Star Trek: The Next Generation is getting a new tie-in release this October. The wildly popular and influential science fiction series spawned innumerable sequels, spinoffs, and collaborations. Characters from TNG have appeared on Magic: The Gathering cards, in video and board games, and in a string of movies and the spinoff series Picard that further expanded their stories.
Now, though, The Next Generation is set to get a much humbler new release — a card game — but it’s still one to keep an eye on regardless. This one is sure to become a sought-after collectible for Star Trek fans in due time.
On October 20, Looney Labs is set to re-release all four of its out-of-print Star Trek-themed Fluxx card games: Star Trek Fluxx, Star Trek: The Next Generation Fluxx, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Fluxx, and Star Trek: Voyager Fluxx. In addition, the company will put out a new Fluxx set on the same day: Lower Decks Fluxx, all in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Star Trek this year.
Andrew Looney of Looney Labs created Fluxx in 1996 as a card game with ever-changing rules. Cards are divided into four categories — Keepers, New Rules, Goals, and Actions — and players win by achieving the current Goal, which is usually playing a certain combination of Keepers. Of course, by adding New Rules to the mix and constantly moving the goalposts, you make each round of Fluxx different, ensuring no two games are alike.
The TNG Fluxx set (along with all the others) runs for $25 and contains everything you need to play a game of Star Trek-themed Fluxx. Some of the cards included feauture iconic TNG characters like Picard, Riker, Data, Q, and the Borg, all returning from the original TNG Fluxx set, as well as new cards like Darmok and the Rule of Acquisition.
Interestingly, the TNG Fluxx set is totally compatible with the original series set, so you can shuffle them together to create an even richer game with more callbacks to Star Trek lore. The Bridge Expansion of 12 cards gives you even more interesting crossover by creating opportunities for the two series’ timelines to collide.
Most versions of Fluxx add extra mechanics themed after whatever the tie-in property has to be. In TNG Fluxx, that mechanic is Creepers, special cards that must be played immediately alongside your Keepers and often prevent you from winning, even if you meet the required goal. You’ll have to use Action and Rule cards to remove it or target a goal that specifically allows for the Creeper you played.
All these things make Fluxx exciting and dynamic, and keep it interesting through repeated play sessions. If you’re a Star Trek: The Next Generation fan who also loves card games, or have one in your life, this is tough to pass up.
- Release Date
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1987 – 1994-00-00
- Network
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Syndication
- Showrunner
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Gene Roddenberry
