Best Environmental Board Games of 2024: Top 6 Picks
Looking for an ‘environmental’ board game that makes your game night both fun and educational? Well, you’re in the right place! We focus on games that blend intriguing gameplay with themes about our planet. We want games that teach players the importance of protecting the environment while ensuring everyone has a blast. Whether it’s about conserving national parks, harnessing the power of the sun, or saving endangered species, these games bring environmental issues to your table in an engaging way. We’ve tested these with friends, who survived both laughter and some friendly rivalry. Let’s get to greening up your game night!
On this list:
6 CO2: Second Chance
CO2: Second Chance is a game where players run energy companies. The goal is to supply clean, sustainable energy while managing pollution levels. We love how it makes us think about the real-world impact of industry on the environment. It feels like a high-stakes chess game, but with the fate of the Earth in our hands! This game requires a lot of strategy and negotiation, so don’t expect an easy romp. It fits perfectly on our ‘environmental’ list because it makes players face the consequences of their actions for the planet.
5 PARKS
PARKS takes players on a beautiful journey through U.S. national parks. Players collect memories and experiences as they navigate trails. The artwork is stunning, and each card showcases the breathtaking beauty of the parks. Although we’ve never played it during an actual camping trip, it definitely ignites the wanderlust! It’s on our list because it’s a gentle reminder of the beauty we need to preserve. Learning about nature while trying to win the game? That’s a win-win for us.
4 Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a game about growing trees and competing for sunlight. It’s like nature’s version of a dance-off. Each tree casts shadows, and the taller your tree, the more sun points you earn. The strategy can get intense, and we’ve had nights where we shouted, ‘Timber!’ If you love trees and tactical games, this ‘environmental’ themed board game is for you. It’s the sweetest reminder that even trees have their own battles.
3 Wingspan
Wingspan is a game about attracting birds to your wildlife preserve. With 170 unique birds, each game is a new experience. It might not make us experts on ornithology, but we’ve come to appreciate our feathered friends more. The game is as chill as a Sunday afternoon birdwatching session in the park. What puts Wingspan on our list is not only its educational value but also its celebration of biodiversity, something the environmental community values.
2 Terraforming Mars
Terraforming Mars transports players to the red planet, where they must turn a barren world into a thriving oasis. Players manage corporations with unique abilities to raise temperature, create oceans, and plant forests. We’ve spent hours trying to outdo each other in turning Mars into a new Earth. The strategic depth is immense, and the theme is exhilarating. It’s all about being the best at reshaping a planet’s environment, which is why it finds a place on our list.
1 Spirit Island
Spirit Island is the best in our list for its unique take on the environment theme. Players act as island spirits defending their home from colonizers. The cooperative gameplay is both challenging and rewarding. It’s as intense as a hurricane, and a single mistake can lead to disaster. We had a game where we laughed and cried while trying to fend off invaders. The game expertly weaves environmental themes with an engaging narrative. It’s like Captain Planet got a board game, and we couldn’t be happier!
