Fluxx

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Looney Labs card game

title: "Fluxx" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["amigo-spiele-games", "andrew-looney-games", "card-games-introduced-in-1996", "dedicated-deck-card-games", "looney-labs-games", "mensa-select-winners"] description: "Looney Labs card game" topic_path: "general/amigo-spiele-games" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluxx" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Looney Labs card game ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox game"]

Field	Value
subject_name	Fluxx
image_link	[[Image:FluxxEN-DE-FU.jpg
image_caption	Comparison of cards from English and German versions.
players	2–6
setup_time	1 minute
playing_time	5-30 minutes
random_chance	High
manufacturer	DeLano Services (most)
360 Manufacturing (mass market)
publisher
::

History

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

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. By , Labs was considering putting out another standalone deck version called Fluxx++ using cards 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. Labs created Fluxx Lite, a slimmed down 56 card deck to lower the price for discount superstores, in design by .

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

In , Looney Labs issued a Spanish language edition of the game. and Ungoal. In 2008, Toy Vault and Looney Labs co-published and released Monty Python Fluxx. Fluxx edition 4 was released in and was the first set to have the Meta Rule subtype card, which stemmed from a Fluxx Tournament rule.

In 2008, Zombie Fluxx won the Origins Award for Traditional Card Game of the Year. Stoner Fluxx was placed back in print under the Full Baked Ideas imprint of Looney Labs on 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.

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

On , Looney Labs got a simplified, less expensive general market version with redesigned packaging of Fluxx into Target stores.

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. 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.

A new expansion of the game, Fluxx Dice, plus two new licensed variants were scheduled to be released in the summer of 2015. 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.

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

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. The Goal cards change the Keepers needed to win the game. Games last from 5 to 30 minutes.

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; Ungoal cards, which have conditions where the game ends with no winner; 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.

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 via their Wunderland blog, Looney introduced "Meta Rule" cards for players to print at home and add to standard decks or place in the primary deck Edition 4.0.

Early edition decks had 84 cards while Lite versions (Family, Spanish, SE) consist of 56 cards.

Card sets

Editions

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Fluxx-2009.jpg" caption="Fluxx 3.1 cards look similar to earlier versions."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Zombie_Fluxx_game.jpg" caption="''Zombie Fluxx'' cards in play, including New Rules (yellow) and Goals (pink)."] ::

::data[format=table]

