Fluxx

"The Card Game with Ever-changing Rules"

I was introduced to this game a few years ago now, and after playing it for the first time, I promptly went out and bought it. It is a very easy game to learn ... in fact it's better to just dive right in and learn it as you play. The rules of the game are printed right on the cards which makes it even easier for you. Of course, the first few hands of the game will be slower because everyone is reading the various cards, but the game is easy to pick up and playing it will get quicker as you go.

There are four different "types" of cards: Keepers, Goals, Actions and New Rules. The game starts with a basic rule, but that's not to say that you can't add rules or change the rules entirely. In order to win the game, you must achieve the standing "goal". At any point, someone can put a goal card into play - this determines what "keepers" you need to have down.

For example: Someone places the "Time is Money" card on the table as the current goal. You have the money keeper card in your hand. In your next turn, you can place the Money keeper on the table, and hope to draw the Time keeper card soon. As soon as you get time ... you place it on the table and win the game.

Problem is that the other players will be doing their best to keep the goal changing (to accomodate their own keeper collection or just to cut you off from the easy win), and rules changing so fast your head will spin. I even managed to get my canasta-playing parents to play this game, and they had a blast, which for me ... means that it's truly a great game to have around the house for when friends and family show up.

Also, as a matter of note, there are a few different decks that you can buy too.
Family Fluxx - "slimmed-down, brightened-up Fluxx. With simpler Rules, color Keepers, and neat new family-oriented Bonuses for kids, parents and grandparents..."
Flowers & Fluxx - a cute way to give Fluxx as a gift. It comes with it's own bouquet of plush flowers to make someone smile.
EcoFluxx - "like original Fluxx, but with all new, natural Keepers like dirt, leaves, bears and frogs! New "Eats" goals help teach about food chain, and fun actions like Mass Migration and Extinction, and the new rule Composting help set the tone."
German Fluxx, Japanese Fluxx, Fluxx Espanol
And a couple of expansions/boosters: Jewish Fluxx and Christian Fluxx. Each providing 7 extra cards to add to your deck.

All quotes are taken from the Fluxx website, product descriptions. http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/