Fairy
🐸 Dettagli da BoardGameGeek
Consiglio BGG sul numero di giocatori
Categorie
Meccaniche
Design & Art
Lingua
Pairs well with
The FroGames Card
You point your finger up. Your son clenches his fist. Your sister gives a thumbs down. The card is revealed: fairy. Your sister screams, you two curse. Seven points for her, minus one for you. And it starts all over again.
WHAT IT IS ABOUT
A deck of cards, three gestures, zero seconds to think
Fairy is a party game by ましう (Mashiu), illustrated by 別府さい (Sai Beppu) and published by Allplay in 2024. It is part of the Tiny Box series: pocket-sized box, thirty-second rules, immediate chaos. The theme is fantasy but counts for nothing: here, reaction speed and sheer luck are what matter.
Each round, a card is flipped. Everyone simultaneously makes a hand gesture: finger up (card higher than the previous), thumbs down (lower), horizontal finger (same suit), closed fist (it's one of the three fairies). Guess the value? Two points. Guess the suit? Four points. Call the fairy and she's really there? Seven points. Wrong? Minus one. First to fifteen wins.
What they say abroad
A 10-minute game where you scream, laugh, and lose points because of a finger raised at the wrong time. Perfect.
— FroGames
"Fast, chaotic, and surprisingly tense for such a tiny box."
Fast, chaotic, and surprisingly tense for such a tiny box.
— Gameosity
Fairy
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews and game sessionsWhat's in the box
A deck, three fairies, four gestures
Deck of cards
Cards numbered 1 to 12 in four suits. No text, just symbols. You read them in half a second.
The three fairies
Three special cards in the deck. Calling them with a closed fist is worth seven points. Not calling them when they appear costs you one point.
Hand gestures
Finger up (higher), thumb down (lower), horizontal finger (same suit), closed fist (fairy). No extra components: you use your hands.
Score track
Optional: printed score card. But you can keep score orally or on paper: first to 15 wins, errors deduct 1.
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to PlayThe rules in four steps▼
How to Play
The Flow of Each Round
A round literally lasts ten seconds. Repeat until someone reaches 15 points.
Flip the top card from the deck and place it in the center, visible to everyone. Say nothing: the card speaks for itself (number and suit, or fairy).
Simultaneously, each player chooses a gesture: thumb up (higher value), thumb down (lower value), horizontal finger (same suit as the previous card), closed fist (it's a fairy). No turns, no waiting.
Compare the current card with the previous one. Whoever guessed the value correctly gets 2 points. Whoever guessed the suit correctly gets 4 points. Whoever called the fairy and was right gets 7 points. Whoever is wrong loses 1 point.
If someone has reached 15 points, they win. Otherwise, repeat from step 1: flip the next card, everyone makes a new gesture, and so on until the end of the deck or victory.
⏱️Your First GameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A Game in Five Moments
What Happens at the Table
Not the rules. The experience.
Confused Start
You flip the first card. Everyone looks. No one knows what to do because there's no previous card to compare it with. Someone makes a random gesture. You explain that the first card is not played, it's just looked at. Awkward laughter.
First Collective Mistake
Second card: a red 7. The previous was a blue 3. Everyone gives a thumbs up (higher). Correct. Third card: a red 10. Half the table gives a thumbs up (higher), half makes the horizontal gesture (same suit). Those who chose the suit get four points. The others two. Recriminations begin.
The First Fairy
Fifth or sixth card: a fairy appears. Only one person makes a fist. Seven points for them. Everyone else loses a point for making wrong gestures. Someone asks: "How did you know?" Answer: "I didn't know, I took a risk." From now on, everyone keeps an eye on the count of fairies that have appeared.
The Comeback
Someone reaches 12-13 points. Everyone else becomes more cautious or more desperate. Those behind start randomly calling fairies in the hope of catching up with a seven-point shot. Those ahead play safe: thumb up or down, never risk a fist. Tension rises but lasts very little.
