Blossoms Board Game Review
Blossoms is a two-player card game designed by Przemysław Fornal, Kajetan Kusina, Mateusz Pitulski, and Kamil Rogowski. Published by Rebel Studio in 2018 (originally released in Poland as Kwiatki), the game puts two players head-to-head in a push-your-luck contest to grow the tallest flowers and collect the most varied bouquet. It plays in about 20 minutes, is rated for ages 8 and up, and fits comfortably on a small table. This review covers what’s in the box, how the game works, and whether Blossoms is right for your collection.
Blossoms Game Overview
The premise is simple. Four flower pots sit between two players. Flowers grow in these pots as cards are drawn and placed on matching types. Each turn, you push your luck by drawing cards and adding to the pots, hoping to build tall flowers before your opponent cuts them. The tension comes from a single question: do you keep drawing and risk a bad draw, or do you cut now and lock in points?
Victory points are scored based on two things: the height of each cut flower (more cards stacked = more points) and the diversity of flower types you’ve collected. The player with the higher total at the end wins.
| Designer | Przemysław Fornal, Kajetan Kusina, Mateusz Pitulski, Kamil Rogowski |
|---|---|
| Artist | Bartłomiej Kordowski |
| Publisher | Rebel Studio |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Players | 2 |
| Age Range | 8+ |
| Playing Time | 20 minutes |
| Game Type | Card Game, Farming |
| Complexity Rating | 1.19 / 5 |
What’s in the Blossoms Box
Blossoms comes in a compact box. Inside you’ll find a deck of flower cards featuring six different flower types, four flower pot cards, six action tokens (three per player), and a rulebook. That’s it. The footprint is small, making it easy to take along for travel or toss into a bag for game night at a friend’s place.
Bartłomiej Kordowski’s artwork gives the cards a soft, colorful look. Each flower type has a distinct illustration, so you can tell them apart at a glance. The card stock is standard weight and holds up fine for a light game that doesn’t see aggressive shuffling. The pot cards are laid flat in the center of the table to create the garden shared by both players.
There isn’t much to punch or assemble here. Setup takes about a minute, which fits the game’s short playtime well.
Blossoms Pros and Cons
- Quick to set up and teach. New players can start within two minutes.
- Genuine push-your-luck tension. Every card draw carries real risk.
- Compact size and short playtime make it a solid travel game.
- Pleasant artwork that suits the theme without being over the top.
- The advanced variant adds more strategic decisions and removes some luck.
- Only six flower types and four pots limit variety across multiple plays.
- Some action token and pot timing rules are unclear in the rulebook.
- Luck can dominate outcomes, particularly in the standard rules variant.
- Strictly a two-player game with no solo mode or expansion for more players.
How to Play Blossoms
Setup
Give each player two random face-down cards from the deck and three action tokens. Place the four flower pot cards in a row in the center of the table. Draw one flower card for each pot and place it face-up on the matching pot. Take one card from the top of the draw pile and set it aside face-down. It won’t be used during the game, which introduces a small element of hidden information.
Taking Turns
Players alternate turns. On your turn, you can perform any number of actions before your turn ends. The three action types are:
Growth: Draw the top card from the deck and place it on any pot that already has the same flower type showing. If no pot matches, your turn ends immediately. This is the “blooper” that punishes greedy drawing.
Cut: Take all the flower cards from one pot and add them to your scoring pile. This ends your turn. The pot stays empty until a new flower is placed in it.
Special: Spend one of your three action tokens to use a pot’s special ability. Each pot has a different effect, such as fencing a pot to protect it or watering to add extra cards.
End of Game
The game ends when the last card from the draw pile is drawn. Both players then score their collected flowers. Points come from the size of each flower set (taller stacks score more) and from collecting different flower types. The player with the higher total wins.
Advanced Variant
The rulebook includes an advanced variant that removes the requirement to start your turn with a Growth action. This gives players more freedom in how they sequence their actions, and it reduces the chance that a turn ends before you get to make any real choices. Most reviews suggest this is the better way to play Blossoms, as it leans harder into strategy and press-your-luck decision-making rather than pure card luck.
Where to Buy Blossoms
Blossoms can be found through several online retailers, though availability may vary since it’s a smaller-print title. Check the following stores:
| Store | Link |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Amazon.com |
| eBay | eBay Listings |
| BoardGameGeek Market | BGG GeekMarket |
| Board Game Bliss | BoardGameBliss.com |
| 401 Games | 401Games.ca |
Blossoms Game Mechanics
Blossoms runs on two main mechanisms: push your luck and set collection. The push-your-luck element shows up every time you decide whether to draw another card or cut a flower. Drawing gives you the chance to grow a taller (and more valuable) flower, but a mismatched draw ends your turn with nothing. You’re always weighing the odds based on what’s left in the deck and what flowers are currently planted.
Set collection drives your scoring strategy. Collecting flowers of different types earns bonus points, so there’s a pull between growing one massive flower stack and diversifying your bouquet. The special pot actions add a third layer. The watering action, for example, can stack multiple random cards onto a pot, creating a huge scoring opportunity if you time it right. The fence action protects a pot from your opponent. Timing these token spends is where most of the strategic depth lives.
If you enjoy lightweight two-player card games for couples, Blossoms shares that same quick-play, easy-to-teach appeal, though this one is competitive rather than cooperative.
Who Should Play Blossoms
Blossoms fits best as a quick filler or a travel game for two players. If you and a partner, roommate, or friend want something light that you can set up and tear down fast, Blossoms does that job well. The 8+ age rating is accurate. Kids who can handle basic card matching and simple risk-reward decisions will be fine here.
Experienced gamers looking for deep strategy should temper their expectations. The complexity rating of 1.19 out of 5 tells the story. This is not Arboretum or Lost Cities. It’s a casual card game with a charming flower theme and enough push-your-luck tension to make 20 minutes feel engaging. Games like Skyjo occupy a similar weight class, though Skyjo supports more players.
If you collect two-player board games and enjoy garden or nature themes, Blossoms is worth a look. Skip it if you need high replay variety or if luck-driven outcomes tend to frustrate you.
FAQ
Is Blossoms good for beginners?
Yes. Blossoms has a complexity rating of 1.19 out of 5, making it one of the lighter card games you can find. The rules take about two minutes to explain, and new players usually grasp the flow within their first turn. It works well as a gateway game for non-gamers.
How long does Blossoms take to play?
A typical game runs about 15 to 20 minutes. Setup takes roughly one minute since you’re only dealing cards and laying out four pots. Most players can finish two or three games in under an hour, which makes it a good filler between heavier games.
What is the best player count for Blossoms?
Blossoms is exclusively a two-player game. There is no variant or expansion for solo play or higher player counts. It was designed specifically for head-to-head play, and the mechanics reflect that with the shared garden between two opponents.
Is Blossoms worth buying?
At its typical price point, Blossoms offers decent value for a compact two-player card game. The artwork is appealing and the push-your-luck tension works. The limited card variety may reduce long-term replay value for frequent players, but it earns its keep as a travel game or casual filler.
What games are similar to Blossoms?
Arboretum, Jaipur, and Lost Cities share the two-player card game space with Blossoms, though all three are heavier. For a closer match in weight, Coloretto and The Fox in the Forest offer similar playtimes and accessibility. Photosynthesis is a good option if you like the plant theme but want something with more depth.
