament to my enjoyment of the game. Even when I don’t have the player count for a full game, I’m still happy to play the solo game for most of the same reasons I enjoy the general experience.
I really enjoy the brain exercise and the process in this one. It packs a punch without a ton of overhead. I can break it out and have a game going in a couple minutes. When I’m done (likely in 20-40 minutes) I feel like I played something that challenged me, provided some nice choices, led to some serious satisfaction and didn’t overstay its welcome. I feel this is a rare space in board gaming. Again, something that younger gamers can easily grasp and enjoy, but serious games can truly mine the depths of this one for all it’s worth. If you enjoy abstract/pattern games, but seek a richer planning experience, give Whispering Woods a look.
