Meadow: Finding the Beauty in Nature at the Solo Table
Head out to experience the beauty of nature on a simple walk filled with memorable and adorable sights in Meadow.
Eager to continue my exploration of some absolutely beautiful watercolor artwork, Meadow remained on my table! I wanted to try out something to help the solo opponent pick up some more valuable cards, too. All in the name of making things fair and a little more difficult! At the same time, this was clearly going to remain a relaxing game for me.
Game Overview
Game Name: Meadow
Publication Year: 2021
Designer: Klemens Kalicki
Artists: Karolina Kijak and Katarzyna Fiebiger
Publisher: Rebel Studio
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
There are solid game mechanics to collect symbols and meet the requirements for new cards, yet at its core, this is an experience to enjoy the simple joys of nature. Bees! Trees! Flowers! Butterflies! It all comes together in one of the most beautiful tablescapes I’ve ever seen.
First Play
March 12, 2022
Complexity
2
Latest Play
September 14, 2025
Expansions
1
Setup Time
10 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
18
Play Time
1 Hour
High Score
75
Game Area
46" x 22"
Low Score
40
Walking Companions
Maybe this was an entirely solo experience, but I wasn’t about to leave all of the Calico Critters alone! A very excited family of dogs decided to help out along the way.
One of the most important parts of gameplay revolves around choosing cards or special action with these tokens.
They slot right into the spaces around the map, which is quite a nice element! No accidentally losing them. They also add a visual aspect that makes the game stand out.
My only problem? Actually using these tokens. Today, these were the treasures the dogs wanted to keep. Ha ha!
A Cozy Spot to Rest
In all my experiences, even the most relaxing nature walk calls for a little rest in the midst of the activity. So much to see, and it always goes on all the way to the horizon!
Someone discovered that the card holders made for a very cozy spot. With a slightly angled design, the cards stay in place… Like a well-trained dog. But not the Calico Critters!
I picked up on a couple of nuanced strategies to prepare for some of the more lucrative late-game cards.
Yet this didn’t feel like something I needed to seriously concentrate on, for the goal was simply to enjoy the calm.
The Power of Colorful
In my extremely limited exposure to watercolors, I’ve often associated them with muted or pastel colors. These are beautiful! Yet bold and colorful didn’t seem possible.
That’s precisely what I would say is seen in a lot of these pieces of art. The colors pop without being obtrusive.
Not every game opens up the opportunity to appreciate art styles, but I enjoyed broadening my view some more!
I still do some vague calligraphy and coloring here and there. Maybe I shouldn’t have ignored how intriguing some watercolor pencils seemed long ago. Ha ha!
Cute Meets Cute
Oh, goodness! This tiny puppy won me over for the day with his adorable expression and tiny nose. Then he went off and discovered this little friend out in the wild…
Were they holding paws?! No idea. I wasn’t even playing at this point because I suffered from a cuteness overload!
On that subject, I love things that are cute and cuddly, but the watercolors here don’t necessarily tend towards that. There are plenty of cute animals, yet not all!
As unusual as it may seem, I still enjoy the spiders and other insects. Still relaxing and realistic, but not scary!
Looking Closer at Updates to Gameplay
Alright. I admit that this post was definitely more about cuteness than an analysis of updates to gameplay. I regret nothing. Ha ha! But I did make an important change as I played through this pair of plays. It all started when I started to look at the available variants. There are a few other things I would like to try out eventually, but I started with just one.
The cards the solo opponent picked up were often worth little, and I noticed that there were some that were impossible to draw. Apparently, I wasn’t alone! I discovered the Solo Game Token Variant with a different distribution of assigned spaces. So simple! I had to keep a reference page around, yet it took me maybe an extra second to find the right space.
Now, I definitely didn’t play enough to find any statistically significant change. However… I actually lost! This came down to some bad luck, yet it felt like I needed to strategize just enough. My goal continues to be to keep this as relaxing as possible. I suppose I just like having a little competition to experience the best nature walk possible!
Session Overview
Play Number: 3 and 4
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Play Details: Played with the Solo Game Token Variant
Outcome: 66-49 and 52-54 (1 Win and 1 Loss)
Such bad luck! The lone symbol I really needed showed up once at the very start. Maybe the Calico Critters ate all of the berries, but that resulted in my very first loss. I didn’t mind at all! The bad luck element wasn’t the greatest, yet a bit of luck is what nature is all about. A rare sighting might be possible only for a moment. Or that’s just how I’ll explain away any losses. Sounds about right. Ha ha!
%
10 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
10
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
9
Originality
Design & Theme
7
Quality
Components & Rules
8
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
8
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
7
+ Pros (Positives)
- Each card features unique artwork that is filled with details and absolute beauty to create a gorgeous landscape.
- Card variety is quite nice, especially in the solo mode, and only part of each deck will be seen during each play.
- Choosing between the cards can be strategic against the solo opponent, especially with lots of great options.
- The sequence of play flows smoothly with little downtime and helps maintain the very relaxing atmosphere.
- All of the included card holders are fairly easy to put together and keep the cards organized within the box insert.
- Resetting the map halfway through play adds a little tension but also clears the area for all new opportunities.
– Cons (Negatives)
- There is a certain reliance on luck that can result in some suboptimal rounds, although the game is still enjoyable.
- Gameplay can feel repetitive after a handful of plays in a short period of time, even with a lot of card variety.
- The solo game token looks straightforward but doesn’t offer up an even distribution of cards that will be taken.
- It can be a bit challenging to keep the play area organized with the way the cards stack vertically and spread out.
Victory Conditions
Score 70+ Points
- Overall Goal Progress 80%
Goals and Milestones
Score at least 55 points.
Score at least 60 points.
Score at least 65 points.
Score at least 70 points.
Score at least 75 points.
Continue the Conversation
What are some of your favorite elements of Meadow? Do you find yourself getting lost in the artwork? It’s still in winter mode around me, so it’s not quite nice enough to explore local parks and nature spots. I’m certainly inspired to after playing this one a few times, though! Always nice to have a reminder that calm beauty is within our reach, anytime.
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