Bohnanza Review: What Happened to the Beans?

Welcome to this week’s review! This week I’m taking a look at a new version of a game that is almost 30 years old. So, without further ado, let’s jump into it.

Disclosure: A review copy of this game was provided to The Meeple Digest in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. This review is not intended to be an endorsement.

Bohnanza was originally released in 1997 and was one of Uwe Rosenberg’s first game designs. Affectionately referred to as the “bean-trading” game, Bohnanza is quite different from Rosenberg’s other heavier designs like Agricola and A Feast for Odin. Bohnanza is a light card game about trading, planting, and harvest beans. In this new edition from publisher Pandasaurus Games, the bean theme has been swapped for chilis; however, the core rules of the game remain the same.

If you’ve never played Bohnanza, one of the core mechanics in the game is that players cannot rearrange the order of cards in their hand. This, combined with only being able to plant up to two cards from the front of your hand each turn, incentivizes players to trade cards with their opponents. What ensues is a fun and light game of negotiation. If you’re someone that enjoys a high amount of player interaction, that isn’t “take-that”, this game has it in spades. The game also has relatively few rules, which make it an ideal pick for bringing out with friends and family who are not as experienced with board games.   

There are a number of different types of cards in the deck, with each varying in how many of them are in the deck. Each type of card also grants a certain number of coins, which are effectively victory points, based on how many of them are in the player’s field when harvested. For cards that have a high number of them in the deck, you’ll have to plant more of them to receive the maximum four coins when compared to the types of cards that are fewer in the deck. Players are also restricted to having two or three types of cards planted at one time, depending on player count.

The original artwork from the game is certainly a product of its time, but it does have its own charm and personality to it. While the artwork in the new version feels more modern, I’m sure there are people who will have their preferences for which type they prefer. I will say, referring to the game now as the chili-trading game doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as the bean-trading game.

Version and artwork aside, I do have a few complaints with the game’s design. First off, for what is intended to be a light, filler game, the game’s length does drag on a bit longer than I would like for games of this type. Typically, I prefer filler games to be capped at around 30 minutes, but this game does tend to last beyond that. For a game that has quite a bit of luck, this game is on the edge for how long I want it to last and if you have a group that takes a while to negotiate, it could bring the game’s length closer to the one-hour mark.

Speaking of groups, I do think this game is somewhat group dependent. If you play with players that are quick and willing to make a lot of trades, this game is quite fun. However, if you play with players who either take longer to negotiate or are hesitant to make trades, then this game loses its luster.

It’s also worth mentioning that this new version of the game reduces the player count down from seven to five. Personally, I think five players is a good cap to put on the game because of the game’s length. In addition, having more players creates more downtime between turns because at some point you run out of cards to trade.

Overall, I enjoy Bohnanza as a light, filler game that I can introduce to friends who don’t play as many board games. I enjoy the player interaction and negotiation; however, it can somewhat be group dependent. My biggest gripe with the game is that it can sometimes outstay it’s welcome in terms of game length. That said, if you’re someone that hasn’t tried the game yet or you like the art in the new version, I definitely recommend checking it out.  

With that, I’ll wrap up this week’s review! If you’ve played Bohnanza, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the game in the comments below. And what are your favorite light, filler games? Happy gaming!

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