Chaos & Confetti

The Tree Trimming Game is a strategic party game published by Gamey.  

Players will work to decorate a Christmas tree using a variety of ornaments, hoping to place as many of their ornament tiles as possible while also making sure the tree is decorated just right.  

This is a game of festive celebrations and group bonding.  The game will promote spatial problem solving and group discussion.

Player Count: 2-24 players

Ages: 7+

Playtime: 45 – 60 minutes

GAME PLAY:

Players’ will work to successfully decorate a Christmas tree with a variety of ornaments, making sure to properly organize and balance their tree.  The key is to always put new ornaments adjacent to already placed ones, but to never put any matching ornaments next to each other, even diagonally.  

Players will take turns placing their ornaments, always aiming to keep their hands as empty as possible because whoever has the fewest ornaments once the final spot on the tree is filled is the winner.  

Players start with three ornaments at the beginning of the game.  If a player cannot place an ornament, they will draw new ones until they can finally add to the tree.

On the tree are sixty spots for ornaments, and fifteen of those spots have white stars. If a player places an ornament on a white star, they get to read a Holiday Spirit card.  The cards offer a variety of twists to the players’ experience.

Some cards will deal with the game’s mechanics directly, allow ornaments to be passed to other players or taken off the tree.  Others will promote discussion, such as asking about favorite holiday movies.  Some will provide challenges like trivia or tasks (like singing really fast).  Finally, some cards will have pictures of elves that players will need to name or label with jobs.  

Gameplay and card reading will continue until the final space is filled on the tree.  Once the game is over, the player or players with the fewest ornaments are declared the winner.  Their reward is that they get to place the star on top of the tree in order to put the finishing touch on the decorating experience.

OUR THOUGHTS:

On the surface, The Tree Trimming Game is a very light strategy game that will have players competing to fill a tree and empty their hands of tiles.  In reality, The Tree Trimming Game is aimed at bringing a group together for some fun, discussion, and bonding.

The tile placement does require a little thought, but the brainwork is simple enough players should have no trouble socializing during gameplay.  Nobody has to worry about keeping track of information or remembering a bunch of rules.  In fact, Gamey puts all the rules and setup directly on the game board, so it’s never hard to stay on top of the game.

While players are technically competing to have the fewest tiles at the end of the game, The Tree Trimming Game maintains a mostly cooperative feeling since everyone is working towards the goal of putting together a beautiful tree.  The right to place the final star atop the tree is a great reward, but the low stakes should keep anyone from getting too competitive.  

The tile placement should provide some light fun, especially for a more casual group, but the game really shines thanks to its Holiday Spirit cards.  The cards provide some more variety to the gameplay and promote holiday-themed discussions.  Whether players are discovering more about those they already know or learning about players they may not really know yet, the Holiday Spirit cards will set up some wholesome discourse.     

The Tree Trimming Game is also a perfect game to play with younger players.  Along with encouraging spatial thinking and turn taking, the game is easy enough for pretty much anyone to learn and jump right into.  The mostly visual and tactile experience is simple enough for young players, but again a lot of the joy will be found in the discussions that can be prompted by the Holiday Spirit cards.

We showed the tiles to our two-year old, and while he’s still a little too young to play the game properly, he enjoyed the colorful Christmas theming of the game.

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

If you, your family, or play group are more hardcore gamers, looking for something more crunchy, or need deep gameplay, The Tree Trimming Game probably isn’t for you.  

However, if you want an excuse to gather around for some bonding time or desire a game to add a little more holiday cheer to your discussions, then The Tree Trimming Game is probably right up your alley.  This is a great game for less experienced gamers, causal gameplay, and groups with younger players.

Review – The Tree Trimming Game by Gamey

Website Link – https://www.gamey.fun/tree-trimming

Price –  $40

Disclaimer: we were provided a complimentary copy of the game, but all thoughts and opinions are our own.