One of the most beloved classic board games of all time, Apples to Apples has earned its winning place in many a collection for good reason. But what if you’re looking for a twist on it? Or just want some different themes? Well, in these games like Apples to Apples, you’ll find both – with some kid-friendly and some designed as an adult game for mature audiences. Get silly, get naughty, or just plain go bonkers with these amazingly fun alternatives any time you can gather even a small crowd.
What Makes a Great Party Game?
A great party game is one that brings people together, encourages social interaction, and creates a fun and lively atmosphere. Here are some key elements that make a party game stand out:
Uses Creative Interpretation
A standout party game should spark creativity and allow players to interpret the game in their own unique way. Whether it’s through open-ended questions, abstract challenges, or imaginative scenarios, the best games encourage players to think outside the box. This creative freedom not only makes the game more engaging but also ensures that no two game sessions are ever the same. By fostering an environment where players can let their imaginations run wild, these games become a hit at any gathering.
Contains Voting/Judgement Component
Incorporating a voting or judgement component adds a dynamic social element to any party game. This feature allows players to interact, share their opinions, and engage in friendly debates. Whether it’s voting on the funniest answer, judging the best performance, or simply discussing the game’s challenges, this component ensures that everyone stays involved. It also adds an element of suspense and excitement, as players eagerly await the final verdict. By including a voting or judgement aspect, party games become more interactive and enjoyable for all.
Induces Laughable Moments
Laughter is the heart of any great party game. Games that induce laughable moments through silly challenges, humorous questions, or outright ridiculous scenarios create a lighthearted and enjoyable atmosphere. These moments of shared laughter help break the ice, bring people closer together, and ensure that everyone has a good time. By focusing on fun and humor, these games become memorable experiences that players will want to revisit time and time again.
The 10 Best Games Like Apples to Apples
Snake Oil
Age: 10+ Players: 3-10 Time: 20-30 minutes
For a silly card game full of historical context and none of the accuracy, grab a copy of Snake Oil, the card comparison game in which players try their hand at conning each other with mystical potions of all sorts.
You see, back in the Wild, Wild West, Snake Oil salespersons used to use their unique con-artist gifts to fool the masses. They’d whip up these bonkers magic potions to help people with every ailment they could think of – from acne to infertility to baldness or obesity. And these dubious products were about as good at curing ailments as you’d expect, made from wacky ingredients and labeled with bizarre names. And in this game, every player takes on the role of one of these tricky salespersons.
Snake Oil starts out with every player holding six purple word cards. Then one player each round draws a “customer” card and announces it. The rest of the players then combine their word cards (two at a time) to create their best new Snake Oil to sell to the ailing customer. When ready, players hand their zany products to the customer and give their best pitch on why this product is their winner. Then the customer decides: which pitch to buy? Whoever wins the round keeps the customer card, the invention cards are tossed, and the new round begins, with players again having 6 purple word cards in hand. Whoever collects the most customer cards in the end wins the game.
Cards Against Humanity
Age: 17+ (Community 16+) Players: 4-30 Time: 30 minutes
For a grownups-only good time with games like Apples to Apples, snag a copy of Cards Against Humanity, an adult game with grownups-only content. The publishers deem the game “a party game for horrible people.” That is, the ridiculous (and often naughty!) content of the game tips into the darker side of things, with humor laced with adult topics and taboo or even classically offensive themes.
To play, one person is chosen as the judge or Card Czar for the round. They choose a black question or fill-in-the-blank card from the top of the deck. They show the card to their fellow players and wait as the players use their white cards (10 for each round) to respond to the black cards. After players choose their cards, they pass them to the Card Czar, face-down. The cards are shuffled and the Card Czar then turns them over and begins judging them. Which will the Czar find the most (or least) fitting? Whoever’s card is chosen wins the black card for the round.
It all sounds harmless enough – and very much like Apples to Apples. But players are meant to poke fun at everything sacred and dig into every taboo to get the wildest, weirdest answers! Ultimately, whoever wins the most black cards wins the game.
But if you really want a family-friendly alternative, try Kids Against Maturity. That game skips the grown-up content and goes straight to the potty humor.
Say Anything
Age: 13+ (Community 10+) Players: 3-8 Time: 30 minutes
For a fast-paced, light-hearted game like Apples to Apples consider Say Anything. The silly game gives players the chance to argue over the most hotly debated topics of time, like “What’s the most overrated band of all time?” or “What’s the most important invention of the last century?” Get your brain working and go deep – this is your chance to Say Anything you want without social consequences.
