Reflecting Back on Orchard and Filling a Tiny Fruit Cart
Grow a selection of fruit on different trees and keep track of the harvest with colorful dice in Orchard: A 9 Card Solitaire Game.
Some solo games are quick and easy, yet seem to languish on my shelves now and then. I spotted one such long-standing sufferer the other day. Orchard: A 9 Card Solitaire Game has been wonderful over the years! Overlapping fruit trees and using dice to track the yield are the easiest of mechanics. Had I possibly outgrown this puzzle, though? Onward to find out!
Game Overview
Game Name: Orchard: A 9 Card Solitaire Game
Publication Year: 2018
Designer: Mark Tuck
Artist: Mark Tuck
Publisher: Side Room Games
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
So colorful! Apples, pears, and plums are depicted on the cards and feature their own matching dice. But this isn’t about any rolls: The pips simply keep track of the amount of fruit, which equates to victory points. At just 9 cards per play, this one is quite easy to play over and over again!
First Play
September 22, 2018
Complexity
1
Latest Play
September 23, 2026
Expansions
0
Setup Time
Almost None
Lifetime Plays
144
Play Time
10 Minutes
High Score
50
Game Area
12" x 12"
Low Score
18
A Balancing Act
Time for a much-needed Calico Critter visit! These adorable rabbits managed to balance on top of the dice, which mirrored the main concept behind gameplay.
I didn’t even open up the rulebook, and my last play was around 2 years ago. That’s how easy it is to get into!
Yet the puzzle is wonderfully engaging. I rotated each card many times, trying to ensure the fruit trees lined up as I overlapped them. So many nearly perfect placements!
My initial thought process was that since I hadn’t played in so long, this might be the last few farewell plays. But…
Simple and Fun
I loved it! Although I’m not entirely certain why I stopped playing regularly, this was an awesome session. My strategy shifted a few times, and I wanted to keep playing.
Long have I maintained a goal of reaching 55 victory points before I graduate to the updated rule that uses the basket side of the dice. Not that I overlap cards all that much.
To no one’s surprise, my scores were mediocre at best and not even worthy of the hilarious scoring tier puns. Ha ha!
Some frustrating moments popped up, yet I parked myself at my solo table to play many times in a row. It was great!
Filling the Fruit Cart
All of that harvested fruit had to go somewhere, and these Calico Critters had the perfect plan: A fruit cart! It rolled up and was practically overflowing with fresh fruit in no time.
The apples and pears lined up perfectly, but some liberties were taken with substituting berries for plums. I allowed it!
A little worm visitor showed up, too. These tokens are quite cheerful, although they’re worth negative victory points. I still find reasons to use them every now and then.
I thought this was supposed to be a very healthy display, yet I saw where some of that fruit went… Right to the desserts!
Fruit-Filled Desserts
Well, I can agree that tossing some fruit into a dessert does make it at least marginally healthier. This tiny display made me hungry, and I ironically grabbed a real plum. Clever!
I didn’t take many photos of the play area, as it can look pretty similar and it mainly comes down to the scoring.
Despite the repetitiveness, I enjoyed it! There was a time when I played this a lot more regularly, and that might be the right choice going forward. Simple, yet strategic.
And it’s not like I have a ton of solo games that will match up with tiny fruits and fruit-themed desserts. Ha ha!
Enjoyable Experiences Year After Year
I honestly thought I was going to play a few times, and then part ways with this one. Definitely not! It’s enjoyable in a comfortable way, where there are no surprises… Save for the rare high scores, in my case. Ha ha! This is also why I’m careful about parting with some solo games. It doesn’t mean I need to keep them all, yet some are great for a long time.
My earlier plays were often much more regular, so I’ve shifted how I approach this one a little bit. But returning to it was a nice reminder of what it is to work on a low stress puzzle like this. Having that be more of a weekly activity might be fun!
Central Fruit Trees
I slowly improved with my initial card placements, trying my best to build up the middle so that the starting fruit trees were worth a lot before I started to build outward.
For using just 9 cards, it might seem obvious about what to do… Yet it’s not. The cards are random, and don’t feature every possible pattern. Always just one apple tree off!
This felt comforting. I didn’t have much pressure, and when things didn’t work out, it was time to welcome a worm!
Perhaps it’s not one to play continuously every single day, yet I expect to spend more time with it in the near future.
What Desserts?
Excuse me… What happened to all of those tiny desserts?! I looked away from the fruit cart for a second, and the tray was conspicuously moved and impossibly empty in a flash.
There was no actual evidence, yet I’m pretty sure a trio of rabbits too stuffed to stand up might point to the dessert devourers. Real detective work going on over here. Ha ha!
Having the Calico Critters stop by made this even more fun. I’m hoping my next session will come with better scores.
In the meantime, take a guess as to which games my next posts will be about… But will the rabbits return to eat more?!
Session Overview
Play Number: 135-144
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
Outcome: 34, 38, 35, 24, 42, 29, 37, 40, 31, 34 (2 W & 8 L)
I was onto something with the 6-value dice here and there. The overall strategy is pretty clear, but scoring well takes some practice. It was nice to set up some excellent overlaps by making what looked like a sub-optimal move, only to overlap 4 or even 6 fruit trees during the next turn! This one might not look flashy nor seem like the deepest experience, but it’s a solid solo game that continues to stick around in my collection. Glad I finally brought it back to my table!
%
140 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
9
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
8
Quality
Components & Rules
10
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
9
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
5
+ Pros (Positives)
- After learning how to play, the rules are very intuitive and rarely require checking beyond looking up the scoring tiers.
- The art may look minimal, yet it conveys the different fruit trees very well and still looks very pretty with tiny details.
- Counting up the fruit with dice is a neat mechanic that ensures it’s extremely difficult to lose track during play.
- Worm tokens can be a bit of a trap to use, yet they’re very cute and help offer flexibility so a turn can still feel clever.
- Aligning the fruit trees perfectly is a challenge, and being able to overlap all 6 at once is a very exciting moment.
- Puns and humor abound in the scoring and help make the game’s atmosphere very colorful and cheerful.
– Cons (Negatives)
- There is a repetitive feel to gameplay after some time, although this often makes the game rather comforting.
- Cards don’t always overlap perfectly and there can be a small amount of realignment needed during play.
- Luck is often a major contributing factor to reaching the highest scoring tiers, which can be slightly frustrating.
- No other challenge exists beyond scoring as high as possible, which can seem stale after dozens of sessions.
Victory Conditions
Score 40+ Points
- Overall Goal Progress 80%
Goals and Milestones
Score at least 20 points.
Score at least 30 points.
Score at least 40 points.
Score at least 50 points.
Score at least 55 points.
Continue the Conversation
What do you enjoy the most about Orchard: A 9 Card Solitaire Game? Do you have a personal best score you’re proud of achieving? There is a lot to be said for a simple set of rules that doesn’t require a rulebook check, even after a few years! This is a solid little game that feels like it’s destined to stick around for a long, long time. Looking forward to more plays!
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