This week’s Monday Night Gaming: Fluxx.
Publisher: Looney Labs
# of Players: 2-6 players
Best with: 3-4 players
Playing Time: 1st time through, maybe 30 minutes. Games can range from 10-30 minutes depending upon card draw.
# of Expansions: 10+
# of Parts: 100 cards
Fluxx is a card game with ever-changing rules. As odd as it sounds, it’s easy to learn and play. It’s an entertaining little card game with multiple varieties (themes: Oz, pirates, star (space), Monty Python, Martian, family, etc.).
General Mechanics: In this game, the cards themselves determine the current rules of the game. Example: DiNozzo might draw a card that says NEW RULE: Hand Limit 1. If he plays it, it will replace the default and/or previous rule about hand limits and limit everyone’s hand size to 1 card. Playing cards changes all aspects of the game, including how many cards to draw, how many cards to play, hand-size limits, how many cards can be on the table in front of the player, and the goal of the game.
At the beginning of a game, each player is dealt three cards. On a turn, a player will draw 1 card and play 1 card (unless the rules say otherwise). By playing cards, players can put new rules into affect, change existing rules of the game, change the current goal, and more. Changing the goal is important as the goal is what ends the game. This can occur within five minutes or thirty depending upon the game itself.
How to Win/Lose: The first player to meet the goal conditions, wins the game. Example: A goal might say that whoever possesses the Ruby Slippers and Toto wins the game, meaning that whatever player has the cards with those names in front of them, wins. Part of the challenge in the game is acquiring the right matching cards to meet a goal. However, other players can change the goal to fit their cards, so you have to watch what other players are doing.
What I Liked: The themes in the expansions are fun. I love the various flavors of this game. I also love that the game is short, making for a quick play.
What I Didn’t Like: If you only stick to the base game, it’ll get redundant. The expansions are necessary.
Overall Rating/Impression: 7.0/10.0 Fun game, fun themes.
We love Fluxx – although for a while we had to call it “that card” game, young kids frequently have difficulty pronouncing L.
Fluxx is definitely fun. I can see the problem with the name & young kiddos. 😉
Did you guys have a favorite themed version?
I have always been partial to the original, but the kids (now 15 and 18), like Zombie Fluxx.
We’ve played several and enjoy the Pirates one. Keep meaning to try the Monty Python one. 🙂
I’ll have to keep a look-out for those 🙂