Customer Reviews

Fluxx 4.0

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

Fluxx (and all of its other quirky theme decks) is a nice change of pace from intense strategy games as the constant game changes are so unpredictable that it prevents meta-gaming stress and leads to pure lighthearted fun. Even the most strategic minded players eventually give in to the face-paced fun and just go with the flow.
For this reason Fluxx is a great break game after playing deep-thought trivia or intense strategy games. It also makes a great all around game for anybody who wants to just relax and have lots of fun with any size group without having to work at it.
Furthermore, you can buy one of the many theme decks of Fluxx (such as Zombie Apocalypse or Monty Python) to tailor the game to your personality and change things up.
Bottom line: Fluxx is a must have for any game collection.

I am a game lover but my husband isn't much of a board/card game fan so it's hard to get him to play one with me. Fluxx is one of the few games he actually likes. We enjoy playing Fluxx with friends or just the 2 of us. We find the games usually lasts about 15 minutes and once everyone gets acquainted with the game, it is pretty fast paced. The one con about this game is that it does take some time for new players to learn the cards and get into the game.

We just received this card game and have already played it about 10 or so times today! We are empty-nesters, but it would surely be good for a family as well. I like the face that a big portion of it is based on chance (luck of the draw), but that there is also some skill involved (i.e. you can use the cards tactically by choosing to sometimes hold cards rather than playing them on that turn). The rules change constantly throughout a single game, so just when you think you're about to win, something changes! It says it is for ages 8 to 99, but I think it might be a wee bit too challenging for an 8 year old. It would depend on the child.
UPDATE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER: We played it a lot for the first month, then it started to get a bit less exciting. I suppose that could be true of ANY game though. Still glad that I orignially bought it though. It gave us some good family card game nights.

I tried this game at a convention and loved it so much, I kept wishing I had bought a set. So, I ordered it online. It's just really fun and unpredictable. It can be very hard - or very simple, depending on the rules you draw and what gets played. Sometimes, my husband and I play it by ourselves we like it so much.

I'm not sure about how it would be as a family game if you're playing with kids. It can get pretty confusing for adults - but then again, our minds are probably slower than theirs anyway! Definitely not for non-readers.

If you don't like the fact that you can be forced to make someone else win, or that the game can be over very quickly (normally it's not, but it can be) then this game is not for you!

But, if you're interested in a game where the rules (including what it takes to win) can change at a moments notice, then you should enjoy this game.

And, for the Calvinball purists, you don't get to make up rule changes, they play out in the cards. But this is like someone already made up the rule changes for you and wrote them down!

This is one of my families all time favorite games! It is compact and only takes up a little space to play it. I have played with my 70 something parents and my twenty something daughter at the same time and we all "get it "and have a wonderful time. This game is a great equalizer. Just when you think you are going to win the game changes due to a rule change or an action by a player. The randomness allows anyone to win which increases the fun for all. If you want a good gift for someone close to you or not, this is the one. Cheap and Fun!

the best thing to keep in mind with fluxx, is that anyone can win at anytime. while that really isn't the case, it is just about true. the rules are constantly changing due to "new rule" cards set down by the players. the goal of the game also is in a state of change as they too change as new "Goal Cards" are laid down. action cards don't change the rules themselves, but instead make the player take an action that can add or remove the new rules cards, strategy is a part of the game if you play to win, but mostly this game is fun because you or another player can win on a whim. fast play time depending on the rules in play, and easy enough to learn in one game.

also, the idea of combining the different versions of Fluxx together to create even more randomness and fun is rather exciting for me.