Fluxx [おもちゃ＆ホビー]

A word of warning: After playing Fluxx, any game with set rules or linear play will no longer be interesting. Children will turn up their noses at kiddie amusements, elders will ignore classic time-wasters, beloved games from ages past will be set aside just to play another purely chaotic round of Fluxx.

So what's the appeal? The blurb on the box reads "The card game with the ever-changing rules", but this is comic understatement at it's best - Fluxx is so tumultuous, it would be more fitting if the words changed into something different midway through the sentence, it's *that* ever-changing. The concept of Fluxx isn't so difficult to grasp, it's the implications that are mind-boggling...

Simply put, the rules are on the cards, so as you play, the rules can change. That sounds easy enough at first, until it's put into practice - this means that not only are no two games the same, but no two minutes of a game are the same. In fact, you're not even playing the same game as the game progresses! You may be playing a game that requires you to have a hand of several dozen cards. Or a game where no one is allowed to have any cards in hand. You may have to make several plays before the next person can play. Or the play order could be rearranged so you'll have to wait twice as long before you can play at all. You may be playing someone else's cards. You may be playing cards that aren't even in play. And since the rules are always changing, any and all of these events can take place in a matter of minutes in the same game!

Of course the focus of any game is the goal. What do you have to do to win? And Fluxx fluxes here as well - the goals are also on the cards. You could be moments away from winning the game only to find the goal replaced with something completely different. You might set a goal that causes someone else to win. There may be more than one goal. In fact, players will find themselves in the unique position of playing for absolutely nothing when the game starts, as *there is no goal*; you actually have to have a game underway for the game to have a winning condition at all!

In short, Fluxx is a card game where the cards determine the game. That's about as precise a description you can get of a game with all the organization of a drifting cloud or a puff of smoke. Playing time is maybe two minutes, perhaps an hour, who knows? The only thing that's for sure is that Fluxx is a guaranteed good time for young and old alike. Five unpredictable but well-played stars for Looney Labs' masterpiece.

How it works: Well first off right now it's draw one, play one. Which means you draw a card and play a card. Oh? You're playing draw two. So I'm sorry, the rules've changed it's now draw TWO and play one. So grab another card. MY turn. Ahh, Draw two, play one. I'm going to play, play Five. So I gotta play all five of my cards. I have the chocolate keeper. I like to have chocolate, and sleep. And look, an action card, Rotate hands. So gimme YOUR cards I'll give you these.

My Story: I found about fluxx through a few gamer geek friends of mine I hung out with in college. Became nicely addicted.

Flash foreward 2 years after trying to find a deck and getting fluxx out of luck, I finally break down, go to the looney labs web site and order them there.

I take them into work and the first thing that happens is that one of my friends dan finds me shuffling my deck and comes over, sits down and asks to be dealt in. We play a few rounds and then get everyone in eyesight needlessly addicted. So now we have a few basic gaming rules. The moment dan enters the room and there's a fluxx game, he gets dealt in. Anyone sitting close enough to read the cards gets dealt a hand. No waiting for a new game. With Fluxx you can do that!

I can't tell you how many people I've got at work currently owning their own fluxx deck. It's gotta be at least a handful of people. It's almost like an addiction once you start playing. I don't know why, or how, but that's just how that is.

First, I don't have children. My husband and I wanted to play something fun at home, or have something to take to a family get together. Sometimes it's hard to find clever games for just 2 (or more) people. But this definitely takes the cake.
It's pretty easy to learn. It was easier for me because he played it at work. Basically, read the rules, then just play a few hands to get used to it. The rules are written on each card and it keeps changing as you play the game. A game can last just a few minutes to about a half hour from what I can tell.
We got version 4.0 and the Zombie Fluxx. They play about the same and I like them both. You can even combine them, or take a few cards from one and mix them with the original deck. The backs are all the same so that they blend together.
The Original Fluxx won an award from Mensa in 1997 and I can see why. We played for a couple of hours and laughed and had a great time. You have to think and keep up with the cards that are in play, but it's all on the table in front of you so it's not hard.
You'll use your mind, use some strategy and have a lot of fun all at once. There's even a family Fluxx which I think is a bit easier for younger kids.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this game for just about anyone. I have already decided to buy a few more decks and give them as gifts.