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About Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is an abstract strategy game by Hjalmar Hach about trees competing for sunlight. The sun moves round the hexagonal board one side at a time, and every tree casts a shadow whose length depends on its height. Trees in the light earn light points, which you spend to plant seeds, grow trees and finally harvest them for points. The cardboard trees stand up on the board, so the shadows are something you can actually see.
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Is Photosynthesis Right for You?
Best for
Photosynthesis is for groups who like abstract strategy games with a strong visual hook. The sun moving round the board and the shadows cast by standing trees make the rules easy to see rather than memorise. Three and four players is best, because a crowded forest is where the shadows really bite. It works well with teenagers and families who want something a step beyond pure family games.
Maybe skip it if…
It is more cut-throat than it looks, and blocking someone's light is the main form of interaction. At two players the board feels empty and the tension drops considerably.
How to Play Photosynthesis
Setup
Each player takes a player board and their coloured seeds and trees. In turn order, players place two small trees each on the outer ring of the board.
On Your Turn
- Photosynthesis: every tree not in the shadow of an equal or taller tree earns light points by size.
- Life cycle: spend light points to buy pieces, plant seeds within range of a tree, grow a tree by one size, or collect a large tree for a scoring token.
- You may act on each board space only once per turn, then the first player token passes.
How to Win
After the sun has made three full revolutions, add scoring tokens and one point per three leftover light points. Most points wins.
💡 Strategy Tips
Harvest large trees in the centre where soil is richest, and do it before the scoring stacks there run low.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting that a tree only blocks trees of equal or smaller height. Placing a small tree behind a large one gains you nothing.
- Growing everything and harvesting too late. Collecting large trees is how you score, and the best scoring tokens disappear quickly.
- Ignoring the sun's direction for the next round. Where the light will be matters more than where it is now.
- Trying to act on the same space twice in a turn. The once-per-space rule is easy to miss and stops the most efficient chains.
Advanced Strategy
- Build towards the centre early. The central spaces hold the richest scoring tokens, and trees there take several rounds to reach full height.
- Buy pieces before you need them. A tree you want to grow has to be on your available area first, and a turn spent buying is a turn not growing.
- Plant seeds where opponents' shadows will not fall for the next two rounds. A seed that grows in shade is a slow investment.
- In the last revolution, stop planting and focus on harvesting. New seeds cannot become large trees in time.
Variants & House Rules
Advanced rules
The rulebook includes an expert option with a fourth sun revolution for a longer game, and a restriction on planting or growing in shaded spaces.
Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight
Three modules in one box: moonstones and a moon that circles opposite the sun, forest animals with special powers, and the Great Elder Tree.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
Photosynthesis is a clever abstract with a theme that actually explains the rules. The shadows are simple to understand and surprisingly hard to exploit well. We recommend it for three or four players who want a strategic game that looks beautiful and does not take all evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Photosynthesis good with two players?
It works, but it is noticeably better with three or four, when trees crowd the board and shadows cause real problems.
How long does it take?
Around forty-five minutes to an hour. The advanced fourth revolution adds roughly another fifteen minutes.
Is it suitable for children?
Older children, yes. The rules are simple, but planning around future sun positions takes some practice.