Fluxx

Fluxx is a card game, played with a specially designed deck published by Looney Labs. It is different from most other card games, in that the rules and the conditions for winning are altered throughout the game, via cards played by the players.

Fluxx
Fluxx
Comparison of cards from English and German versions.
ManufacturersDeLano Services (most)
360 Manufacturing (mass market)
Publishers
Players2–6[1]
Setup time1 minute
Playing time5-30 minutes[1]
ChanceHigh

History

Fluxx was created by Andrew Looney on July 24, 1996 as the first game for his and his wife's part-time game design company, Looney Laboratory.[2][3] The original print run was for 5,000 units[2] and was released in 1997.[3]

The game was successful and was licensed a year later to Iron Crown Enterprises (ICE) for wider distribution. ICE went bankrupt two years later and Looney Labs resumed publication and distribution.[4] By March 2001, Labs was considering putting out another standalone deck version called Fluxx++ using card created by the Fluxx playing community with Fluxx Blanxx and Fluxx: Goals Galore, an expansion consisting of goal cards, based on its Origins 2000 5 Goal cards promo pack.[5] Labs created Fluxx Lite, a slimmed down 56 card deck to lower the price for discount superstores, in design by March 2002.[6]

In 2003, Amigo Games, a German game company, licensed and published a German language version of Fluxx.[7] The in design Fluxx Reduxx was indefinitely placed on hold as of July 14, 2005 to focus on EcoFluxx. Looney Labs registered the Fluxx trademark.[8] By October 2005, Stoner Fluxx had been released and EcoFluxx was in play testing, and scheduled to be released later that month[9] followed by Family Fluxx.[10]

In November 2006, Looney Labs issued a Spanish language edition of the game.[7] The October 10, 2007 release of a zombie-themed version brought the first of a new card type, the Creeper[11] and Ungoal.[12] In 2008, Toy Vault and Looney Labs co-published and released Monty Python Fluxx.[13] Fluxx edition 4 was released in December 2008 and was the first set to have the Meta Rule subtype card, which stemmed from a Fluxx Tournament rule.[14]

In 2008, Zombie Fluxx won the Origins Award for Traditional Card Game of the Year.[15] Stoner Fluxx was placed back in print under the Full Baked Ideas imprint of Looney Labs on November 13, 2009 after being out of print for four years. Full Baked was launched with expectation of a future release of a drinking variant and other mature subject versions.[16]

Two variants were re-released on March 5, 2010, EcoFluxx and Family Fluxx, with Eco being a new edition.[10] In February 2011, the Surprise subtype of cards were introduced in the Pirate Fluxx themed variant.[17] In March 2011, the German language version 2nd edition was released by Pegasus Games.[18] By May 2011 over 1 million decks of all Fluxx versions had been sold while Pirate Fluxx was getting into bookstores that month.[19]

On August 1, 2012, Looney Labs got a simplified, less expensive general market version with redesigned packaging of Fluxx into Target stores.[2] For the summer 2012, Fluxx was number 10 in ICv2's Top 10 Card/Building Games (hobby channel).[20]

A Cartoon Network version of the game was made available as a Target exclusive from mid-August 2014 until Easter 2015, while in July the Regular Show Fluxx was released to the hobby market.[21] The fifth edition of the regular Fluxx game was made available beginning in 2014 as the 4.0 edition ran out. Looney Labs teamed up with The Doubleclicks for a Fluxx theme song.[22]

A new expansion of the game, Fluxx Dice, plus two new licensed variants were scheduled to be released in the summer of 2015.[23] With a delay of the first variant to be released at the polled requested of the retailers, Looney Labs pushed back the dice and the other variant to stagger the releases to spread out the impact.[24]

A series of educational variants were released in 2017 and 2018.[25] In partnership with Gale Force 9, two Fluxx versions of Star Trek were released in August 2018.[26]

Game description and play

The first edition deck consists of 84 cards with four types of cards: Keepers, Goals, Actions, and New Rules. While the game begins by requiring players to simply draw and play a specific number of cards, the mechanic mutates when a New Rule card is played. The card may change the number of cards drawn or played per turn, the number of cards held per hand, or the Keepers played.[9] The Goal cards change the Keepers needed to win the game.[2] Games last from 5 to 30 minutes.[27]

Later sets sometimes included new card subtypes, depending on the theme of the set. These included Creeper cards that block or make goals more difficult to obtain;[10] Ungoal cards, which have conditions where the game ends with no winner;[12] and Surprise cards, a 2011 addition, which allow players to negate other types of cards which could prevent a victory and can be played at any time, though they have other effects when played on one's own turn.[17]

