In Bamboo, each player leads a clan that grows bamboo and uses the results of its labour to look after the family and earn happiness points. It is an action management and tile optimization game, part of the Kemushi saga alongside Bitoku and Silk.

How It Plays

• A game lasts 4 years (rounds), each split into 4 phases, or seasons.
• On your turn, burn incense in temples to win the favour of the spirits, and use bamboo shoots to take actions such as seeking balance, cooking, improving your home or managing finances.
• Home tiles come in four classes: decoration, garden, faith and useful. Where you place them on your board earns happiness points, and the balance action scores balance tiles by following the pattern shown on each one.
• Winter requires feeding your family with tea, rice or ramen prepared and stored in an earlier season.
• The player with the largest incense offering in each sacred space earns the favour of one of the seven forest spirits. Spirit tiles help during play and give bonus points at the end based on how many different spirits are in your play area.

Features

• Accessible, easy-to-learn rules with plenty of strategic options.
• An advanced game mode on the back of the personal boards for a tougher challenge.

Game Details

• 2-4 players
• Ages 14+
• 90-120 minutes