Forest Shuffle: Exploration is the third expansion for Kosch’s beloved tree-hugging, point salad card game. With 55 new cards, this one is definitely for the super fans who can’t get enough of curating their own little corner of the forest.
Alone in the Forest
Forest Shuffle: Exploration is the third expansion for Kosch’s beloved tree-hugging, point salad card game. With 55 new cards, this one is definitely for the super fans who can’t get enough of curating their own little corner of the forest.
Alone in the Forest
The main feature of Exploration is the introduction of a solo mode, allowing players to hone their forest-building skills without needing a group. The solo mode plays exactly like the base game, and you can mix in any expansions you like.
Set-up is simple. Build the deck based on which expansions you’re using, removing the correct number of cards. Deal five cards into the clearing and six into your hand. Then shuffle one winter card into the final ten cards of the deck to trigger the game’s end. The twenty new Automa cards introduce Anna, your solo opponent. Anna keeps the game moving at a brisk pace, but she doesn’t feel punishing. She’s not a hate-drafter, so she won’t deliberately block your strategy. However, she’ll quickly add and remove cards from the clearing in large sweeps, keeping you on your toes. Every turn feels like a gamble: do you take the butterflies now, or risk drawing from the deck, hoping Anna won’t clear them before you get another chance?
The game ends with less warning than in multiplayer. There’s only one winter card, so as soon as it appears, it’s time to tally up your points. Your goal is to chase high scores by completing different challenges. There are twelve in total, each with bronze, silver and gold targets. These encourage you to try out new strategies and adapt to different playstyles. For example, the first challenge asks you to end the game with six or more bats in your forest. To hit gold on this one, you’ll need to rack up a whopping 400 points when playing with all the expansions.
The expansion also includes three achievement cards, letting you bookmark your progress. You can work through the challenges in order or pick and choose as you like.
The solo mode strikes a lovely balance between relaxed and engaging. It’s a great way to learn the deck and try new tactics without the stress of someone swooping in to steal your hares. The only real pressure is whether you can squeeze in one more turn before Anna flips the winter card and ends the game.
Special Caves
Outside of solo play, Exploration introduces five new caves with asymmetric abilities. These replace the standard caves and bring a fresh layer of decision-making, rewarding players who can build clever combos. Personally, I’d always overlooked caves, but now I find myself using the bear and raccoon cards more often to make the most of these new scoring opportunities.
That said, not all caves feel equally balanced. One simply gives you five points if you leave it empty, which is fine, but the Bat Cave scores an extra three points for each bat in your forest, not even in the cave, so the potential for points quickly stacks up. You’ll need to commit to collecting bats for it to pay off, and while other players might get in your way, it still seems like a better cave option than the simple five points.
Around the Globe
The box also comes with fifteen promo cards, some of which were previously available at conventions or in limited runs. I actually had more of these than I realised, so ended up with a few duplicates, but honestly, more cards are never a bad thing in this game.
These promos provide fun new abilities and more delightful artwork. My favourite is the Christmas Tree, which scores plus two points for each card surrounding it and even lets you shuffle the last winter card back into the deck, a lifesaver when you need one more turn to finish a combo.
Some of the promo cards, like the Palm Tree and the Red Pandas, do feel a bit out of place in a European woodland setting and don’t always synergise well with other scoring cards. Still, they’re quirky and fun to play with, which is part of the charm.
Final Thoughts
Compared to Alpine or Woodland Edge, this expansion makes few changes to scoring or gameplay. The new caves are a nice twist for veteran players and the promo cards are a treat for collectors.
The solo mode is easily the star of the show here. As someone who has recently ventured into solo gaming, I really enjoyed the relaxed but engaging experience. It’s the sort of game you can play with a cup of tea, without worrying about someone else stealing your best cards. That said, if you’re looking for something that expands competitive play like Woodland Edge, Exploration might not feel quite as essential.
But if you’re a fan of Forest Shuffle and want quirky new cards, asymmetric caves and a solo mode that lets you wander through your woods at your own pace, Exploration completes the trifecta nicely. It ensures no one misses out on the strangest cards, and finally gives players the chance to enjoy the game alone.
About the author:
* Sophie is a gamer, blogger, podcaster, and book lover with a passion for solo narrative video games. When she’s not immersed in games or writing, she’s probably out hiking. Her favourite board games feature worker placement, nature themes, and smart tableau-building mechanics.
Zatu Review Summary
Zatu Score
78%