To play: One player draws a question card and reads it aloud to the rest of the players. The other players then write down their answers and place them face-up on the table as fast as they can. No duplicate answers are allowed, so if two people say the same thing, the answers are eliminated from the pile. The one who asked the question then must secretly choose their favorite answer from the responses. The rest of the players now start betting on which answer they think the judge will choose. Each player has two tokens to bet each turn, so they can either bet both on the same answer or split the tokens between two. Ultimately, whoever scores the most wins takes the victory.
Wise or Otherwise
Age: 12+ Players: 2-6 Time: 45
Some have described Wise or Otherwise as “Confucius plays Balderdash.” That is, this game, influenced by the Dictionary Game, like Apples to Apples gets a bit deeper than most – while still providing players with loads of unique fun.
At the start of each round, one player is designated as the Reader. That player then reads the first part of an old proverb or adage aloud and tells people where the quote originated. The rest of the players spend the round writing out what they think the remainder of the quote says. The Reader collects the answers from the other players, shuffles them, and then reads all of them aloud. Players have to then vote on which answer they think is correct. For every vote, a player earns 2 points. For every correct answer, the player wins 2 points. If no one votes for the correct ending of the quote, the Reader earns 3 points. If there’s no winner at the end of a round, then the next player becomes the Reader and repeats the process. The game ends when one player collects 20 points.
The game contains over 2500 sayings from around the world, offering players not just the chance to have loads of fun but to also learn some useful proverbs and sayings from other cultures.
A few examples of proverbs used in the game include:
“Cheese and money should always…” (English)
“Those who eat porridge…” (Croatian)
“A small thing is not noticed…” (Zambian)
“It is no use trying to tug a…” (Tibetan)
Grab a copy today for all the Wise or Otherwise proverbs out there.
What Do You Meme?
Age: 17+ (Community 16+) Players: 3-20 Time: 30-90 minutes
As one of the card games designed for the social media generation, What Do You Meme? gives players the chance to create their own memes without actually getting the internet involved.
During every round of play, one player becomes the judge. The judge then draws and plays a photo card from the deck. The rest of the players then go through their hands to find the perfect caption for the photo, creating their meme. Of course, the goal is to create the best online humor possible, so get your silly cap on! The judge decides which caption creates the best meme and whoever played the winning caption gains the round. Repeat the actions for as many rounds as desired, and then whoever has the most points in the end wins the game.
Gift Trap
Age: 8+ Players: 3-8 Time: 60 minutes
Great for kids as young as 8 years old, Gift Trap is a hilariously fun game like Apples to Apples. The award-winning game is full of silly surprises and ridiculous fun as players aim to “gift” the best possible gifts to the crowd.
The game plays out over several rounds. Each round includes:
Dealing – 5 packs of “gift” cards are used to deal random gifts to players. The packs contain similar monetary value as each other.
Shopping – Players consider how each of the gifts they were dealt could “fit” the other players best.
Giving – Players then choose which gifts they want among the gifts which other players have been dealt.
Revealing – People show the gifts they want and see which gifts were “given” to all the players.
Scoring – The giver and receiver score points for each gift with Giving points or Getting points.
The first player to complete the Giving and Getting tracks wins the game.
Clusterfight
Age: 8+ (Community 10+) Players: 3-12 Time: 45 minutes
Another great card game like Apples to Apples that kids as young as 8 can enjoy is the bizarre Clusterfight. The party game pits characters against each other in bizarre battles of unique skill sets to see who can win. However, the fights are forged through unique scenarios created by the players before the battles begin. Like, what if Captain Kirk had laser eyes in a battle against Jean-Luc Picard who was wearing a very pretty dress?
During each round of this bonkers game, players place combatants into the ring, each with “battle cards” that change the dynamics of their skills and the outcomes. One character might be “fighting mad” while the other can’t stop vomiting.
Every player then gets the chance to bet on the outcomes, and judges decide who the winner of the round is. Bets are then settled and the points go around. After every player has judged 2 rounds, the game ends and whoever has the most points wins the game.
Dixit
Age: 8+ Players: 3-8 Time: 30 minutes
Another delightful card game like Apples to Apples, only more story-centered, is Dixit. In this beautifully crafted game, players appoint a Storyteller for each round. The storyteller then chooses one of six cards in their hand and expresses an idea that’s depicted in the card’s imagery. The other players then must select the card in their own hands that they think best matches the expression given by the Storyteller. The cards go face-down into a pile which the Storyteller then shuffles with their own card and then reveals them all.
The other players then have to secretly guess which card was the Storyteller’s. If nobody guesses the correct card, the Storyteller scores no points. If everybody guesses the correct card, the Storyteller also scores no points. But every card played by others that receives a vote scores that player 1 point. If one or more (but not all) players guess the correct card, the Storyteller and the guessers earn 3 points. When the deck is empty or one player earns 30 points, the game ends. Whoever scores the most points wins.
