Calico, Cascadia, and Verdant: Finding My Favorite Game

Find out more about a trilogy of cozy, nature games that share similar designs, yet offer different solo experiences.
It’s always fun to play solo games, and I got a lot out of trying out Calico, Cascadia, and Verdant around the same time! There are definite similarities in the designs, although this might not be a strict trilogy by some definitions. Still, they often appear together and I figured it would be interesting to gather all of my thoughts… And name my favorite!
A Uniform Appearance
Matching boxes always look lovely on my shelves! These all stack perfectly and feature a very nice aesthetic from every angle. And only one box is missing a cat… Ha ha!
Playing them all in quick succession gave me a look into the evolving design decisions. Each one builds on the formula in various ways, resulting in unique games.
I had a clear favorite pretty quickly, although I don’t think that means the others are diminished at all.
There is likely a place for each of these in a collection, and the best ones are going to depend on personal preferences.
Calico vs. Cascadia vs. Verdant Information
Each game features a different sort of abstract puzzle. The theme is going to be a big factor in determining what works well, yet components and other considerations are impotant to keep in mind. At a glance, it might be easy to find your favorite game!
What is This Idea of Visual Clarity?
For whatever reason, I sometimes have trouble telling the different colors and patterns apart in a few of these games. It adds some play time as I constantly count the tiles or cards, sometimes missing the most obvious thing right in front of me! This is likely something that’s more akin to my own tastes, rather than any issues with the graphic design itself.
When I think about my choice for which one I want to bring back to my table, though, this is a pretty big component. Playing games is all about the fun factor… Not hunting down colors and patterns. This is also a good time to mention that what I like isn’t going to align with everyone. Just sharing my own observations and opinions, hopefully to help!
Colorful Quilts & Cats
As the first game in the series, Calico is often a wonderful starting point! It’s all about crafting a quilt with tiles, and adorable cats with picky tastes might stop by for a nap.
The fact that this one is contained to a dual-layered board is helpful in keeping the play area minimal, but does impose a lot of restrictions right from the start.
For me, this one requires the right tiles to come out. With no way to clear the market during a round, it can be tough.
At times, the theme becomes a bit too abstract with the focus on patterns and fairly dry design goal tiles.
Into the Wild
The next game in the trilogy, Cascadia, went in a direction that seemed to cut down on the number of components.
There are still plenty of tiles and wooden wildlife tokens, but this feels like a completely streamlined version.
Scoring cards provide goals, but with an open area to expand in any direction, very rarely are there bad choices. Nature tokens help cycle out the options, too!
This one is quite relaxing and fun, as I often find myself making up a short story about my final map and the different animals that live in it. Very enjoyable, indeed!
One Step Backward?
Verdant is currently the newest game, and features a lovely checkerboard area where plants and rooms alternate. So many beautiful and unique illustrations!
If it was just a selection of these cards and a few other elements, this one might shine the brightest.
However, it returns to that space where colors get mixed up for me. A pair of blue rooms make me think I’m missing a color, and the orange and pink are similar.
Still, there is a layered puzzle here to solve in terms of growing houseplants and aligning sunlight requirements.
Component Overload
For me, I think what also makes this one feel like a lot is the sheer number of components. These are a mixture of cardboard and wood, too, which doesn’t always match.
Speaking of matching, these are also very easy to lose when they’re placed on the cards. It’s almost a case of looking too good. Often, I have to feel around for tokens.
This is probably going to be the biggest spot where some may prefer this one. My husband actually loved it!
Yet the trilogy seemed to take a giant leap forward, then step back just a touch in terms of getting things right.
Calico
2020- Focuses on quilting & cats.
- Inclues 10 different scenarios.
- Very limited tile placements.
- Somewhat busy play area.
- Feels like a very abstract puzzle.
Cascadia
2021- Focuses on habitats & wildlife.
- Includes 15 different scenarios.
- Open tile & token placements.
- Fairly straightforward play area.
- Feels like a rewarding puzzle with fun challenges to solve.
Verdant
2022- Focuses on houseplants & rooms.
- Includes 15 different scenarios.
- Limited card & token placements.
- Very busy play area.
- Feels like too much is going on.
Making the Right Call
Even though I might have my favorite, there really isn’t a bad choice in this trilogy! Your preferences might see you gravitate towards another one. In that case, excellent!
I also think that each game is different enough that none of them directly replace the others. I’m only parting with Calico due to it being the hardest for me to visually parse.
Cascadia will definitely be sticking around, and Verdant looks like it will be a 2-player game with my husband.
Lots to love across all of these games! I’m more excited to play now that I know what to expect. Fun times are ahead!
Continue the Conversation
Out of Calico, Cascadia, and Verdant, which one do you prefer to play solo? Are there any other game series you’ve tried out lately to compare and contrast? I may have a clear favorite amongst these, yet in the end, 2 of 3 will remain in my collection. Not bad at all! Playing through them all to see the changes over the years was so much fun for me!
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