How it plays
In the base game, the deck has 33 cards in three suits (1 to 11): each player receives 13, a face-up card determines the trump suit, and players must follow suit. Odd-numbered cards have abilities. With the fox (3), a player can exchange the trump card for a card from their hand. A led 11 forces the opponent, if possible, to play the 1 or the highest card of that suit. After 13 tricks, scoring takes place: winning zero to three or seven to nine tricks earns six points, four to six earn one to three points, and ten or more earn nothing. The game is played to 21 points.
What it can help develop
At its core, the game is about planning ahead. As soon as players look at their hand, they decide whether to aim for few tricks or for seven to nine, and they adjust their plan when the fox changes the trump suit. Impulse control is needed, because a sure trick is tempting but can easily lead to greed. Tricks that have been won lie face down; anyone who keeps track of the cards already played is using their working memory.
Especially suitable for
- School-age children from age 10 with some experience of card games
- A parent and child, as a quiet duel
- Couples looking for a short two-player game
Less suitable for
- Groups of three or four
- Children who are quickly overwhelmed by special rules
Our verdict
The Fox in the Forest is suitable as a quiet duel for exactly two people, for example a parent and a child from age 10 with some experience of card games. Its strength: greedy play is punished, so weighing things up is what counts; in 2020 it made the Spiel des Jahres recommendation list. Its limitations are the special cards, which often have to be looked up, and the restriction to two players.
Getting started
- Go through the scoring with an example beforehand: 0 to 3 or 7 to 9 tricks earn six points, 4 to 6 earn only a few, and 10 or more earn none.
- Explain the fox card early: the new trump suit already applies to the trick in progress.
In detail
Variants and player count
The German edition is published by Leichtkraft, a brand of Schwerkraft-Verlag, and according to Spiel des Jahres is intended for 2 people from age 10; the designer is Joshua Buergel. The original edition was published by Foxtrot Games in 2017. According to the publisher’s shop, the German edition, entirely in German, contains 33 cards, 17 scoring tokens and 2 player aids. As a short variant, the rulebook of the original edition suggests playing to 16 points instead of 21.
What reviewers say
The Spiel des Jahres jury put the game on the recommendation list in 2020 and highlights that the trick-taking game works with two and that too much greed is punished. In the jury’s review roundup (NOZ, Radio IN, Spielbox), the fine line between many and few tricks is praised; the six special abilities, which players constantly have to look up, and their complicated description are criticized. For Meeple Mountain, the game feels like poker: players read their opponent and keep track of which cards have already been played. The original edition was nominated in 2018 for the International Gamers Award in the General Strategy (2-Player) category.
How it compares
Skull King (from age 8, 2 to 8 people, about 30 to 45 minutes) is also a trick-taking game and shares impulse control as well as logic and planning with The Fox in the Forest. Skull King suits children from age 8 with some experience of trick-taking games, and is less suited to children who find negative points hard to take. What the Heck? (from age 8, 2 to 5 people, about 15 minutes) shares the same two skill areas with The Fox in the Forest, but it thrives on more players and is less suited to games with just two. The Fox in the Forest (from age 10, 2 people, about 30 minutes) is purely a two-player game. The Fox in the Forest suits school-age children from age 10 with experience of card games, as well as a parent and child as a calm duel. The Fox in the Forest is less suited to groups of three or four.
Sources
- Spiel des Jahres: Der Fuchs im Wald (jury, in German)
- Foxtrot Games: The Fox in the Forest, rulebook (PDF)
- Wikipedia: The Fox in the Forest
- Schwerkraft-Verlag: Der Fuchs im Wald (publisher’s shop, in German)
- Spiel des Jahres: Empfehlungsliste 2020, Der Fuchs im Wald (in German)
- Spiel des Jahres: Kritikenrundschau, Spiele für zwei Personen (review round-up, in German)
- Meeple Mountain: review
- International Gamers Awards: Nominees 2018
Frequently asked questions
What age is The Fox in the Forest suitable for?
The Fox in the Forest is recommended from age 10. Players who are familiar with trick-taking games that require following suit and are happy to memorize or look up special cards are ready. Anyone who is quickly overwhelmed by special rules will struggle at first.
How long does a game take and how many people can play?
A game takes about 30 minutes. The game is for 2 people, who play against each other to 21 points. It is not designed for groups of three or four.
What skills can The Fox in the Forest help develop?
It can help develop impulse control as well as logic and planning. A sure trick is tempting, but greed costs points; players also commit early to a number of tricks and have to rethink when a special card changes the situation.
What do the special cards do?
The odd-numbered cards (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11) have special abilities. One of them, the fox, swaps the trump card for a card from the player’s hand; a led 11 restricts the opponent’s choice. Reviews report that players often have to look them up.