Edition	Release date	Notes
Fluxx 1.0	1996	The first released edition of the game. The cards are poker-sized and are entirely in monochrome, without any colored stripe. It was manufactured by C&W Playing Cards, Inc. and published through Looney Labs.
Fluxx 2.0	1998	An updated version of the original. The cards are bridge-sized, in a new layout with color encoded sections (although images remain in black and white). It was manufactured by Cartamundi and published by Iron Crown Enterprises.
Fluxx 2.1	2000	A reprint of Fluxx 2.0 with some minor changes. It was manufactured by Cartamundi and published by Looney Labs.
Fluxx 3.0	2003	Adds and removes several cards to improve the balance of the game. Manufactured by Cartamundi, published by Looney Labs.
Stoner Fluxx		The first variant of Fluxx. This is an "adult" oriented version of the game published to help accelerate the conversation in the US about ending marijuana prohibition. The cards in this version are not compatible with other Fluxx decks (as they read "Stoner Fluxx" on the back). Went out of print in 2005.
Fluxx 3.1	2005	A reprint of Fluxx 3.0 with minor changes. new style Basic Rule card, two cards removed, one card added; Manufactured by Cartamundi, published by Looney Labs.
EcoFluxx	October 2005	A variant that focuses on the flora and fauna of what makes the planet. It was created by Alison Frane (nee Looney). Contains 84 cards.
Family Fluxx		last1=Looney
Zombie Fluxx		title=Looney Labs Games and Accessories
Fluxx 4.0	2008	Increases the card number set in the primary Fluxx set to 100. Images are now in full color. Introduces Meta Rules and Creepers to the primary Fluxx set.
Monty Python Fluxx		last1=Liu
Martian Fluxx
Stoner Fluxx 2.0		An updated version of Stoner Fluxx with full-color cards and Creepers. Released under "Fully Baked Ideas" imprint of Looney Labs, with 5% of proceeds going to end cannabis prohibition groups; Contains 100 cards. Several undated minor updates of 2.0 - 2.1 and 2.2, were also released.
Family Fluxx 1.1		title=The Vault
Eco Fluxx 2.0		An updated version of Eco Fluxx with new color artwork from Derek Ring and the addition of some new cards including three Creepers. Has 100 cards altogether.
Pirate Fluxx		Introduces Surprise cards.
StarFluxx
Oz Fluxx
Fluxx SE		Target]] stores.
Cthulhu Fluxx
Fluxx SE 1.1		Reprint of Fluxx SE with the debut of the new card designs used for the game going forward. As with the original, it was released exclusively at Target stores.
Monster Fluxx		Manufactured by 360 Manufacturing and was released exclusively in Target stores. Uses Fluxx SE style gameplay.
Regular Show Fluxx		100 cards - out of print
Cartoon Network Fluxx		Released exclusively in Target stores. Uses Fluxx SE style gameplay.
Fluxx 5.0	2014	last1=Bunge
Holiday Fluxx		title=Holiday Fluxx
Batman Fluxx		Co-published with Cryptozoic Entertainment
Adventure Time Fluxx
Nature Fluxx		A renamed third edition of EcoFluxx with update cards and packaging & continuing its donation to its eco-causes.
Firefly Fluxx		last1=Bunge
Math Fluxx 1.0		The first educational variant of Fluxx.
Chemistry Fluxx		The second "Educational" version.
Drinking Fluxx		An adult-oriented version of the game that focuses on alcoholic beverages. It was produced to celebrate the game's 21st Anniversary. Released under the Fully Baked Ideas imprint.
Doctor Who Fluxx
Anatomy Fluxx		The third "Educational" version.
Star Trek: The Original Series Fluxx		Co-published with Gale Force 9
Star Trek: The Next Generation Fluxx		Co-published with Gale Force 9
Fairy Tale Fluxx		Art by Mary Engelbreit
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Fluxx
Marvel Fluxx		title=When & Where You Can Find Marvel & Jumanji Fluxx Looney Labs
Jumanji Fluxx		The second "Speciality Edition". Co-published with Cardinal Industries. Introduces "Danger" cards that can eliminate players with the ability to return unless the deck then elimination is permanent. includes 7 exclusive cards, and a collectible coin.
Astronomy Fluxx		The fourth "Educational" version.
SpongeBob SquarePants Fluxx		The third "Speciality Edition". Co-published with Spin Master. includes 7 exclusive cards, and a collectible coin.
Fantasy Fluxx
Martian Fluxx 1.1		Reprint of Martian Fluxx with the current card design.
Oz Fluxx 1.1		Reprint of Oz Fluxx with the current card design.
Wonderland Fluxx		Released in limited quantities. Given a wider release in 2023.
Fluxx Remixx		A version of Fluxx 5.0 with "remixed" goals, rules and actions, alongside the original keepers.
Olympus Fluxx	May 5, 2022
Stoner Fluxx 2.3	2022-2023	Reprint of Stoner Fluxx 2.2 with the current card design.
Monster Fluxx 1.1	2022-2023	Reprint of Monster Fluxx in the standard box design.
Across America Fluxx
Around the World Fluxx
Camping Fluxx
Hundred Acre Wood Fluxx
Word Fluxx	March 25, 2025
Mystery Fluxx	May 6, 2025
Cat Fluxx	September 9, 2025
Dog Fluxx	March 3, 2026
::

Languages

Fluxx Spanish (Fluxx Español!; ) Looney Labs, a 56 card set with 6 new Goals, a new Keeper and a new Rule
German Fluxx first edition (2003; based on 3.0 card set) by Amigo Games
- Second edition (; based on 4.0 card set) Pegasus Games
Japanese Fluxx (based on 3.0 card set) HobbyJapan
Dutch Fluxx (based on 5.0 card set) PS Games
Portuguese EcoFluxx, released in Brazil
Italian, released in Italy

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

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)
Fluxx Blanxx, a set of blank cards for creating one's own custom additions (see above).
- 2nd edition - begins formatted fronts while including the Chrononauts Beatles Reunion CD card
- 3rd edition - adds Creeper blanks while removing the Chrononauts card
Jewish
Christian
Castle Expansion Cards ( for Monty Python Fluxx
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)
Fluxx Dice ()
Star Trek Fluxx Bridge Expansion (August 2018) used to play both Star Trek & Star Trek TNG Fluxx together at the same time
Firefly Fluxx Upgrade Pack (August 2018) 10 card pack includes Jubal Early, Hands of Blue, upgraded Reavers and Yolanda (aka Saffron, aka Bridgett)
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
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
The Doctor Who Fluxx 13th Doctor Pack (Mid-year 2019)
More Surprises Fluxx Expansion (July 2022), which contains 10 new surprise cards
More Actions Fluxx Expansion (July 2022), which contains 10 new action cards
More Rules Fluxx Expansion (July 2022), which contains 13 new rule cards (10 new rules and 3 meta rules)

Board game

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.

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.

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.
Sir Not Appearing In This Game! () for Monty Python Fluxx & its Castle expansion
Traitor, a Creeper promo card ) issued for the release of another Looney game, Are You The Traitor?
Wizard of Oz song promotional card
"Mrs. Claus" promotional card in Holiday Fluxx store launch kit
"Skullduggery" promo card () Pirate store launch kit
"The Alliance" card () Firefly store launch

Online

Fluxx was available to play for free via the Volity network 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.

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.

Reception

The base game won the Mensa Select Game Award in 1999. 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."

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."

