I saw Floristry and immediately wanted to play it. Then I learned it needed an app, and I was skeptical. I prefer my board games to be, well, board games. I have a strict no phubbing rule at the table, but thankfully, this isn't a case of everyone staring at their phones. The phone stays between the players, the app does one very specific job, and then you get back to playing. I hate to admit it, but the app works. More importantly, it doesn't distract from the game. It creates this little burst of anticipation every time the auction starts, and that has kept Floristry coming back to the table way more than I expected.
Components
Easy to follow rulebook
Floristry comes with 42 chunky flower tiles that live in a bag. Each tile shows two flowers
Easel that explains scoring
2 store frames to ensure you build within your parameters
2 cute cats to score at the end of the game
Set Up
Give a storefront to each player with a cat token
Each player draws one tile at random and places it in the middle of their storefront
In the middle of the table:
Place the easel in between the players
Scan the QR code to navigate to the webapp
Draw 4 tiles from the market (bag with chunky tokens)
How to Play
Floristry uses a Dutch auction, which means the price starts high and gradually drops until someone decides to buy. Both players start with $30 and the app handles the countdown and pricing.
- Start the auction: Each round, four flower tiles hit the market. Both players hit ready on the app. The auction lasts 15 seconds, and it begins at $5. Every three seconds, the price drops by $1
- Buy your flowers: When you're ready, tap your side of the app. Whoever taps first pays the current price and gets to choose three of the four tiles. The other player gets the remaining tile for free. If neither player buys before time runs out, all four tiles are discarded
- Build your shop: Add your new tiles to your flower shop, placing them orthogonally adjacent to tiles already in your display. You can rotate new tiles, but once a tile is placed, it cannot be moved - your shop does have flexibility. The frame can be moved around, so you can choose where you want to build without being stuck in one spot
- Score your flowers: After 10 rounds, score your largest connected patch of each flower type. Smaller patches don't score. You can also score points based on the difference in remaining money, with the player who has more money earning the points
The player with the most points wins.
Why We Like It
The rules are simple, and the decisions can get tense. The tile placement gives you something to think about, especially because you can’t go back and rearrange your previous tiles. The auction system makes Floristry standout. There’s something about watching that price tick down while your opponent is hovering over their button that just doesn’t happen in a normal auction. Do you buy now? Do you wait? Are they going to tap? Are they waiting for you to tap? And then someone inevitably panics. It's usually me.
That’s where the fun is. The simultaneous auction keeps the game moving. There’s no taking turns deciding whether you want to bid. Both players are making that decision at the same time, which makes the 15 second auction feel surprisingly dramatic. The app helps mitigate any analysis paralysis during auction. It handles the countdown, it changes the price, it keeps track of your money, and walks you through the scoring at the end. Yes, there's technically a phone on the table, but it enhances the game and it stays in the middle as a part of the game rather than an excuse to doomscroll.
Pros
- Satisfying spatial puzzle
- Easy to teach
- Simple rules with meaningful decisions
- Language independent
- Chunky components
- Tense auctions
- Adorable cat scoring tokens
Considerations
- Requires a smartphone
- Real time auctions can be stressful, when do you tap and commit?
- Anticipation can make you pay more to secure the three flowers you wanted
Bottom Line
Floristry was a let’s try it game. Instead, 50 plays later, it has turned into a who bites first? kind of game. If you like tile placement, the spatial puzzle is satisfying. The rules are simple, and the game plays in less than twenty minutes. The auction disguised as a pretty flower placing game is what brings me back. There's something about watching the price tick down while trying to figure out whether your opponent is going to tap or wait you out. And yes, the app doesn't distract from the game. It actually makes Floristry better. Apparently Floristry has amended my no phubbing rule. What a time to be alive.
If You Like the Sound of Floristry
2 Player Recs:
Patchwork – tile laying game where you build your own quilt.
Botanik – tile placement game where you’re building a network of pipes to grow your garden. Try it if you like Floristry’s simple rules but want trickier placement decisions.
Jaipur – card game about collecting and selling sets of goods. Try it if you like the back and forth of Floristry and trying to figure out when your opponent is going to make their move.
More Than 2 Players:
The Estates – cutthroat auction game where players compete to build the most valuable real estate portfolio. Try it if the auction and tense spending decisions are what you enjoy most about Floristry
Raccoon Tycoon – push your luck auction game with adorable animal art where players bid on sets of items while trying not to push their luck too far. Try it if you want more auctioning, more player interaction, and a little more chaos.
Qork (originally named PlayProp) – party game where you roll two dice and race to pull your cork before it gets trapped under the cup, but only when you roll doubles or a 7. Try it if you like the anticipation of Floristry and want something that will have everyone screaming and getting animated.
About the Author
Coty is a board game blogger, reviewer, and accidental LEGO art collector. When she’s not testing rulebooks or trying to beat her wife at two-player games, she’s playing ice hockey. Follow her adventures on Instagram or read more at KaCo Plays
