Interviewer: Thank you for coming in. We are investigating an incident that happened under the Pergola yesterday at 6pm, and we’ve got some questions for you. Please state your names for the record.
Interviewer: Ok, thanks for that. We’ve got some questions about the game. Please answer in detail and truthfully, and we can be done nice and quickly.
Firstly – what brought you out to be playing this game at the time of the incident?
Well… I love a good looking game, and I heard this one had great streamlined mechanics so I needed to check it out!
I have a weakness for nature-themed games. I just can’t help myself!
It looked pretty and some strange guy from Canada wearing plaid made it sound good.
What do you think of the theme and artwork of Pergola?
I love gardening and sitting in my garden to watch all the butterflies and bees enjoy the flowers I planted, so Pergola’s theme really appeals to me. The artwork is stunning, and I often leave the game set up on my table after playing just so I can look at it for a while longer.
It’s lovely! I struggle in the garden (I’m a pruner not a cultivator 😅) and this game let’s me grow the good stuff and not worry about weeds! The watercolour style makes for a cosy beautiful game and the whole production has so many cute little touches.
We’re not overly influenced by theme, we enjoy ourselves a bit of beige, but the artwork in Pergola is beautiful and really ties in nicely with the theme.
Do you find the game outstays its welcome?
For me, no, but I think for others it will. Pergola is very much drawing people in with its beauty factor, but I think many people won’t enjoy its simplicity and limited player interaction. Personally, I find this game very calming and meditative to play, and I always look forward to getting it to the table.
In terms of playing a round, no, the turns were quite zippy and we got through our 2 player games in about 40 minutes. In terms of longevity of the game, for us, yes. Pergola is very pretty but there isn’t quite enough that will keep us coming back for more.
I’ve got a preference for heavier games so if anything I would have liked the game to have something a little extra and go for a bit longer. But as a package I think it’s pretty good and when I’ve played it with gamers they have all really enjoyed it!
What’s your favourite strategy?
Trying to find out my winning strategy, eh? Sneaky! I do enjoy the Buttercups (even if the “purple” ones are actually pink) because they remind me of Wisteria.
You assume we have a plan?! We’ve found across our plays that one will inevitably go for Hollyhocks and the other Magnolia, and we tend to just let the other have what they want. Andrew has done well with lavender and Steph loves the bonus actions that you can get from the lanterns.
I used to go full Hollyhock every game but after being smashed multiple times by Magnolia strat I’ve been trying it out and… it does seem to yield quality points!
Where were you on the evening of turn 12?
Snuggled up next to my heater, contemplating whether I should plant more Magnolia or Hollyhocks… I swear!
That’s not our shovel and you can’t prove that it is!
Well I woke up that morning, grabbed my purple garden fork, planted a single lavender leaf and hung up an orange lantern, went to watch my frog hop around on the lilypads…. and then of course I went to bed with the sun like a good agrarian!
How many bees is too many bees?
On me, one bee is too many bees. On flowers, as many as you like!
How many bees does it take to make a jar of honey? That’s all you need, the others are just slacking off.
The number that makes your score more than mine!
What is the best player count for Pergola?
My personal preference is solo (I enjoy some cosy, relaxing time to myself), but I think it works well at all player counts, as there’s not much downtime between turns.
There are no real issues with playing at 2, it’s just that there is just minimal player interaction so really feels like you are just building out your own garden without much concern for what the other is doing. Sure they may steal your tools occasionally but there is always something else you can do.
I’ve played a number of times with 3&4 players and I think that sets a good pace while allowing time for contemplation of strategy before your next turn.
Which game mechanic do you use least?
Moving bugs! Most of the time, I find I never really need to do that.
The flutter action for sure. The critters usually end up where they are supposed to be without needing to take the action to move them.
Is losing a game mechanic? If it’s not, then probably the honey pots, I’ve forgotten what they even do!
Are you concerned for the safety of the insects on the cascade?
Kinda, yeah. Please be safe, little buggies, that’s a lot of water!
Surf’s up dudes! The cascades are totally tubular, what a rush!
Yeah, like I get dragonflies hanging out near water but what dirt does the game have on bees, ladybugs and butterflies to get them to hang out there??
Which garden board would you most like to be your garden in real life?
Oh, definitely the Japanese garden inspired one!
The one with the Apple tree. As long as we can train our resident possums and cockatoos to not eat the fruit!
I figure the one without the back fence implies I own all the land visible on that board and I’d like to be that wealthy, so that one.
Do you belong to the 1000 club?
Not yet!
Can you repeat the question?
??
…
Beeees!!!
Finally… and this is why we are here, were you in fact the winner of this game, the game at 6pm under the pergola?
Well.. depends… who wants to know??
Oh, uh, yes, absolutely!…. Oh my, is that the time? I think I really should be going…
Yes! (depending on which of us is answering the question!)
Interviewer: Well.. thanks I think that’s all we need for now. This … Pergola game sounds like a fun time, maybe we need to do a bit of hands on research ourselves. Better head to our local game shop to pick up a copy!
The copy of Pergola used for this absurd article was provided to The Boardgame Detective by Asmodee ANZ
The Boardgame Detective 
haha love it all great aspects. I enjoy solo but it won’t come out often for more player counts due to its simplicity. Kids love it though and so I play multiplayer with them.
LikeLiked by 1 person