Created in Colorado for lodges, bars, and ski houses everywhere, Après is a tribute to everything we love about skiing. Because after a day on the mountain, we never want it to end with the last run. This fast-paced group card game keeps ski days going long into the night. Follow along on Instagram.
Buy it at ApresGame.com
Created by Victor Rasgaitis
Illustrated by Cait Gamble
The idea for Après first came, as so many ideas do, while sitting in Colorado’s infamous I-70 traffic jams. At first, I was just naming as many ski jargon terms as I could think of to keep from going stir crazy while inching along the snowy highway. But pretty soon all the brainstorming led to another thought: It’s pretty fun how all of these different pieces add up to make a great ski day. And on the best ski days, a snowy Après hot tub soak is always followed by late night board games. The idea sat in my iPhone Notes for years. It wasn’t until the ski season got cut short in 2020 that I finally broke out the index cards and sharpies to make the first playable Après prototype. I officially launched the game on Instagram in October, 2022.
Read the full story at ApresGame.com/story
Inspired by popular set collection card drafting games and the idea of events unfolding over the course of a “ski day,” Après is made unique by its storytelling-based approach (what else would you expect from a writer?). The game mechanic is simple: As cards are passed around the table, players score points for collecting different combinations. But, since cards are collected chronologically, you end up with a 12-card story unfolding in front of you each round: Drop into a Double Black, then grab a Lift Beer before hitting some Big Air. Or, share a Shotski then catch some fresh Pow on a Blue. Just don’t wipe out with a Yard Sale. Because in Après, the best ski day wins.
See the rules at ApresGame.com/rules
In Après, the best ski day wins. As cards are passed around the table, collect “Run” cards, “Special” cards, and “Bonus” cards in an order that creates combinations to earn you points. In each round, you assemble a 12-card ski day that adds up to your score. The player with the highest cumulative score after 3 rounds wins.
See more at ApresGame.com