Entering the world of Balatro was a late endeavor for me, one that ultimately consumed my life for several months. By the time I stepped into its vibrant realm, I had missed the chance to earn the respect of my peers. As I transitioned away from Balatro at the beginning of 2025, I found myself frequently glancing at Steam, searching for a new game to fill the void. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a promising title: Chosen Garden, a roguelike deckbuilder set to launch in March this year. After exploring its demo, I have a strong feeling it might just satisfy my gaming cravings.
Gameplay Mechanics
In Chosen Garden, players nurture a magical garden filled with an array of fruits, vegetables, and flowers while adopting adorable animals. The challenge intensifies with unpredictable weather conditions that emerge every three rounds, adding a layer of complexity to the gameplay.
Players begin with a 9×9 plot teeming with plants and are given a limited number of turns to harvest within a designated 3×3 area, which can be expanded tile by tile. Each round presents a point goal that must be met or exceeded, with players able to enhance their scores through strategic plant choices and additional perks from animals and tools. Each plant boasts unique abilities; for instance, harvesting a Cherry Blossom allows players to expand their harvest zone, while a wildflower provides a boost to their base score or multiplier.
Success in harvesting yields coins, which can be spent on acquiring new plants, tools, or animals at the end of each round. The gameplay closely mirrors that of Balatro, making it accessible for those familiar with its mechanics.
During my second attempt on the Zoo map, I felt a sense of calm as I started with comfort grass, which offers a +4 Base or +4 Mult when harvested, alongside Spinach, which adds a random 0-12 to the multiplier and a chance to earn 20 coins. My journey began smoothly; I discovered a mythical dragon, adopted a dog, and planted watermelon seeds. However, the tranquility was short-lived as I faced a sandstorm in round six, rendering my initial harvest scoreless.
In an effort to be strategic, I opted for a small 4×4 plot in the top right corner. Unbeknownst to me, my new Pea plant would inadvertently add adjacent uncommon and rare plants to the harvest zone, leading to a chaotic situation where I nearly depleted half the grid during a round that would yield no points. With only four turns remaining to achieve 1000 points, I was left with limited options.
Ultimately, my efforts fell short, ending with a disappointing score of under 300 points. Yet, games like Chosen Garden are designed for quick sessions, fostering the hope that one day, the stars will align for a remarkable run. Until then, I remain optimistic for that moment to arrive.
