Forest Shuffle - Alpine
🐸 Dettagli da BoardGameGeek
Consiglio BGG sul numero di giocatori
Categorie
Meccaniche
Design & Art
Lingua
Pairs well with
FroGames — Moments You'll Remember
Someone places a marmot on a larch, someone protects the bearded vulture. In the end, you will have built very diverse alpine ecosystems.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
New species above the tree line
Forest Shuffle: Alpine is the first expansion for Kosch's tactical game, illustrated by Toni Llobet and Judit Piella. It takes the core game system beyond the tree line, into alpine meadows and rocky peaks. Two new tree species, new alpine fauna, and mechanics that introduce minor variations to the original system.
At the table, you manage 36 new multi-use cards that shuffle into the base deck. Each card can become a tree, fauna, flora, or a resource to build your ecosystem. The new alpine species bring different needs: marmots living in pairs, bearded vultures looking for bones, butterflies seeking high-altitude flowers. Every choice builds value chains and tactical openings.
What they say abroad
Alpine adds variety without adding bulk. It's the expansion Forest Shuffle deserved: discreet, tactical, perfectly integrated.
— FroGames
Forest Shuffle: Alpine
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and play sessionsThe new alpine cards
What you find in the 36-card deck
Two new tree species
Larches and Swiss stone pines. They inhabit high altitudes and provide shelter for specialized fauna. They expand the possibilities for building your vertical ecosystem.
New alpine fauna
Bearded vultures, marmots, ibex, rock partridges. Each species has specific ecological needs and generates points in new ways: pairs, bones, open meadows.
High-altitude insects and flora
Alpine butterflies, rare flowers, mosses. They create value chains with base cards and open up tactical combos that didn't exist before.
Mechanics with a twist
Some cards introduce minor variations to the system: conditional bonuses, special activations, interactions with already played cards. Nothing revolutionary, all integrated.
Recommended sleeves 36 cards in 1 size ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting your cards with transparent sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 56 × 87 mm | 36 |
| Total cards | 36 |
In an hour, you will have built an ecosystem that didn't exist before. Alpine adds complexity without complicating.
Video a scopo dimostrativo, per mostrare il gameplay.
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
First Alpine cards in hand
You shuffle the 36 new cards into the base deck and set up. In the first turns, you draw species you've never seen before: a marmot, a bearded vulture, a larch. You wonder where to fit them into your ecosystem. Old strategies are no longer enough.
The first split decision
You have a perfect Alpine card for your strategy, but someone else is building a similar ecosystem. Do you draft it or use it as a resource? The new cards increase the pressure on tactical choices. Every card becomes more valuable.
Diverging ecosystems
Mid-game, the forests on the table are all different. Someone focused on paired marmots, someone on the scavenger bearded vulture, someone on rare flowers. Alpine amplifies the diverging strategies of the base game. No two ecosystems are alike.
The unexpected combo
You draw an Alpine card that perfectly combines with a base card you played three turns ago. You activate a chain of bonuses you hadn't anticipated. The new mechanics aren't complex, but they multiply the possibilities. This is the moment you'll remember.
Final scoring
End of the game. You count the points and discover that the new Alpine species have shifted the balance. Those who dominated with base strategies are surpassed by those who leveraged the Alpine cards. You immediately want to play again to test other combos.
How to play
The flow of each round (identical to base game)
Alpine does not change the rules of Forest Shuffle. The 36 new cards integrate into the original system without adding phases or exceptions.
Draw from the deck (now with shuffled Alpine cards) or take one of the visible cards in the central clearing. Each card has four possible uses.
Use the cards in your hand as trees (in the center), fauna/flora (above, below, right, left of the tree) or as resources to pay for other cards. The new Alpine species have specific costs and bonuses.
Each card played can activate bonuses from cards already in your ecosystem. The new Alpine cards introduce unique triggers and conditions: marmot pairs, bones for the bearded vulture, rare flowers for butterflies.
When the deck runs out, count points from played cards, completed chains, and final bonuses. The new Alpine species offer alternative scoring paths compared to the base game.
Why it's different from the base game alone
Six elements that make a difference
Two new tree species
Larches and Swiss stone pines. They are not simple clones of the base trees: they have specific interactions with Alpine fauna. Some animal species give bonuses only if associated with these trees. They change the construction geometries of your ecosystem.
