- Ages: 12+
- 2-4 Players
- 45+ Minutes
- Publisher: The Op
- Gameplay: Tile Laying, Set Collection, Worker Placement
- Buy Gnome Hollow here on Amazon
In Gnome Hollow players create magical mushroom circles, as well as gathering mushrooms, treasures, and wildflowers. Gnome Hollow was released at GenCon 2024 among a huge amount of anticipation and hype. There were balloon Gnomes walking around the convention as well as an amazing Gnome Hollow themed display.
Components:
- 1 Stump tile
- 92 Garden Tiles
- 1 Sunset tile
- 8 Wildflower Tiles and 32 Flower Tokens
- 8 Gnomes (4 different colors)
- 7 Signposts
- 57 Treasure Tokens (15 Bottle Caps, 10 Buttons, 12 Feathers, 109 Crystals, and 10 Keys)
- 110 Mushroom Tokens (28 Red, 27 yellow, 20 Pink, 20 Teal, 15 Purple)
- 32 Ring Markers (in 4 colors)
- 21 Pinwheel Market Tokens (Magnetic)
- 4 Double-Sided Player Boards (Magnetic)
- Pinwheel Market Board
- Garden Tile Board
- 4 Player Aid Cards
- Mushroom Trade Board (used in a variant)
- Drawstring Bag
- First-Player Red Cap Token
Upgraded Components
The base game has quite a few components, and most of the pieces are heavy cardboard. There is also the option to purchase component upgrades. In the upgrade there are 200 pieces.
The Upgrade Kit includes:
- 32 Wood Flower Tokens
- 110 Wood Mushroom Tokens
- 57 Wood Treasure Tokens
- 1 Wood First Player Token
Buy the Gnome Hollow Deluxe Upgrade Kit here on Amazon.
Gameplay Overview
On their turn players have up to three steps to complete. Those steps are:
- Place Tiles
- Resolve
- Move a Gnome
Place a Tile
During the Place a Tile step the player will choose two tiles from the garden tile board. Later in the game players may have stored tiles and up to two stored tiles can be played as well. For placement players must make sure they have mushroom paths connecting to mushroom paths, and grass to grass. There can be no mismatched sides of the tile.
Resolve
The Resolve step is where players resolve any gains from completing a mushroom ring. So, this step is not always completed, especially early in the game. In the Resolve Step, when you make a mushroom ring using 5 or more tiles there are rewards. Some of the rewards include adding or using a signpost, select a garden tile, take a flower token, or harvest additional mushrooms.
Move a Gnome
Finally, the player can choose to move their Gnome. There are four actions where the Gnome may be moved to take.
- Reserve a path: players place their Gnome on an unoccupied Mushroom Path. That prevents other players from claiming or building on the path without your permission.
- Visit the Flower Market: Collect a flower token
- Visit a Signpost: Place your Gnome in a completed Mushroom ring with a signpost. Then you collect the reward listed on the signpost.
- Sell at the Pinwheel Market: Players trade in the mushrooms they have collected for items, such as bottle caps and feathers. These treasures are points at the end of the game.
Early in the game one of the only choices is to claim a path. If you place your Gnome on the path no other player can build it without your permission. As the game progresses you can also place your Gnome in the market or get a flower.
As more and more elements open up over the course of the game there are more choices to be made. While this is happening the options for placing a tile can get more and more difficult as there are less options that can be completed in the gameplay remaining.
Family Game Assessment
Cute and cozy Gnome Hollow is a great game for families. There has been so much hype around this game, and it really lived up to all the praise and hype. The details make the game extra special. The rule book includes so much additional character and flavor added through details about the gnomes and their lives. While it does not have any impact on gameplay, it is absolutely delightful. For example, there are distinctive names and descriptions of the eight gnome figures with very quaint descriptions.
Over the course of the game there are many choices and decisions to be made. With all the options on your turn, it keeps the game engaging even as other are taking their turns. When planning your tile placement for the Mushroom rings, you cannot plan too far ahead, as other players’ placement can impact your options.
Gnome Hollow has three main gaming mechanics incorporated into the game: tile placement, set collection and worker placement. For players with experience with these mechanics, it makes learning the game much easier. Gnome Hollow is not a gateway game, but a good fit for experienced gamers.
There is one feature of the player board and market tokens that is extra special is that they are magnetic. Having the pieces stay in place and not shift around is huge. It makes it easier to manage the materials and prevents the player from “Godzilla-ing the board“.
Final Thoughts
For families looking for a cozy game Gnome Hollow will provide the experience you are looking for. It is a great addition to a gaming collection. It is delightful to play, and just beautiful on the table.
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