When I first heard about this game I was told that it was designed by a pair of NASA scientists, a husband and wife, who grew sick of finding loopholes, play-styles, and strategies which could be applied to even the most asymmetrical of games, resulting in a similar gameplay experience each time. I am unsure as to whether this is historically accurate, or whether the origin story has been warped and changed over time, but therein lies the essence of FLUXX: the card game with constantly changing rules.

Developed in 1996 to combat replay-ability issues, Looney Laboratories created a game where rules can change with every card that is played. With that, the potential for victory, or defeat, can be claimed in a matter of a single round.

In Fluxx, players must satisfy the goal, which could be anything from possessing particular ‘keeper’ cards to having any 15 cards in your hand at one time, all the while changing rules such as the draw limit, hand limit, keeper limit, and bonuses, and using action cards to reshuffle and realign the current rules in your favour.

Because of this, you will never play the game the same way twice; however, just in case you want MORE replay-ability, there are over 20 different flavours to choose from, including Zombie Fluxx, Monty Python Fluxx, and Adventure Time Fluxx.

Think you can keep up with rule changes, goal changes, and constant uncertainty? Then find your favourite version and get into Fluxx here at Presents of Mind.

Written by Peter H