How To Play: Yellowstone

Overview

If you love board games with animals, rivers, and the thrill of outsmarting your friends, Yellowstone is your new happy place. I’ve played this one so many times my group actually groans when I suggest it now. In this guide, I cover the game rules, give you a quick How To Play yellowstone breakdown, and share the best strategies for crushing your friends and claiming the park. Let’s get started!

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 60 Park Tiles
• 40 Resource Tokens
• 30 Wildlife Tokens
• 6 Ranger Figures
• 4 Player Boards
• 36 Campers
• 4 Scoring Markers
• 20 Trail Markers
• 1 Season Tracker
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Yellowstone: Rules Summary

Game Setup

1. Place the main board in the center of your table. Make sure everyone can reach it, but not so close that you knock over your drink (I’ve done this far too many times!).
2. Shuffle the park tiles. Deal two to each player. Put the rest in a stack, face down.
3. Give each player a set of animal tokens in their chosen color. Yes, even the person who always picks yellow.
4. Hand out starting resources: 3 wood, 2 stone, and 1 fish. Don’t try to swap these for snacks just yet.
5. Choose a first player. We recommend whoever can name the most national parks in 10 seconds. Or argue about it for a while—that’s tradition in my group.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, first collect resources from the tiles you control.
2. Next, play one park tile anywhere adjacent to an existing tile (no floating Yellowstone islands—not realistic!).
3. Then, move one animal token. Animals can only move onto open tiles, not other animals or buildings.
4. After moving your animal, you may spend resources to build a facility. Don’t hoard—spend those rocks!
5. End your turn by drawing a new park tile so you’re ready for next time. Don’t forget this step, or you’ll be confused later. Trust me.

Winning

1. The game ends when the last park tile is placed. This always sneaks up on my group. Plan ahead!
2. Tally your points: add facilities, animals housed, and extra resources.
3. The player with the most points wins and earns the title Protector of Yellowstone. Loser gets to clean up the board. That’s the real victory, right?

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If an animal can’t move, it must stay put until a new tile opens up. Don’t box in your bison!
2. If two players tie for the most points, the one with the most unused resources is the winner. It pays to be thrifty.
3. If anyone knocks over the board, they make bear noises until the next round. (Okay, that’s my house rule, but it keeps things lively!)

With these rules, you’ll know How To Play yellowstone before the first pinecone hits the table. Just remember to have fun, and don’t fight over which animal is cutest. It’s the fox. It’s always the fox.

Best Yellowstone Strategies

Mastering Resources: Your Key to Yellowstone Victory

Prioritize Your Upgrades

First, don’t hoard materials like a beaver with issues. Use what you collect to boost production fast. This keeps you ahead.

1. Upgrade the right buildings early.
2. Focus on tools that speed up worker actions.

Balance Collection and Spending

Next, always balance what you gather with what you use. If I gather too much wood, I find myself missing food later. So, plan turns to keep resources balanced.

1. Track your stock every round.
2. Only take what you need for your next move.

Trade Smart, Not Hard

Finally, use trades wisely. Sometimes, a small swap can turn a hopeless round into a win.

1. Trade excess for what others need desperately.
2. Don’t be too generous—Yellowstone isn’t a charity.

Grow Your Yellowstone Park Like a Pro

Every time I play Yellowstone, I focus on expanding my park at the perfect pace. Here are the tricks I use for optimal park expansion. Let’s break it down step by step, so you don’t end up with a park that looks like my cousin Larry’s yard—bare and full of regrets.

Choose the Right Land Tiles

1. Pick tiles that connect to your current terrain; don’t get fancy too soon!
2. Always check for tiles with bonus icons. Those little surprises can save your game.
3. Avoid building in corners unless you have a clear plan. Trust me, I’ve lost more bison that way than I can count.

Balance Size and Function

1. Gain points by growing, but keep your park manageable. If it takes you longer to count your spaces than eat a hot dog, you overdid it.
2. Expand toward objectives or special scoring areas. Don’t let your friends claim all the good spots.

Adapt to Your Competition

1. Watch where everyone else expands. Sometimes blocking a rival is as good as scoring.
2. Stay flexible. If your neighbor is aggressive, shift your focus and look for sneaky spots to grow.
3. Lastly, bluff when you can. My friends still talk about the time I pretended to chase a geyser, but grabbed the elk path instead.

If you’re stuck on How To Play Yellowstone, remember: your park is your kingdom. Expand it with purpose and a dash of mischief!

Mastering Wildlife Movement Timing in Yellowstone

When I played Yellowstone with my friends, I learned that wildlife movement can make or break your game. Move too soon and you might block yourself. Wait too long, and someone else swoops in for the win. Here’s how to nail your timing every time.

Plan Your Path Carefully

1. Always check the board for crowded areas.
2. Identify open routes before your rivals do.

React to Opponent’s Moves

1. Watch their animals. Often, their next step gives you clues.
2. Adjust your own path to block or dodge with ease.

Combine Movement With Upgrades

1. Use movement boosts when the time is just right.
2. Don’t waste these boosts too early in the game.

Stay Flexible

1. If the board changes, change your plan. Don’t get stuck on one idea.
2. Mix up your strategy every game for the best results.

Winning at Yellowstone often comes down to well-timed wildlife moves. Use these tips and you’ll leave your friends howling in defeat. That’s How To Play yellowstone for the sharpest players!

Ready to Rule Yellowstone?

So, that’s my playbook for crushing it in Yellowstone. You don’t need to memorize the names of every critter or count pinecones in your sleep, but keeping these strategies handy will make you a park champ in no time. With smart resource moves and clever timing, my friends still groan when they see me reaching for the box. Trust me, if you ever forget a rule, just remember: “How To Play yellowstone”—and maybe keep a squirrel handy for good luck. Now go build the wildest, weirdest, best park ever!

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