How To Play: Parks

Overview

Have you ever wanted to out-hike your friends in the game Parks, but end up stuck behind a waterfall? Same here. Lucky for you, I’ve written this guide after way too many epic (and sometimes tragic) games. I’ll cover how to play Parks, from the basic rules to the sneaky strategies that’ll help you win. Grab a trail mix and get ready for some board game hiking wisdom!

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 48 Park cards
• 24 Season cards
• 12 Year cards
• 36 Gear cards
• 15 Canteen cards
• 10 Trail site tiles
• 1 Trailhead tile
• 1 Trail end tile
• 5 Camper pawns (per player color)
• 12 Wildlife tokens
• 24 Water tokens
• 24 Sunshine tokens
• 12 Mountain tokens
• 12 Forest tokens
• 1 First hiker marker
• 1 Camera token
• 30 Photo tokens
• 4 Reference cards

How To Play Parks: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Lay out the trail tiles in a line to form this round’s trail.
2. Shuffle the Season and Park deck, then reveal a Park card for each slot in the Parks board.
3. Give each player two hikers, one canteen, and starting tokens (sun and water).
4. Place the weather tokens on the trail as shown by the Season card that round.
5. Set the camera token nearby and put the trail end tiles at the end of your path.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, move one of your hikers down the trail to any empty site ahead (no skipping backward!).
2. Pick up the resource(s) shown where you land, such as water, sun, mountains, or forests.
3. Use canteens or gear to trade or convert resources as you collect them.
4. When a hiker reaches the trail end, they may visit a Park (by paying resources), gain a canteen, or take a photo for points.
5. Turns pass clockwise until all hikers finish the trail. Then, clean up and get ready for the next Season.

Winning

1. After four Seasons (rounds), everyone adds up the points from Parks they visited, photos taken, and Personal Bonus cards.
2. The player with the most points wins and is crowned the nature king or queen (I checked—there is no real crown, sadly).

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Both hikers can share a space if one uses a campfire token, but you only get to light it once per Season.
2. Some gear cards give crazy cool power-ups, like extra resources, so always keep an eye on the gear shop!
3. Watch the weather: Weather tokens add extra resources to the trail, so plan your route to grab the bonuses.
4. If you can’t or don’t want to visit a Park at the end, you can reserve one for later. Sneaky, right?

So, that’s the gist of How To Play Parks. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be collecting mountains and forests faster than a squirrel on espresso!

Best Parks Strategies

Trail Movement Planning: Marching to Victory in Parks

Think Ahead, Act Bold

In Parks, you don’t just walk. You plan each step like a squirrel eyeing acorns. First, consider the whole trail before your boots hit the dirt. Hidden surprises pop up in every season.

1. Mark where your opponents are. Never let them block the perfect spot.
2. Decide early when to use your campfire. It’s like a wild card, but for hikers.
3. Always leave yourself more than one option at the end of the trail. It keeps everyone guessing.

Predict Others’ Moves

Keep an eye on your friends’ hikers. Sometimes, the best move is to block their plans (even if they curse your name).

1. If someone races ahead, slow down to snag more resources.
2. If someone drags their feet, jump ahead and snatch a coveted gear card.

Balance Speed and Patience

Don’t rush unless it helps you. Sometimes you need to pause and smell the cardboard pine trees before leaping to the finish. Trail movement wins games, not just sassy hats.

Resource Management Tips: Turn Those Acorns Into Victory!

Snag Resources Early

1. Stick close to popular spots. I always jump for the water spots before anyone else notices.
2. When it’s my turn, I grab whatever is limited—never wait for someone to nab it first!

Trade Wisely

1. If a trade space pops up, ponder if you can turn a silly rock into a shiny sun. Sometimes this pays off big time.
2. Remember, hoarding never ends well. Instead, swap resources for points whenever possible.

Special Gear Maximizes Value

1. Pick gear that gives you stuff for less. My group still teases me for hoarding the canteens, but free water is free water!
2. Upgrade equipment early, so you have plenty of seasons to milk the benefits!

Making the most of every stick and stone keeps you ahead, so out-think your friends and watch them grumble while you claim the best parks!

Score Big With Seasonal Bonus Maximizing!

Understand the Season Cards

First, always read the season card before you start. Because each one changes the game, you want to adjust your play right away.

1. Check what bonuses are in play that round.
2. Plan your moves so you can meet the requirements.

Focus On Bonus Synergy

After reading the card, see if you can pair it with your year goal or gear cards. That way, you can double up rewards.

1. Look for overlaps between season and personal goals.
2. Pick actions that benefit both at once.

Adapt Each Round

Next, stay alert for what your friends are doing because they’ll try for bonuses too. React to their moves so you don’t miss out!

1. Watch which sites are popular each season.
2. Change your path if a bonus spot gets crowded.

Take a Hike to Victory!

There you have it—my best tricks for winning at Parks. My friends are still grumbling about that one game where I snagged every waterfall. With smart moves, sharp eyes for bonuses, and just a bit of luck, you can rule the trails. Now you know How To Play parks like a pro, so get your boots ready. And remember: in Parks, snacks are as important as strategy. Happy hiking!

Want to know what we think of Parks? Read our detailed review of Parks here