Fairy Tale

About this board game

Fairy Tale is a 2004 card game for 2–5 players that takes about 30 minutes to play. Players draft cards, make simultaneous choices, and score points from the face-up cards in front of them.

The game is played over four rounds. At the start of each round, every player receives five cards. Players simultaneously select one card, pass the remaining cards, and continue selecting until all five cards have been handled.

1. Receive five cards at the beginning of a round.
2. Simultaneously choose one card and pass the rest.
3. Play three cards and discard two.
4. Reveal cards and resolve abilities that affect which cards are face-up or face-down.

After drafting, players begin playing their selected cards simultaneously. Three cards are played and two are discarded, creating opportunities to improve your own scoring position while interfering with other players’ ability to do the same.

When cards are revealed after each selection, their abilities can turn other cards face-up or face-down. This makes the timing of reveals and the position of cards important, as only the appropriate cards will contribute to the final scoring.

By the end of the four rounds, each player has 12 cards in front of them. Players then score according to their face-up cards, giving the drafting decisions and simultaneous card play a clear final payoff. With its compact rounds and direct interaction, Fairy Tale centers on choosing carefully while watching how your opponents’ cards develop.