Claim is a 2-player trick-taker in the mode - enticing mix of luck and skill - of ‘Fox in the Forest.’ I get the familiar feeling of wanting to replay it right away that I do when I play ‘Lost Cities.’
What seems quite different about Claim is that it takes part over two distinct phases - the initial 13 tricks are used to create (ie through winning the trick) a 13-card hand that will be used in Phase Two.
One of the things I enjoy most in this game is the banter that inevitably accompanies it... 'Fox in the Forest' seems tenser, and doesn't seem to lend itself to the same level of interaction. There is dodging and parrying in this game between suits (ie factions of cute fantasy types like knights and dwarves) like one might find in a game of Bridge - I enjoyed very much having to think through what suit I wanted to play, and when to play it - which, of course, is the basic dynamic in 'Fox' and 'Lost Cities'.
I'm excited to try the expansions and new factions for this game - it's a real pleasure to play.
