(8/28/25_Meredith B) Game Test: Fluxx

Play: Fluxx

  1. Was it fun? Kinda? Some parts were annoying to learn, and the game overall wasn’t too bad, mostly just a big thing of confusion.
  2. What were the player interactions? Yes, but lots of it was just explaining rules/cards and the confusion behind it
  3. How long did it take to learn? About 5 minutes to fully understand. However since the rules kept changing due to the gameplay mechanic, the game is always changed, hence constant learning.
  4. What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played? The constant changing of rules made the game mostly confusing due to the exceptions and changes being made all of the time. Almost every turn changes the rules, making the game change constantly, which I personally don’t find fun.
  5. What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played? Nothing in particular honestly, due to the nature of the game it personally felt very mundane the whole time.
  6. Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t? Honestly I would want to keep the rules the same, the changing of goals is cool, but the rules changes are confusing.
  7. If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be? Remove the rules cards, as much as they impact the game, I would make it so you pick the rules, but it can’t constantly change. It would still allow for the weird rules as an option, but would make it a little more understandable.
  8. Is this a game you would play again? Not really, it’s not engaging and a little too confusing for me, especially for the constant rule changing for me to find enjoyable.

Play Test Question: Flux

Madison Hurst

  1. What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?- The most frustrating part was the rules and layers of the game.
  2. What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?- My favorite moment of the game was having the ability to change a rule. For example, we were able to change the number of cards you pulled from 1 to 5 then to 4.
  3. Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t? – I really wanted to take another players card or swap easier with them. They had a card I could’ve used to win.
  4. If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be? – I would remove some of the rules so they didn’t overlap and slow down the game. I would change the game by players/opponents having immediate impacts on other players rather than limiting their card choice or number.
  5. Is this a game you would play again? – No because I was felt that the directions and rules took way too long to understand. It made the game feel long, and by the time I partially learned it I was mentally disconnected from the game.

Game Design 1 Fluxx Test Questions – Kaelin Hartman

  1. It takes too long to understand in my opinion and not having a general idea of what your getting into kind of annoys me.
  2. When the Rules stack up it gets interesting (even though slightly mind boggling)
  3. There didn’t seem to be a way to easily win honestly, and I wanted to win so I couldn’t do that.
  4. It wasn’t super captivating somehow so I would want it a little more intriguing somehow – it might have been the design or theme of the game that didn’t really keep me engaged. Also there are too many words on the cards which makes it complicated and a bit boggling to comprehend.
  5. It would not be my first choice, no. (We didn’t finish so that’s no fun)

Play test Questions – Star Flux

  1. Starting the game and getting set up first was the most frustrating refiguring out how to play.
  2. My favorite moment was putting down 2 cards in hand rule but you also had to pick up 5 and play 3 which kept it interesting. 
  3. I wanted to be able to switch up a rule because I picked up a better rule but I had already played so I couldn’t change the rule. 
  4. I would change the theme of the game to something more intriguing to my generation. Possibly would like to see an RMU version or maybe an Minecraft version or Halloween version. This would capture the user in a more relatable and enjoyable way. 
  5. I would play this game again if it was a different more engaging theme. 

Game play w.i.p DND!

Recently I started a DND campaign recently and this is going to be my reflection so far of my journy!.

Was it fun: so far we are all having a blast playing through our campaign

What where some of the player interactions: So far we have battled a vampire who was locked in a church basement to protect the villagers from the clutches of the BBEG of Stradh. My character(a goliath druid) has trouble opening doors and fence gates so far(had to buy a new set of dice haha)

How long did it take for the party to learn the game: so far we are all still working through the motions of battle and just the workings of rolling and finding out what we have to add or remove based on our stats.

Would you play again: we are meeting this friday to continue our campaign and I am super excited!!

Analyze the game using the three act structure: there are multiple instances of the three act structure in DND every time that we roll for initiative thats the starting phase, then battle through a turn based system ensues and then after we either reap our sorrows or celebrate a valorant victory!

What are the collaborative/competitive aspects of the game: there are many aspects in both respects in this type of game, for collaborative you have a chance to help another member with a roll giving them advantage on their next roll, or on the more competitive side of the game you have the ability to fight multiple different creatures, monsters, and other various entities as well as possibly your fellow party members ( if they are under a spell or enchantment.)