The first Fluxx tournament at Origins 1997 had an extra rule calling for an increase in the Basic Rules each time the deck was reshuffled which was kept for future tournaments. On August 28, 2008 via their Wunderland blog, Looney introduced "Meta Rule" cards for players to print at home and add to standard decks[28] or place in the primary deck Edition 4.0.[14]

Early edition decks had 84 cards[9] while newer standard decks have 100 cards,[29] while Lite versions (Family, Spanish, SE) consist of 56 cards.[10][30][31]

Card sets

Editions
Fluxx 3.1 cards look similar to earlier versions.
  • Fluxx 1.0 (1997) first released version; monochrome, poker-sized cards
  • Fluxx 2.0 (1998) published by Iron Crown Enterprises;[4] new card layout, use of color, bridge-sized cards
  • Fluxx 2.1 (2002) reprint of 2.0 with minor changes
  • Family Fluxx (November 2005) initially designated as Fluxx Lite then Fluxx Jr. before being released,[10][30] is a full-color "family friendly" 56 card edition, with family bonuses,[31] re-released on March 5, 2010,[10] currently (by July 2015) out of print[32]
  • Fluxx 3.0 (many cards removed and added, to improve balance) manufactured by Cartamundi
  • Fluxx 3.1 (2005) new style Basic Rule card, two cards removed, one card added; manufactured by Cartamundi[8]
  • Fluxx 4.0 (December 2008) card number increased to 100, all color, introduction of Meta rule in any set and creepers in primary editions[14]
  • Fluxx SE (August 1, 2012) a Target Stores exclusive "basic entry" edition of the game, with simplified rules and exclusive cards,[2] manufactured by 360 Manufacturing
  • Fluxx 5.0 (2014)[22] removal of all creepers[33] and several other cards, 17 total, replaced by new Keepers, Goals, Actions, and New Rules cards

Languages
  • Fluxx Spanish (Fluxx Español!; November 2006) Looney Labs,[7] a 56 card set with 6 new Goals, a new Keeper and a new Rule[31]
  • German Fluxx first edition (2003; based on 3.0 card set) by Amigo Games[7]
    • Second edition (March 2011; based on 4.0 card set) Pegasus Games[18]
  • Japanese Fluxx (based on 3.0 card set) HobbyJapan
  • Dutch Fluxx (based on 5.0 card set) PS Games
  • Portuguese EcoFluxx, released in Brazil[7]
  • Italian, released in Italy[34]

Variants
Zombie Fluxx cards in play, including New Rules (yellow) and Goals (pink).

There are also versions of Fluxx that have been released using entirely different themed sets of cards while playing by the same set of rules.

  • Stoner 1st edition (Released by October 2005 and out of print in 2005) [9]
  • EcoFluxx, a percentage of profits goes toward environmental causes
    • First edition (October 2005) Allison Frane art[9] 84 cards
    • Second edition (March 5, 2010) added additional cards including Creeper cards and has new art;[10] 100 cards
    • Nature (November 6, 2015) renamed third edition of EcoFluxx with update cards and packaging & continuing its donation to its eco-causes[35]
  • Zombie (2007) 2008 Origins Award for Traditional Card Game of the Year,[15] introduced the Creeper type card,[31] 100 cards[14]
  • Monty Python[36] (October 2008)[37] co-published with Monty Python licensee, Toy Vault;[13] 100 cards with Todd Cameron Hamilton art[14]
  • Martian (September 25, 2009)[36]
  • Pirate (February 11, 2011)[27] introduces the Surprise cards[17]
  • Star (STARFLUXX, styled like STAR WARS, with space theme)(September 30, 2011)[38]
  • Oz Fluxx(March 23, 2012)[39]
  • Cthulhu (August 2012)[2]
  • Fluxx the Boardgame (2013)[40] Parents' Choice Recommended Seal Fall 2013 Games[41]
  • Monster (Fall 2013) also a Target Stores exclusive, manufactured by 360 Manufacturing
  • Regular Show (July 25, 2014)[21] 100 cards[29] - out of print [32]
  • Cartoon Network (mid-August 2014) also a Target Stores exclusive[21]
  • Holiday Fluxx (October 3, 2014) 100 cards with art by Ali Douglass[42]
  • Adventure Time (August 21, 2015)[24]
  • Batman (August 7, 2015)[24] with Cryptozoic Entertainment[23]
  • Firefly Fluxx (January 15, 2016) 20th Century Fox and Gale Force Nine[43]
  • Doctor Who (November 23, 2017)[44]
  • Star Trek: The Original Series (August 2, 2018) with Gale Force 9[26]
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation (August 2, 2018) with Gale Force 9[26]
  • Fairy Tale (September 6, 2018) art by Mary Engelbreit[45]
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (May 23, 2019)[46]
  • Marvel – Specialty Edition (August 15, 2019) with Cardinal Industries, who releases the regular edition sans the extras;[47] includes 7 exclusive cards, and a collectible coin[48]
  • Jumanji – Specialty Edition (August 15, 2019) with Cardinal Industries, who releases the regular edition sans the extras;[47] includes 7 exclusive cards, and a collectible coin; adds a "Danger" type cards that can eliminate players with the ability to return unless the deck then elimination is permanent[48]
  • SpongeBob SquarePants (May 21, 2020)[49]
  • Fantasy Fluxx (January 2021)[50]
  • Fluxx Remixx (March 2022), A version of Fluxx 5.0 with "remixed" goals, rules and actions, alongside the original keepers.[51]
Fully Baked Ideas imprint
  • Stoner 2nd Edition (November 13, 2009) with 5% of proceeds going to end cannabis prohibition groups;[16] 100 cards
  • Drinking ' (July 24, 2017)[52]
Educational sets[25]
  • Math (March 9, 2017)[53]
  • Chemistry (May 25, 2017)[54]
  • Anatomy (April 5, 2018)[25]
  • Astronomy (January 9, 2020)[55]

