Parks

Today's review is of the 2019 release, Parks. For 1-5 players, it takes 30-60 minutes.

Overview

You control two hikers as they make their way over various trails through all four seasons. As they do, they will acquire resources (sun, water, forest, mountain) and gear (that gives them special abilities) that enables them to visit national parks (each of which has a resource cost to visit, and nets you points). The trails will vary (and lengthen) each season.  You can't always visit a spot with another hiker already there, and you can't turn back, either, so manage your hikers wisely. Will you have the most points after four seasons?

game in progress; image from here

At the beginning of each season, a season card is flipped that gives all players a specific bonus. The trail is formed and the round begins.

On your turn, you advance one of your hikers down the trail. You can advance them however far you like, but if there is a hiker already on the spot you choose, you must use your campfire to share the spot. Gather the resources indicated on that spot, and your turn passes. 

When you choose to advance one hiker to the end of the trail, flip your campfire back over (enabling you to use it for the other hiker), and pick one of three spots that enable you to 1) reserve a national park to visit later, 2) buy gear*, or 3) visit a national park (by paying the resources listed on that park card). Then that hiker is done for the season. Turns continue until all players have had both of their hikers reach the end of the trail. Then the trail tiles are shuffled, one is added, and the trail is re-formed. A new season card is flipped, and the next round begins.

After all four seasons are complete, the person with the highest point total (which is your national parks plus other things I omit here for simplicity) wins!

*Gear gives you benefits that include reducing the cost to visit a national park, letting you exchange one resource type for another, or reserving a national park card before you reach the end of the trail. 

Review

This is a fun game. There seems to be a lot going on at first, but you quickly get the flow of it. The thing I like the best is the artwork, and it seems the game was in fact designed to highlight the art of 59 Parks. I am suspicious of any game designed specifically to highlight art, but this one is mechanically strong and a fun play experience to boot. Recommended.

Rating: A