Photosynthesis Board Game to Cultivate Your Strategy Skills

By: Blue Orange    Players: 2-4     Ages: 10+     Time: 30-60 mins

The sun shines brightly on the canopy of the forest and the trees grow and flourish beautifully as they absorb it’s energy. Growing the largest grove of trees is the name of the game in Photosynthesis.

An environmental, tactical board game, Photosynthesis looks at the life cycle of trees, from sapling to fully bloomed, and sees players collect points for positioning their trees where they can collect the most sunlight.

Aesthetically beautiful and well crafted, it poses a unique strategic experience for board game enthusiasts and is especially enjoyable for lovers of all things science. The game appeals to both seasoned gamers and those new to the hobby.

What Is Photosynthesis Board Game?

Photosynthesis is a strategy board game designed by Hjalmar Hach and published by Blue Orange in 2017. Upon it’s release it was praised with how beautiful it looked, how easy it was to learn, and how well it played from start to finish. An expansion was released for the game in 2020 (Under the Moonlight) that could be integrated into the original game or played independently. 

Photosynthesis Board Game is all about the lifecycle of trees. It sees players strategically sow their seeds, watch their saplings grow, and vie to become the largest trees and absorb the most sunlight. The game is played over several rounds, each of which has several phases. It involves a careful balance of positioning trees to absorb enough light in order to purchase more trees, whilst trying to block out light for opponents to stunt the growth of their trees. 

Key Features of Photosynthesis Board Game

Photosynthesis board game is a competitive board game designed by Hjalmar Hach and published by Blue Orange Games. The game features a unique blend of strategy and luck, making it a great addition to any board game collection. Here are some key features of the game:

• Beautiful Foliage: One of the standout features of Photosynthesis is its stunning 3D cardboard trees. These trees are designed to represent different species, adding a visually appealing element to the game. The beautiful foliage not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also plays a crucial role in the gameplay.

• Sunlight Points: The game revolves around the sun, which moves around the board, casting shadows and affecting point generation. Players must carefully plan their tree placement to maximize their sunlight points. The sun’s movement simulates the earth’s rotation, requiring players to adapt their strategy as the game progresses.

• Growing Trees: Players can grow their trees in three different sizes: small, medium, and large. Each tree size functions differently in the game, and players must strategically choose which trees to grow and when. Larger trees cast bigger shadows, which can block opponents’ trees from gaining sunlight points, adding a layer of tactical depth.

• Planting Seeds: Planting seeds is a fundamental mechanic in Photosynthesis. Players can plant seeds to grow new trees, but they must carefully consider the placement of their seeds to maximize their chances of earning points. The strategic placement of seeds can determine the success of future tree growth and point accumulation.

• Sun Moves: The sun moves around the board, simulating the earth’s rotation. This movement affects the point generation and requires players to adapt their strategy. As the sun moves, it changes the direction of shadows, impacting which trees gain sunlight points and which are cast in shadow.

• Game Ends: The game ends when two of the piles of scoring tokens are depleted. The player with the most points wins the game. This end condition adds a sense of urgency and encourages players to think ahead and plan their moves carefully.

• Multiple Playthroughs: Photosynthesis offers a high replay value, with multiple playthroughs offering different challenges and opportunities. Players can experiment with different strategies and tree placements to improve their chances of winning. The dynamic nature of the game ensures that no two games are the same.

• Blue Orange Games: Photosynthesis Board Game is a great example of Blue Orange Games’ commitment to creating high-quality, engaging board games. Known for their innovative and beautifully designed games, Blue Orange has once again delivered a must-play for fans of strategy and board games.

Overall, Photosynthesis is a wonderful board game that offers a unique blend of strategy and luck. With its beautiful foliage, sunlight points, and growing trees, the game is a great addition to any board game collection. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to the world of board games, Photosynthesis board game provides an engaging and visually stunning experience that is sure to captivate players of all ages.

Photosynthesis Board Game Set-Up

Each player receives a board, a light point tracker, six seeds and fourteen trees of varying sizes at the start of the game. Players set four seeds, four small trees, three medium trees and two large trees on the spaces on their board and set the light tracker to 0. All remaining trees and seeds are placed along the side of the main game board (which should be in the middle of everybody) which represent the components available from the beginning of the game.

Taking turns, players then place one of their small trees on a space of the external edge of the main board, followed by a second. This will allow players to collect light points on their first turn. Players will need to rethink their strategies multiple times throughout the game as they progress through different rounds. Finally, a sun segment is placed on the sun symbol on the board and the revolution counters are set in numerical order to keep track of the sun’s revolutions.

