Board games are the subtle art of bringing people together in the age of screens. Among them, PARKS shines as a remarkable game that celebrates the beauty of nature, specifically the U.S. National Parks. It’s a journey through the parks that you can take from the comfort of your kitchen table.

PARKS is a game for 1-5 players, designed by Henry Audubon and published by Keymaster Games. The game was launched after a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2019 and has since been lauded for its art, serene gameplay, and educational value. It is a celebration of the outdoors and invites players to hike across different trails over four seasons of the year, collecting memories in the form of beautiful illustrations of the fifty-nine U.S. National Parks.

The Art and Components

The first thing you’ll notice when opening PARKS is the stunning artwork. Each park card features a unique illustration that captures the spirit of the national parks they represent. The artwork is sourced from the Fifty-Nine Parks Print Series, which worked with various artists to create the artwork for these cards. But the art isn’t the only commendable aspect; the game’s components are eco-friendly, maintaining the game’s theme of nature conservation.

The components include resource tokens that represent wildlife, mountains, forests, and water, all made from high-quality materials. The hiker meeples and the camera token add a nice tactile dimension to the experience. The trail tiles that are laid out anew each game provide a modular board experience, ensuring that no two games are the same.

Gameplay Mechanics

In PARKS, players take on the role of hikers trekking different trails, aiming to visit National Parks and gather memories along the way. The game is played over four rounds, each representing a season, which affects the trail and gameplay. The trail is built by laying out tiles that provide various actions to the players as they move their hikers along the path.

The game has a unique movement system where players can move forward to any available tile but never back, making strategic planning crucial. The resources collected on these tiles are used to visit the National Parks, which earn the players points.

Strategy and Accessibility

The beauty of PARKS lies in its balance between being a strategy game and its accessibility to newcomers. It’s easy to learn, with straightforward rules that make it accessible for families and casual gamers. However, seasoned gamers will find strategic depth in managing resources, choosing which parks to visit, and timing their movements.

The game also features a Year card that changes from year to year (each round of the game), offering challenges and bonuses to players, thus adding to the replayability of the game.

Thematic Integration

PARKS excels in thematic integration. The act of hiking and collecting memories (in the form of tokens) mimics the real-life experience of visiting parks and seeing sights. The game inspires players to learn about the parks, as each card has a fact about the park it depicts.

Seasonal changes affecting gameplay mechanics reflect real-world challenges of hiking in different weather conditions. For instance, winter trails are shorter, mimicking the shorter days, while summer may have more water sources reflecting the season’s abundance.

The Nightfall Expansion

PARKS is also expandable with the Nightfall expansion, which introduces new parks, new cards, and a new mechanic involving camping. This addition enhances the game with more strategic options and a fresh set of visuals while maintaining the base game's charm and appeal.

Educational Value

The educational value of PARKS is a core element of its design. It’s a way for parents and educators to introduce children to the importance of nature conservation and the wonders of the national park system. By engaging with the park cards, players can spur conversations about geography, wildlife, and the environment.

The Solo Experience

PARKS is not just a social experience; it's also built with a solo mode that is well-thought-out and satisfying. The solo mode features a virtual hiker, making decisions that provide a challenge for the player to plan around, ensuring that the solo experience is as enriching as playing with a group.

Conclusion

PARKS is more than just a board game; it’s a bridge between tabletop entertainment and the great outdoors. Its engaging gameplay, coupled with the educational aspects and breathtaking visuals, make it a memorable experience for all who play. It manages to capture the grandeur of America’s National Parks in a box, providing a delightful and meaningful challenge on game night.

Whether you’re looking to explore the beauty of nature in a new way, introduce the next generation to the joys of hiking, or simply find a game that’s as relaxing as it is engaging, PARKS is an adventure worth taking. It’s a game that encourages us to slow down, strategize, and appreciate the vastness of the wilderness—one park at a time.