2017 · Economic
Photosynthesis
Players cultivate a forest by planting and growing trees that collect light as the sun rotates around the board. Trees cast shadows that change with the sun’s position, influencing which trees gain light and which are blocked. Gameplay revolves around managing light points to grow, transplant, or harvest trees, timing actions to maximize sunlight and control space on the board. The shifting sun and spatial placement create tactical decisions about growth, shading opponents, and scoring from mature trees.
- Players
- 2–4 best 3
- Playing time
- 30–60 min
- Age
- 10+
- Complexity
- 2.3 / 5
About the game
- Design
- Publishers
Expansions
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Where to buy it
Shop prices and second-hand copies, checked every day.
On Ludoya's tables
Full stats in Ludoya- 257
- Plays logged
- 374
- Players
- 1h 6m
- Average play
- 144
- In collections
- 14
- On wishlists
6.6/10
from 59 Ludoya reviews
Garfield8.0 48 Beautiful looking game. It's very thematic, easy to explain and usually plays fast. You should always play 4 rounds instead of 3. [c] Theme: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Strong theme --> Gameplay: :star::star::star::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Ok --> Interaction: :star::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Not much, you just have to take care where the other trees are placed --> Artwork: :star::star::star::star::star: <!-- size 7]Beeeeautifuuuul --> Luck: :nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Nope --> Strategy: :star::star::star::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Yes, get some sun for your trees, that's it --> Components: :star::star::star::star::star: <!-- size 7]Solid cardboard trees --> Play duration: :star::star::star::star::star: <!-- size 7]Perfect --> Easy to teach: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Quite easy --> Setup time: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Very fast --> No downtime: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]You can think a little bit beforehand --> Replay value: :star::star::star::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Sosolala --> [/c]
Mestremuten5.0 Rating: 2/5 Production value: 3/4 Is the game in my collection/Love to have?: 0/1
Very good abstract game. Gorgeous, clever and elegant. Sun and shadow mechanic it's impressive. If you like abstract games you will enjoy it for sure.
Rules questions
Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.
How do shadows work — which trees get light and which don’t?
After the sun is placed, trees earn light points unless they’re in the shadow cast on the side opposite the sun; shadows are cast by trees onto same-size or smaller trees (Small = 1-space, Medium = 2-space, Large = 3-space). A tree taller than a shadow-casting tree is not shadowed and receives full light points (p.3).
When exactly do we move the sun and count light points?
At the start of each round’s Photosynthesis Phase the player with the First Player Token moves the sun clockwise to the next position (skipped on the very first round), then players count and add light points based on that new sun position (p.2–3).
Can I plant a seed and then grow that same seed (or grow then plant from it) in the same turn?
No — actions (except buying) activate the spaces involved, and you cannot perform more than one action on the same space during your turn; specifically you cannot plant a seed and then grow it or grow a tree and then use it as the origin for a seed in the same turn (p.3–4).
How far can I plant a seed from a tree?
Planting distance depends on the size of the origin tree: 1 space from a Small Tree, up to 2 spaces from a Medium Tree, and up to 3 spaces from a Large (Tall) Tree (p.3).
How much do growth and collecting cost?
Growing costs are Seed→Small 1 LP, Small→Medium 2 LP, Medium→Large 3 LP; collecting (ending the life cycle of) a Large Tree costs 4 LP and lets you remove the Large Tree and take the top Scoring Token of the pile matching that space’s soil (p.4).
Free, on web, Android and iOS
Play Photosynthesis with Ludoya
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Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.