What happens when generations of foxes are carefully bred for friendliness? The answer to this question changed our understanding of domestication. Inspired by the real-world fox domestication experiment that began in 1958, The Fox Experiment lets you become a researcher studying behavioural traits in fox. In the game you breed generations of foxes, developing your research centre and uncovering the fascinating effects of selective breeding.
 
Each round, choose a pair of foxes as parents, carefully considering the traits they carry. Their characteristics determine which trait dice you can use, giving you the tools needed to develop your next generation. Roll your dice, arrange the results to complete matching trait symbols, then record the discoveries on your pup card.
 
Successful breeding earns valuable trait tokens that can be invested into upgrades on your personal research board. As each generation develops, new pups move into the kennel, becoming potential parents for future experiments. Choosing which foxes to breed becomes increasingly important as you work towards creating desirable combinations while progressing your research.
 
The Fox Experiment combines dice manipulation, set collection, engine building and resource management to give you a game full of rich strategic decision-making within a fascinating genetics theme. Across five rounds, you will complete studies, impress patrons, develop your research centre, compete for the Friendliest Fox award and collect valuable bonuses that could secure your final score.
 
Inspired by the pioneering work of Dmitri Belyaev and Lyudmila Trut, this science themed board game turns selective breeding into an engaging tabletop challenge. The clever mechanics reflect the process of studying inherited traits while giving players plenty of opportunities to experiment with different breeding strategies.
 
Can you develop the most successful research programme, breed the most remarkable foxes and uncover the secrets hidden within their genes?