Photosynthesis – Grow Your Forest in the Sun 🌳🌞

In Photosynthesis by Hjalmar Hach, published by Blue Orange, several tree varieties compete for sunlight in a small but fertile forest. It is a strategy game for 2 to 4 players aged 8+, playing in about 45 to 60 minutes.

The game lasts three full revolutions of the sun around the hexagonal board. Each round has two phases. In the Photosynthesis phase, the sun moves to its next position and your trees collect light points: small trees 1, medium trees 2 and large trees 3, as long as they are not in the shadow of another tree. Taller trees cast longer shadows, and a tree in shadow still scores if it is taller than the tree casting it. In the Life Cycle phase, you spend light points to buy seeds and trees from your player board, plant seeds around your trees, grow them to the next size and finally collect: ending the life of a large tree earns a scoring token based on the richness of the soil it grew in, with the centre of the forest worth the most. Positioning is everything, as the sun keeps moving. An advanced version adds a fourth revolution.

🌞 Moving Sun

Six positions per revolution.

🌲 Shadows

Tall trees block light.

🌱 Life Cycle

Seed to large tree.

🍃 Rich Soil

The centre scores most.

Why You'll Love It:

• 🧠 Spatial strategy: every move shifts the shade.
• 🎨 Striking look: 3D trees on the board.
• 👫 2 to 4: works well as a duel too. More ideas among our strategy games.

Quick facts

• Players: 2–4
• Age: 8+ (publisher)
• Playing time: about 45–60 minutes
• Designer: Hjalmar Hach
• Illustrator: Sabrina Miramon
• Publisher: Blue Orange
• Contents: game board, sun segment, 4 revolution counters, 4 player boards, 24 scoring tokens, 24 seeds, 56 trees
• Variants: English, German or Croatian-Slovenian edition

How long does a game last? Three revolutions of the sun, or four in the advanced version.
Do shadows block all trees? No, a taller tree still collects light.

Let your forest reach for the light in Photosynthesis. 🌳

⚠️ Warning: Choking hazard – small parts. Not for children under 3 years.