Specialized Alpine fauna
The new animal species have precise ecological needs. The bearded vulture looks for bones (other discarded cards), marmots work in pairs, ibex thrive on rocky terrain. Each species rewards different strategies compared to the base game.
Mechanics with subtle twists
Some Alpine cards introduce small variations: conditional activations, bonuses if you've already played certain species, avoidable penalties. Nothing complex, but enough to make each draft more layered. Old base combos need rethinking.
Perfect integration with the base game
The 36 cards shuffle into the original deck without changing setup or rules. No modules are needed, no additional phases. Open the box, shuffle, play. The easiest expansion to integrate that Kosch could design.
Expanded educational value
Like the base game, Alpine also brings real biodiversity to the table. Each card represents an authentic Alpine species with detailed naturalistic illustrations. Players learn about mountain ecosystems while building strategies.
More victory paths
The base game already had different strategies (tall trees, lateral fauna, horizontal flora). Alpine multiplies the tactical routes: animal pairs, discard chains, conditional bonuses. Each game diverges even more from the previous one.
How it ends
How to win (identical to base game)
Alpine does not change the victory conditions of Forest Shuffle. The game ends when the deck runs out and the player with the most points wins.
Victory
- Points from played cards: each tree, animal, plant has a base value
- Points from completed chains: bonus if you have built sets of related species
- Points from final bonuses: some Alpine cards give extra points at the end of the game if you have met specific conditions (e.g., pair of marmots, 3+ Alpine flowers, bearded vulture with bones in the discard pile)
How you lose points (or opportunities)
- You don't build chains: Alpine cards reward specific combos. Playing them in isolation wastes their potential
- You ignore the new mechanics: some Alpine species have conditional triggers. Not activating them means losing free points
- You don't adapt your strategy: the old base combos may be less effective with Alpine in play. Those who don't adapt lose ground
Alpine is the expansion that every Forest Shuffle player should have. It adds depth without complexity, variety without confusion.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Forest Shuffle: Alpine
Can I play Alpine without the base game?
No. Alpine is an expansion, not a standalone game. It requires the Forest Shuffle base deck to function. The 36 Alpine cards shuffle into the original deck.
Do the new cards complicate the rules?
No. Alpine does not add phases, nor does it modify the game system. The new cards follow the same multi-function structure as the base game. Some introduce small mechanical twists (conditional bonuses, specific triggers), but nothing that requires more than 5 minutes of explanation.
How many Alpine cards should I use per game?
All 36. They are shuffled into the base deck and, as in the original game, some cards are removed based on the number of players before starting. This is the standard Forest Shuffle system, Alpine does not change it.
Are the new cards stronger than the base ones?
No. Kosch has balanced Alpine to integrate without dominating. Some Alpine cards are very strong in specific combos, others are versatile but not decisive. There is no power creep: base strategies remain competitive.
Is the edition for sale in Italian?
Yes. The Asmodee Italia edition includes cards, rulebook, and all text in Italian. Compatible with any Italian edition of Forest Shuffle.
Forest Shuffle: Alpine is the first expansion of the strategic card game designed by Kosch, for 2-5 players, 60 minutes, ages 10+. It introduces 36 new multi-function cards set in the Alps: two new tree species (larch and Swiss stone pine), specialized Alpine fauna (bearded vultures, marmots, ibex), insects, and high-altitude flora. The cards integrate perfectly into the base system of set collection, hand management, and open drafting, without modifying the rules. Each card can be used as a tree, fauna, flora, or resource. The new species introduce mechanics with subtle twists: conditional bonuses, unique value chains, alternative scoring paths. Illustrated by Toni Llobet and Judit Piella, published by Lookout Games and edited in Italy by Asmodee. An ideal expansion for those who have played the base game extensively and are looking for more tactical variety without adding complexity. Available on FroGames.it
Forest Shuffle - Alpine
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?
Pre-order the game before release, payment is immediate, and the game is reserved for you. As soon as it arrives, we'll ship it right away! If there are any delays, we'll update you promptly.
🔒Can I trust buying here?
Absolutely! Secure payments, tracked shipments, and a team that loves board games as much as you do. If something goes wrong, we'll do our best to fix it.
🛠There's a problem with my order, what should I do?
Write to us now! Whether it's a missing part, damage, or an error, we'll help you resolve it as soon as possible. Your experience truly matters to us.