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Flanx: Review

Flanx: Review

Information:

Mechanics: Real time, Abstract
Player Age: 6+ 
Player Count: 2 Players 
Time to Play: 1 - 5 Minutes 
Publisher Lark and Clam
Year Published: 2017
BGG Weight: 1.00
Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher.

Objective:

The objective is simple, place one of your cards behind an opposing card or reach the opposite end of the table. Be careful though, if the cards reach both edges to the left and right of the table then a draw occurs.

Card Anatomy:

There are two symmetrical decks, one black and one white. Each card will have a puzzle-like shape (see below) and either a green or pink semi-circle. What does all this mean, well this will be explained more ahead. These icons need to be the same to play the cards next to each other.

Setup:

- Each player is given one of the two decks
- One player will place their top card in the middle of the table
- The opposing player finds a matching card from their deck and places the card so it faces the other card (more on this in card placement)
- Both players shuffle their decks and deal themselves three cards

How to Play:

This is a frantic game of real-time pattern recognition. It does not play on a turn by turn basis, rather each player will play cards until they meet one of the two objectives. There are only two ways players can draw new cards; by placing all three cards, or by discard their entire hand and drawing a new hand of cards.

Card Placement:

All I have said so far is well and good, but if you don't know how to place a card then you’re not going to win. There are two golden rules of card placement:
1. The two semi-circles on the side of the cards must match colour.
2. The shapes on the top and/or bottom of the cards must connect. For example, a pointed edge must match a piece that has an inverted point (see examples below)

When playing a card next to your previous plays, it must be placed edge to edge with at least one of your own cards. Or, if you want to place next to an opposing card then you must place edge to edge or corner to corner.

Final Thoughts:

Pros:
- Fast frantic fun
- Great combination of real-time and abstract
- The game can be altered depending on the size of the table that it is played on
- Quick and normally leads to multiple plays

Cons:
- The game box falls open
- Player count is restrictive

'Flanx' is a shining example of why real-time games are great fun. Not only does it boost your adrenaline during play, but it adds an element of abstract and card/tile placement that keeps the game strategic. The added benefit of being able to play on any tablespace helps make Flanx a go-to game for an opening to a two player game night, or a quick game for when time is more restrictive. If you have a keen eye for patterns and the speed to match, you will be at home with Flanx.

Click...feed the addiction: 

Lark and Clam
Flanx on BGG
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