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Looney Labs have added another deck to their Fluxx collection. Like previous games in the Fluxx series, Across America is a fast paced and unpredictable card game where the rules and objectives are constantly changing. The game starts with simple rules but players have to adapt as more cards are played, adding rules and changing the cards needed to win.
Gameplay
Like all Fluxx games the rules at the start of the game are straightforward. Players are dealt three cards, then take turns drawing one card from the deck, then play one card. Those cards are either Action cards, New Rules, Goal cards or Keepers. Action cards are used once and take effect immediately, allowing players to take a range of actions from stealing cards from other players to drawing additional cards. As the name suggests New Rule cards add a new rule that players must follow. These rules vary and can apply new hand limits, forcing players to discard, or might let them draw extra cards. Keepers are played in front of players and the cards you need to collect to win. Finally, goal cards dictate which Keepers players need to collect in order to win the game. In this version of Fluxx all of the Keepers are based on famous monuments and sites scattered across America. Each turn, as cards are played every player has to adapt to the new rules, while at the same time trying to achieve a goal that is constantly changing.
The first player to collect the required Keeper cards, or change the goal in their own favour, is the winner.
Explore iconic landmarks from home
It is hard not to compare this version of Fluxx to previous versions, which come in a range of decks for every interest or fandom, from Dr Who and Marvel to Pirates and Greek mythology. The gameplay is entertainingly chaotic, with ever-changing rules and objectives that make each game a fun challenge. If you’ve never played a Fluxx game before, this style of play can take a little while to learn. Firstly, it can be incredibly fast paced, forcing you to adapt and change your plan almost every turn. Secondly, some of the rule cards can seem bizarre at first - such as those that let you draw extra cards if you’re playing the game outside of your own home or sing a song about a destination mentioned on a Keeper card. These odd rules seem strange but inevitably lead to hilarious gameplay, especially when played in a larger group or party setting.
The particular theme of this version, monuments across America, is more interesting than I initially thought. With so many genres to choose from I wondered how much this theme would add, but I was happily mistaken. It is surprising how much enjoyment you get from seeing a location that you recognize. The majority of the cards are obvious attractions, most of which people already know, such as The Statue of Liberty or the Grand Canyon. But as you play more Keeper cards you will probably come across one or two that you may not know, like Crater Lake or Devils Tower. When this happens it’s hard not to say “I’ve never heard of that” or “That looks like a cool place to visit”. These moments are a lot of fun, even if they tend to be fleeting because you’re distracted trying to keep track of the rule changes and figure out how to change the goal to prevent another player from winning.
Across America offers plenty of gameplay variety, whether it’s the ever moving goal post of Keeper cards or the new rules that need to be followed. This also means play time can vary wildly. Some games are over in 10 minutes, such as when a player is lucky and the goal card that is currently in play works in their favour. Whereas other games can easily hit the 30 minute playtime listed on the box, especially if players are feeling vindictive and strategically sabotage one another using action cards and rule changes.
Despite the rapidly changing nature of Across America the game is surprisingly straightforward, you follow the instructions on the cards which are clear and well written. The hard part is keeping track of the rules currently in play. That can be easier said than done when they change almost every turn. Despite that, it is an approachable game, this American version in particular. As I said earlier, everyone has some cultural awareness of the popular American locations/monuments. This means you don’t need to know inside jokes or have seen a particular TV show to enjoy this deck. Even if you know nothing about America the cards are well designed, making it an easy game to play with families and friends of all ages. Likewise, it is a surprisingly enjoyable game to look at, in particular the Keeper cards show simplified but beautiful scenes of locations ranging from the Nevada mountains to The Alamo in Texas. The cards also feature the occasional pun, which as a fan of word play always goes down well (I am a particular fan of the card Beach, Please).
Final thoughts
Fluxx: Across America does a brilliant job turning a straightforward premise into a chaotic mix of strategy and luck. Unsurprisingly, there is a great deal of overlap between this version and existing decks, but that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment. The American theme is pleasant to look at and features some genuinely scenic artwork, making it a great entry into the Fluxx series. Overall, it is always worth owning at least one version of Fluxx and this one is well worth considering if you’re looking for an approachable light hearted, if slightly chaotic, card game.