Many of the version can be combined with each other to make a "mega Fluxx" deck (as all these versions have the same card back style).[10]

Expansions

Several expansions have been produced, including:

  • Flowers and (a gift set with a "bouquet" of six plush "Happy Flowers", a Fluxx 3.0 deck and an exclusive "Flowers" promo Keeper card)[56]
  • Fluxx Blanxx, a set of blank cards for creating one's own custom additions (see above).[7]
    • 2nd edition - begins formatted fronts while including the Chrononauts Beatles Reunion CD card
    • 3rd edition - adds Creeper blanks while removing the Chrononauts card[57]
  • Jewish[7]
  • Christian[7]
  • Castle Expansion Cards (May 2009 for Monty Python Fluxx[12]
  • 7 Cards From the Future (a 7-card set for Regular Show Fluxx)
  • International Tabletop Day Expansion: Wil Wheaton and Felicia Day Fluxx Promo Packs (April 11, 2015)[58]
  • Fluxx Dice (September 2015)[24]
  • Star Trek Fluxx Bridge Expansion (August 2018) used to play both Star Trek & Star Trek TNG Fluxx together at the same time[33]
  • Firefly Fluxx Upgrade Pack (August 2018) 10 card pack includes Jubal Early, Hands of Blue, upgraded Reavers and Yolanda (aka Saffron, aka Bridgett)[33]
  • Black Knight Expansion (August 2018) a 10 card pack including the Black Knight as a Creeper, also Tim the Enchanter, new rules and a new Quest [33]
  • Fluxx Creeper Pack (August 2018) To bring back the Creepers dropped for edition 5, War, Death, Taxes, and Radioactive Potato with Goals, Actions and New Rules[33]
  • The Doctor Who Fluxx 13th Doctor Pack (Mid-year 2019)[48]

Board game
Fluxx: The Board Game
PublicationAugust 2013 (2013-08)
Players2-4
Playing time15 to 30 minutes

Fluxx: The Board Game is a board game implementation of the card game released in August 2013.[40] This game was awarded the Parents' Choice Recommended Seal Fall 2013 for Games.[41]

The game moves the Keeper card items to spaces on the board while adding the "Leaper" card type. The board is separated into 9 movable tiles with four spaces each except for the start tile with the initial set up of 3x3 square. Besides the Keeper spaces there are 1 octagon space per title and two teleport spaces for the whole board. Moving on to one teleport space allows the player to move to the other teleport space. The octagon may hold any number of pawns while the keeper spaces can only have one with an incoming pawn pushing out the current pawn. There are two peg boards that track, the number of goals needed to win and current rules.[40]

All start with a hand of three cards and a color card in face up to indicate the pawns they control. They each get to make a free rule change. New general rules affecting the tiles include rotation, moving and allowing wraparound tile movement. The game only has Action, Goals, New Rules and Leaper type cards. Action cards can change force a change in player color. A Leaper card counts as a card play but allows you to move a pawn to the item on the board. Goals cards are stacked near the board with top most card the current goal.[40]

Promotional cards

Looney Labs gives away promotional cards related to Fluxx at conventions such as Gen Con and Origins. They have given away cards such as Composting and Jackpot, which later appeared in EcoFluxx and Family Fluxx respectively. They have also given away promo cards for Christmas to members of their online mailing list and in High Times magazine. Game Technicians (previously known as Mad Lab Rabbits), voluntary game demonstrators for Looney Labs, give away promo cards to people interested in the game.

