Gnome Hollow Review: A Delightful Tile-Laying Game with Surprising Strategic Depth
Review by Lincoln Hoppe: The Game Bard
Introduction
At first glance, Gnome Hollow is cute, charming, and even whimsical. But is it any good?
Yes! Gnome Hollow is a great game that captures all the fun and whimsy of cute gnomes in a beautiful little garden filled with cobbled paths and colorful mushrooms, while adding clever gameplay mechanics to tiling that give just the right amount of crunch.
(Review text here is a quick Summary of the video)
“Don’t let the light theme fool you. While it’s not a heavy game, there’s more crunch to it than it would seem, making it really satisfying. A good deal crunchier than Carcassonne without making it hard to learn or play.”
Game Overview
In Gnome Hollow, each player controls a pair of adorable little gnomes in a game that supports 2 to 4 players and lasts about 45 minutes.
On your turn, you take your gnomes through three phases: choosing and placing two tiles connected to the central stump, gaining mushrooms and bonuses with cascading effects, and moving a gnome to perform one of four possible actions.
The player with the most points at the end wins, but the journey to get there is where the real magic happens! ✨
Awesome Resource containers by Box to Board
Core Mechanism Deep Dive
Although the game revolves around laying tiles, it feels like so much more than that. Gnome Hollow adds depth with unique mechanics on each player board (which have magnets—and I don’t know why, but I freaking love magnets! 🧲).
When you complete a ring of pretty little gnome paths, you collect mushroom rewards printed on the tiles if you have a gnome on the path.
Either way, when you close a path of over three tiles, you get to move the corresponding peg on your player board to gain additional bonuses. This mechanic rewards you with actions instead of direct victory points, adding strategic depth to those cute little gnomes.
Gameplay & Scoring
Treasures are worth victory points and come in many varieties and point values: bottle caps, buttons, keys, crystals, and even feathers make you feel like you’re collecting valuable items (well, let’s just say one man’s junk is another gnome’s treasure 😉). Don’t let the light theme fool you—while it’s not a heavy game, there’s more crunch to it than it would seem, making it really satisfying. It’s a good deal crunchier than Carcassonne without making it hard to learn or play, and I love that about this game. I wish there was an official solo mode, but hey, I guess it’s like the old saying that everyone says, you know, no gnome plays alone. (Okay, that’s not a real saying.)
Components & Emotional Impact
The components in Gnome Hollow are delightful, with magnetic player boards that add a satisfying tactile element to gameplay. The artwork, created by designer Ammon Anderson while recovering from a life-altering traumatic brain injury, brings the whimsical world to life.
This inspiring backstory reminds us that there’s a story behind every game, just like there’s a story behind every gnome (which also happens to be printed in the Gnome Hollow Field Guide/rulebook).
The game’s charming theme and accessible gameplay make it perfect for those looking for a mental health boost through gaming—collecting colorful mushrooms and building paths with cute gnomes creates a genuinely uplifting experience. 🍄
Final Verdict
Gnome Hollow, designed by Ammon Anderson and published by The OP Games, is an easy recommendation if you like tiling, adorable gnomes, collecting mushrooms, and magnetic player boards.
But the gameplay lifts the experience well beyond the sum of its parts. In fact, I’ve never played anything quite like it.
In the familiar words of Dorothy in Oz: There’s no place like Gnome… Hollow! 🏠
by Lincoln Hoppe
Original Music by Lincoln Hoppe: The Game Bard
I purchased my own Copy of Gnome Hollow
Publisher: The OP Games
Designed by: Ammon Anderson
Board Game Geek Page: Gnome Hollow
My Board Game Geek Page: Lincoln Hoppe
Lincoln Hoppe
Lincoln a professional film & Television actor based in Los Angeles, California.
He has a family with 5 kids, and one of his joys in life is playing games together as a family.
He's on a mission to spread the love and mental health benefits of play and board gaming to the world.
Email Me
games@lincolnhoppe.com
Website
The Game Bard Socials
Lincoln Hoppe Website
lincolnhoppe.com