Best Nature Board Games 2026: Top 10 Reviewed
Explore the beauty of nature with these top board games. Each game captures the thrill and wonder of the natural world.
Top 10 Nature Board Games for New Players: Explore the Outdoors Around Your Table!
Nothing beats a board game night that brings the beauty of nature to your living room—except, maybe, an actual hike (but you won’t get snack breaks as easily in the woods). We scoured our game shelf and tested with friends to find nature board games that are fun, look great, and are easy for new players to learn. We focus on games with clever nature themes, plenty of replay value, and enough strategy to keep things interesting, but not so much that you need a forest guide to get started. Let’s get wild!
On this list:
10 Wingspan
Wingspan is the birdwatching board game we never knew we needed. You get to collect birds, lay eggs, and build up your very own bird sanctuary. Every round, we found ourselves learning weird things about birds – and doing a lot of ‘peep peep’ noises, which annoyed our neighbors. The art is amazing and the theme brings nature right to your table. It’s easy to pick up, but there’s enough strategy to keep things spicy like a squawking parrot at 6am. Plus, our friend who’s scared of pigeons actually wanted a rematch.
9 PARKS
PARKS lets you hike your meeple across America’s National Parks. This game made us want to put on backpacks and immediately regret it. You collect gear, snap photos, and see who can visit the most parks. Every card is like a little piece of nature artwork. It’s chill but not boring, and the trail system changes every game, which means we got lost more than once. PARKS is perfect for anyone who wants a relaxing stroll in nature, minus all the bug bites.
8 Cascadia
Cascadia is the reason we now have strong opinions about salmon. You draft tiles and tokens to build habitats for animals in the Pacific Northwest. The puzzle here is sneaky: you keep trying to fit things together, but always end up with a bear next to a fox – chaos, but in a good way. We played this one with our gran and she absolutely destroyed us. It’s a lovely nature puzzle that’s easy for anyone to jump into, but hard to master.
7 Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the board game where trees are the real stars. You plant seeds, grow trees, and compete for sunlight. Yes – trees fighting for light, and it’s somehow tense. Our group discovered that blocking someone’s tree with your big pine can get you uninvited to game night. It’s all about clever planning, and it looks gorgeous on the table. If you want to experience the drama of nature without getting dirt under your nails, this is the game.
6 Earth
Earth gives you the chance to build your own ecosystem. We had a blast stacking up forests, deserts, and wetlands. The chain reactions you get from your cards feel great, like knocking over a line of dominoes – but with more plants. There’s a ton of variety and combos, which means it stays fresh every time. If you want a nature board game that gives you that satisfying ‘I made this!’ feeling, Earth seriously delivers.
5 Arboretum
In Arboretum, you build the prettiest path through the forest using cards. It sounds peaceful, but don’t be fooled – this nature game has a sneaky mean streak. Every turn felt like we were stealing our friend’s favorite tree, and trust us, people remember. The artwork is beautiful, and the gameplay is quick and sharp. If you want lovely trees with just the right dose of take-that energy, Arboretum is a solid pick.
4 The Quest for El Dorado
The Quest for El Dorado has you slicing through jungles, deserts, and rivers in a race for gold. The whole thing drips with a nature vibe – there are machetes, lakes, and enough vines to make Tarzan jealous. We spent half the game lost, but loved the deck-building mix with a wild exploration theme. If you want a fast-paced nature adventure that feels different every time, El Dorado will keep you coming back.
3 Everdell
Everdell is a magical nature board game packed with cute animals and an ever-growing tree centerpiece that looks like it was stolen from a fairy tale. Building a city of critters can be tricky, as everyone is competing for resources (and, let’s be honest, acorns). We loved how it mixes worker-placement with card combos, and there’s always that one friend who hoards rabbits. It’s a family favorite and a beautiful way to explore a woodland world.
2 Mariposas
Mariposas follows the yearly migration of butterflies. We spent more time trying to explain why our butterfly was going the wrong way than actually winning. But that’s part of the fun. It’s a unique nature board game because it blends movement, set collection, and lots of second-guessing your choices. And hey, even when you mess up, you end up with a bunch of pretty butterflies. This one is light, smart, and perfect for anyone who likes to flutter about.
1 Spirit Island
Spirit Island is, hands down, our pick for the best nature board game. Why? First, you play as the ISLAND – or, well, as powerful nature spirits protecting the land from invaders. It’s cooperative, so either you all win, or you all end up watching the settlers build little wooden cities on your sacred ground. Every session gets intense: we yelled, we strategized, and we even chanted (don’t judge). What makes Spirit Island brilliant is how it brings the struggle of nature to life and pushes teamwork to the max. If you want the ultimate nature experience and a real challenge, this is it.
