Windmill Valley: A Walk Through the Tulips
Ratings: Saunsu 7.5, Rick 7.0, Sarah 7.5, Brittney 8.0
Being a huge fan of publisher Board and Dice, I routinely find that I am drawn to their games since the GenCon pre-order I did in 2024 of Reef Project. Over the past several months, my Facebook feed has been plastered with advertisements for the Windmill Valley expansion and the art of the box was really appealing, as I am always drawn to the beauty and theme of games. I have found through the years that I can usually look at the box’s front and back and, if the box speaks to me, it is almost always a game I will enjoy. For me, presentation and game mechanics are everything when deciding on a game making it into my ever-growing collection.
On a more personal note, Windmill Valley also spoke to me visually and thematically in a sentimental and nostalgic way. Growing up in the state of Washington, we always loved driving up and spending the day at the tulip farms. Every year, during the month of April, the tulip fields are in bloom and vibrant with color.
Initial thoughts
The initial aesthetics of the game are on par with the quality I have come to expect from a Board and Dice game. Set-up of the game is not overly complicated, but the main board is a table hog, so make sure you can accommodate the space needed for the board and each player boards.
Game Play
On your turn, you start with the optional action of changing the water speed, which determines how many action rotations you make on the action wheel before landing on the action you will ultimately take. In the beginning, you probably won’t increase the water level so you can experience all the different actions available. Once the water level is increased to 2, the floodgate maker moves every turn and can be adjusted back down to earn bonuses throughout the game. Once these actions have been completed, you rotate your action wheel the required amount of spaces and take the action shown. This is most commonly the left side of the wheel, but the right side actions in the start of the game allow you to lower the floodgate.
On the left side of the wheel as you work your way section by section, actions allow you to do the following:
Gain a contract or farm enhancement,
Plant tulips on your player board,
Conduct Foreign Trade,
Obtain an enhancement for your action wheel,
Go to the Market,
Build a Windmill on the main board.
Just like any typical worker-placement action selection-style game, your initial action can lead to gaining other things at the same time based on the decisions/actions you choose to take. Ultimately, your goal is to complete contracts that aid in game-end scoring, plant as many tulip bulbs as possible of the same color across a row (but making sure each column houses a different color), and get your windmills out on the main board so you gain even more points from the tulips you plant.
Pros
The rondel player action selection gear board offers a fun and unique playing experience.
Cons
Some rulebook translations don’t match the iconography. The game needs a iconography reference sheet, so you aren’t constantly referencing the rulebook.
Closing Thoughts
Windmill Valley is a pleasant, colorful, and well-crafted Euro game that’s ideal for casual strategy nights and players who enjoy engine building without heavy confrontation. I would 100% play the game again, and it will definitely hold a solid spot in my collection.
