The Japanese term “bonsai” means “planted in a pot.” A bonsai is a living work of art — a perfect miniature tree that mirrors its full-sized counterpart in every way except scale. It is a microcosm that holds the secret of the universe, unchanging in all but size.

“Bonsai” is a beautiful abstract family game for 1–4 players featuring simple rules and peaceful, non-confrontational gameplay. Players take on the role of seasoned bonsai masters nurturing their own tiny tree. The one who grows the most exquisite bonsai earns the honor of displaying it in the emperor’s gardens.

How the Game Flows

Players take turns clockwise, starting with the first player. On your turn, choose one of two actions: Meditation or Cultivation.

• Meditation: Pick one open card from the display and take it along with the bonsai tiles shown beneath it. Tool and Growth cards let you store and place more tiles, Helper and Master cards provide extra resources, and Scroll cards score points at game end.
• Cultivation: Place tiles from your supply to shape your bonsai. The Seishi tile and Growth cards determine how many tiles of each type you may place this turn. Tiles follow special placement rules: trunks must connect, foliage must touch trunks, flowers must touch foliage, and fruits must sit between two foliage tiles.

After your action, check whether you fulfil any goal tile. If you do, you may claim it or pass it up to aim for a more valuable one later.

When the last card is drawn and placed, every player (including the one who drew it) takes one final turn, then the game ends. The player with the most points wins.

We recommend watching the video rules in the “Video” section and, if you’d like, exploring the illustrated PDF rules in the “Files” section.

One Last Note

This is a game that works equally well as a relaxing family evening with kids or a brain-burning duel for two. Galu the Rooster — whether you usually love abstracts or not — wholeheartedly recommends giving “Bonsai” a try.

We also invite you to discover another gorgeous abstract title — “Harmonies”, where you shape landscapes with coloured tokens and create habitats for your animals. The player who most skilfully settles their creatures wins the most victory points!