In a review of Fluxx in Black Gate, M Harold Page said "Playability-wise, the rules are on the cards themselves. Complex though play can be, playing the game is simple. My 7-year old manages fine with a little help to start her off, and my 11-year-old has sessions with his friends."

Reviews

Pyramid - 3.0
Scrye

References

(August 30, 2012). "For the Looneys, the game's the thing". Post Community Media, LLC.
(August 27, 1998). "The Looneys devise a game plan". Washington Times.
(November 22, 2002). "Looneys working through the serious business of fun". Post Community Media, LLC.
(March 2001). "WHAT'S ON THE STOVE?". Looney Labs.
(March 2002). "WHAT'S ON THE STOVE?". Looney Labs.
(4 September 2014). "Fluxx". Looney Labs.
(July 14, 2005). "What New?". Looney Labs.
"The Looney Labs Experiment". GAMES.
"Looney Labs Invaded By Zombies!". Looney Labs.
(May 18, 2009). "Feature Article; Ask Andy". Looney Labs.
(January 29, 2011). "Monty Python Fluxx". Meeple Magazine.
"Fluxx 4.0 Is At The Printers!". Looney Labs.
(June 29, 2008). "2008 Origins Award Winners". ICv2.
(October 26, 2009). "Looney Labs Launches Fully Baked". ICv2.
(February 25, 2010). "The Return of EcoFluxx and Family Fluxx". GeekDad.
(February 16, 2011). "Pirate Fluxx Is Mutinous Fun". GeekDad.
(March 10, 2011). "Pegasus Games: Fluxx and Onirim". w. Nostheide Verlag GmbH.
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(October 23, 2012). "TOP 10 Card/Building Games--Summer 2012". ICv2.
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(September 1, 2015). "Rolling for Initiative-Sometimes They Listen". ICv2.
(January 17, 2018). "'Anatomy Fluxx' and ' Get the MacGuffin'". ICV2.
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(August 28, 2008). "Introducing Meta Rules & Revising Old Answers". Looney Labs.
(July 23, 2014). "There's Nothing Regular About the Latest Release of Fluxx". GeekDad.
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(September 2, 2009). "Grab Your Tin Foil Hats, Martian Fluxx Is Coming!". GeekDad.
(October 7, 2008). "'MONTY PYTHON FLUXX' SPECIAL". ICv2.
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(January 3, 2011). "Pirate Fluxx". ICv2.
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(April 24, 2012). "REVIEW: 'Oz Fluxx' (Card Game)". ICv2.
(June 14, 2018). "'Star Trek Fluxx' Gets Foil Expansion That Breaks The Timeline". ICv2.
(July 8, 2014). "Holiday Fluxx". ICv2.
(August 28, 2015). "Looney Labs Recycles 'EcoFluxx' Into 'Nature Fluxx'". ICv2.
(January 15, 2016). "Updated Details, Promo Card For 'Firefly Fluxx'". ICv2.
(November 16, 2016). "PLAYERS TEST THEIR ARITHMETICAL ACUMEN IN 'Math Fluxx'". ICv2.
(January 17, 2017). "Weird Science Escapes Looney Labs". ICv2.
(September 8, 2016). "'Fluxx' Turns 21, Hits The Bar". ICV2.
(September 7, 2017). "Doctor Who Fluxx". ICv2.
(February 7, 2018). "Mary Engelbreit Supplies 'Fluxx' with Upbeat Whimsey". ICv2.
(January 15, 2019). "'Fluxx' Sets Course for 'Deep Space Nine'". ICv2.
(10 June 2019). "When & Where You Can Find Marvel & Jumanji Fluxx {{!}} Looney Labs". Looney Labs.
(February 14, 2019). "'Marvel' and 'Jumanji Fluxx' in the Works". ICv2.
(October 28, 201). "Gaze At The Stars With 'Astronomy Fluxx'". icv2.com.
(February 21, 2020). "Looney Labs Visits a Pineapple Under the Sea in the Latest Specialty Edition of 'Fluxx'". icv2.com.
(2021-03-03). "Fantasy Fluxx Board Game Review". There Will Be Games.
(9 April 2021). "Wonderland Fluxx".
(15 October 2021). "Fluxx Remixx Product Announcement".
(5 May 2021). "Olympus Fluxx and Olympus Loonacy Product Announcement".
(2024-11-13). "Word Fluxx Product Announcement".
(2025-10-17). "Dog Fluxx Product Announcement".
"Fluxx". uplay.it.
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(February 24, 2015). "International Tabletop Day Promo Kits Revealed". ICv2.
(28 March 2022). "The More Packs Card List".
(August 7, 2013). "Fluxx: The Board Game". Geek Dad.
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link. (February 18, 2009)
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Brown, Sophie. (2013-03-28). "Fluxx App Could Do Better | GeekMom". Wired.com.
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(August 28, 2015). "Review: 'Batman Fluxx' (Game)". ICv2.
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Winter, Jason. (April 2003). "Fluxx Version 3.0".

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