Forest Shuffle has been one of our favorite games. So when the Spiel des Jahres jury barely mentioned it, we were really surprised. It definitely would have deserved more.
That’s the short version. Here’s the longer one.
What is Forest Shuffle?
You grow a forest. Out of cards. Each tree you plant becomes a home for animals, insects, mushrooms and plants, and those creatures score points depending on what else lives in your forest.
It’s designed by Kosch and published by Lookout, and in German it’s called Mischwald. The box says 2 to 5 players, about 60 minutes, 10+.
How it plays
The turns are tiny:
- Draw two cards, from the deck or from the shared clearing in the middle of the table.
- Or play a card into your forest. A tree goes down on its own. Animals and plants attach to the sides of a tree, and most cards are split in two, so you choose which half to use.
To play a card, you pay with other cards from your hand, and those go into the clearing, where your opponents can grab them. That’s where most of the interaction lives: every payment is a little gift to the table.
The end comes suddenly. When the third winter card shows up from the deck, the game is over, so you want your best cards out before then. Then you count up all the combinations in your forest.
Where it shines
We call it one of our favorite games, and we don’t say that lightly. It’s a 9 out of 10 for us.
It works at a kitchen table because so much is right: quick turns, a calm feel, plenty of options and many different paths to points. We hear that a lot in the community, too. It’s also a game you want to look at. The illustrations by Toni Llobet are gorgeous, and the cards are made without plastic, from FSC-certified material.
The award question
So why were we so surprised? Forest Shuffle made the 2024 recommendation list for Kennerspiel des Jahres, the award for more experienced players, but it didn’t get a nomination. For one of our favorite games, that felt like a polite nod, not real recognition.
The gaming community saw it differently. Forest Shuffle won the Deutscher Spiele Preis 2024, which is voted online by players, not by a jury. Juries and players don’t always agree. This time, we’re with the players.
Where it stings
The final scoring is the price of all those combos. It’s complicated, with a card-by-card reference instead of a simple summary, and the first games can cause confusion. A big forest also takes up a lot of table space. And a player who rushes through the deck to end the game early can leave everyone with low scores.
If you want to mess with your opponents directly, look elsewhere. Taking a card someone else needs is about as mean as it gets.
The Exploration expansion
We were really excited about the next expansion. After the earlier expansions, which mainly added new cards, this one adds new mechanics:
- New caves with different powers, replacing the regular caves from the base game
- An official Automa deck with 12 challenges for solo play
- 15 cards with rare species, previously handed out as promo cards through events and partners
It’s called Exploration in English, needs the base game, and was scheduled for a European release in May 2025. We haven’t tried it yet, so we can’t tell you how the caves change the game.
Forest Shuffle with kids
The box says 10+. The variety of cards and their effects keeps challenging even experienced players. The turns themselves are easy enough. The scoring is where younger players will need a grown-up next to them.
What we hear in the community
Most people agree on the art, the quick turns and the many ways to score. You also often hear that games take closer to 45 minutes than the hour on the box. Some like how easy it is to imagine little stories in your forest, like a forest full of predators with only one prey animal. The game itself doesn’t push you toward them, though, and collaboration is rare.
Our verdict
If you like nature, combos and a calm kind of competition, get Forest Shuffle. It’s one of our favorites, whether you play as a couple, with friends or as one of the many families of all kinds with kids old enough for the scoring.
If you want a game where you can attack each other, or you hate long scoring at the end, this forest isn’t for you.
Where it shines
- One of our favorite games
- Simple turns: draw two cards or play into your forest
- Lots of different ways to score
- Gorgeous nature art by Toni Llobet
Where it stings
- The final scoring is complicated, especially in the first games
- Interaction is mostly indirect
- A big forest eats a lot of table space
Fact sheet
- 2–5
- about 60 min (box)
- 10+
- Kosch
- 9/10
FAQ
Is Forest Shuffle the same game as Mischwald?
Yes. Mischwald is the German title of Forest Shuffle, designed by Kosch and published by Lookout.
Did Forest Shuffle win Spiel des Jahres?
No. It made the 2024 recommendation list for Kennerspiel des Jahres but wasn't nominated. It did win the Deutscher Spiele Preis 2024, which is voted by the gaming community. We think it deserved more attention from the jury.
How long does Forest Shuffle take?
The box says about 60 minutes. Games often wrap up in closer to 45, though.
What age is Forest Shuffle for?
The box says 10+. The turns are simple, but the end-game scoring has a lot of different rules to check.
What does the Exploration expansion add?
A set of caves with different powers, an official Automa deck with 12 solo challenges, and 15 cards with rare species that were promo cards before. You need the base game. We haven't tried it yet.
