13 Best Nature Board Games Reviewed for 2025
Nature lovers, rejoice! We picked the best nature board games that are easy to play, fun, and filled with adventure.
13 Nature Board Games Every Beginner Should Try! If you love nature and want it at your table (no, not more houseplants), you’re in the right spot. We know picking the perfect board game can feel harder than growing an orchid. When we picked our top nature board games, we looked for easy rules, good art, and fun themes that feel like a walk in the woods—or a bug-filled hike if you play with our group. Whether you’re new to the hobby or just want to try something green, these games are a great start for nature fans.
On this list:
13 Photosynthesis
We put Photosynthesis on this list because it lets you grow a forest. Yes, we have pretended to be trees, and it’s a lot more fun than you’d think. The sun moves around the board and lights your tree babies, while you block sunlight from friends. It’s sneaky, green, and surprisingly cut-throat. You’ll feel like Mother Nature and a sneaky plant villain all at once. If you want a nature-themed board game that’s both simple and very clever, this is the one to start with.
12 Wingspan
Wingspan is the reason we can now name five birds that aren’t pigeons. It’s gorgeous, relaxing, and you learn weird bird facts you’ll never need. You collect eggs, food, and birds, and the artwork makes it feel like you’re flipping through a birdwatcher’s dream journal. It’s the kind of game you’ll want to play over coffee, or when you just need some nature and chill in your life.
11 PARKS
PARKS lets you hike through beautiful national parks without ever stepping on a snake. We played this on a rainy day, and it was like taking our souls on a sunny walk. You collect gear, take photos, and see all the parks while arguing over who gets the canteen. The tokens are nice enough to eat (don’t do it). This one’s perfect if you love nature and passive aggressive hiking.
10 Cascadia
Cascadia is tile-laying with a nature vibe, where you build habitats and fill them with animals. If you think matching tiles is boring, we challenge you to play this with a straight face. The animal tokens are adorable, and scoring is as chill as a lazy bear. We played with our aunt, who’s still talking about her ‘epic salmon run’. This is a great entry point for new players looking for a nature board game that isn’t hard to learn.
9 Earth
Earth made us pretend to be gardeners and climate engineers. You build your own ecosystem, plant trees, and create a tiny planet on the table. The game looks busy but it flows so smooth after a couple of practice turns. Every card shows a real plant or terrain, so you get a bit of nature trivia with your strategy. We ended up cheering for someone’s mushroom card, which says a lot about our group.
8 Evolution: Climate
If you ever wanted to try survival of the fittest with your friends, Evolution: Climate is the nature board game for you. Adapt your species, survive disasters, and add horns or fur whenever you feel like it. This one can get a bit wild, but it’s always hilarious. Last time, our herbivore was eaten by a friend’s meat-loving monster. It’s cutthroat, smart, and full of nature chaos.
7 Mariposas
Mariposas is about monarch butterfly migration, which sounds peaceful until everyone is scrambling for flowers. It’s all about movement and planning, and the little butterfly pieces are great. We laughed at our failed attempts to fly north (wind cards are evil). If you want a lighter, breezy nature game that tells a story, try this one for sure.
6 The Isle of Cats
Cats and nature, what could go wrong? The Isle of Cats mixes polyomino tiles, baskets, and wild cats. You rescue cats from an island and try to fit them on your boat. It’s half puzzling, half ‘why won’t this orange cat fit here’. We had more fun arguing over cats than actually winning. Nature and puzzles never felt so silly.
5 Meadow
Meadow feels like a walk through a field, but with more card-drafting. You collect cool animals, plants, and odd mushrooms with beautiful art. It’s strategic without being mean, and you learn about real creatures as you play. We got way too into collecting bugs, which surprised no one. If you want a serene and educational nature board game, this one’s a winner.
4 Planet
Planet gives you a big magnetic dodecahedron and lets you build a world. You try to attract animals by matching the habitats on each side. It’s one of the most fun nature games for families and anyone who likes to mess with magnets. It got intense when we tried to put penguins in deserts, but that’s not how nature works. Or so we learned.
3 Evergreen
Evergreen lets you grow trees, shape forests, and chase after sunlight. You build your own little patch of nature and compete to make the greenest, sunniest forest. It’s quick and relaxing, but somehow turns competitive near the end (blame the sun tokens). This is another great pick for fans of nature and board games who don’t want to learn a ton of rules.
2 Takenoko
Takenoko convinced us that pandas are the best thing in nature. You build bamboo gardens, water them, and chase a hungry panda around. It’s cute, simple, and makes everyone laugh when the panda eats too much. If you want a nature board game that will keep every player smiling, Takenoko is a must.
1 Arboretum
We picked Arboretum because it mixes relaxing nature themes with some of the most fun card strategy we’ve ever played. You plant beautiful tree paths but also block your friends so hard, you’ll never be invited to their garden party. It’s gorgeous, clever, and packs a lot of tension in a tiny box.
