These, if played at the right time, can alter the course of the game. The artwork is gorgeously realised, especially for the odd-numbered character cards which allow you to use special powers. The Fox in the Forest features three suits that fit its fairy-tale theme – moons, bells, and keys. You must ‘follow suit’ – use the same suit that the first player put down – if possible, but if you can’t, you can use a trump card – a card from one suit which beats a higher card in a different suit. The winning player takes both cards and makes little piles to track how many ‘tricks’ they have won.

If you’re not familiar with them, trick taking games involve each player choosing a card from their hand, with the higher value card winning. If you’ve ever played trick-taking card games, then the basic mechanics will be very familiar to you, as they are essentially the same as in games like whist or bridge, which use a standard deck of playing cards. The Fox in the Forest is one such game that you can finish in about half an hour. These days it’s mostly quick two-player games with my wife. I have a three-year-old son and a full-time job, which doesn’t leave a huge amount of time for epic four-hour long gaming marathons. In a world of increasing remoteness and alienation, the main appeal of tabletop is connecting with people.Īlthough I’ve been able to play the occasional real-life game now and then, the world seems to have shrunk. You can go digital, but nothing beats playing with others in real life.

Unfortunately, face to face gaming has become much tricker than it was a couple of years ago. They are a great way to zone out for a while and focus on what’s in front of you, whether that’s by immersing yourself in an imaginative in-game world or just planning your next move. If you’re looking for a diversion from the daily doom, try drifting into fiction, fantasy, or the fun of tabletop games. How’s the endless pandemic treating you? How was Lockdown and its sequels? How’re you finding sticking stuff up your nose, swabbing your throat, steamed up glasses, or washing your hands until they’re sore?

The fox in the forest artwork