
- BGG rank
- BGG #840
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Evergreen
- 1–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2022

Rules assistance for Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight is an expansion for Photosynthesis released in 2020 for 2–4 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Hjalmar Hach and its main mechanics are Action Points.
Enhance the world of Photosynthesis with the Under the Moonlight expansion! The moon turns in the opposite direction of the sun and casts its moonlight across the woods. Players collect lunar points for their new forest animal to activate special powers. Which one of the eight animals will be yours? The boar collects trees, the hedgehog plants seeds, the fox steals and moves seed around, and the owl turns lunar points into sun points. Strategically position your animal by the moonstones, activate their capabilities at the right time, and be careful not to stay too long in the shadow of the Great Elder Tree! This expansion requires the base game to play. —description from publisher
Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight is 30–60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight has a complexity rating of 2.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy, Expansion for Base-game, and Environmental. Its main mechanics are Action Points. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight are: Hjalmar Hach. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight as an expansion for Photosynthesis. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Photosynthesis to use it. Check that your edition of Photosynthesis is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.