As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full details on our Affiliate Disclosure page.
The Fox in the Forest vs Lost Cities is a match-up between two of the best small-box card games for couples. Both are strictly two-player, both cost little, and both fit in a coat pocket for a holiday trip. The Fox in the Forest is a fairy-tale trick-taking game where winning too much is a trap. Lost Cities is Reiner Knizia’s expedition game about committing to the right colors at the right time. Here is how to choose.
Our pick for most couples: The Fox in the Forest
The Fox in the Forest packs more surprises into a short game and plays well even if one of you is new to card games. It costs about $16.
Price band: $10–$20 (about $16) · Check today’s price on Amazon
The Fox in the Forest vs Lost Cities at a glance
Two small two-player card games with big depth.
- Best trick-taking duel: The Fox in the Forest — 33 cards, three suits, special powers (about $16)
- Best push-your-luck duel: Lost Cities — expeditions, wagers and a 20-point cost per route (about $24)
How The Fox in the Forest plays
The deck has 33 cards in three suits, Bells, Keys and Moons, numbered 1 to 11. Each player gets 13 cards, and one card turned face up sets the trump suit. You must follow the suit that was led if you can, and the higher card of that suit wins unless a trump is played.
The twist is the scoring: win 0 to 3 tricks and you score 6 points as the humble player, while winning 10 or more scores nothing because you were greedy. Odd-numbered cards carry powers, such as the Swan that lets you lead after losing and the Witch that can act as trump. The game ends when someone reaches 21 points.
How Lost Cities plays
Lost Cities has five expedition colors (plus an optional sixth in the current edition), each with cards numbered 2 to 10 and wager cards. On your turn you play a card onto one of your expeditions in rising order or discard it to the shared center, then draw from the deck or the top of a discard pile.
Every expedition you start costs 20 points, so starting too many can sink your score. Wager cards multiply the result, for better or worse. Our how to play Lost Cities guide has scoring examples.
The Fox in the Forest vs Lost Cities: comparison table
| Feature | The Fox in the Forest | Lost Cities |
|---|---|---|
| Players | Exactly 2 | Exactly 2 |
| Style | Trick-taking with powers | Set building and push your luck |
| Game length | About 30 minutes | About 30 minutes for three rounds |
| Hardest decision | Winning just enough tricks | When to start an expedition |
| Price on Amazon | About $16 | About $24 |
Interaction and tension compared
The Fox in the Forest is more interactive. Every trick is a direct contest, and the powers let you mess with your opponent’s plans. Lost Cities is quieter: you mostly build your own expeditions and watch what the other player discards. The tension comes from timing, since holding a card too long can leave you with a pile of points you never scored.
Which one is easier to teach a new player
If your partner has played Hearts or Spades, The Fox in the Forest will feel familiar within one hand. If they have never played trick-taking games, Lost Cities may be the easier start, because there are only two choices per turn. For more ideas, see our trick-taking card games guide.
Designers and pedigree
The Fox in the Forest was designed by Joshua Buergel and published by Renegade Game Studios in 2017, and it is widely credited with renewing interest in two-player trick-taking games. Lost Cities is a Reiner Knizia design first released in 1999, and it has stayed in print for more than two decades. Both are proven picks rather than gambles.
Either box makes an easy stocking stuffer for a partner, and both are short enough to play a full game after the holiday dishes are done.
Our verdict on The Fox in the Forest vs Lost Cities
- Choose The Fox in the Forest for back-and-forth duels, clever card powers and couples who like card tables.
- Choose Lost Cities for a calmer, strategic game about patience and risk.
- Want more two-player picks? See Lost Cities vs Jaipur and our best 2-player board games.
The Fox in the Forest vs Lost Cities FAQ
Can more than two people play The Fox in the Forest?
No. It is designed for exactly two players.
Does Lost Cities have a board?
The current edition includes a double-sided board, but the game is mostly played with cards.
Which game is better for travel?
Both are small boxes. The Fox in the Forest needs only a little table space for one trick at a time.
How long does a game of The Fox in the Forest last?
Usually about 30 minutes, since you play rounds until someone reaches 21 points.