Dixit includes 84 cards and expansions also each contain 84 cards. These expansions can be mixed together with the base game for more replayability.
- Encourages creativity and storytelling.
- Easy to learn, great for all ages.
- Visually stunning with unique art.
- Limited strategy, more reliant on imagination.
- Can feel repetitive after several plays.
- Best with larger groups, less exciting with fewer players.
Name That Puppy
Age: 4+ Players: 3-6 Time: 10 minutes
For a super kid-friendly family version filled with silliness and fun (and cute animals!), grab a copy of Name That Puppy. Each player starts out with a hand of 5 puppy cards. Each card has a unique puppy photo on it. At the outset of each round, one person is chosen as the “pack leader” (or judge) and must flip the deck of name cards. Whatever name is revealed must then be paired with the puppy photos in players’ hands to create the “perfect” match. The pack leader chooses which name they think best fits the puppy name. Each round repeats the same until one player wins 3 puppy photo cards.
If you prefer cats, you’ll also find the Name That Kitty option that plays with the same rules and mechanics.
Chimera Isle
Age: 12+ (Community 10+) Players: 3-6 Time: 60 minutes
Untouched by humans, an island in the Pacific feels like an absolute utopia when people come across it. That is until they discover its name: Chimera Isle. Home to some of the strangest creatures ever seen (or never seen?), the island quickly becomes a strange and less idyllic place as those creatures must figure out how to survive…
Chimera Isle is a board game where players become nature spirits and create these strange creatures through one head, one body, and one tail card drawn randomly from card decks. The chimeras each compete to take over habitats from the second deck of cards, or they face extinction. Players vote for whichever creature they believe is most likely to survive (i.e., natural selection), and speculate on their fates together. Ultimately, whichever player votes on the most successful, surviving creatures after three “ages”, scores the most points and wins the game.
More Party Games to Enjoy
If you’re looking for more party games to enjoy, here are a few suggestions:
Wits and Wagers
Wits and Wagers is a trivia game that combines social interaction with strategic thinking. Players bet on each other’s answers, making it a game that’s as much about reading people as it is about knowing facts. With its unique gameplay mechanics and social elements, Wits and Wagers is a great party game that’s sure to bring people together.
Also Read: Wits and Wagers Board Game Review
Other games that fit the bill include:
Taboo: A fast-paced word-guessing game that’s great for large groups. Players must describe a word without using certain “taboo” words, making it a hilarious challenge.
Pictionary: A classic drawing game that’s perfect for teams and encourages creative interpretation. Players draw clues for their teammates to guess, leading to plenty of funny moments.
Cranium: A game that combines drawing, acting, trivia, and wordplay, making it a great party game for people with different skills and interests. It’s a versatile game that ensures everyone can shine in their own way.
These games all share elements of creative interpretation, voting or judgement components, and laughable moments, making them great additions to any party game collection. Whether you’re looking for a game that challenges your creativity, tests your trivia knowledge, or just makes you laugh, these options are sure to deliver a fantastic time.
Conclusion
There you have it – a list of the 10 best games like Apples to Apples. Consider the ages of those playing and choose the appropriate themes and topics and you’ll have an amazing gaming experience all around. Become Snake Oil salespersons, create chimeras, or give the best (or worst?) gifts, and win the day. Happy gaming!
FAQ
1. What are some board games similar to Apples to Apples?
Some similar games to Apples to Apples include Snake Oil, Cards Against Humanity, Say Anything, Wise or Otherwise, and What Do You Meme?. These games offer similar gameplay mechanics, where players match cards to create funny or interesting combinations.
2. Are there family-friendly alternatives to Cards Against Humanity?
Yes, if you’re looking for a family-friendly alternative to Cards Against Humanity, consider Kids Against Maturity. This game skips the adult content and focuses on humor that is more appropriate for younger audiences.
3. What is a good party game for the social media generation?
What Do You Meme? is a great party game designed for the social media generation. It involves creating humorous memes by matching photo cards with caption cards, making it perfect for those who enjoy online humor.
4. How does the game Dixit differ from Apples to Apples?
Dixit differs from Apples to Apples by focusing on storytelling and imagery. Players use beautifully illustrated cards to express ideas, and others must guess which card matches the storyteller’s expression. It’s more story-centered compared to the word-based gameplay of Apples to Apples.
5. What is the gameplay like in the game Snake Oil?
In Snake Oil, players take on the role of salespersons from the Wild West, using word cards to create and pitch bizarre products to a customer. The customer then decides which product they would buy, and the player with the most customer cards at the end wins the game.