# First Player vs Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter

The clearest difference is monetization model: Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter at free against First Player's free with in-app purchases. Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). First Player's advantage is ratings volume (212 vs 65) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 212 and 65 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 76% and 76% positive.

First Player ships an update every 4 months, Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Player | Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (212 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-player/id972283389/reviews) | **[4.9 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forest-shuffle-smart-counter/id6544800532/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **212** | 65 |
| Positive reviews | **76.4% of reviews** | 75.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 5 MB | 504 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Florian Letz](https://appshunter.io/developer/442784239) | [DIGIDICED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1044671795) |

## What reviewers say

### First Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-player/id972283389)

This app offers a quick and completely random way to decide who goes first in any game. Avoid arguments and ensure fairness by letting technology make the choice.

**Highlights:** Random player selection, Fast decision making, Fair game start, Eliminates arguments

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Works as intended
- 🎯 Straight to the point
- 🎮 Fun for game night
- 💡 Useful for deciding first player

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Limited to 5 players
- 💸 Upgrade not worth it
- 👎 Disappointing limitations
- 🎨 Lacks visual flair
- 📱 Free version issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes at 6+ players
- Upgrade purchase issues
- In-app purchase not unlocking features
- Touch and hold limited to 5 fingers
- Three finger touch conflicts with iOS gestures

**Requested features**

- Allow more than 5 players
- More visual customization (colors, pizazz)
- Unlock all features in free version


### Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forest-shuffle-smart-counter/id6544800532)

Automate scoring for the board game Forest Shuffle™ by scanning your cards. This app handles multiple scans, allows for editing, and supports cross-device QR code sharing. It also includes a card glossary and saves past game sessions.

**Highlights:** Scan trees through the camera, Automatic score counting, Merge scans from multiple devices, Archive previous sessions, Card glossary access, Cross-device QR code sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Makes scoring a breeze
- 👍 Very user-friendly
- 💡 Innovative idea for a game
- ⏱️ Saves significant time
- 💯 Accurate scoring

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent card recognition
- 🐛 Difficulty scanning complex trees
- 🐛 Some cards not recognized
- 🐛 Issues with specific animals/cards
- 🐛 UI/UX could be more intuitive

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot scan trees with more than 4 cards
- QR code player scanning not working
- Does not recognize cards 95% of the time
- Does not consider multiple cards on the same side of a tree
- Steinmarder (stone marten) scoring incorrect

**Requested features**

- Add support for Dartmoor expansion
- Add support for Mischwald Dartmoor
- Add support for Exploration expansion
- Add support for new caves
- Automatic photo capture


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Player free?

First Player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter free?

Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, First Player or Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter?

Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter is rated higher. First Player averages 4.6 out of 5 from 212 ratings, while Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter averages 4.9 from 65 ratings.

### Do First Player or Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter have ads?

Neither First Player nor Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First Player or Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter?

First Player ships an update every 4 months, and Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter monthly. Most recently, First Player was updated on November 1, 2026 and Forest Shuffle™ Smart Counter on November 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*