Queenz
Mandoo Games
2-4 Players
30 Minutes
It appears that nature-themed tabletop games are in right now, and I am all for it. What I am especially loving is how many bee-themed games are starting to come out. The cute little pollinators are starting to get there shot with games like Bee Lives and Queen Bee. Now, Queenz by Manmoo games is getting its chance.
In Queenz, 2-4 players will act as beekeepers working to pollinate their fields of flowers. It’s a pattern building/set collection game in which players will need to balance their field’s needs while also carefully planning where everything should go. At a glance, Queenz might appear overwhelming, but the simple rulebook and neat presentation help Queenz to be a game that almost anyone can grasp.
Queenz has a board in the middle of the table with many blank spaces that are randomly filled with flower tokens. These flowers come in five different colors and exist so that players can pick the best flowers for their fields. Some flowers come with bees on them, which can help multiply points when placed properly. On a player’s turn, they can pick one to three flowers, but there are of course limits to what they can select. If a flower has a bee on it, only one flower can be picked. If two are chosen, they must both be bee-free. Players can also choose three flowers, but they must have no bees and all have different colors. Acquiring the right flowers for the right patch in the fields is vital to victory, making Queenz a strategic affair.
Players are at the mercy of the bee-keeper meeple, which rotates around the field throughout the game. Players can only select flowers from the column or row that the keeper occupies, limiting the pool and leaving the game to a little luck. Players also can’t plant their flowers wherever they like. Up to five field pieces will be available to players at all times, and they all vary in shape. Players will use an entire turn just picking a field, and can’t even do so until they have enough flowers to fill the field. Players need to account for both luck and the actions of other players or they risk losing the flowers or fields they want.
Queenz flows incredibly well at all player counts, which is rare in most games. The game is designed for 2-4 players and is enjoyable for all of those. We did find three to be the sweet spot. The game moves at just the right speed. It’s not too slow and there is plenty of competition for flowers, bees, and fields. At two players it’s fast and much easier to get the flowers you want, and at four players it’s almost chaotic but still entertaining. Queenz has little to no downtime in it, and players will always be planning out their next turn.
My favorite part of Queenz is the Diversified Production system. When the game of Queenz ends, players will add up their points, which is mostly made up of how many flowers are paired up with each other. Bees near hives will also give extra points. The Diversified Production mechanic basically pushes players to race against each other to collect one of each fo the five colors. The first to do so will get a sizable boost to their score. From there, the number of points for having diverse flowers decreases. Players will need to decide if they want to prioritize a beautiful garden or a diverse one. Going all-in on either one can result in a loss.
Despite the way it looks, Queenz is a game that is light on rules but heavy on planning. It’s great thinking game that challenges its players through an entire play. It fully embraces its theme, making it as fun to look at as it is to play. Fans of Azul and Kingdomino (Or bees) will definitely want to pick this one up.
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Queenz
Fans of Azul and Kingdomino (Or bees) will find a lot to love in this charming game.
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