  • Origins 2000 Goal promo 5 card pack.[5]
  • Sir Not Appearing In This Game! (May 2009) for Monty Python Fluxx & its Castle expansion[12]
  • Traitor, a Creeper promo card June 2009) issued for the release of another Looney game, Are You The Traitor?[12]
  • Wizard of Oz song promotional card[39]
  • "Mrs. Claus" promotional card in Holiday Fluxx store launch kit[42]
  • "Skullduggery" promo card (February 11, 2011) Pirate store launch kit[27]
  • "The Alliance" card (January 15, 2016) Firefly store launch[43]

Online

Fluxx was available to play for free via the Volity network[59] and was also available to be played online via the CCG Workshop, using the gatlingEngine to adjudicate most of its rules automatically. However, both Volity.net and CCG Workshop are no longer operating.[60]

In December 2012, Fluxx was released by Playdek as an app on iOS operating systems (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV) by purchasing it from the Apple App Store. It uses the "mass market" deck developed for Target Stores, removing some of the more esoteric themes (such as Cthulhu) and complex rule cards.[61]

Reception

The base game won the Mensa Select Game Award in 1999.[62] Rick Loomis comments: "Fluxx makes a good game for a group that has one of those annoying 'I-must-win-every-game' types. The rest of you can enjoy yourselves as the game spins out of his control (as it surely will) and perhaps he'll eventually learn to lose gracefully. Meanwhile, Fluxx will be busily exercising everyone's logic synapses as you attempt to deal with the chaotic situations that occur because of the cheerful clash of rules."[63]

An ICv2 review of the Batman variant by Nick Smith gave it 4 out of 5 stars as "The Fluxx series of games is not for everyone." But the game worked well with the Batman theme: "The game-themed victory conditions are good, and the thematic elements were very well thought out. This may be the best-designed Fluxx set in some time, and it can be a lot of fun for casual fans to try to achieve the thematic victory conditions."[1]

