Outside the Longbox – Fluxx

TV, computers, video game consoles.

And Fluxx, the greatest card game you’ve never played.

As its tagline states, this is the card game with ever-changing rules. To truly appreciate what that means, you really need to play the game for yourself. In a nut shell? The game starts with the Basic Rule card: draw one card, play one card. However, one of the key elements of the game are “rule cards” and when each one is played… the rules change. Maybe you pick up three cards per turn, or play two. Along with the “rule cards” are “goal cards,” and yeah, you might have guessed it, they change the eventual goal of the game. You might currently be aiming to get rid of all of your cards, then BLAM! – new goal card and you need ten cards in your hand to win! BLAM! I say!!!And Fluxx, the greatest card game you’ve never played.

Speaking of “Blam,” one of the best parts about Fluxx are the multiple versions, including Zombie Fluxx. This comes into play with the Keeper and Creeper cards, which themselves can be part of the goal. Keeper cards in the Zombie edition are things such as a shotgun, chainsaw, and baseball bat. Creepers are, well, zombies. There are also Monthy Python Fluxx, Pirate Fluxx, Stoner Fluxx, and more. All of the different versions play roughly the same way despite their varying themes, and as such, can be played in conjunction with each other to form “mega decks.”

A fun aspect to the series is that each game can take  anywhere from five minutes to hours on end, all depending on how things happen to play out. The average, mind you, is probably somewhere closer to half an hour, so don’t feel too daunted.