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Stem & Branch

Stem & Branch

2026·Michael Orion

Videos
5
Creators
5

Mainly reviews. Stem & Branch is covered on BoardGameVideo.com by 2 reviews, 1 recorded sessions, and 2 other videos.

1 - 4 players
20 - 30 min
Light weight: Learn it in minutes

From BoardGameGeek

Stem & Branch (Thiên Can a Chi) is an approachable & fast playing strategy card game inspired by the animals and elements of the 60-year Eastern zodiac calendar. It was lovingly crafted for families and gamers alike in hopes of creating a rewarding and fun way to enjoy the depth of the Eastern zodiac. You and the other players will compete or cooperate on a shared tableau to rebuild the calendar from beginning to end. By utilizing the elements and supporting the animals, players gain years throughout the game. Spend your time wisely as the player who contributes the most years will win. Game Summary The Stem and Branch cycle is represented in the 60-card deck, with each card symbolizing a year guided by a Spirit Animal and one of the Five Elements. As an Immortal, your sacred task is to nurture the Tree of Time by summoning and ascending the Spirit Animals from the Stream of Time and recording their progress in the Scroll of Time. The cost to summon a Spirit Animal depends on its rank and Element Type, paid by expending matching Animals and Elements you control. Once summoned, Animals already on the board can share their Element Type, making it easier to summon and ascend more Animals. In cooperative play, you work together to help all the Spirit Animals complete their journeys before the Stream of Time runs out. In competitive play, you compete for control of the Animals and Elements to devote the most years to the Tree of Time. The game ends when the Stream of Time runs out. You then add the years you gained and the one who has the most years will be the winner. -description from the publisher

Stem & Branch

Watch first

Review

Top 10 Small Box Games from Asia 202522:44

Top 10 Small Box Games from Asia 2025

Cardboard East

Cardboard East

Watch it played

| THIÊN CAN ĐỊA CHI | 12 con giáp đón chào năm mới 2026 cùng BOARD GAME ĐÂY39:39

| THIÊN CAN ĐỊA CHI | 12 con giáp đón chào năm mới 2026 cùng BOARD GAME ĐÂY

Board Game Đây

Board Game Đây

Which Stem & Branch video should I watch?

Stem & Branch has 5 videos from 5 creators: 2 reviews, 1 playthrough and 2 other videos. They date from 2024 to June 2026.

For an opinion before you buy, start with "Top 10 Small Box Games from Asia 2025" by Cardboard East. To see it played, watch "| THIÊN CAN ĐỊA CHI | 12 con giáp đón chào năm mới 2026 cùng BOARD GAME ĐÂY" by Board Game Đây.

If you like it, try Onstage and Phố Phở, also by Michael Orion, or Onirim (Second Edition) and Flourish, which share several of its mechanics.

All videos

Top 10 Small Box Games from Asia 2025Review22:44

Top 10 Small Box Games from Asia 2025

Cardboard East

Cardboard East

New to BGA: Stem and Branch, How to Play on BGAReview7:47

New to BGA: Stem and Branch, How to Play on BGA

Digital Board Gamer

Digital Board Gamer

| THIÊN CAN ĐỊA CHI | 12 con giáp đón chào năm mới 2026 cùng BOARD GAME ĐÂYPlaythrough39:39

| THIÊN CAN ĐỊA CHI | 12 con giáp đón chào năm mới 2026 cùng BOARD GAME ĐÂY

Board Game Đây

Board Game Đây

Part 6 - The Haul! + The Plinko Game and How I Feel About It [All aBOARD EXPO '26]36:46

Part 6 - The Haul! + The Plinko Game and How I Feel About It [All aBOARD EXPO '26]

So Many Games, So Little Time SMGSLT

So Many Games, So Little Time SMGSLT

Stem & Branch #boardgames #boardgamegeek #prototype0:09

Stem & Branch #boardgames #boardgamegeek #prototype

給肥龍一盒桌遊

給肥龍一盒桌遊

Creators who cover this

All channels
Board Game Đây
Board Game Đây
1 video of this game
Cardboard East
Cardboard East
1 video of this game
Digital Board Gamer
Digital Board Gamer
1 video of this game
So Many Games, So Little Time SMGSLT
So Many Games, So Little Time SMGSLT
1 video of this game
給肥龍一盒桌遊
給肥龍一盒桌遊
1 video of this game

Games like this

All games

Onstage

2024·Michael Orion

Videos
10
Creators
9
Mostly reviews

3 - 5 players·15 - 30 min

Phố Phở

2026·Michael Orion

Videos
1
Creators
1
Playthroughs

2 - 6 players·20 - 30 min

Onirim (Second Edition)

2014·Shadi Torbey

Videos
64
Creators
40
Mostly playthroughs and reviews

1 - 2 players·15 min·Light weight

Flourish

2021·James A. Wilson, Clarissa A. Wilson

Videos
49
Creators
38
Mainly reviews

1 - 7 players·20 - 60 min·Light weight

About Stem & Branch

From BoardGameGeek:

Stem & Branch (Thiên Can a Chi) is an approachable & fast playing strategy card game inspired by the animals and elements of the 60-year Eastern zodiac calendar. It was lovingly crafted for families and gamers alike in hopes of creating a rewarding and fun way to enjoy the depth of the Eastern zodiac. You and the other players will compete or cooperate on a shared tableau to rebuild the calendar from beginning to end. By utilizing the elements and supporting the animals, players gain years throughout the game. Spend your time wisely as the player who contributes the most years will win. Game Summary The Stem and Branch cycle is represented in the 60-card deck, with each card symbolizing a year guided by a Spirit Animal and one of the Five Elements. As an Immortal, your sacred task is to nurture the Tree of Time by summoning and ascending the Spirit Animals from the Stream of Time and recording their progress in the Scroll of Time. The cost to summon a Spirit Animal depends on its rank and Element Type, paid by expending matching Animals and Elements you control. Once summoned, Animals already on the board can share their Element Type, making it easier to summon and ascend more Animals. In cooperative play, you work together to help all the Spirit Animals complete their journeys before the Stream of Time runs out. In competitive play, you compete for control of the Animals and Elements to devote the most years to the Tree of Time. The game ends when the Stream of Time runs out. You then add the years you gained and the one who has the most years will be the winner. -description from the publisher

Designer

Michael Orion

Artist

Minh Nguyen

Publisher

Rolling Wizards Studio

Categories

AnimalsCard GameEducational

Mechanics

Cooperative GameGrid MovementHand ManagementSet Collection
View on BoardGameGeek ›
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