It’s no secret that I love board games; I have no room left on any of my shelves, which is a testament to that fact.
Last week, I covered some of my favourite games revealed at Gen Con 2023, which you can read here and here.
While putting together those pieces, inspiration struck, in no small part, due to one of my favourite games from the show, Redwood.
So, I’ve compiled a list of four board games that will appeal to the photographer in all of us.
Redwood
Step into the shoes of wildlife photographers
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 45-60 Minutes
Redwood is a game of movement estimations and the important photographic principle, angle of view. In this game, players must take pictures of wild animals to compose the most beautiful panorama.
The game’s premise is that you play as nature-loving photographers who music travel great distances to capture pictures of animals in their natural habitat.
During their turn, each player must choose between different movements and their angle of view to catch the animals in the picture without disturbing them.
The game ends after five turns, and players will be rewarded if they meet certain conditions to earn more points, with the player with the most points being awarded the overall champion.
Trails
Take a hike on trails, exploring iconic sites and national parks across the U.S
Players: 2-4
Play Time: 20-40 Minutes
Trails is a game about going on a scenic hike through iconic national parks across America.
If the game looks familiar, it’s because it’s a standalone adventure set within the Parks series of games.
Throughout the game, players will hike back and forth along a trail, gathering resources, observing the wildlife, and taking photos to earn various wilderness badges.
The game also utilises an interesting day-night cycle. As players reach the end of a hiking trail, the sun will set, granting everyone more powerful actions.
However, the sun setting will also mark the last round of play. The players with the most points from collecting badges, photos taken, and bird sightings will win.
LocoMomo
Take the best picture of cute animals in a mystery forest
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 20-30 Minutes
LocoMono is a game about using animals’ movements to search for friends to take photos together.
Unlike the other board games on this list, LocoMomo is a game that’s perfect for playing with the young ones in your family due to its ease of teaching and simple mechanics.
The premise is that once upon a time, a group of animals within an enchanted forest lived happily together and in peace until a mysterious camera is discovered.
Now, all the animals want the camera for themselves, and a fight ensues over it before they decide that whoever can take the best pictures with it will get to keep it.
In the game, players will take turns using animals on the game board to find and move towards other animals by arranging tiles on their game board to try and take the best and most exciting group picture.
The game will end after just six rounds, and the player with the most points will be crowned the best photographer in LocoMomo.
Parks
Hike through National Parks tiles, collecting memories and admiring gorgeous scenery
Players: 1-5
Play Time: 30-60 Minutes
Parks is a visually stunning game that also serves as a celebration of the beauty of the National Parks of America.
Players will take on the role of two hikers as they track across various trails across all four seasons.
Each trail represents one season of the year, and each season, the trails will change and grow steadily longer. The trails, represented by tiles, get shuffled between each season and laid out anew for the next round.
The goal is to take actions to collect memories, like photographs, from each place your hikers visit.
At its core, it’s an exciting mix of engine building and worker placement. Determining the best route to collect the best memories before the other hikers do is vital to success.
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And there you have it, four games that will appeal to the photographer in all of us.
If any of these games caught your eye, let us know in the comments below, and if you’re looking for more board game content, follow the link here.