- BGG rank
- BGG #12,888
- BGG rating
- 7.5
ECO: Coral Reef
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,417
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Botanists
2019
Rules assistance for Botanists
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.2/5
Rules assistant for Botanists
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Botanists is a board game released in 2019 for 2–4 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Violaine Malié and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Tile Placement.
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About the game
In Botanists, players tend a small area of land to grow flowers, which they then hope to sell. As botanists, each of the players has three small plots of land dedicated to growing the most popular flowers among their usual clients. However, all players obtain the seeds to those flowers from the same supplier, and because not all flowers are equally popular, the supplier only sells the seeds in bundles, on top of that, other botanists might attempt to snatch certain seeds away from under your nose! Players take turns in acquiring flowers from the flower market. To do so, they may first move and then play a card that determines what "bundle" they are buying. With each purchase, players will acquire seeds they are not looking for, so players are required to keep an eye out for open orders to make sure they make the best out of each turn. Alternatively, players may choose to tend their marginal land (not so fertile), in which case they won't be able to buy new seeds, but instead will be able to trigger a bonus action. In doing so however, players will end up with withered flowers, which will generate negative points at the end of the game. At the end of their turn, players check the open orders and if they are able to fulfill any of them, they not only earn bonus points, but also get rid of potential negative points. —description from publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Agie Games
Questions and answers
Botanists supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Botanists is 30–60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Botanists for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Botanists has a complexity rating of 2.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Botanists belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Tile Placement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Botanists are: Violaine Malié. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Botanists as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.