Cascadia Junior, By Flatout Games - REVIEW

Nature / Type:             Board game 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:     6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Junior board-game lovers - perfect for preschoolers and early primary kids 

Cascadia Junior is the latest addition to the beloved Cascadia universe, released in 2025 by Flatout Games and created especially for kids. It’s a gentle, calming experience - a rare gem in the often loud and frantic world of children’s games. Big thanks to Let's Play Games for sending us a copy!

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Straightforward Rules - Line Up 3 Same Animals To Earn An Animal Token

The rules are wonderfully straightforward. Each player starts with a tile to begin their environment. On your turn, you’ll choose one of two available tiles, each showing land types and animals, and place it so at least one edge touches your growing map. If placing a tile lines up three of the same animal together, you’ll cover them with Wildlife Tokens and add an animal token to your panorama. Play continues like this for 10 turns, with players building habitats and gathering animals along the way. At the end, you’ll score points for large habitat groups and flip your tokens to reveal pinecones - whoever has the most pinecones wins the game!

(2) Tile Placement Game With Simple Decision-Making & Strategy

Cascadia Junior takes the puzzly, pattern-building charm of the original and makes it perfect for preschoolers and early primary kids - while still keeping parents entertained. It gently teaches planning through tile placement and drafting, balancing simplicity with just enough challenge. Grouping habitats is especially fun: three tiles earn you one token, but six tiles earn you two - do you go big, or spread them out? And with scoring tokens hiding 1 or 2 pinecones each, there’s a dash of luck and suspense right up to the end. My 6- and 9-year-old loved it so much we played several rounds back-to-back!

(3) Advanced Variant Available For More Challenge

For players craving a bit more challenge, the game includes advanced rules. You’ll now need to place animals in specific patterns. It’s a clever step up from simple match-3, encouraging kids to think about both patterns and positioning. 

(4) Beautiful Storybook-Feel Artwork

The artwork by Beth Sobel gives Cascadia Junior a lovely storybook feel, with watercolor animals and a charming Panorama board that kids adore. As they add tokens, the board turns into a little play scene - bears looking for salmon, foxes roaming the forest - sparking creativity and storytelling. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.gamesworld.com.au/product/cascadia-junior/

Find your local game stores here: https://www.localgamestores.com.au/

Enjoy the video!