How To Play Photosynthesis Board Game

In Photosynthesis, the goal is to maximise tree growth in the time it takes for the sun to circle the board three time. The game is played over a series of rounds each with two phases:

1. The Photosynthesis Phase – where light points are collected.

2. The Life Cycle Phase – using light points to take various actions.

With the exception of the opening round, the first player moves the sun segment clockwise to the next angle on the hexagonal board. This will show what stage of the day it is and how the light shines on the forest, dictating which direction the shadows are cast.

Light points are then counted based on the new position of the sun. Players will gain light points for each tree not in the shadow of another and will add these points to their player board by moving the light point tracker. The amount of points a player gains is relative to the size of the tree (with the larger ones garnering more points) and light points will accumulate from round to round, with the maximum a player can have at any given time is 20. Players will only gain points however for any trees not cast in shadow. The larger the tree, the bigger the shadow it casts, and if a tree is the same size or smaller than an opponents it won’t receive any points. Only trees that are larger than their rivals will be able to score any points, and consequently cast shadows over the smaller trees.

After points are calculated in the Photosynthesis Phases, players are free to spend them in the Life Cycle phase. They take turns to decide whether to use all or some light points to carry out any number of actions.

Players are free to use light points to purchase seeds or trees of any size from their player boards. The cost is indicated next to them and must be bought from the bottom of the board up, with each purchase being more expensive than the last. Once the purchases have been made, these playing pieces are moved next to the main game board.

Players can plant a seed around one or more of their trees for one point per seed. When planting seeds, they must be placed within so many spaces of one of the existing trees, but the bigger the tree the more flexibility there is with it’s positioning. Only one seed can be associated with one tree however so picking placement at this stage is incredibly important.

Light points can also be used to grow a seed or tree to the next size up. One point to turn a seed into a small tree, two to turn a small tree into a medium one, and three points to turn a medium tree to a large one. Players can grow their trees into large trees, which cast bigger shadows and earn more points.

Finally, players can collect scoring tokens by ending the life-cycle of their large trees. Doing so costs four light points and sends the tree from the main board back to the players board. The player then collects the scoring token that matches the soil type the tree was previously routed in. Different tree sizes (small, medium, and large) play a role in the strategic decisions players make during the game.

After all players have taken a turn, the first player token is passed to the next player clockwise, and a new round starts with the Photosynthesis phase. When the sun has completed one revolution around the board, the top token of the sun revolution counter pile I drawn and set aside.

Photosynthesis board game ends when the sun has completed three revolutions around the board and the last sun revolution counter has been drawn. At this point, the player with the most points wins the game.

Summary: How the Game Ends

Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to the world of board games, Photosynthesis provides an engaging and visually stunning experience that is sure to captivate players of all ages. The game appeals to a wide range of gamers, from casual players to die-hard enthusiasts, making it an excellent introduction for creating new gamers.

• Very aesthetically pleasing

• Easy to learn rules

• Smooth and seamless gameplay

• Great for all ages

• A good introduction to strategy games

Who Should Buy This Game?

We think you should buy this game if:

You like eye catching games: One of Photosynthesis’s biggest things going for it is it’s looks. Everything looks great and is aesthetically pleasing.

You don’t like complicated games: Photosynthesis is an easy to learn game and focuses more on utilising strategy with the rules it does give you, rather than bogging you down with bible sized rulebook.

You don’t like long games: Each game typically takes 30-45 minutes to set-up and play so it’s great for if you don’t want to get stuck playing one game for hours at a time.

You’re a fan of science and biology: Photosynthesis puts a big focus on the lifecycle of trees and is an interesting game for those with a genuine interest in ecology and the environment.

You might not like this game if:

You like strategic depth: Photosynthesis is a strategy game at it’s heart but is more for those that want a light touch rather than something overly cerebral.

You want lots of added extras:  With so many games out there with plenty of expansions to offer, some people may want more variety and add-ons to their games. Photosynthesis just offers the one.

Also Read: Everdell Board Game: A Comprehensive Review for Strategy Lovers

Final Verdict

Photosynthesis is a fun and simple strategy game that’s easy to learn, quick to set-up, and looks great. The 3-D tree components combined with the great looking artwork make this an incredibly aesthetically pleasing and eye-catching game. It has just the right amount of strategy to appeal to most audiences and can serve as a great gateway game for new players. With only two steps each round, gameplay runs smoothly and seamlessly and each playthrough is relatively short and manageable to sit through for all players. Offering a good level of strategic gameplay and looking great, it’s worth a try for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)