Tabletop Game Review: The Tree Lined Avenue

The Tree Lined Avenue

Japanime Games

2-4 Players

Playtime: 20-30 Minutes

I said in my Photosynthesis review that nature-themed board games are some of the most gorgeous games in the medium. I still stand by that, as I haven’t found a nature game yet that I don’t think is beautiful in some way. Tree Lined Avenue, published by Japanime Games, is the latest gorgeous nature-themed experience. It features drafting, pattern building, and tile placement mechanisms. 

A Brief How To Play

In The Tree Lined Avenue, all players receive a set amount of meeples that act as park builders. Four tiles with trees are revealed face up in one row, while another set is revealed in another. The tiles are arranged by how valuable they are, with the most valuable on the bottom. Players will use these tiles to build one shared park. Players are also all assigned hidden cards with conditions for extra points. 

Every turn, players will choose which tiles they want to build with, while also having the option to place their builders on a tile for extra points. After all the tiles are claimed and placed, the next turn order is determined by who took the most valuable pieces. Those who went for the least valuable pieces will go first. Throughout the game, players will use their builders to claim animals that will help with their extra scoring conditions at the end.

In the end, players will score based on how many same-color trees are touching on the same row and columns as their builder meeples. They will score additional points based on their hidden missions. Whoever scores the most wins. 

Pacing and Interactivity

Since every player is able to plan where to go next with their trees at all times, there actually isn’t too much downtime. Turns are relatively short, especially if players don’t put down one of their valuable workers on their turn. Players will just pick up a tile and place it. Since the order of the next turn is almost immediately established, players can instantly plan what’s next while other players take their turn. At all player counts, the pacing holds up. There is very little downtime unless a player experiences action paralysis.

Some tiles come with extra perks, such as granting an extra mission card or shuffling some tiles around. These add a nice bit of strategy when choosing tiles. Knowing that a big swing can wait for the player during the next turn can lead to the player shooting for weak tiles now. It’s a fun element that always keeps players on their toes. 

The Tree Lined Avenue’s shared board makes it a much more interactive experience than its peers. It’s not really a ”gotcha” kind of game, but there is certainly an opportunity to block off your opponent’s plays with proper planning. Setting oneself up for an early turn by sacrificing their current turn has its benefits and players should always consider the possibility of their opponent doing just that.

Even with the possibility of harming your opponent, The Tree Lined Avenue never feels like a mean-spirited game. There isn’t much room for ganging up on one player simply because of how the game is played. 

The Tree Lined Avenue works well at all player counts. Two players leads to the most strategic experience as players consistently balance their own needs vs their opponent’s. Three to four player games are more unpredictable. As mentioned earlier, the pacing doesn’t suffer with four players, it’s just a more wild free for all. 

Theme and Components

The theme has certainly been done before, but The Tree Lined Avenue still stands on its own thanks to the presentation of the cards. Gorgeous greens, yellows and oranges fill the cards. As the garden grows, the table starts to get more beautiful. Those who have played many nature-themed games might not find too much new here as far as presentation goes, but it is still pleasant to look at and that’s what matters.

The gameplay itself doesn’t really lend itself to the theme too much so that might deter a few people. Typically, constructing these kinds of things in real life isn’t competitive, especially when sharing a space. The competitive nature fits games like Kingdomino or Sorcerer City more since everyone has their own board. It doesn’t make the game any less fun, it’s just a small disconnect.

The quality of the components here are fine, though nothing remarkable. The meeples have a cute shape and the art is good, but the card quality is about average. No one will be astounded by what is inside of the box.

The Tree Lined Avenue Is Great For Fans Of…

Fans of tile placement games like Kingdomino, Legendary Forests, or even Sorcerer City will find plenty to enjoy in The Tree Lined Avenue. The tile building and drafting can be compared to Kingdomino, but the open board adds enough strategy and changes to make this game stand out on its own. It feels a little more interactive than the games listed above, and players need to account for their opponents’ plays to succeed. 

The Tree Lined Avenue is also a good fit for those who don’t like downtime. Sure it’s a strategic game, but not the type where players spend forever pondering their next move. It’s in line with the rest of the genre, making this an appealing game for both new and veteran players. 

If the player already owns Kingdomino or any of the games above, they might hesitate at adding The Tree Lined Avenue to their shelf. The drafting mechanic is nearly identical, so you aren’t getting anything new in that regard. Still, sharing a board and having more freedom in placing tiles makes this game feel fresh. It certainly doesn’t replace Kingdomino, but it can at least sit on a shelf with it if players are interested in that interactivity that Kingdomino lacks.