The latest 2-player game (in the regular Kosmos box size) is a pretty game about building flowerbeds. In common with 95% of German games, you'll not notice the theme after two seconds, as this is an abstract game.

This is a game about placing domino-type tiles on a square gridded board in order to form contiguous linked flowerbeds. Most of the 2x1 domino tiles feature two different flower patterns and a few show two flower patterns of the same pattern. Players alternate drawing a tile from a bag and place the tile on the board. Points are received at the end of the game for each set of tiles of the same pattern that form a continuous pattern. You need to have 3 to score 1 point, while 9 or more will bring in 5 points -- the maximum points available for one set of flowers.

The game board is a 15x15 grid, with 3 areas. Two larger areas are divided by a central common area of 15x3. Players can place the tiles on their own area or the common area but not so a tile uses any of their opponent's area.

The game is fairly quick as you only have one tile to place each turn, and often one of the colours of the tile will be a pattern that you are trying to extend, so the placement is obvious.

The scoring takes place at the end of the game, which is when neither player can place a tile. The player with more of this pattern in their own area decides the flower patterns in the common area. This includes the connections through to your own area.

Instead of playing a tile face up (with the flowers showing), each player is allowed to play a tile face down three times in the game on their opponent's side. This disrupts a flower pattern from extending and can be a useful threat.

That's it. The game plays well and the colourful tiles create pleasing patterns on the board. When I first played the game, I thought that all the squares would be used, but holes develop as tiles are placed to maximise scoring opportunities. The game effect of these holes is to reduce the number of turns you will have. The importance of this is that you can keep playing while you can validly place tiles, so if your opponent can no longer place tiles, this may allow you a better chance of winning. Quite how important this is in the overall scheme of things, I don't know, as I haven't played the game enough to consider it.

If you know the distribution of the tiles (each combination appears twice, with the double tiles appearing once), you might be tempted to count the tiles that are still available. This is a game that is intended to play quickly, so don't bother. However, it is useful to know that the double for two five petalled roses may be missing (as in my set) so I would check the doubles.

Overall, I quite like the game -- it sort of grows on you (pun intended). It's cute enough to look inviting and quick enough to teach to appeal to non-games players. I'll happily play it, but in the 2 player Kosmos series, Settlers the card game, Lost Cities and Babel are better games for the regular gaming crowd.