Reviews

See also

References
  1. Smith, Nick (August 28, 2015). "Review: 'Batman Fluxx' (Game)". ICv2. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  2. Robbins, Lindsey (August 30, 2012). "For the Looneys, the game's the thing". The Gazette. Post Community Media, LLC. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  3. Barnes, Denise (August 27, 1998). "The Looneys devise a game plan". Washington Times. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  4. Ford, C. Benjamin (November 22, 2002). "Looneys working through the serious business of fun". The Gazette. Post Community Media, LLC. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  5. "WHAT'S ON THE STOVE?". Wunderland.com. Looney Labs. March 2001. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  6. "WHAT'S ON THE STOVE?". Wunderland. Looney Labs. March 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  7. "Fluxx". looneylabs.com. Looney Labs. 4 September 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  8. Looney, Andy (July 14, 2005). "What New?". Wunderland. Looney Labs. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  9. West, Susan. "The Looney Labs Experiment". GAMES. October 2005. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  10. Liu, Jonathan H. (February 25, 2010). "The Return of EcoFluxx and Family Fluxx". GeekDad. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  11. "Looney Labs Invaded By Zombies!". Looney Labs.com. Looney Labs. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  12. "Feature Article; Ask Andy". Notes From The Lab. Vol. 2, no. 1. Looney Labs. May 18, 2009. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  13. Kai (January 29, 2011). "Monty Python Fluxx". Meeple Magazine. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  14. Looney, Andy. "Fluxx 4.0 Is At The Printers!". Wunderland. Looney Labs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  15. "2008 Origins Award Winners". ICv2. June 29, 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  16. "Looney Labs Launches Fully Baked". ICv2. October 26, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  17. Liu, Jonathan H. (February 16, 2011). "Pirate Fluxx Is Mutinous Fun". GeekDad. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  18. "Pegasus Games: Fluxx and Onirim". Spielbox Magazine. w. Nostheide Verlag GmbH. March 10, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  19. "'Pirate Fluxx' Gets Bookstore Distribution". ICv2. May 17, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  20. "TOP 10 Card/Building Games--Summer 2012". Internal Correspondence. No. 80. ICv2. October 23, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  21. "'Cartoon Network Fluxx' is Target Exclusive". ICv2. June 10, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  22. Liu, Jonathan H. (September 30, 2014). "Introducing the Fluxx Theme Song by The Doubleclicks". Geek Dad. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  23. Bunge, Nicole (March 24, 2015). "'Batman' and 'Adventure Time' 'Fluxx'". ICv2. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  24. Thorne, Scott (September 1, 2015). "Rolling for Initiative-Sometimes They Listen". ICv2. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  25. Niebling, William (January 17, 2018). "'Anatomy Fluxx' and ' Get the MacGuffin'". ICV2. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  26. Bunge, Nicole (February 12, 2018). "Two 'Star Trek' Fluxx Games in the Works". ICv2. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  27. "Pirate Fluxx". ICv2. January 3, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  28. Looney, Andy (August 28, 2008). "Introducing Meta Rules & Revising Old Answers". Wunderland.com. Looney Labs. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  29. Banks, Dave (July 23, 2014). "There's Nothing Regular About the Latest Release of Fluxx". GeekDad. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  30. Looney, Andy (November 10, 2005). "Looney News". Wunderland.com. Looney Labs. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  31. "Looney Labs Games and Accessories". sf.looneylabs.com. looneylabs. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  32. "The Vault". LooneyLabs.com. Looney Labs. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  33. Bunge, Nicole (June 14, 2018). "'Star Trek Fluxx' Gets Foil Expansion That Breaks The Timeline". ICv2. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  34. "Fluxx". uplay.it.
  35. Niebling, William (August 28, 2015). "Looney Labs Recycles 'EcoFluxx' Into 'Nature Fluxx'". ICv2. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  36. Liu, Jonathan H. (September 2, 2009). "Grab Your Tin Foil Hats, Martian Fluxx Is Coming!". GeekDad. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  37. "'MONTY PYTHON FLUXX' SPECIAL". ICv2. October 7, 2008. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  38. "Looney Labs Offers Demo Kits". ICv2. August 29, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  39. Smith, Nick (April 24, 2012). "REVIEW: 'Oz Fluxx' (Card Game)". ICv2. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  40. Liu, Jonathan H. (August 7, 2013). "Fluxx: The Board Game". Geek Dad. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  41. "Parents' Choice Award-Winning Company: Looney Labs". Parents-Choice.org. Parents' Choice Foundation. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  42. "Holiday Fluxx". ICv2. July 8, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  43. Bunge, Nicole (January 15, 2016). "Updated Details, Promo Card For 'Firefly Fluxx'". ICv2. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  44. Bunge, Nicole (September 7, 2017). "Doctor Who Fluxx". ICv2. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  45. Bunge, Nicole (February 7, 2018). "Mary Engelbreit Supplies 'Fluxx' with Upbeat Whimsey". ICv2. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  46. Niebling, William (January 15, 2019). "'Fluxx' Sets Course for 'Deep Space Nine'". ICv2. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  47. "When & Where You Can Find Marvel & Jumanji Fluxx | Looney Labs". www.looneylabs.com. Looney Labs. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  48. Bunge, Nicole (February 14, 2019). "'Marvel' and 'Jumanji Fluxx' in the Works". ICv2. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  49. Dohm-Sanchez, Jeffrey (February 21, 2020). "Looney Labs Visits a Pineapple Under the Sea in the Latest Specialty Edition of 'Fluxx'". icv2.com. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  50. Monnig, Wade (2021-03-03). "Fantasy Fluxx Board Game Review". There Will Be Games. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  51. "Fluxx Remixx Product Announcement". 15 October 2021.
  52. Bunge, Nicole (September 8, 2016). "'Fluxx' Turns 21, Hits The Bar". ICV2. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  53. Bunge, Nicole (November 16, 2016). "PLAYERS TEST THEIR ARITHMETICAL ACUMEN IN 'Math Fluxx'". ICv2. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  54. Niebling, William (January 17, 2017). "Weird Science Escapes Looney Labs". ICv2. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  55. Smith, Tim (October 28, 201). "Gaze At The Stars With 'Astronomy Fluxx'". icv2.com. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  56. "Flowers & Fluxx". kaboodle.com. Hearst Women's Network. Archived from the original on December 5, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  57. "Fluxx Blanxx". Wunderland. Looney Labs. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  58. "International Tabletop Day Promo Kits Revealed". ICv2. February 24, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  59. Volity.net Archived February 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  60. Google.com
  61. Brown, Sophie (2013-03-28). "Fluxx App Could Do Better | GeekMom". Wired.com. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  62. Arneson, Erik. "Mensa Select Award Winners". About. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  63. Loomis, Rick (2007). "Fluxx". In Lowder, James (ed.). Hobby Games: The 100 Best. Green Ronin Publishing. pp. 116–118. ISBN 978-1-932442-96-0.
  64. "Pyramid: Pyramid Pick from the Past: Fluxx 3.0 [First Edition in 1996]".
  65. Winter, Jason (April 2003). "Fluxx Version 3.0". Scrye. No. 58. p. 71.
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