Perch – Test of the majority game full of dirty tricks

What's this?

Perch is a strategy game for 2 to 5 players where flocks of birds battle to dominate locations in the open countryside. Don’t be fooled by its rustic appearance: behind its cozy nests lies a merciless war between birds to take control of the territory and score as many points as possible.

How do you play?

The game is played in 5 rounds , each divided into 4 phases: Migration , Recruitment , Roost (placement), then Maintenance (scoring). Here is the procedure:

🔁 1. Migration Phase

Each player places two birds from their flock in a migration bag (an opaque bag). Some locations allow for more birds to be added. These birds can then be drawn by other players.

🐣 2. Recruitment Phase

Each player draws 2 birds at random from the bag, then adds 2 birds from their own flock (from their reserve), making a hand of 4 birds.

🪶 3. Perch Phase

In turn, each player places their birds one by one on the Location tiles , according to precise rules:

Only one bird color per stack.
Multiple birds can be stacked.
You can perch on nests to gain a bonus.
Once per turn, you can perform a bonus action :
- Activate a controlled creature.
- Build a birdhouse (protects the battery).
- Zap a bird (remove a bird from a location with a Lightning token).

🔄 4. Maintenance Phase

We proceed in this order:

Calculation of points for each location, according to the majority.
Reassignment of turn order based on scores.
Creature Control : Whoever dominates their starting location controls them for the next round.
We advance the sleeve marker .

Note : bonuses arrive at the end of the game:

Creature Control: +3 points each.
Biggest volley at a location: +10 points.
Birds in the fountain or square: +X points depending on the floor.

Is it good?

Under its cute appearance, Perchés hides a majority game where all dirty tricks are allowed , with direct and sometimes cruel interaction. The placement mechanics are very strategic: in each round, you will have to place not only your own birds , but also possibly those of your opponents, drawn at random from the migration bag. This allows, for example, to cause ties to cancel points , or to force a player to occupy a location that will be unfavorable to him in terms of scoring. You will have to constantly adapt to the actions of the other players , because each move can upset the balance of the board.

The game features a wide variety of Location tiles, creatures, and secret objectives , ensuring excellent replayability . And winning isn’t always just a majority: sometimes second or even third place earns more points, adding real strategic depth .

On the material side, it’s a great success: colorful stackable birds , small nests , plexiglass creatures make the whole thing very pleasant to handle. The illustrations are charming and immersive , reinforcing the bucolic atmosphere… which nevertheless hides a perfectly orchestrated chaos.

What might be less appealing is precisely this permanent, frontal interaction , which may displease players sensitive to low blows. Perchés is clearly a “swelling” game , to be reserved for an informed public who like direct confrontations. Another point to note: even if the game is playable by two, it takes on its full flavor from 3 players .

In short , Perchés is an excellent surprise for fans of majority games: lots of strategy, constant tension, twists and turns, and superb material . But don’t let the cute birds fool you… here, the law of the smartest rules the branches!

If you enjoy the content and want to support the site, purchase your games through our affiliate links. The price remains the same for you, but we earn a small commission. Thank you for your support!

Perch Review

8.0Good

Perch is a clever and interactive majority game, where players compete with their birds to dominate locations, sometimes by manipulating other players' birds as well. Beneath its cute exterior lies a strategic, tense, and dirty-talking game, ideal for those who enjoy direct interaction.

Positives