Published: May 18, 2026
A compact, quick-playing card game that delivers a surprisingly satisfying challenge.
Strawberry Sunset is the definition of “bang for you buck”. It’s about $15, fits in your pocket, and is the perfect game to bust out when you need to kill 10-20 minutes. It may look small and it may be simple (like the names suggests), but the “light strategy” involved is surprisingly satisfying. Despite its compact size and quick playtime, Strawberry Sunset challenges you to balance risk and reward and plan ahead.
Although Strawberry Sunset is such a short game, it still feels calm and slow-paced. Each game is constrained by the number of cards and passing of time. As you pull cards from the deck and lay them down, you will pass though Sunrise, Noon, and Sunset which is denoted by the artwork on the back of each card. The objective is to gain more points than everyone else by the time the sun sets and the deck empties.
Players draws cards which various garden features like strawberry plants, water, and gravel. Then cards are placed onto the table to score points depending on their features and connections to other cards. For example, strawberry plants can be connected to roots and flowers to gain 5 points.
After playing many rounds of Strawberry Sunset with 2, 3, and 4 people, I personally found that player count doesn’t have much effect beyond slightly changing the number of cards in the deck. It’s equally as enjoyable whether playing with two people or four.
I love how the gameplay is so simple but still manages to be mentally engaging, requiring thoughtful planning and placement to score points. Because of this, Strawberry Sunset makes a great addition to cozy game collections and works well as a gift for friends, whether they’re new to experienced with tabletop games. Its quick playtime, simple rules, and engaging gameplay mean almost anyone can enjoy it.
