Best 8 Nature Board Games to Play in 2025
Nature is awesome, and so are these board games. We share the best picks for players who love forests, animals, and outdoors.
8 Best Nature Board Games for a Breath of Fresh Air at Game Night! We love a good board game, but nothing beats the peaceful vibes and leafy fun found in games inspired by nature. When we put this list together, we focused on easy rules, beautiful art, and gameplay that transports you outside—without worrying about bugs or sunburn. Whether you want to build a forest, watch birds, or grow your own ecosystem, these picks deliver the wholesome nature experience right to your table. Stick around if you want your next board game night to feel like a walk in the woods!
On this list:
8 PARKS
We love PARKS because it feels like a hike minus the bug bites and sunburn. It’s a game about trekking through stunning US national parks and collecting memories—literally. The art is so pretty, we almost got distracted and started naming our favorite camping snacks. The gameplay is smooth and easy for nature lovers and board game rookies alike. Gather gear, snap pictures, and get competitive over who visits Yellowstone first, all while learning a bit about actual nature. It’s a great family choice and even works with friends who think Monopoly is too intense. If you like the outdoors but also like working A/C, give this one a try.
7 Wingspan
Wingspan had us geeking out over birds, and we’re not even birdwatchers. You play as bird enthusiasts trying to attract feathered friends to your wildlife preserve. We actually argued over who got the quail card (it was cute, okay?). The game mixes light engine-building with beautiful nature art and smooth gameplay. Turns move fast, there’s eggs all over the board, and we never thought we’d have so much fun reading facts about finches during a game night. It’s not hard to learn, but has enough meat for those who like their strategy with a side of trivia.
6 Cascadia
Cascadia is like a chill walk through the Pacific Northwest, but with more tiles and way fewer mosquitoes. It’s all about building the most harmonious landscape by matching animals and habitats. There’s a lovely puzzle element that kept us all quietly bent over the table, only breaking the silence to groan when someone nabbed the tile we wanted. We never thought a game about nature could get so competitive, but here we are. This is a great choice for families or friends who want a game that feels relaxing but sneaks in some deep strategy.
5 Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis lets you live out your secret tree-hugger dreams. You plant, grow, and battle for sunlight—yes, there’s cutthroat competition in the world of trees. We spent an entire game blocking each other’s sun just to mess with each other, and it was oddly satisfying. The 3D trees look amazing on the board and really bring the nature theme to life. Simple rules, but there’s a lot of thinking and tactical shading. If you ever wanted to feel both zen and slightly evil as an oak, this is perfect.
4 Root
Root is what happens when woodland animals decide to go to war. This isn’t your grandma’s nature walk. Each player controls a different animal faction with its own weird goals—one of us was a sneaky raccoon, another built a bird empire. The cute art hides the fact that it can get deviously competitive. It’s a bit trickier to learn, but once everyone gets it, madness follows. If you like your nature with a side of strategic mayhem and backstabbing, this is the board game for you.
3 Arboretum
Arboretum is all about planting the prettiest path through a garden packed with trees. It looks peaceful, but don’t let that fool you. We spent most of the game sabotaging each other’s groves while pretending to be zen. It’s got simple rules, but the choices are brutal—do you play the card to help yourself, or keep it just so your friend can’t use it? If you like a game that feels serene but has that sneaky competitive edge, Arboretum hits the spot. Plus, you’ll end up learning way more tree names than you ever thought you would.
2 Earth
Earth is like getting tossed into an epic nature documentary where you create your own ecosystem. There’s cards for plants, animals, climates—if David Attenborough played board games, he’d probably pick this. The choices are wide, and you can score points in a bunch of weird, creative ways. Our table was a mess of forests, deserts, and wetlands, and honestly, we loved every minute. Earth works for both casuals and those who want to plan big combos. It’s a perfect blend of nature theme, engine building, and lots of fun.
1 Everdell
Everdell takes the crown for best nature board game, and we’re not just saying that because we’re suckers for a giant 3D tree centerpiece. You run a woodland city full of adorable critters who build, farm, and sometimes throw lavish festivals. We found ourselves getting way too attached to our squirrel mayor. The game blends card drafting, worker placement, and nature into one smooth, fun package. Turns are quick, there are lots of ways to win, and it’s just as good for two players as for four. Honestly, Everdell nails that magic balance between gorgeous looks, clever gameplay, and pure good times. If you want one nature game to rule them all, this is it.
