The Fox in the Forest is one of my favorite 2-player games. It blends trick-taking strategy with fairy-tale charm, along with a clever “don’t get too greedy” scoring system that gives each round a unique twist.
In this post, I explain the differences between the Deluxe and Retail (Original) editions and go over a Fox in the Forest insert for each, so you’re covered no matter which edition you have.
Inside This Post
What is The Fox in the Forest?
The Fox in the Forest is a clever two-player trick-taking game designed by Joshua Buergel and released in 2017. It’s become a staple in the small box two-player genre.
You play 13 tricks per round across three suits (Bells, Keys, and Moons), cards numbered 1-11. Odd-numbered cards feature special powers from fairy-tale characters like the Fox, Witch, Swan, and Monarch.
Witch, Be Humble
The twist that makes it special is the scoring across 13 tricks each round. Win too many tricks, 10 to 13, and you score nothing. Greed is punished, just like in the fairy tales. Take 7 to 9 tricks, and you’re Victorious, earning 6 points.
On the other hand, staying Humble and winning just 0 to 3 tricks also rewards you with a full 6 points. Land in the middle with 4 to 6 tricks and you’ll score only 1 to 3 points. The game even has a name for it: Defeated.
Every hand becomes a negotiation between pushing for dominance and holding back, always avoiding that mediocre middle.
Games are played over several rounds, with the first player to reach 21 points winning. Each game takes about 20 to 30 minutes and is filled with clever plays.
What’s New in the Deluxe Edition
I have a hard time resisting a shiny new Deluxe edition, so it only felt natural to start adding Deluxe vs. Retail comparisons to the blog.
When The Fox in the Forest Deluxe Edition was released earlier this year (February 2026), it was an easy pickup at $19.99 on Amazon, compared to $15.99 for the Original version. The new art, acrylic tokens, foil-stamped cards, and added modules give the game a noticeable glow up.
Here’s a quick look at the two boxes side by side. The Deluxe edition is slightly larger in all three dimensions and features spot gloss detail on the title and main illustration, a small touch that looks great on a shelf.
The core game stays the same. You’re still playing 13 tricks per round across three suits, using character powers to outmaneuver your opponent, but the Deluxe brings some notable upgrades:
- All-new illustrations across the entire deck
- Foil-stamp detail on every card
- Acrylic point tokens instead of cardboard
- Three new modules: Special (9x), Poison (3x) and Goal (16x) cards that add excellent replayability
- Two large handy Reference Cards
Deluxe vs Original Components
The upgraded point tokens are one of the first things you notice. These colorful acrylic pieces are a clear step up from the cardboard originals, slightly smaller but thicker, with a smooth, more satisfying feel in hand.
The cards are where the Deluxe edition really stands out. Giuseppe De Iure’s new illustrations give each character a fresh personality, and the foil stamping catches the light in a way that makes every trick feel a little more dramatic.
Below are all six special power cards from both editions side by side. Foil is notoriously hard to capture in photos, but click any image to see the detail up close.
More deluxe component closeups:
If you already enjoy The Fox in the Forest, the Deluxe version is an easy recommendation. The core gameplay stays the same, but the added modules bring more variety, and the upgraded components make the experience feel and look better at the table.
I ended up selling my retail copy and keeping the Deluxe version. It feels like the more complete version of the game, closer to what the design was meant to be, with the added modules and upgraded components giving it more staying power.
That said, no matter which version you’re playing, here are the two inserts I printed and how they improve setup and overall play.
Fox in the Forest Retail Insert
The original insert works at first, but once you sleeve the cards and add the tokens, space runs out quickly, especially if you want a proper card holder and token tray.
Both inserts I’m covering are designed by BoardGameMeta and available on MakerWorld. Since more gamers will have the retail edition, I’ll begin there.
Link to Insert on MakerWorld: Retail Fox in the Forest Insert by BoardGameMeta
The retail insert is two pieces that drop straight into the box: a token tray and a card tray.
Print Details for Retail Insert
I printed mine in Bambu Lab PLA Matte Dark Brown. At a layer height of 0.20 mm and 10% Gyroid infill, it uses 70g of filament and prints in 1 hour and 37 minutes, costing around $1.73.
Here’s the insert, part by part.
Two pieces, no fuss, and it handles premium sleeved cards with no lid lift.
Fox in the Forest Deluxe Insert
I also printed the newly released insert for the Deluxe edition from the same designer to see how it compares. This version comes in four pieces and handles the extra cards and thicker acrylic tokens beautifully.
Link to Insert on MakerWorld: Deluxe Fox in the Forest Insert by BoardGameMeta
Since the Deluxe box is slightly larger, this insert has more room to work with. Everything has a defined place, including the additional modules, so nothing feels crammed even with sleeved cards.
It also handles the extra modules cleanly, keeping everything organized without needing separate storage.
Print Details for Deluxe Insert
I printed mine in Bambu Lab PLA Matte using three colors. Dark green for the base container to blend with the inside of the box, terracotta for the shelf to match the fox on the cover, and dark brown for the remaining pieces to help the cards and colorful tokens stand out.
I went multicolor, but if you want to keep it simple and print everything in one color with default settings, expect around 170g of filament, just under 4 hours of print time, and a cost of around $4.22.
The shelf is split into three levels. The token tray slides into the middle, with Special and Poison cards on top and Goal cards on the bottom. It’s easy to grab exactly the modules you want before a game.
The token tray slides out, and the card holder for the base game cards lifts cleanly out of the box, so everything you need is right on the table during play.
Sleeve Compatibility (Tested with Premium Sleeves)
Both Fox in the Forest inserts accommodate premium sleeves, which matters a lot to me since I sleeve all my games.
The original inserts work fine for unsleeved cards, but it becomes a tight fit once sleeves and a token tray are added. That alone is one of the biggest reasons I reach for custom inserts.
For the retail insert, the Dragon Shield cards initially sat slightly above the card holder. After packing everything into the box and letting it settle under a bit of weight, they fit comfortably with no lid lift.
The Deluxe box and insert have more room to work with. The Deluxe card holder is noticeably taller, accommodating all 33 main cards in Dragon Shield sleeves with no problem. The shelf just holds all the Special, Poison and Goal cards from the added modules.
My Little Extra Glow Up: Free Fox Giveaway
To complete the woodland vibe, I designed and printed this little fox that perches perfectly on the box or next to the play area. I used the free Makerworld Image-to-3D tool using the Fox in the Forest Deluxe box artwork.
Free Fox Figurine Giveaway!
I’ll ship one painted fox to a lucky winner (US shipping only).
To enter:
Comment below with your favorite 2-player or trick-taking game.
Bonus entry: Share this post on social media and tag @TabletopGlowUp.
I will pick the winner on June 1, 2026.
Final Thoughts
The Fox in the Forest is one of those games that earns its spot in any two-player collection. The Deluxe takes everything that already worked and makes it feel like the complete vision.
Whichever edition you’re playing, a good insert makes a real difference in how often you’ll want to pull this game out to play with a friend. Both of these BoardGameMeta Fox in the Forest insert options are clean, functional, and sleeve-friendly. Exactly what a small box game like this deserves.
Have you tried The Fox in the Forest yet? If not, what’s your favorite 2-player game?
Kamio