What is the games metaphor that makes the games mechanics stand out: In my opinion the metaphor of this game would be”a living, breathing storybook where you are the author,” “a character development journey through a fantastical landscape,” “a puzzle box where you piece together your own path,” “a grand stage where you play out your chosen role,” “a sandbox where you sculpt your own destiny,” or “a quest for self-discovery within a magical world.” to name a few, and the mechanics that stand out to me the most are the turned based attacks and the interactions within the game itself with the non playable characters.

Shark Game Review

The game really didn’t have many rules, and was written in a poem format that made it difficult. I’d like to see more action and competition overall. I do not remember the full extent of the game, but I wouldn’t change much other than just adding more to it.

Dominion

The game was fun, but the turns felt repetitive since we didn’t use any curse cards, which led to more buying than playing action cards. Player interactions were minimal because there wasn’t any attacking, and most of us didn’t use action cards since they weren’t necessary. It took about 15 minutes to grasp the basic rules and around almost an hour to play smoothly. I’d maybe like to play again, especially with all the cards and rules fully in play, as there were many parts we didn’t use.

Game Review

Was it fun?

Simply yes

What were the players’ interactions?

Being able to place a tile and eliminate another player.

Would you play it again?

Yes, but it is sort of repetitive.

How long did it take to learn?

3-5 Minutes

Analyze the game using the 3-act structure.

In the beginning, it starts simple by following your own path, in the middle it gets hard because the lines are getting confusing, and in the end everyone is basically analyzing the board to see if there is a way they cannot be eliminated.

What is the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game?

Being able to force them off the board.

What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?

I like that the game was simple to understand, and doesn’t have much of a learning curve and that makes a lot of room for developing a strategy.

Game Review Citadels

Was it fun?

Yes, + it was very straight forward.

What were the players’ interactions?

Being able to sabotage people made it interesting. As well as the fact that everyone sort of started to figure out what characters people had.

Would you play it again?

Personally no, just not my type of game.

How long did it take to learn?

Took maybe 10-15 minutes.

What is the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game?

There was always a competition between people and the king for who goes first, but there’s definitely an advantage for those who have played it.

What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?

Every card having it’s own uniqueness and mechanics to it made it interesting, and that stood out to me.

Game Review Bohnanza

Was it fun?

Yes, simple and easy.

What were the players’ interactions?

Being able to auction and trade beans made the game interesting, adding a strategy to specifically not give others the beans they need.

Would you play it again?

I would, but not the length it is intended to be played since it was taking a while.

How long did it take to learn?

It took me a good bit to understand the game, but after maybe 5-10 minutes it clicked.

What is the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game?

Getting coins was very competitive, but trading was the biggest collaborative part of the game.

Game Review Tokyo

Was it fun?

Yes

What were the players’ interactions?

It has an aggressive play style, which helps keep the game interesting.

Would you play it again?

Definitely

How long did it take to learn?

15ish minutes, didn’t come super easy.

What is the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game?

Defeating the other players, and the monsters outside vs inside tokyo.

What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?

Rolling the dice to do actions made it simple, which I like since I personally like more simple games.

Garden Sabotage Game Review

Was it fun?

Yes

How long did it take to learn?

Maybe 10 minutes, was slightly confused at first.

Would you play it again?

Possibly, if everyone else was I would.

Was it frustrating?

It was difficult to get the cards I needed from what I remember.

Game Review Birdnest and Beaver Dam

Was it fun?

Yes, it is a very easy game to learn and doesn’t require much critical thinking.

What were the player interactions?

The exclamation challenge spaces were a unique addition.

How long did it take to learn?

5 Minutes

Would you play it again?

Yes

What are the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game?

You and your team member have to collect items for making nests, and you have to make it back to base to drop off your items.

What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?

I believe that the game would be more complete with different game pieces, but at the end of the day all games are a work in progress.

Game Review Bids

Was it fun?

Yes

What were the player interactions?

In order to play, you roll a dice and move the corresponding amount of spaces. The color and number rolled has a bid attached to it and every player can bid on the item.

How long did it take to learn?

3-5 Minutes

Would you play it again?

Yes

What are the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game?

Outbidding the other players and being more strategic.

game review

Was it fun?

Yes

What were the player interactions?

Passing cards in order to pick salad items that we wanted / needed.

How long did it take to learn?

Took maybe 10 minutes, but was still learning as I played.

Would you play it again?

Yes

What are the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game?

Not many collaborative aspects, definitely a more competitive game.

What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?

The metaphor is all about building a salad, and you can choose colors that correspond for bonus points.