The game Parks is an engaging board game that invites players on a thematic journey through the diverse landscapes of the United States National Parks. It is fundamentally a game of resource gathering, strategic movement, and set collection, designed to evoke the beauty and tranquility of nature exploration.
Immersive Exploration and Resource Management
At its core, Parks simulates the experience of hiking along a trail, where strategic decisions about movement and resource acquisition are key. Each player begins their adventure with two hikers and an empty canteen at the starting point of the trail. As turns progress, players will guide their hikers through various spaces, each offering unique opportunities.
The main gameplay loop involves:
- Movement: On each turn, a player moves one of their hikers to an empty space further along the trail. This simple rule creates tactical depth as players must decide which spaces to claim and which opportunities to prioritize or deny their opponents.
- Resource Gathering and Actions: Upon landing on a space, players may acquire specific resources or perform a distinct action. These actions are vital for progressing in the game and include:
- Obtaining Canteens: Canteens are powerful tools that can be filled with water resources to activate special abilities or provide ongoing benefits, often making future actions more efficient.
- Taking Photographs: Capturing scenic views through photographs is a way to earn points, often by completing sets or fulfilling specific objectives.
- Encountering Wildlife: Interactions with wildlife can grant various benefits, from immediate resources to unique advantages for future turns.
- Acquiring Trail Resources: The most common action involves collecting resources such as mountains, forests, water, or sun tokens, which are essential for achieving the game's ultimate goal.
The Journey to National Parks
The ultimate objective in Parks is to collect specific combinations of trail resources to "visit" various National Parks. Each park card has a unique resource cost, and by spending the required tokens, a player can claim that park, earning victory points at the end of the game. The game is played over four "seasons," each representing a year of hiking, with special rules or events that activate at the beginning of each season, adding variability and new strategic considerations. The player who has accumulated the most victory points from visited parks, photographs, and other bonuses by the end of the final season is declared the winner.
Key Game Elements
The game is built upon a few core components that contribute to its strategic depth and thematic appeal:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Hikers | Player pawns moved along the trail to claim spaces and perform actions. |
| Trail | A linear path composed of various spaces, each offering unique resources or actions. The trail typically lengthens or shortens with each "season." |
| Resources | Tokens representing natural elements (e.g., mountains, forests, water, sun) collected from trail spaces, primarily used to "visit" National Parks. |
| Canteens | Special item cards that provide ongoing abilities or one-time benefits when activated, often by spending water resources. |
| Photographs | Cards collected throughout the game that contribute to end-game scoring, often by meeting specific conditions or completing sets. |
| National Park Cards | The primary scoring mechanism; players spend collected resources to claim these cards, which depict iconic U.S. National Parks and award victory points. |
| Year Cards | Cards that dictate the trail setup and provide unique seasonal effects or objectives for each of the four rounds (years) of the game. |
Why Play Parks?
Parks stands out for its beautiful artwork, straightforward rules, and engaging gameplay that balances tactical movement with long-term strategic planning. Its thematic connection to national parks, combined with its accessibility, makes it a favorite among both casual players and seasoned board game enthusiasts looking for a relaxing yet thoughtful experience. It’s an excellent choice for those who enjoy resource management, set collection, and a touch of player interaction.
For more information about the game, including detailed rules and community discussions, you can visit its page on BoardGameGeek.
