If only games like Circus Flohcati could be found on retail store shelves as easily as the likes of Uno and Hit the Deck. This gem, designed by Reiner Knizia, certainly isn't any more complicated, but it is SO much more fun.

Gameplay
So here's the gist of Circus Flohcati... You have a deck with cards numbering 0-7 in each of 10 colors. On top of that there are just 3 types of special cards which I'll get to in a bit. Take the deck, give it a good shuffle, and place it in the middle of the table and you're ready to go. That's it. No dealing or anything.

On a player's turn she can take a card from the row of face up cards beside the draw deck (if there is at least one there - there won't be at the start and from time to time throughout the game) or can draw a card from the deck to add to (or start) that row. A player may continue adding to that row until she turns up a card she wishes to take, unless a card comes up that matches the color of a card already in the row. For example, let's say there are three cards in the row when a player starts her turn. They are blue, green and white. Instead of taking one of those cards, she draws another card... another blue card! That card is placed in a discard pile and the player loses her turn without the option of taking a card.

Besides the colored, numbered cards there are 3 special cards that come up every so often that allow you to do one of 3 things, depending on the card drawn. These are pretty simple. 1.) Select an opponent and draw one of his cards at random. 2.) Name a color and choose a direction to go around the table. The first opponent who has a card of that color in his hand must give it up to the player who drew the special card. 3.) This last one simply allows you to break the rule where you must forfeit your card selection if a repeat color comes up. Just keep drawing UNTIL you get a repeat and you STILL get to choose one.

Finally, at the end of your turn, after you have placed a new card in your hand, you have the option to lay a set of 3 cards on the table (3 different colors, all the same number). At the end of this game, this will give you 10 points, no matter what the value on the cards is.

Also at the end of the game the highest valued card in your hand of each unique color will score face value.

Besides one little rule that lets you end the game early if you have all 10 colors in your hand, that's it. I know reading this with no visuals may seem a bit confusing, but seeing it played through for a couple minutes clears everything up very quickly. It really is quite simple.

Why It's So Fun
So that's how it plays out, in a nutshell, but the decision-making and the press-your-luck aspect is what really makes this game shine. For example, you have 3 sevens in your hand. Do you put them down for 10 points guaranteed to hold on in hopes for it to be 21 points at the end of the game? Any time now, someone could draw a card to snatch one of them out of your hand! Or you just need one more purple card to end the game. Do you keep drawing those cards? If the next one is a repeat you're going to get nothing!

The game also rewards those that can remember some of the great cards that people have picked up. As soon as you draw a card that let's you name a color for an opponent to give you, you'll want to recall what color that "7" was that a player drew a couple of turns ago. Lots of fun elements like this will be enjoyed throughout every game.

Scalability
One of the greatest things about this game is how well it scales between the new and veteran gamers, young and older people, and casual and more serious players. My wife and I love playing this with another adult couple, but love pulling it out with our young children also. I can think of VERY few games that I can say that about.

Conclusion
I would say that Circus Flohcati should be in any collection of casual or family gamers. Likewise any serious gamer that likes to have lighter fillers around should have a copy on hand. I am just amazed how the designer pulled off a game with such simple rules and gameplay that provides such fun elements as press-you-luck, great decision making, memory, and enough luck to keep it light and interesting. I own over 100 board and card games and this is certainly among my favorites.