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 · See Takenoko alternatives →

   Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, Action Points, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid · 4 shared tags · 3 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (50%)

   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.3 lighter

   Check price for Takenoko →
2. 

   2. Terraforming Mars (2016)

   1–5 players · 120 min · ★ 8.4 · Medium · See Terraforming Mars alternatives →

   Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid, Income · 4 shared tags · 3 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (50%)

   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · scales to 5 · ~75 min longer · +1 heavier

   Check price for Terraforming Mars →
3. 

   3. Pandemic Legacy Season 1 (2015)

   2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 8.6 · Medium · See Pandemic Legacy Season 1 alternatives →

   Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, Action Points · 2 shared tags · 1 of Photosynthesis’s 6 mechanics (17%)

   vs Photosynthesis: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · +0.6 heavier

   Check price for Pandemic Legacy Season 1 →
4. 

   4. Blue Lagoon (2018)

   2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium-light · See Blue Lagoon alternatives →

   Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Area Majority / Influence, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid · 4 shared tags · 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 · See Samurai alternatives →

   Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Area Majority / Influence, Hexagon Grid · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Dominant Species alternatives →

   Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, Area Majority / Influence, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid · 4 shared tags · 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 · See Mexica alternatives →

   Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Torres alternatives →

   Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Azul alternatives →

   Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, End Game Bonuses · 2 shared tags · 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 · See Patchwork Winter Edition alternatives →

    Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Income · 2 shared tags · 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 · See War Chest alternatives →

    Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Area Majority / Influence · 2 shared tags · 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 · See Calico alternatives →

    Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Hexagon Grid · 2 shared tags · 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 · See Barrage alternatives →

    Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, End Game Bonuses, Income · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Evolution Climate alternatives →

    Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, Action Points · 2 shared tags · 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 · See Hive alternatives →

    Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, Hexagon Grid · 2 shared tags · 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 · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Tiny Towns alternatives →

    Shares with Photosynthesis: Abstract Strategy, End Game Bonuses · 2 shared tags · 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 · See Ginkgopolis alternatives →

    Shares with Photosynthesis: Environmental, Area Majority / Influence · 2 shared tags · 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.