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Box art via BoardGameGeek
Harmonies
A gorgeous little nature puzzle you'll finish smiling, even when you lose.
Designed by Johan Benvenuto · 2024
One of the prettiest, friendliest puzzles on the shelf right now, and it earns its hype with multiplayer. Just don't buy it for the solo mode.
Best for: Mixed groups, families, and anyone who wants a thinky game that doesn't pick a fight.
What it is
Harmonies is a tile-placement puzzle from Johan Benvenuto where you stack little colored tokens to build mountains, water, trees and fields on your own board, then settle animals on top of the patterns you've made. Every turn you grab three tokens from a central pool and find homes for them. The pull is the double scoring. You earn points for the terrain you sculpt and for animal cards you complete, and those two goals constantly tug against each other in a satisfying way.
The catch
Here's the honest part. Player interaction is low. You're mostly tending your own garden, and the only real friction is racing for tokens and animal cards in the middle. That shared market can also go stale, and there's no built-in way to refresh it, which stings on a slow turn. Scoring at the end drags because there are so many little ways to earn. And the solo mode, by most accounts, is a noticeable drop from the multiplayer game. If you crave conflict or play mostly alone, temper your expectations.
Who it's for
What you get instead is calm, and Harmonies does calm beautifully. The art by Maeva da Silva is doing actual work, not just looking nice, and the puzzle stays gentle while still making you think. It's a five-minute teach that lands with kids, non-gamers, and the heavier crowd as a palate cleanser. Get it for two to four players who like a quiet brain stretch. Skip it if you want teeth, table talk, or a great solo night.
What other players say
This write-up is grounded in real reviews and player discussion, not just one opinion. A few worth reading:
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