How it plays
PARKS sends two hikers along a trail, collecting resources and taking actions at the sites where they stop. A hiker moves forward any distance, never backward. Passing a useful site gives up that hiker’s chance to use it this season, while moving slowly gives others more opportunities to reach scarce stops first.
Resources pay for park visits, gear and photographs. Gear adds abilities, while canteens offer ways to use newly collected water. An occupied trail site normally needs your available campfire to enter. After three seasons, park cards, photos and other scoring rewards determine the winner.
Decisions you’ll make
Compare taking a nearby resource with jumping ahead to a park action. A well-stocked supply is useful only if you can reach the spending opportunity you need.
At a park action, check whether visiting one park supplies a bonus that makes another affordable: this edition permits visiting multiple parks in the same action.
Learning the game
Moderate: explain forward movement, occupied sites, resource spending and the second-edition season structure.