Photosynthesis / Similar games

18 games like Photosynthesis

The best games like Photosynthesis are Takenoko, Terraforming Mars and Pandemic Legacy Season 1 — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Takenoko shares environmental, action points, end game bonuses with Photosynthesis.

Every alternative below links to its own Photosynthesis-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s abstract strategy / environmental shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Photosynthesis’s 2.3 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 1. Takenoko (2011)
   2–4 players · 45 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
   Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, Action Points, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid · 3 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.3 lighter
   View Takenoko on Amazon →
2. 2. Terraforming Mars (2016)
   1–5 players · 120 min · ★ 8.4 · Medium
   Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid, Income · 3 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · scales to 5 · ~75 min longer · +1 heavier
   View Terraforming Mars on Amazon →
3. 3. Pandemic Legacy Season 1 (2015)
   2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 8.6 · Medium
   Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, Action Points · 1 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (17%)
   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · +0.6 heavier
   View Pandemic Legacy Season 1 on Amazon →
4. 4. Blue Lagoon (2018)
   2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium-light
   Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Area Majority / Influence, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid · 3 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.3 lighter
5. 5. Samurai (1998)
   2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light
   Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Area Majority / Influence, Hexagon Grid · 2 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · +0.2 heavier
6. 6. Dominant Species (2010)
   2–6 players · 120–240 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-heavy
   Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, Area Majority / Influence, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid · 3 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 6 · ~135 min longer · +1.8 heavier
7. 7. Mexica (2002)
   2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
   Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence · 2 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~45 min longer · +0.4 heavier
8. 8. Torres (1999)
   2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium
   Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence · 2 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · +0.6 heavier
9. 9. Azul (2017)
   2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light
   Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, End Game Bonuses · 1 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (17%)
   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.5 lighter
10. 10. Patchwork Winter Edition (2014)
    2 players · 15–30 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-light
    Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Income · 1 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Photosynthesis: both play at 2 · ~22 min shorter · 0.7 lighter
11. 11. War Chest (2018)
    2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light
    Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Area Majority / Influence · 1 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min shorter · same complexity
12. 12. Calico (2020)
    1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light
    Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Hexagon Grid · 1 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · about the same length · same complexity
13. 13. Barrage (2019)
    1–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium-heavy
    Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, End Game Bonuses, Income · 2 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~45 min longer · +1.8 heavier
14. 14. Evolution Climate (2016)
    2–6 players · 60 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium
    Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, Action Points · 1 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 6 · ~15 min longer · +0.5 heavier
15. 15. Hive (2000)
    2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
    Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Hexagon Grid · 1 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Photosynthesis: both play at 2 · ~25 min shorter · same complexity
16. 16. Bosk (2019)
    2–4 players · 20–40 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-light
    Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Area Majority / Influence, Bias · 2 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min shorter · 0.2 lighter
17. 17. Tiny Towns (2019)
    1–6 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
    Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, End Game Bonuses · 1 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · scales to 6 · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
18. 18. Ginkgopolis (2012)
    1–5 players · 45 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium
    Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, Area Majority / Influence · 1 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · scales to 5 · about the same length · +0.6 heavier

Looking for the original? See the full Photosynthesis fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.