Small box card games have been having their moment in the sun lately. Ranging from trick-taking to cooperative engagement, there’s plenty to discover. Sometimes these games pull us in with their intriguing theme or stellar illustrations. Other times, it’s the designer pedigree or unique mechanisms.
Circus Flohcati is a reprint of a 1998 release by designer Reiner Knizia. 25th Century Games has released this new version which takes designer pedigree and provides a new coat of paint with art from JBJ. It can be played from two to five players.
Gameplay Overview:
Circus Flohcati is a press-your-luck style card game that features ten suits of cards numbered from zero to seven. On a player’s turn, they add a card to a common face-up display and either choose to take one of the cards or draw again. Each player can keep drawing (and adding cards to the common pool) until they bust, which happens when two of the same suit enter the display, or can stop at any point by taking one of the face up cards.
The objective is to earn points by either acquiring three of the same number, called a trio, and adding this to your tableau for ten points, or seek diversity by collecting high values in each of the different suits. The first player to collect (at least) one card of each suit in their hand can trigger a “gala show” bonus of ten points and end the game. The other end game trigger is if the draw pile empties.
Once triggered, players score the highest number of each suit in their hand, as well as their trios. Player scoring varies based on how well they were able to press their luck and gain the cards necessary to efficiently score suits and trios. And as there is no hand limit, there is plenty of flexibility, though players who bust gain no cards on their turn.
There are nine action cards shuffled into the draw deck that provide a wrinkle. Give requires a player to select a card to give to you. Take allows you to take a random card from a player. And Reveal allows a player to reveal cards until a duplicate suit is drawn, and instead of busting, they can then select one of the available options.
Game Experience:
Press-your-luck is a mechanism that, when done right, can be a lot of fun. Here it is the central conceit and provides both the highs and lows of each turn. There’s nothing more satisfying than drawing a fourth or fifth card on your turn, sweating with each draw, and stumbling upon the exact value you were seeking. Turning three zero value cards into ten points via the trio is a job well done. The flip side to this is having multiple turns with poor options in the display and busting several rounds in a row while trying to find the right combinations.
This plays best at higher player counts. Players are constantly having to navigate what their opponents are seeking, what may still be available in the draw deck, as well as their options for efficient scoring. There is weight to that decision space, enough to make each fifteen-minute game exciting, though both interaction and strategy are both low. There is also the decision of whether to seek out trio scoring or step back and attempt to find one of each suit for the gala.
The highlight of the reprint is the art refresh. While the circus theme isn’t that inspiring, the simplistic and charming character art and vibrant colors are great. Each suit is a different act in the circus, from knife throwers to tightrope walkers to unicyclists. Unfortunately, each card features the same illustration, which feels like a missed opportunity. The action cards also feel rather bland and muted, rather than being visually represented as an event moment.
Final Thoughts:
For those seeking a quick filler with some press-your-luck and set collection elements, Circus Flohcati is a simple and clean design. Reiner Knizia’s releases are typically light on rules and feature interesting interlocking elements and that is the case here. Whether the mechanisms are enough to hold your group’s attention will vary wildly. I enjoyed my time with this, as did family and friends through its low barrier to entry. That said, the reprint doesn’t provide enough presence to stand out in the modern market of innovative card games.
Final Score: 3.5 stars – Early Knizia press-your-luck that is decidedly more sideshow than center ring.
Hits:
• Classic press-your-luck
• Chance vs. opportunity
• Quick and simple
Misses:
• Card art variety
• Random theme
