Cards Against Humanity is a popular party game that is not for the faint of heart! If you and your pals have a sense of humor, this game will liven any gathering. The Cards Against Humanity game makers describe it as “pretty stupid.”
Consumer reviews are mixed when it comes to this outlandish card game.
Not only are the questions wacky and comical, but they have also been considered inappropriate and offensive.
This Cards Against Humanity rules guide will cover the following:
- What is Cards Against Humanity?
- A brief history of Cards Against Humanity
- What you’ll need to play Cards Against Humanity
- Cards Against Humanity Rules
- How to play Cards Against Humanity (Video Tutorial)
- FAQs
Read on to learn how to play Cards Against Humanity.
What is Cards Against Humanity?
Cards Against Humanity is a card game where players fill in the blanks of silly statements with ridiculous answer choices, making jokes throughout the game.
Number of Players: 4-20
Ages: 17+ Adults Only
Difficulty: Easy
Length of Play: 30-90 minutes
Category: Party Game, Card Game
Similar to: Apples to Apples, What Do You Meme?, Joking Hazard
Main Objective: The player who collects the most black cards, or wins the most rounds, is the winner!
Why We Love It: This game is either hated or loved by its reviewers, making it that much more entertaining! Will you be a fan of Cards Against Humanity? Play to find out!
A Brief History of Cards Against Humanity
Cards Against Humanity was originally designed by a group of friends to play for a New Year’s Eve party. After their guests thoroughly enjoyed the game, they decided to market Cards Against Humanity in 2010.
To their surprise, sales skyrocketed. Since then, the producers have released a variety of expansion packs and additional game variations that include a family edition, Absurd box, Everything box, a Nerd Bundle, and more.
What You’ll Need to Play Cards Against Humanity
Everything you need to play comes included in this boxed set.
The original boxed set contains:
- 500 white cards
- 100 black cards
- Instruction manual
Area of Play
Set up requires minimal effort when it comes to playing this game. All you need is an easily accessible tabletop surface to place cards. Cards Against Humanity is portable enough to play around a card table or at a back corner booth in your favorite bar.
Begin the game by dealing 10 white cards to each player. One player is chosen to be the starting Card, Czar, or judge. Stack the deck of black cards in the center of the table face down.
Cards Against Humanity Rules
Players take turns being the judge in this silly card game. The Card Czar begins the first round by drawing a black card and reading it aloud to the group.
The other players select the best, funniest, or craziest word or phrase from their hand of white cards to complete the statement by placing their card face down on the table.
The judge shuffles and reads aloud all the white cards and selects the card they believe best completes the blank on the black card. The winner of each round keeps the black card.
All players collect new white cards to restock their hands, needing 10 to start each round.
The player to the right of the judge begins the next round by drawing a black card and reading it aloud. Play continues until you run out of black cards or decide to stop playing.
Card Examples
The black cards, read by the Card Czar, may include phrases such as:
If I could take one thing on a deserted island, it would be __________.
What should you never yell during sex?
Your honour, I plead not guilty to ______________.
White cards, which are selected and played in response to the black card, include statements of this nature:
Drunk pregnant women
The fortress of solitude!
Bullet time
Hey, batter batter, swing batter!
Optional Rules
- In the event of a “Pick 2” black card, players will select two white cards to submit. These cards must be placed sequentially together with the first card to be read on top.
- Players can trade in points or black card wins to switch out for a new selection of white cards. This can be done at any time during the game.
- You can choose to play with an imaginary player to add a little more fun to the mix! This works by selecting a random white card from the deck for each round and placing it on the table with the others hand-chosen by each player. Keep up with how many times the random card wins!
- There is an additional ending option to Cards Against Humanity. When ending the game, play the “Make a Haiku” card. All players select dramatic or poetic white card options for the grand finale.
Related: 28 games like Cards Against Humanity
How to Keep Score in Cards Against Humanity
The winner of each round keeps the black card on the table in front of them. This is an easy way to keep track of how many rounds each player has won.
The player with the most black cards at the end of the game wins!
How to Play Cards Against Humanity – Video Tutorials
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you play Cards Against Humanity with just the expansion?
You can play Cards Against Humanity with just an expansion pack, but it is not recommended. The manufacturer recommends purchasing the original boxed game listed above prior to purchasing any of the theme or expansion packs for a complete gaming experience.
Can you return Cards Against Humanity?
The company does provide returns for purchases in America. Referred to as the most offensive game available today, you can imagine why some users are willing to pay return shipping fees to send this game back.
However, reading guides like this gives you insight prior to making a purchase of a game, so you will know what to expect!
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