What it is
Blattwerk (Leafwork in English) is a game about autumn leaves and the little creatures living under them: ants, grasshoppers, bumblebees, stag beetles, ladybirds and butterflies. Everyone picks a tree, that is a leaf colour, and all the leaves start face down and shuffled in the middle of the table, on the forest floor. Above them are the trunks, the undergrowth, with a few leaves face up.
You flip or swap your leaves one at a time. When you reveal one you can take some mushrooms, which are worth points, or place a magnifying glass on it. At the end each magnifying glass looks at the leaves next to it and scores for the animals matching its own and for the fruits, more if it’s your own tree’s fruit. It can also be played solo.
How it plays
With just three rules you end up battling over the last leaf, wrecking the other players’ plans. Every turn you have to work out what’s best: try your luck by flipping one of your own leaves blind, or take advantage of the leaves face up on the trunks.
Every choice needs some thought, but long-term planning is very hard, because the undergrowth keeps changing and you have to adapt to whatever is there when it’s your turn. And don’t get angry if someone steals the leaves you needed: in its simplicity, it’s a game to take philosophically.
At our table
Three rules in all, and it ends up as a battle down to the last leaf: great fun, with plenty of interaction.
How long does Blattwerk take?
The box says 45 minutes. At our table: 40 minutes at four.
The box
The nastiest game with the easiest rules?
The one where someone steals exactly the leaf you needed.
Also on the table
Thanks to ABACUSSPIELE for sending us Blattwerk.