Welcome to my review of Yellowstone, the board game that had my friends and I acting like competitive wolves fighting for the best spot at Old Faithful. If you’re after a game where your decisions actually matter—and would rather not lose because someone drew a lucky card—keep reading. After several intense sessions, complete with some questionable wildlife impressions, I’ve got opinions, stories, and a few warnings. Is this the next star in your game night lineup? Let’s find out.
How It Plays
Setting up
Each player grabs their wildlife tokens and a park ranger meeple. Shuffle the park board tiles, then place them in the middle. Sprinkle the resource tokens (fish, wood, bear claws) around the board. Everyone takes a secret goal card—no peeking at your neighbor’s, Dave!
Gameplay
Players take turns moving their rangers, collecting resources, and claiming land. You build trails, snap up geyser sites, and try to outfox your friends. If someone blocks your path with a bison, feel free to roll your eyes at them. You can complete goals all game long, but you’ll want to juggle them with grabbing the best spots before others do. Don’t forget to mess with your rivals, but do it with a smile!
Winning the game
Once the park board fills up or a player finishes all their goals, the game ends. Tally your points from land, completed goals, and bonus tiles. Whoever has the most points gets crowned Yellowstone Champion and has bragging rights until someone flips the table.
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for Yellowstone.
How Yellowstone Keeps You Guessing: Gameplay Mechanics and Player Interaction
Yellowstone brings a fresh twist to the classic park-building genre—yes, that’s a thing now and yes, I am absolutely here for it. Right out the box, you get this sprawling game board filled with forests, geysers, rivers, and more wild animals than a zoo with free Wi-Fi. Each turn, you choose one of several actions: gather resources, expand your park, or try to wrangle the bears who just won’t stay in their proper habitats (I swear the bears have beef with me personally).
Player interaction is where Yellowstone stands out for real. You’re not just doing your own thing; you’re always watching the other players like a hungry wolf eyeing a stray hiker. Someone cuts you off from a key geyser? Well, welcome to the game—reminds me of the time my friend Mike stole my buffalo migration path and I still bring it up at every game night. There’s a ton of blocking, a fair bit of negotiation, and a sneaky ability to steal resources if you time your moves just right. You need to read your table like a poker player and sometimes bluff your way through round after round.
One thing I love is how the game leans on strategy more than luck. There’s no wild dice rolling to wreck your plans. Every mistake you make? That’s on you, buddy. The downside is it can get a little mean, so if you don’t like your friends passive-aggressively building hot springs just to mess with you, be warned.
Get ready, because next up we’re heading into the majestic world of Yellowstone’s theme and artwork authenticity—spoiler: it’s so pretty, even my dog tried to sit on the board!
Yellowstone’s Theme & Artwork: A Trip to the Wild Side
Let me just say, Yellowstone’s theme does for national parks what peanut butter does for jelly—absolutely belongs together. When my friends and I sat down to play, we felt like we’d packed up our hiking boots and gone for an adventure. The game doesn’t just slap a bison on the box and call it a day. Oh no, Yellowstone oozes with the spirit of its real-life namesake.
The artwork is jaw-dropping. The board is a lush spread of geysers, evergreens, and wildlife prettier than my vacation photos (not that I’m bitter). Every card and token bursts with color and detail—it’s like the artist was personally trying to impress a grizzly bear. I caught myself spinning tokens around just to admire the tiny moose. And don’t get me started on those adorable camper pieces. They really make you want to keep your meeples safe from those pesky wildfires.
One of the joys here is that players get a little geography lesson between turns. My buddy Dave even tried to quiz us on the springs and valleys, and for once, we didn’t mind. The developers clearly did their homework, and it makes every game feel like a mini getaway. If you care at all about games actually looking like what they’re supposed to be about, Yellowstone should definitely go to the top of your list.
But hey, don’t go packing your s’mores yet—we still need to check whether Yellowstone is a one-hit wonder or the replay king. Up next, let’s break down game length and replay value!
Game Length and Replay Value in Yellowstone
Let’s talk about something every board gamer argues about: how long does Yellowstone actually take to play, and will you want to play it again? Well, I’m glad you asked because my group and I put Yellowstone through its paces on a rainy Saturday. The box said 60-90 minutes, but you know how that goes. With four players who actually paid attention to the rules (shocking, right?), we clocked in at about 80 minutes. If you’ve got that one friend who treats their turn like a TED Talk, you might add another 20 minutes. That’s still shorter than most Monopoly family feuds.
What about replay value? Here’s where Yellowstone really shines. The game throws a fresh puzzle at you each time thanks to a modular board and lots of choices on how to score points. One time I focused on geysers, the next round I tried herding bison like I was running my own national park reality show. Both were fun and felt different. Even after a few rounds, my group kept finding sneaky strategies and new combos. No two games felt alike—which matters when you’re planning weekly board game nights and want to feel clever, not bored.
If you’re like me and need a game you can pull off the shelf again and again without groans from the crowd, Yellowstone is a solid bet. It’s got just the right length for a satisfying brain-burner, but doesn’t outstay its welcome like that guest who never takes the hint.
Next time, I’ll spill the beans on Yellowstone’s luck versus strategy balance—so get your horseshoes and four-leaf clovers ready, because things are about to get interesting!
Luck vs. Strategy: Who’s Really in Control at Yellowstone?
If you’ve ever flipped a table after losing a game because your buddy rolled one lucky die, I hear you. That’s why I was a bit nervous when I saw Yellowstone on my shelf, staring at me like it had some secret dice-stuffed agenda. But after roping in my regular group (read: snack monsters and rule-benders) and playing several rounds, I can say this: Yellowstone tips the balance in favor of strategy, not luck.
In Yellowstone, you’re making thoughtful choices every turn—where to move rangers, which upgrades to snag, and how to set up those sweet, sweet combo actions. Sure, there’s a card draw or two, but the impact is pretty minor. This is not the kind of game where a sudden, lucky break ruins someone’s night. If you win, it’s because you planned ahead, anticipated other players, or slyly lured a bear into someone else’s picnic (yes, that’s a thing!).
Honestly, the luck is almost an afterthought. You can’t blame the game if you lose—only your poor sense of direction or your inexplicable urge to collect geysers instead of points. It feels fair, and that makes the eventual victory dance in your living room taste even sweeter.
If you’re looking for a game that rewards careful planning more than lucky dice rolls, Yellowstone gets my wobbly park ranger hat of approval. Would I recommend it? Absolutely—unless you prefer games where luck decides your fate. In that case, may the dice gods have mercy on your soul.
Conclusion
Alright, that wraps up my Yellowstone review. This game won over my group with clever gameplay, snazzy art, and hardly any luck nonsense. If you like thinking and friendly competition (or not-so-friendly, if you’re like my buddy Steve), you’ll dig it. Game time is just right, and we never got bored, even after a bunch of plays. Sure, it can get a little cutthroat, but that’s park life, baby. If you crave pure strategy with a great theme, Yellowstone is worth a spot on your shelf. Just don’t blame me when your friends start plotting against you!
