Takenoko is a great game for a pleasant afternoon with the kids. The design and game play are relaxing, and the panda is cute and chubby.

The premise is simple enough. The Emperor of China gifted the Emperor of Japan a giant panda as a gesture of peace. You’re a gardener tasked with caring for the politically important animal.

The giant panda’s diet is 100% bamboo, so your job is to cultivate the plants, all the while being wary of the young panda’s voracious appetite, as other players attempt to coax the panda towards your plots and away from their own.

This is a fun game with clever game dynamics, and worth adding to your collection.