# Bonsai

Bonsai is a board game for 1–4 players. It plays in 40 minutes and is meant for ages 10 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 3. It is rated 7.8 out of 10 by 23 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $20.92 (United States).

- **Players:** 1–4 (best with 3)
- **Playing time:** 40 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 10+
- **Complexity:** 1.8 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2023
- **Categories:** Puzzle, Environmental
- **Mechanics:** End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid, Race, Contracts, Tile Placement, Solo / Solitaire Game, Open Drafting, Melding and Splaying, Pattern Building
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.8 out of 10, from 23 reviews
- **Owned by:** 50 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 266
- **Unique players:** 241

**Designers:** Massimo Borzì, Martino Chiacchiera, Rosaria Battiato

**Artists:** Davood Moghaddami

**Publishers:** Ігромаг, DV Games

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gamers Guild AZ | 20.92 $ | https://gamersguildaz.com/products/bonsai |
| Atomic Empire | 27.99 $ | https://www.atomicempire.com/Item/329950 |
| Miniature Market | 27.99 $ | https://www.miniaturemarket.com/bonsai-dvg9054.html |
| Board Game Bliss | 36.95 $ | https://www.boardgamebliss.com/products/bonsai |
| 401 Games | 39.95 $ | https://store.401games.ca/products/bonsai |
| Element Games | 30.59 £ | https://elementgames.co.uk/board-games/bonsai |
| eFantasy | 39.99 € | https://www.efantasy.gr/en/products/board-games/290093-board-game-bonsai |
| Zatu Games | 25.99 £ | https://zatu.com/products/bonsai |
| Magia de Tinta | 32.95 € | https://www.magiadetinta.com/es/juegos/7574-bonsai-8435407642379.html |
| Good Games | 57.45 $ | https://www.goodgames.com.au/products/bonsai |
| Gameology | 57.45 $ | https://www.gameology.com.au/products/bonsai-board-game |
| Travelling Man | 30.99 £ | https://travellingman.com/products/bonsai |
| Games Empire | 59.99 $ | https://gamesempire.com.au/products/bonsai |
| Fantasiapelit | 38.4 € | https://www.fantasiapelit.com/index.php?main=ai&kat=single&mista=indeksi&etsittava=_235717 |
| World of Board Games | 469 kr | https://www.worldofboardgames.com/paint-the-roses |
| Spielezar | 42.9 Fr. | https://www.spielezar.ch/brettspiele/bonsai-en |
| Game Ninja | 499 kr | https://www.gameninja.no/produkt/bonsai/ |

## Expansions

- [Bonsai: Wabi Sabi](https://www.ludoya.com/games/bonsai-wabi-sabi)
- [Bonsai: Vigorous Growth and Specialists](https://www.ludoya.com/games/bonsai-vigorous-growth-and-specialists)

## Similar games

- [Koi](https://www.ludoya.com/games/koi-3)
- [Reforest](https://www.ludoya.com/games/reforest-plants-of-the-pacific-northwest-coast)
- [Harmonies](https://www.ludoya.com/games/harmonies)
- [Cascadia](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cascadia)
- [Cascadia: Alpine Lakes](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cascadia-alpine-lakes)
- [Rebirth](https://www.ludoya.com/games/rebirth)
- [Fall](https://www.ludoya.com/games/fall)
- [Takenoko](https://www.ludoya.com/games/takenoko)
- [Sagrada](https://www.ludoya.com/games/sagrada-2)
- [Verdant](https://www.ludoya.com/games/verdant)
- [Habitats](https://www.ludoya.com/games/habitats)
- [Forest Shuffle](https://www.ludoya.com/games/forest-shuffle)

## Rules questions

### When I Meditate and take a face-up card, do I also get the tiles shown under that card?

Yes — when you take a face-up card you also take any bonsai tiles shown below that card position; each face-up slot has a specific tile reward. (page 4)

### After I draw a card, do I need to slide the other face-up cards and refill from the deck?

Yes — after taking a face-up card you slide all face-up cards to the right so the vacated space is filled, then draw the top card from the deck to refill the now-empty space. (page 4)

### How many tiles can I place on a Cultivate action — is it only my Seishi or do Growth cards add placements?

You may place as many tiles as there are symbols on your Seishi tile plus any symbols on your Growth cards; each symbol allows placing one tile of the indicated type. (page 5)

### Can I place a fruit next to another fruit or without two adjacent leaves?

No — a fruit must be placed between two leaf tiles that are adjacent to each other (touching two different sides), and you cannot place a fruit adjacent to another fruit. (page 5)

### If my bonsai meets a Goal tile during my turn, do I have to take it or can I wait for a harder one?

You must immediately choose whether to claim that Goal tile or renounce it to try for a harder one; if you renounce it you can no longer claim that specific tile later, and you may only claim one Goal tile per color. (page 6)

### What if I have more than 5 tiles in my supply at the end of my turn?

Your Seishi tile sets a capacity limit of 5 tiles in your supply; if you have more than 5 at the end of your turn you must discard down to 5 (this limit can be increased by acquiring Tool cards). (page 4)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/bonsai-2)
- [Bonsai in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/bonsai-2)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/366994)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-19. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._