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Windmill Valley Board Game Review

My Dutch roots makes the idea of playing Windmill Valley very appealing. Growing fields of tulips to earn points? Sign me up! But a good theme of a fantastic production only gets a game so far – to that end, is Windmill Valley worth your time and money? Let’s take a look!

I think off the top we need to mention how good the production is. All of the cardboard pieces are nice and thick, and while you can get upgraded tulips that make those pieces wood, the cardboard chits are more than adequate for this game. The player boards, with their rotating gears, are also equally as impressive. The rotation of the gears is smooth, and even over a dozen + plays, there is little concern that these gears will wreck or ruin in any way.

All in all, I’m REALLY impressed with this box and everything in it. So onto the gameplay!

There are a few systems at play here that players will need to stay on top of, first and foremost opening and closing the floodgate. At some point you cannot open the gates anymore and they will need to be closed to allow the water to recede. All of this is important because how much water is flowing will determine how much you rotate the gears on your player board, which will ultimately give you your actions.

On your turn, you will rotate your central board depending on the water level (always at least once) and then take on of the two actions available in the centre of your board. These action spaces are set for all when the game starts, but over time players can purchase upgrades and make these actions better. The more you manipulate your player board, the more the water level will matter as you try to earn enough wheel spins to get what you want. It’s a really great system that ties together nicely, and fits the theme of Windmill Valley perfectly!

These actions will allow you to do a number of things, first and foremost doing actions on the main board and collecting tulips. Tulips will be placed along the bottom of your player board, but eventually you will get them planted in your garden. Rows of the same colour will earn you points, and columns of different colours will earn you points. There are ways to lose points as well, which makes tulip placement pretty important.

There is so much going on, and I don’t want this to turn into a lengthy game explanation! A few other highlights mechanically are the windmills you place on the board. They will help you accomplish a variety of things, but also provide scoring opportunities based on tulips and other things you are doing. There are also dual use cards, when obtained they can either provide you an ongoing bonus OR provide you with some end-gaming scoring opportunities.

There might seem like a lot of things going on in Windmill Valley but I do find it all very intuitive. For as much as you can do, nothing feels shoe-horned in – it has a place, and it all comes together and works really well. There are points to be had from various places, so balancing that might be a bit tough for players that like a more focused experience. For those looking for a mid-weight experience, Windmill Valley has that in spades!

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I like the way the various mechanics work together. Getting Windmills out on the board is going to trigger a bunch of benefits, and the way those windmills are placed can result in other players getting benefits on your turn, or you getting benefits on other players’ turns. There can be a decent amount of player interaction as you work towards getting certain cards and places on the board, and the tug of war created by the raising and lowering of the water is compelling as well.

Ultimately, Windmill Valley is just a really nice, enjoyable experience. It’s a medium weight game that leans a bit towards the easier side, but there is enough here to give you a very satisfying experience, regardless of your board game expertise. The game looks and feels like it should be heavier than it is, so don’t let that fool you. This is one of the best releases of 2024, and something I definitely would look at picking up in 2025.

 

Article By

blank Adam Roffel has only been writing about video games for a short time, but has honed his skills completing a Master's Degree. He loves Nintendo, and almost anything they have released...even Tomodachi Life.

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