Nature and animal board games are a fun way to explore the outdoors from the comfort of your home while also enjoying a fun strategic competition with friends and family. All of the entries on our list offer solid game mechanics and beautiful artwork that engage with the wonders of planet Earth. Beyond the theme, they’re also all a guaranteed win on game night.
In Everdell, your goal is to build a city full of animals and cache resources before the next winter arrives. When it’s your turn, you can either place workers on the board, or play a card that either populates or further develops your town. The adorable artwork features cute critters dressed up as rangers, monks, post officers, and other interesting townspeople. The rules are easy to learn, and the amount of card combos available also gives the game considerable replay value.
Mariposas is a board game that focuses on the migration of butterflies in North America, which occurs each year from spring until fall. The game thus takes place over the course of three rounds, each of which represent a season. Scoring takes place after each season, and you’ll gain most of your points either by reproducing your butterflies or by accomplishing end-of-round goals on an objective board, in similar fashion to Wingspan. If you’re looking for a cozy, low difficulty tabletop title, Mariposas is a great pick.
The fairy tale artwork in the trick taking card game Fox in the Forest establishes a wonderful fantasy nature theme that also comes across well in the game’s mechanics. Characters like the witch, the monarch, and the fox shake up the trump card system found in other similar card games, keeping things fresh and exciting. In addition, it’s not always best to play the most tricks; if you do, you might get zero points in a round just for being a bit too greedy.
Want to take a trip to the most beautiful national parks in North America without leaving the comfort of your home? PARKS lets you do just that. Players work to collect memories of the trails they’ve visited and gather gear for their next hiking adventure. Campfires allow you to share spaces with other players, while locations like trading posts and lodges allow you to gather more items and reserve more parks for future visits.
In the Photosynthesis board game, a group of competing arborists aim to collect the most light points based on the soil quality in which they’ve planted their trees. The sun rotates around the main game board, so that each tree casts a shadow that prevents some of the trees behind it from collecting points. The taller the tree, the longer the shadow. Though the box might make it look like one of the more relaxing nature board games, it’s actually a fiercely competitive experience.
The Pacific Northwest features a vast and diverse ecosystem, and in Cascadia, it’s your job to put that ecosystem together for its animal inhabitants. By grouping habitat tiles and placing animals in the terrains you’ve created, you’ll score a considerable amount of points. However, each native species, from the brown bear to the river salmon, has its own placement requirements. You can often complete a game in under 30 minutes, and there’s even an enjoyable solo mode in which you can try to beat your previous high score.
While the original Wingspan is of course a great board game for nature lovers, few seem to know that Wingspan Asia is not just an expansion of the original game, but a great standalone board game for one or two players. The birds in your flock are more diverse and rare than the original game, and many of the cards have more unique “when activated” effects. The artwork and play mats are gorgeous, and there are plenty of interesting outcomes, which gives the game high replay value.
In Forest Shuffle, it’s up to you to create a beautiful forest full of different species of plants and animals. First, you’ll start by planting a collection of trees. Then, you’ll add birds, butterflies, foxes, and all manner of other critters to these tree cards to collect points. Set bonuses and strategic card pairings will net you a higher score. Depending on your strategy, you can also gather points by placing cards in your cave, which is activated by predator animals like the brown bear.
Ark Nova is a strategy-rich board and card game in which your objective is to build a conservation friendly zoo. You’ll need to meet the basic needs of the animals you’re hoping will inhabit your zoo. You’ll also need to keep track of your sponsors and association workers. In addition, you’ll have to carefully consider the placement of your enclosures and attractions on your player board if you hope to collect the most points. Ark Nova might feel complex the first time you play it, but figuring out which strategies work for you is also an incredibly rewarding experience that board gaming enthusiasts will love.
Construct a tableau of incredible natural wonders, animals, and flora in Earth, a strategy card game that offers seemingly limitless ways to win. Each card depicts a unique natural phenomenon, and takes players to fascinating locations as far apart as the fjords of Iceland and the southern regions of Japan. It’s up to you to decide which of the cards in your hand belong on your sixteen-card island, and which ones you’re better off composting for victory points instead. The game also offers a unique mechanic that allows you to keep taking minor actions when it’s not your turn. It’s great fun that just about everyone on Earth can enjoy.
