Some board games blast their way onto your table with flashy miniatures, towering rulebooks, and strategies stacked like a wedding cake. But there’s a quieter breed of game carving its own trail—one that whispers instead of shouts, inviting players into a slower, more deliberate pace. Alpine Trails, a new release from Terran Games, is exactly that kind of experience.
Designed by Martin Doležal, Alpine Trails is a love letter to both creative simplicity and the natural wonder of the Alps. In this behind-the-scenes diary, Martin takes us along on the journey from spark of inspiration to finished product—one rooted less in epic conquest, and more in the quiet joy of exploration.
Inspiration in the Mountains
The first seeds of Alpine Trails were planted not at a desk or during a marathon game night, but while Martin was on vacation in the Austrian Alps. Surrounded by dramatic peaks, meandering trails, and rushing rivers, an idea began to take shape.
“I wanted to capture the feeling of quietly walking along a trail, letting the land guide you,” Martin says. “Like a cartographer sketching as they go—not rushing from objective to objective, but discovering as they move.”
That inspiration turned into the foundation of a game—not a loud, competitive affair, but a “flip-and-write” experience where players slowly draw mountain paths, streams, and scenic routes on a hex-based map. Every line you trace becomes part of your own unfolding journey.
Embracing Minimalism, by Design
While many modern board games seem to chase complexity for its own sake, Alpine Trails takes the opposite approach. Its components are refreshingly sparse:
- A deck of trail cards
- A map
- Something to draw with
That’s it.
But don’t mistake simplicity for shallowness. Beneath the calm surface, there are subtle choices at every turn. Each round, you flip a card that presents a new segment—a road, a river, or a hiking path—and you must draw that segment onto your growing network. The challenge? Connecting key locations—villages, lakes, scenic overlooks—while keeping your map coherent and natural. It’s less about maximizing points at all costs and more about creating something that feels real.
It’s strategy, sure, but slowed down. Reflective. Like building a puzzle piece by piece without checking the box art too often.
Stories in Every Sketch
When Martin began testing the game with others, he noticed something unexpected. Yes, people were playing for points and efficiency—but they were also telling stories.
“Players would look at their finished maps and share things like, ‘Oh, I took a hidden trail around that lake’ or ‘This path went straight up the ridge.’ It became personal,” he recalls.
However, the game wasn’t perfect out of the gate. Early tests revealed issues with pacing: some cards came up too frequently, and certain path options became more common than others, frustrating players. Martin adjusted the card distribution and introduced a “wild card” system, which let players occasionally flex their choices to keep gameplay fluid.
He also made a deliberate choice to keep player conditions identical. No unique powers, no asymmetric goals. Everyone starts on equal footing, with only their interpretation of the landscape setting them apart. Fair and elegant.
Environmentally-Minded from Start to Finish
Given the game’s deep ties to nature, it made sense for its production to follow suit. Alpine Trails is printed using eco-friendly inks, packaged entirely without plastic, and even includes real wood pencils instead of the usual synthetic markers. The box is compact and transport-efficient, reducing its carbon footprint.
“If we’re going to make a game about unspoiled landscapes,” Martin says, “we shouldn’t be adding to the plastic mountains we’re already trying to avoid.”
And that ethos extends to the presentation itself—no bloated box, no unnecessary extras. Just what you need to start sketching your own Alpine retreat.
Choose Your Terrain
The game includes a range of maps—each depicting different regions like:
- South Tyrol
- Salzkammergut
- The Dolomites
Each offers its own level of complexity and flavor. There’s also:
- A solo version for peaceful, personal play
- A “challenge mode” with stricter planning requirements for seasoned players
Whether you’re dipping your toes into trail-making for the first time or have a drawer full of hand-drawn maps from other titles, Alpine Trails offers something to match your pace.
Drawing Your Own Path
In the end, Alpine Trails isn’t just about points or winning—it’s about the meditative joy of creating something personal, something grounded in the love of nature.
“It’s a game where you literally draw your own path,” Martin says. “And maybe it reminds you of places you’ve been. Or places you’ll want to go.”
It’s calm. It’s creative. It’s a break from the noise—not unlike the kind of silence that settles in when you’ve climbed a mountain trail and stopped to breathe in the view.
Alpine Trails is set for wide release in fall 2024 from Terran Games. You can find more information on the game at BoardGameGeek.
🗨️ Discussion prompt:
Have you played any games that focus more on relaxing experiences rather than tight competition? We’d love to hear your recommendations and thoughts—share them in the comments!