Leaf- Game Review

Title: Leaf

Designed By: Tim Eisner

Art By: Angela Rizza

Published By: Weird City Games

Released: 2023

Player Count: 1-4

Time to Play: 30-45 Minutes

Ages: 8+

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Overview:

Leaf is an abstract tile-placement game where players guide falling leaves to the forest floor, connecting their tips to trigger various actions. Whether you're collecting attracting animals, or growing mushrooms, your goal is to earn the most points by making the most of your well-placed foliage. It’s a game that’s easy to learn, quick to play, and undeniably cozy. Plus, the growing leaf pile is a visually beautiful on the table.

What's purr-ty cool:

Beautiful Components

We played the retail edition of Leaf and were seriously impressed by the component quality. The punchboards are thick and glossy, and there’s a really well-designed insert that keeps everything neatly organized — a true win for both vertical and horizontal game storage. The warm, fall-themed color palette pulls you into the seasonal setting, and once a few leaves are on the board, it genuinely looks like a swirling patch of forest floor. Aesthetically, it’s top-tier fall vibes.

Thoughtful and Satisfying Solo Mode

Solo gamers, this one is a great choice if you like games like Cascadia, Flourish, or Tiny Towns! The solo mode in Leaf is delightfully challenging and uses a clever automa system that simulates a second player surprisingly well. It doesn’t just feel like a beat-your-own-score mode — it actually creates that tension of playing against someone else. Plus, the inclusion of a robust list of achievements gives solo players something to strive toward beyond just winning. It’s the kind of solo mode that invites multiple replays.

Clever Leaf Placement = Strategic Goodness

The heart of the game is in its leaf placement mechanic — and it’s a fun one. Since the actions you take depend on which leaf tips your new leaf touches, you’re constantly making interesting choices: go for more actions? Go for specific ones you need? Or maybe find that rare perfect placement that gets you both. It creates a satisfying puzzle every turn. The animal card set collection adds another layer of strategy, especially with the hibernation rules. You’ve only got so much room to hibernate animals each season, so timing and selection become key. The art for the animal cards is also pretty and it makes looking at the animals you collect a treat.

The cat's meow:

"If I were a forest cat, I’d nap under this pile of leaves. Strategic, pretty, and purr-fectly peaceful — 10/10 would swat a leaf." - Solo the Spokescat

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Disclosure: Pudgy Cat Games was provided a copy of this game in exchange for a review, however, this review reflects the honest thoughts of the author.