top of page

Official Trellis Rules

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosures here.

Trellis: a game of zen and blossoms, is a strategic tile-laying game where players compete to be the first to plant all their flowers. Here's how to play:

Objective

The objective of Trellis is to be the first player to connect a continuous path of flowers of your color from one side of the board to the other.

Components

  • 1 game board (a grid of hexagonal spaces)

  • 60 flower tokens (15 in each of four colors)

  • 30 vine tiles

  • 1 deck of 50 cards

Setup

  1. Place the game board in the center of the playing area.

  2. Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding flower tokens.

  3. Shuffle the vine tiles and place them face down in a stack.

  4. Shuffle the deck of cards and deal 3 cards to each player. Place the remaining deck face down next to the board.

  5. Determine the starting player.

Game Play

Trellis is played in turns. Each turn consists of the following phases:

  1. Draw a Card:

    • Draw one card from the deck.

  2. Place a Vine Tile:

    • Draw a vine tile from the stack and place it on any open space on the board.

    • Vine tiles must be placed adjacent to a previously placed tile.

  3. Play a Card:

    • You may play one card from your hand to gain a special action or bonus.

    • Follow the instructions on the card and discard it after use.

  4. Place a Flower Token:

    • You may place one of your flower tokens on any empty flower space on the board.

    • Flower tokens must be placed adjacent to a previously placed flower of any color.

  5. Check for Connections:

    • Check if you have created a continuous path of flowers of your color connecting opposite sides of the board.

    • If you have, you win the game.

Special Actions

  • Wild Vines: Some vine tiles have wild vines that can connect flowers of any color.

  • Cards: Cards provide various actions such as moving flower tokens, placing additional vine tiles, or drawing extra cards.

Winning the Game

The game ends immediately when a player connects a continuous path of flowers of their color from one side of the board to the opposite side. That player is declared the winner.

Additional Rules

  • If the deck of cards runs out, shuffle the discard pile to form a new deck.

  • If a player cannot place a vine tile or flower token legally, they must pass their turn.

Variations

  • Team Play: Play in teams of two, with teammates' flowers counting as one color for the purpose of creating a continuous path.

  • Advanced Play: Introduce additional cards with more complex actions and strategies.

Trellis is a game that combines strategy, luck, and a bit of player interaction. It's a great choice for players who enjoy tile-laying games with a unique blooming mechanic.

Browse Related Games!

bottom of page