Random Victory
Any card brings someone to 15 points. End. No one remembers how they got there, but everyone remembers the moment they lost points by calling a fairy that wasn't there. Someone says "another one?". And it starts again.
🐸What to Know BeforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
What to Know Beforehand
Three Honest Warnings
Speed is mandatory
If someone at the table is slow to decide or wants to reason about probabilities, the game gets stuck. Fairy only works if everyone plays by instinct: see the card, make the gesture, move on. With analytical players, it becomes frustrating for everyone else.
Deck Repetitiveness
The deck is always the same: 12 values for 4 suits plus 3 fairies. After five or six games in a row, you start remembering the cards and the game loses some of its unpredictability. It works better as a filler to pull out occasionally, not as a marathon.
Stated age vs. real age
The box says 6+, and technically that's true: the gestures are simple. But children under 8 struggle with reaction speed and simultaneous value/suit comparison. It works better with families with children aged 8 and up.
🏆Victory and DefeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it Ends
How to Win
The first player to reach 15 points wins immediately. No ties, no tie-breakers.
Victory
- Reach exactly 15 points (or more) at any point in the round
- Correctly call a fairy with a closed fist (7 points) and cross the threshold
- Accumulate points with safe choices (value or suit) and be the first to arrive
How to Lose Points
- Make a wrong gesture (value, suit, or fairy): lose 1 point
- Call a fairy with a closed fist but a normal card appears: -1 point
- Make the suit gesture but the suit is different: -1 point (even if the value was correct)
Fairy is the perfect filler when you have 10 minutes, a full table, and a desire to laugh at wrong gestures. No setup, no downtime, just immediate chaos.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairy FAQ
What mechanics does Fairy use?
Simultaneous Action Selection (everyone chooses at the same time), Push Your Luck (you can risk calling the fairy), and a touch of Betting and Bluffing (although you're not really bluffing anyone: you're just guessing). There's no pure memory, but after a few cards, you start to remember what came out.
Does it work well with 10 players?
It works, but it's chaotic. With 10 people, it becomes difficult to see all gestures simultaneously, and someone ends up making their gesture late by copying others. Ideal: 4-6 players. With 8-10, you need a large table and disciplined people, otherwise it's pure confusion.
Can I play it with 6-year-old children?
The box says 6+, but it depends on the child. If they can compare numbers and react quickly, yes. If they are slow or distracted, they will struggle: the game doesn't wait. Recommended real age: 8+ years, when reaction speed is more stable.
How long does a game really last?
From 5 to 10 minutes, rarely more. It depends on how quickly you flip cards and how many mistakes you make (each mistake subtracts points and extends the race to 15). With fast players, 5 minutes. With people who think too much, 10.
Is it available in Italian?
This edition is in English, but there's no text on the cards: only numbers, symbols, and illustrations. The rulebook is in English, but it can be explained verbally in 30 seconds: thumb up/down/horizontal/fist, that's it. Language independent once the four rules are understood.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Fairy is a quick party game for 2-10 players, ages 6+, lasting 5-10 minutes. Designed by ましう (Mashiu) and illustrated by 別府さい (Sai Beppu), published by Allplay in the Tiny Box series. It uses mechanics of simultaneous gestures, push your luck, and light bluffing: each round, everyone simultaneously chooses a hand gesture to guess if the new card is higher, lower, the same suit, or one of the three fairies hidden in the deck. Guess correctly and score points, guess wrong and lose them. First to 15 wins. Perfect as a fast filler for families and party nights, with no setup and immediate rules. Available on FroGames.it.
Fairy
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
Pre-order the game before release, payment is immediate, and the game is reserved for you. As soon as it arrives, we'll ship it right away! If there are any delays, we'll update you promptly.
🔒Can I trust buying here?
Absolutely! Secure payments, tracked shipments, and a team that loves board games as much as you do. If something goes wrong, we'll do our best to fix it.
🛠There's a problem with my order, what should I do?
Write to us now! Whether it's a missing part, damage, or an error, we'll help you resolve it as soon as possible. Your experience truly matters to us.