I’m a gamer, always have been. Problem is for a large number of years that’s really just consisted of the video variety. That’s a huge mistake on my part, to not enjoy the video game’s analog brethren… the board game. There’s actually a vibrant and intense board game world out there that’s been pushed to the sidelines by game players such as ourselves for too long. In this column I’ll be diving into this world, looking at games that hopefully you’d like to try out for yourself.

Fluxx is really a simple card game of “draw a card, play a card” and there’s no way to win. At least, that’s how it starts. Once someone plays a goal card, then the table has something to play towards. Except, that goal card could get changed. Then the next thing you know someone plays a new rule card and everyone’s strategy goes out the window.

Fluxx advertises itself as “The Card Game of Ever Changing Rules” and it most certainly is just that. During the game the players not only have the ability to change the rules of the game, but also the victory conditions as well. It’s lighthearted, fun, and simple to learn since the rules and how to play each card is printed right on each card. So once you get the brief overview of how it works you can usually answer any question you might have by reading the cards themselves. Now since the game is always in Fluxx (ba-dum-dum) it is a game based largely on luck. It’s meant to be more of a party type game, something to play while drinking and telling stories. It’s nonsensical, goofy, and chaotic (but in a good way).

So that’s Fluxx, but this is totally different. This…. is Fluxx…. with Aliens! (more…)