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Sometimes I think back to how everything was simpler before adulting was sprung upon me! When the only decisions to be made were which tv channel to watch before eating my tea, which was made for me by someone else (thanks mum!) I don’t know when exactly the transition happened between then and now, where apparently I was signed up for deciding every meal for my entire family up until I die, or be in charge of teaching rules to new games. But that’s how life sneaks up on you I suppose.
So when I saw a small promo table of various Fluxx games at our local games shop and it was introduced with simply Draw 1, Play 1 I thought, ‘I like the cut of this games jib.’ Yes I know, games don’t really have jibs… well pirate Fluxx probably does, but I was intrigued about how a game with such simple rules could spawn so many different themes of itself. I mean when there's Fluxx versions from anything like math, nature, Cthulhu to the likes of Star Trek, Marvel and Doctor Who, it must have something going for it right? Obviously I chose the standard version, keeping it simple.
Is it simple?
Well honestly yes and no. Fluxx is a card game where the rules are ever changing with every turn, as is the winning criteria or ‘goals’ as they're referred to in this game. You will start with the basic rules of draw one, then play one which is super easy to grasp, but what’s not so easy is keeping up with the new rules played.
You’ll see 4 types of cards in Fluxx – New Rules, Actions, Keepers and Goals. New rules are as suggested, new rules! They will either replace the basic rules of draw/play one or will provide an addition rule, maybe there's now a hand limit or perhaps two goals can be aimed for. Action cards let you do things such as reset the rules or steal a card from each player’s hand. Keepers have images on them like the sun, a television, the eye, time etc. Goals cards set the guidelines you need to win, by telling you (more often than not) what pairing of keepers you need to win, such as Night & Day which requires the sun card and the moon card. There are however a few curveballs in the goals, such as winning if you have any 5 keepers.
At the start of a game of Fluxx there will not be any goal set nor will anyone hold any keepers, but that will change soon enough. In fact before you even take your first turn you could already have been made to discard cards or be able to play more than one card on your move. This game is all about rolling with the punches and being adaptable enough to change your plans in an attempt to complete the current goal and become champion. Even the best strategy gamer will be thrown off by a change in winning requirements or a rule reset.
Constant state of Fluxx
Fluxx is a mind-blowing, frustrating and brilliant game all at the same time. A game can be both quick and easy to follow or so complicated you're working yourself in knots and taking 5 minutes just trying to figure out exactly how many cards you should be drawing. This is not a game for everyone but it's surprising sometimes who gels with it. A lot about the kind of game you end up having can also depend on the luck of the card order. The first game we played quickly went to a draw 5 situation, but then we didn’t come across any play ‘x’ amount cards for a long time and we were left struggling to keep track of our cards in our hands, and then the game dragged on too long which meant we ended up losing interest. Because of that, for a long time this game sat un-played. I often think that first game can make you love or hate Fluxx as it really is a bit of a marmite game. We’ve also played rounds over super quick in minutes as by pure chance the right cards came up for someone to win.
The best games of Fluxx lay somewhere in-between with enough change in the rules and goals to keep you frustrated but not so much that the game ends up unplayable, but such is the nature of Fluxx. What surprised me most was the variation in possible rules and actions, things I just didn’t expect. This game does more than just change the draw and play limits with new rules, and the actions do more than just steal or discard cards, so when you get a good mix of all, it is phenomenal.
Fluxx won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you find yourself playing a game of it and not loving it, promise to give it a second chance before you decide whether you like it or not because the next game will be nothing like the last.
