If you’re a fan of board games that make your heart beat a little faster with every token you place, then Harmonies is here to win you over. Released into the wild back in 2024, this gem instantly turned heads with its satisfying gameplay and eye-popping artwork. It’s like if Azul and Cascadia had a baby—it borrows Azul’s chill token drafting vibe while nailing Cascadia’s nature-inspired, animal-centric twist. Whether you’re a couple looking for a cozy challenge or a family up for some strategic fun, this game is as simple to pick up as it is deep in thought.
What’s in the Box Right from the moment you pop the lid open, you can see that Harmonies knows how to impress. Even though it’s compact, the game packs in a seriously neat set of components. Inside, you’ll find three separate rulebooks (in English, French, and German) along with handy QR codes linking to quick video tutorials in English, French, German, and Italian. It’s like having an international board game tutor available at your fingertips!
The game comes with four double-sided player boards and a central double-sided board which is perfect for drafting tokens during your game. Each set of colorful wooden tokens is individually bagged for shipping, but trust me, you’re better off tossing them all into the included linen drawstring pouch. These tokens are surprisingly light, making each shake of the pouch a mini-symphony of clinks that’s oddly satisfying. Plus, the box even has a built-in organizer with a folding cardboard lid, a neat spot for those dazzling Animal and Nature’s Spirit cards, and little plastic cubes representing the animals. Who knew storage could be this stylish and functional?
Rules and How It Plays So how does Harmonies get the brain gears turning? The goal is simple: draft and place tokens on your player board to build a series of interconnected habitats for your animals. The catch? Once you decide where to place a token, you’re committed for the rest of the game. It’s that kind of “no regrets” strategic dance that makes you double-check your every move.
One standout mechanic in Harmonies is the stacking of tokens for more complex structures. Need a tree? Brown tokens lay down the strong foundation but only score when crowned with that green token. Want to create mountains? Use one to three grey tokens, but remember—they only count when you’re buddying up adjacent to another mountain. Fields, being the classic “two’s company” group, score when paired up, while rivers (the cool, blue tokens) ramp up the points with each additional connected segment. Then there’s buildings, which take everything to another level of nuanced planning. You start with a base token in brown, gray, or red and cap it off with a red token, provided there’s a spread of color nearby.
To spice things up, Harmonies brings a twist with Animal cards. Each card outlines a unique habitat configuration—think an alligator needing a sultry swamp or meerkats hankering for a rocky territory adjacent to a field. On your turn, you might choose to draft one of the five available Animal cards, and along with that, you get a set number of animal cubes. Match the habitat, remove the cube, and watch your score climb. The challenge lies in carefully juggling your cards: you’re limited to four at a time, so planning ahead without overloading is key. Overcommitting early on might just set you back from scoring those vital points.
Gameplay Variability and Late-Game Tactics One of the coolest things about Harmonies is how it keeps things unpredictable. Each turn, after a set of tokens is used up, fresh ones are drawn randomly, and new Animal cards might pop up depending on earlier moves—keeping you on your toes. The tension is palpable as you race to complete as many habitats as possible before the game winds down. In the later rounds, it’s all about that sweet moment when your carefully optimized board lets you instantly score from drafted Animal cards. There’s just something incredibly satisfying about that moment of victory when strategy finally pays off.
For those who crave even more variability, Harmonies offers optional twists. One optional element lets you include Nature’s Spirit cards. At the beginning of the game, draft one of these, and each will challenge you to build and complete a specific habitat for alternative scoring benefits. Imagine earning bonus points just for creating those sprawling clusters of your favorite terrain—talk about an extra incentive to get creative! There’s also a variant side on the player board that turns river scoring on its head: instead of a straightforward continuous river, you now need to build islands by isolating water sections, adding yet another layer of spatial planning to the mix.
Solo Mode and Quick Challenges Not in a mood for multiplayer? Fear not! Harmonies features a dedicated solo mode where you chase a light score, all within a brisk 10–20 minute play session. In this mode, you’re collecting suns based on your final score, the board side you’re rocking, and the use of those Nature’s Spirit cards. It’s a cool little exercise that’s both challenging and perfectly paced for a quick game night in by yourself.
Where to Buy Harmonies Ready to take Harmonies for a spin? You can snag it from major retailers like Amazon and Walmart. It’s an affordable treat (with an MSRP of $34.99) that promises hours of mind-bending yet heartwarming fun—perfect for anyone with a taste for nature, strategy, and a dash of board game magic.
For more family-friendly board game recommendations, check out the suggestions from IGN’s treasure trove of guides. (Big shout out to the original IGN review for laying down the groundwork on this delightful game!)
Source: This article was inspired by content from Ign . All images belong to their respective owners.