Fox in the Forest: Review

Fox in the Forest: Review

Information:

Mechanics: Trick Taking, Hand Management

Player Age: 10+ 

Player Count: 2 Players

Time to Play: 30 Minutes 
Game Designer: Joshua Buergel
Game Artist:  Jennifer L. Meyer, Keith Pishnery

Publisher: Renegade Game Studio, Foxtrot Games

BGG Weight: 1.59

Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher.

For those of you who don’t know, the mechanism of trick taking tends to need 3 or more players to successfully work. ‘Fox in the Forest' is unique in the way that it only requires two players to compete in a tug of war style of trick.taking game.

Objective:

Through a series of rounds the players will aim to win a set amount of tricks. The ultimate end goal is to score a total of 21 points over a multitude of rounds. The amount of points you receive will correspond to the amount of tricks you win.

Winning Tricks and Scoring Points:

0-3 tricks = 6 points
4 tricks = 1 point
5 tricks = 2 points
6 tricks = 3 points
7-9 tricks = 6 points
10-13 tricks = 0 points

Card Anatomy:

There are three suits in the game, moons, bells and keys, which all numerically range from 1-11, with no number being used twice.

The unique twist to the cards is that every odd card has a unique ability which somehow modifies the trick. Examples of these abilities include the loser of the trick starts the next trick as opposed to the winner; the winner will gain a point for every 7 played in the trick; if there is only one 9 in the trick it becomes the trump suit; etc. Half of the deck is made out of these ability cards so knowing when to play them to best win the trick is key.

Setup:

This setup will occur every round of play:
- Select a dealer, they will lead the first trick of the round.
- Shuffle the 33 cards together.
- Deal each player a hand of 13 cards.
- Set aside the rest of the cards as a draw pile.
- Flip the top card of the draw pile, this card will be the decree (trump suit).

How to Play:

Each round will consist of 13 tricks. The lead player will play any card from their hand and this becomes the lead suit (if present, the ability will now activate). Then, the other player will play a card of the same suit. If they do not have one available, they can play any card from their hand. The winner of the trick will be determined by the highest card in the decree suit, followed by the highest card in the lead suit. The winner will place the two cards face down and this will count as one trick for scoring purposes and they will then start the new trick. This will continue until all 13 tricks have occurred then each player will gain points based on the tricks they have won. This will continue with new rounds until one player has reached 21 points or more at the end of a round. Whichever player has the most points will be the winner.

Final Thoughts:

Pros:
- The players can count the cards that have been played previously to help them strategize the best cards to be played.
- The points create a push and pull dynamic of trying to alter the amount of tricks you and your opponent win.
- The abilities keep the strategy fresh and more advanced than just playing the highest card.

Cons:
- As this is a trick taking game it may be hard for beginner game players to learn.

'Fox in the Forest' stands out from other trick taking games in the way that it is playable as only 2 players. With the amount of tricks you win directly affecting the opponent’s, there is a dynamic to try and give yourself the best possible points at the end of the hand. Usually, this is the best strategy but remember you only want a certain amount of points to win the game; too many wins and you could end up losing. This is a very tactical trick taking game but still strangely welcoming to players unfamiliar with this style of game. If you are looking for a quick but strategic game for two players; Fox in the Forest is definitely recommended.

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Renegade Game Studio
Fox in the Forest on BGG
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