Perch - A Strategic Battle of Birds for Forest Dominance

A Beautiful Forest, a Hidden War

At first glance, Perch by Inside Up Games looks like a cozy and relaxing game about colorful birds peacefully sharing a forest. But don’t be fooled - beneath the bright feathers lies a tense tactical struggle for control.

Players must carefully plan their moves, outthink opponents, and make the most of the unpredictable “bird bag,” where luck and strategy intertwine. Every round brings new twists as you deploy your birds, contest territories, and decide when to take risks - or play it safe.

Preparing to Fly: Goals and Components

Perch unfolds over five rounds, each divided into several phases. First, all birds “migrate” into a common bag, where everyone’s flocks mix together. Then, players draw random birds - sometimes their own, sometimes their rivals’ - and must place them on different location tiles across the forest.

This mechanic adds exciting unpredictability: you never know exactly which birds will be available, and every draw can change your plans.

The main phase is placement, where the heart of the tactical struggle takes place.

• Players take turns assigning their birds to compete for locations.

• Scoring is not always about being first - sometimes second or third place can yield a smarter outcome.

• The tension builds as players weigh risk versus safety, bluff their intentions, and adapt to the ever-changing state of the board.

Special attention goes to Creature cards - unique forest dwellers with powerful abilities.
Controlling them grants bonus points and effects that can reshape the game entirely. A seemingly weak position can turn into a decisive victory if these creatures are used wisely.

Tactics and Strategy: The Path to Victory

At the end of each round, players earn points for controlling locations - but ties for first place can lead to surprising outcomes. In some cases, both leaders receive nothing, leaving a clever third player to take advantage.

The final scoring after five rounds includes:

• Points for controlled locations

• Bonuses from creature cards

• Additional points for birds in the central “Fountain”, where displaced birds gather

• A bonus for the largest flock

Victory goes to the player who best distributes their forces, predicts opponents’ moves, and seizes opportunities as they appear.
Winning in Perch requires both strategic foresight and psychological insight -  knowing when to commit, when to retreat, and when to bluff just enough to throw rivals off balance.

Who Will Enjoy This Game

While Perch plays smoothly with two players, it truly shines in groups of three or more. The more players, the more chaos, competition, and drama the forest holds.

Perfect for:

• Fans of strategic planning and positional play

• Players who enjoy bluffing, reading opponents, and surprise reversals

• Lovers of beautiful components and thematic tension

• Groups who prefer short but intense sessions (30–60 minutes)

Play Perch on Tabletopia

Test your strategy and cunning in the digital forest!
Play Perch on Tabletopia - with no setup, no cleanup, and full access to the original board game experience.

Take flight and prove who rules the branches - play now on Tabletopia!