
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,354
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Citrus
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2013

2025
Rules assistance for Reef Gardens
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Reef Gardens is a board game released in 2025 for 2–4 players, 50 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Jeffrey D. Allers and its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement, and Enclosure.
As courageous marine conservationists, in Reef Gardens you dive into the dazzling world of coral reefs and take on the mission to save these vital ecosystems. With a skillful hand, you plant new corals and create thriving reef landscapes while the clock ticks and the budget dwindles. To get more research money, you may have to part with existing reefs from time to time so that new ones can be planted. Use your limited resources wisely because sometimes conservation means making difficult compromises...
Reef Gardens 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 Reef Gardens is 50 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 Reef Gardens 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.
Reef Gardens 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.
Reef Gardens belongs to these categories: Environmental. Its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement, and Enclosure. 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 Reef Gardens are: Jeffrey D. Allers. 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 Reef Gardens 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.