Review PARKS + NIGHTFALL

Publisher : Matagot
Designer : Henry Audubon
Artist(s) : Fifty-Nine Parks Print Series
Players : 1–5
Playing time : 30–60 Min
Weight BGG : 2.12

What's this?

In PARKS, players will take on the role of two hikers traveling different trails throughout the four seasons of the year.

Along the way, these hikers will take actions and collect memories of the places visited, represented by various resource tokens such as mountains and forests.

Collecting these souvenirs into sets will allow players to exchange them to visit a national park at the end of each hike.

Each trail represents a season of the year, and with each season the trails will gradually change and lengthen.

How do you play?

The game is simple and very accessible. On your turn, you must move one of your two hikers along a hiking trail that will expand from season to season. By stopping on the trail tiles, you will collect resources allowing you to validate the magnificent national parks at the end of each season.

You will also be able to perform various actions, such as taking photos, exchanging resources, refilling your water bottle (to get more resources), reserving parks, copying another tile, etc.

You will progress on this course which evolves from season to season simultaneously with the other players, with the possibility of stopping on an occupied tile only if your campfire is lit. This campfire will reignite every time one of your hikers reaches the end of the trail. Being the first to reach the end of the course will grant you first player status, offering advantages such as the purchase of equipment at a reduced rate, reservation or validation of parks. PARKS is a pleasant walk where you impose your pace on other players.

The expansion adds a welcome touch of complexity to a fairly simple game. Nightfall introduces new end-game objectives, immediate actions when validating a park, but above all, it integrates a new tent mechanic which offers new actions and, therefore, new strategic possibilities.

Is it good?

Parks is an excellent game, simple and accessible, offering you a pleasant time traveling the path which evolves over the four seasons. Much like Wingspan, Parks will captivate many players as soon as it hits the table, thanks to its gorgeous material and artwork. Additionally, Parks serves as a great introduction for new players looking to explore the world of board games.

However, in my opinion, Parks can seem a little too simple and repetitive, which is why I highly recommend the Nightfall expansion which brings more choice and strategy to the game.

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Review Parks

8.9Very good

Parks offers a pleasant experience with its evolving path through the seasons, enchanting with its material and its superb illustrations, constituting an excellent introduction to board games, although its aspect can seem too simple, solved by the Nightfall expansion which brings more depth and strategy.

Positives