OffShoots
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The FroGames Sheet
Insert the leaf. The trunk sways, someone holds their breath. Everyone watches. It holds. For now.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
A wooden tree that grows until someone knocks it down
OffShoots is a self-published game from 2024 that brings to the table 75 wooden leaves, a bifurcated trunk, and one rule: stack without making everything collapse. Carefully crafted materials, polished wood, an immediate physicality that turns each turn into a test of nerves.
With each move, you insert a leaf into the trunk's slots, making it lengthen, become unbalanced, and sway. The structure becomes increasingly unstable. The one who knocks down the tree loses. There are no cards, dice, or scores: just steady hands, a keen eye, and tension rising with each piece placed.
What they say abroad
"Offshoots is a unique tabletop game based on strategy, balance, and stacking."
— (Self-Published)
OffShoots
You can play alone trying to stack all 75 leaves without knocking down the tree. It's meditative, zen, but it completely loses the social pressure and adrenaline of others' gazes.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · first read: based on rules and official presentation, updated with first gamesWhat's in the box
Wood, interlocking pieces, and physics
Bifurcated trunk
Two pieces of wood that interlock crosswise and fix onto a base. Dozens of grooves for the leaves.
75 green leaves
Shaped wooden pieces with a central slot. They fit into the trunk and hook together to form branches.
Stable base
Supports the trunk. You can disassemble everything and store it in the compact box effortlessly.
Smooth finish
Wood treated with UV varnish. It might have a bit of friction in the first few games, then it slides better.
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each round
Each turn lasts a few seconds, but it can feel like an eternity.
Choose one of the leaves left on the table. They are all the same, but some might seem luckier to you.
Look for an empty slot on the trunk or on an already formed branch. You can rotate the leaf to fit it better.
Insert the leaf into the slot. It must remain attached. If the tree falls, you lose.
If the tree holds, it's the next player's turn. If all 75 leaves are used, remove one and re-place it elsewhere.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Starting from scratch
You assemble the trunk, insert it into the base. It's empty, straight, stable. The leaves are scattered on the table. The first piece goes in easily: no tension, just curiosity.
The tree takes shape
After four or five turns, the trunk begins to fill up. The leaves hook together, creating small side branches. Some look for the safest spots, some take risks immediately.
It starts to sway
Fifteen leaves, twenty. The tree has grown and now the weight is noticeable. Each insertion makes the structure tremble. Some slow down, some blow on it to test it.
The critical moment
Thirty leaves, maybe more. You have to find a free slot without touching the already unstable branches. Everyone is watching you. You insert the leaf, the trunk bends, sways, but holds. A collective sigh of relief.
TIMBER
One touch too many, a misplaced leaf, a breath. The tree gives way, the leaves fall onto the table. Laughter, good-natured accusations, and then immediately: 'Another game?'
🐸What to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
What to know beforehand
Three honest things
Actual age: 6+ is optimistic
The rules are immediate, but inserting the leaves requires fine motor skills. Under 7-8 years old, it can be frustrating. It works better as a family game with extended family than as a game for small children alone.
12 players on paper
Technically you can play with twelve, but with so many players turns drag on and waiting kills the pace. Ideal for 3 to 6 people. Alone, it's meditative but loses its bite.
The paint wears (in a good way)
The first few games the wood might be rough. After a few games, the finish smooths out and the leaves slide better. It's not a defect, it's breaking in. But expect a curve in the first insertions.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
No points. Just the tree standing or fallen.
Victory
- You are the last one to successfully place a leaf before someone else makes everything collapse.
- In cooperative mode: complete all 75 leaves without making the tree fall (rare and celebrated).
- In solo: set your personal record for stacked leaves.
Defeat
- You insert a leaf and the tree collapses: you lose.
- You accidentally touch the structure and it falls: you lose.
- In cooperative: the tree falls before all 75 leaves are placed, try again.
A party game that requires no explanation, has no dead downtime, and leaves a botanical sculpture on the table that no one wants to take apart.
💬Frequently asked questionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently asked questions
OffShoots FAQ
What mechanics does OffShoots use?
It uses Stacking and Balancing: you stack physical pieces trying to maintain balance. It's pure dexterity, no dice, cards or engine. Similar to Jenga or Junk Art, but with a structure that grows instead of shrinking.
Is it really suitable for young children?
From 6 years old, the rules are understandable, but the fine motor skills required to insert the leaves into the narrow slots can be tricky for children under 7-8. It works better as a family game where adults and children play together, not as a game to leave for small children alone.
How many players does it work best with?
The box says up to 12, but the ideal is 3-6 players. With too many players, the wait between turns becomes long and the pace is lost. Alone, it's a zen puzzle, but it lacks the social pressure that makes the game fun at the table.
How long does a game actually last?
Between 5 and 15 minutes, depending on how cautious you are. The first leaves go fast, the last ten can take minutes. Usually, two or three games are played in a row without even noticing.
Is it available in Italian?
OffShoots is a physical dexterity game with no text: there are no cards, complex rules, or writing on the components. Language is not relevant. The rulebook might be in English, but the rules can be explained in 30 seconds by looking at the game.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
OffShoots is a dexterity party game for 1-12 players aged 6 and up, with games lasting 5 to 15 minutes. It uses the Stacking and Balancing mechanic: you stack 75 wooden leaves on a forked trunk trying not to collapse the structure. Self-produced and released in 2024, OffShoots focuses on refined materials, instant setup, and immediate physicality that works well for both families and as a party filler. Available on FroGames.it.
OffShoots
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
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