I live in Canada and it is finally nice out. I definitely see a shift in the kind of games I like play when the weather’s nice. Right now nature games are extremely popular and that is a theme I can get behind. So here are some of options for games to play during those warmer seasons.

These are listed in no particular order. Also there are many more out there, these are just the ones I’ve come across and enjoy

Parks

Parks is one of my all time favourite games. The game is about hiking through trails in the National Parks in all seasons. You will visit parks, take photos and fill your canteen. This game is rich in theme and it gets me excited about getting outdoors. The parks cards are stunning art representing different National Parks across the US. It’s a beautiful game.

Check out my post on Parks here.

Cascadia

Cascadia is a tile laying game where you will build out your terrain and add wildlife tokens. Each game different objectives for the wildlife to help you score points combined with trying to build the largest terrain types. This game feels like a puzzle and really has become a staple in my collection. If you like Calico or Overboss you will definitely like this one.

Check out my post on Cascadia here

Hive

Hive is a 2 player game where you will be placing insects trying to surround your opponents queen and not break the hive. There’s no board and the pieces are extremely durable so it’s perfect to take outdoors. It’s a great option if you like games like chess but you want something more portable.

Check out my post on Hive here.

Lost Ruins of Arnak

Lost Ruins is all about adventure. In the game you will search an island for artifacts from an old civilization. This game has a bit of deck building and resource management. The game comes with really cool components and it looks amazing on a table. This game has a Indiana Jones feel to it and has a really big table presence.

Kabuto Sumo

In Kabuto Sumo you are trying to have your beetle win the World Insect Wrestling Championship. This is a dexterity game and feels like an arcade coin pusher where you are moving pieces in hopes to slide your opponent off the board. The pieces are all wood, the base of the game is a cardboard tree trunk. I can’t get over how cute this game is and how much fun it is to play.

I highly recommend playing this with the Total Mayhem expansion. It gives the game a lot of variety.

Check out my post on Kabuto Sumo here.

Honey Buzz

In Honey Buzz spring has arrived and you are trying to find nector, make honey and sell. You will draft honeycomb tiles and complete patterns and trigger actions. This game is absolutely stunning and has a beautiful table presence.

Check out my post on Honey Buzz here

Everdell

Everdell is a worker placement game set in the woods. Your critters are going to establish a city, construct buildings and make some friends. The components of the wooden animals and the different resources(my favourite are the berries), It has a whimsical nature feel and did I mention there’s a giant cardboard tree because there is. This game is extremely and has a ton of expansions if you like to build off of the base game.

Check out my post on Everdell here.

Wingspan

Wingspan is an engine building game using birds as a theme. You are a bird enthusiast trying to attract birds, there’s a bit of a chain reaction to the birds you choose. There’s also some adorable eggs to help that will help along the way.

When I first saw this game I wasn’t into the bird theme, but this one grew on me. It took a while but I came around, I love building up my board and having the cards activate is really rewarding.

Root

Root is the most difficult game on this list. This game may look cute, but Root is essentially a war game and each faction is different so learning and teaching this one will be hard. If you get into though there are a lot of expansions with new factions to introduce.

If you are interested I highly recommended buying the switch version or app to learn. They have tutorials for each faction and will help you understand the game. It’s a bit of an extra commitment but will be extremely useful for learning. Don’t let the cuteness fool you this game is serious.

Skate Summer

Skate summer is all about skate boarding. In this game you will earn points by doing tricks and combos, but you’ll have to be careful not to fall off of your board. This one doesn’t have the same kind of nature theme as the rest but I think will bring back memories of summer outside for a lot of people. The style and design of this one is really unique and a fun way to translate skate boarding into a game.

Santa Monica

Who doesn’t want to be in California? In Santa Monica you are trying to create a neighbourhood. You’ll draft cards to build up your streets and score points. This game has a cute style, its a lot pastel colours and gives a beachy feel.

Earth

This game took off in a big way. Earth is extremely popular and currently my favourite engine builder. In Earth you are building your own ecosystem with a tableau of cards. There’s a lot of different combinations to give you points and you will be playing simultaneously during other players turns so there is something always going on. Despite how much is happening, this is also a very easy teach. If you like Wingspan I highly recommend giving this one a go.