Apples to Apples Board Game
I’ve never been particularly rabid about board games, mostly because I’m one of those mouthbreathing idiots that has to ask for the rules to be explained about 39581 times and then I still don’t get it, but after a somewhat dreary Thanksgiving evening spent watching Rescue Dawn (which we all hated, and yet couldn’t bring ourselves to turn it off), I decided it would be fun to pick up a new game no one had played instead of renting another potentially crappy video.
I initially considered Cranium, but it seemed a little . . . robust for our group (sculpting? Singing? Oh my). Then I remembered a couple comments on this entry I posted at Work It, Mom which recommended Apples to Apples, so that’s what we settled on.
If you haven’t played, the concept is super simple: one player (the judge) reads out a card with an adjective on it. The other players have a handful of cards to choose from, each of which lists a person, place, thing, or event. Each player chooses one card for the judge, who picks the one they feel is best suited for the adjective. If your card is picked, you win that round, and the next player to the left becomes the judge.
The fun part is choosing a card based on what you think the judge’s preferences are, so if for instance the adjective card is “terrifying” and the judge is your husband, you can play your “shopping mall” card feeling fairly secure in the knowledge that you’ve got this one in the bag. Of course, then it can backfire when your husband states that he doesn’t like to admit that shopping malls are a legitimate fear of his and he picks “IRS” instead. Damn it all to hell, I should have WON that round, but NO.
Anyway: totally fun game, great way to spend time with family, much much better than vegging in front of the TV. Buy this for your next family meetup during the holidays, or give it as a festive gift-that-keeps-giving.
Link: Apples to Apples game on Amazon
Ballpark price: $22
Posted: November 25th, 2007 under Personally recommended by Linda, Games.
Comments: 9
Comments
Comment from Amy
Time: November 25, 2007, 9:52 pm
We played that at a recent girls’ weekend getaway and it was fun and easy and allowed for lots of laughs and bonding. I agree with your assessment and recommendation.
Comment from Eric’s Mommy
Time: November 26, 2007, 5:38 am
I played that game over the summer! All of Chuck’s family were up from various parts of the country and we all played it. I am the same way, I have to have the directions explained to me 1,000 times and still don’t get it. This game was real easy to understand though.
Comment from hello insomnia
Time: November 26, 2007, 6:34 am
I played Apples to Apples with my nieces last Christmas and it was so much fun. It definitely works for an adult group, too.
Comment from Anne
Time: November 26, 2007, 11:06 am
It is an awesome game–there is such potential for the amazingly offensive in there, too. For example, lots of national disasters and tragic figures in there to play around with. What? I bet Anne Frank WAS smelly at some point! You don’t know! And there are write-in cards, so you can, you know, take it up another notch. Too fun.
Comment from Anonymous
Time: November 26, 2007, 11:38 am
i hold a game night for the young adults in my church (18-26) and we are allll about some apples to apples. we go through game withdraw if we don’t play it at least once every 2 weeks. we also go for phase 10, catch phrase, taboo, skip bo, fact or crap, etc.
i never was one for board games, but now that is what each friday night consists of!
Comment from Sarah
Time: November 26, 2007, 5:05 pm
Oh I LOVE this game! We bought it a few years ago and now we can’t go to any family gathering or party without people requesting we bring it along.
Comment from Mychal
Time: November 27, 2007, 5:53 pm
I only have two words (a winning combination):
Extreme Helen Keller
Comment from Mychal
Time: November 27, 2007, 5:54 pm
You know, I just looked at my previous comment and realized, duh, that’s three words. Crap. I ruined a good comment.
Comment from angela
Time: November 27, 2007, 10:56 pm
I agree Cranium is too messy and requires exhausting amounts of weird creativity, but they make a great game called Whoonu. It’s sort of like Apples to Apples, but everyone I know who has played both likes Whoonu better. It’s easy and super-fun. It’s got 5 stars at the Toys R Us website. We keep buying it and giving it away to family and friends that we play with–everone loves it!
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