# Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a board game for 2–4 players. It plays in 30–60 minutes and is meant for ages 10 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 3. It is rated 6.6 out of 10 by 59 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $32.99 (United States).

- **Players:** 2–4 (best with 3)
- **Playing time:** 30–60 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 10+
- **Complexity:** 2.3 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2017
- **Categories:** Economic, Abstract Strategy
- **Mechanics:** Hexagon Grid, Income, Area Majority / Influence, Action Points, End Game Bonuses, Turn Order: Progressive, Bias
- **Ludoya rating:** 6.6 out of 10, from 59 reviews
- **Owned by:** 144 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 257
- **Unique players:** 374

**Designers:** Hjalmar Hach

**Artists:** Sabrina Miramon

**Publishers:** Blue Orange Games, Blue Orange (EU)

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cardhaus Games | 32.99 $ | https://www.cardhaus.com/photosynthesis/ |
| Atomic Empire | 39.99 $ | https://www.atomicempire.com/Item/236833 |
| Miniature Market | 47.99 $ | https://www.miniaturemarket.com/bog05400.html |
| 401 Games | 43.95 $ | https://store.401games.ca/products/photosynthesis |
| Board Game Bliss | 43.95 $ | https://www.boardgamebliss.com/products/photosynthesis |
| Alphaspel | 295 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/193892-photosynthesis-eng-regler |
| Good Games | 49.95 $ | https://www.goodgames.com.au/products/photosynthesis |
| Gameology | 53.95 $ | https://www.gameology.com.au/products/photosynthesis |
| Games Empire | 59.99 $ | https://gamesempire.com.au/products/photosynthesis |
| Spelexperten | 449 kr | https://www.spelexperten.com/sallskapsspel/familjespel/photosynthesis-eng.html |
| Ludifolie | 39.9 € | https://www.ludifolie.com/5370-photosynthesis.html |
| World of Board Games | 475 kr | https://www.worldofboardgames.com/photosynthesis-eng |
| Spilforsyningen | 329.95 kr | https://spilforsyningen.dk/products/photosynthesis-eng |
| Game Ninja | 499 kr | https://www.gameninja.no/produkt/photosynthesis/ |
| Spielezar | 54.9 Fr. | https://www.spielezar.ch/brettspiele/photosynthesis |

## Expansions

- [Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight](https://www.ludoya.com/games/photosynthesis-under-the-moonlight)

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## Rules questions

### 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).

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/photosynthesis)
- [Photosynthesis in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/photosynthesis)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/218603)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-19. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._