How to Play Apples to Apples: A Hilarious Ice-Breaker Party Game

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Some of the Green Apple Cards

The first step is to get to know the components. The game is available in many different versions and editions. One popular edition includes over 200 "green apple" cards. Each of these cards displays an adjective, along with three synonyms. While that may sound academic, the words are all simple, and the synonyms help to further refine the meaning of the adjective.

A sample green apple card is "Bold: Daring, Brave, Courageous." Some cards include an adjective in the form of a phrase such as "Loud & Clear" or "High & Dry." While the game is not in the slightest way adult oriented, you may see an adjective such as "Flirtatious" or "Sexy." If such cards are not appropriate for your group, just remove them from the game.

Note that the game is also available in editions that are geared for children 7 and up, and also 9 and up, both of which obviously only include simple words that don't have the slightest adult connotations. The original game is intended for ages 12 and up.
Step 2

Some of the Red Apple Cards

The game also includes over 700 "red apple" cards. Each of these cards displays a noun. Some of the nouns are names of specific people such as "Albert Einstein." Others are places such as, "California," or something more generic like, "The South." Others are just assorted people, places and things such as "police officers," "Rock & Roll," and "Hangnails." Some noun cards are abstract such as, "Eternity," or "Kindness."
Step 3

The eHow Earnings Algorithm?

Each noun card includes some "flavor text." In some cases the text includes some trivial information about the noun. In others it includes a quotation. It is usually funny and witty, and serves to help explain the noun and bring it to life. This can be useful if you're not sure who, what, or where the noun is. Again, while the game is not at all adult oriented, if you see a noun that is not appropriate for your group such as "Lingerie," or "Marijuana," just remove it from the game.
Step 4

To play, have each player sit around a table. Deal seven red apple cards (the nouns) to each player. Also give each player a small face-down stack of red apple cards to keep in front of him/her to be used as a personal draw deck.

Pick a player to be "the judge." The judge turns over a green apple card (an adjective), and reads it aloud, including the three synonyms. Each player must then select a red apple card from his/her hand which s/he feels is best described by the adjective on the green apple card. Each player passes his/her selected red card to the judge, face down. The judge shuffles the cards, and then turns them over and reads them allowed, first reminding everyone of what the adjective was. Typically the flavor text on the cards is not read unless it is especially funny. It is always hysterical enough to just listen to the list of nouns that people felt were associated with the selected adjective.
Step 5

One-Star Drive-Byers?

After reading the cards, the judge must select the one that s/he feels is the best. People can lobby for their card to be chosen, but of course that will reveal who played the card, and that may influence the judge's decision. Players can also lobby for each other's cards. In some cases, players may choose to explain why they selected their card, especially if they feel that the reason is subtle or indirect.
Step 6

In some cases a player may choose to play a noun card that is a horrible match for the selected adjective, with the hopes that the judge will find it funny and choose it as the winner. It is usually best to "play to the judge." For example, if I was the judge and the adjective was "Exquisite," you would be very wise to play your "Rachael Ray" noun card.
Step 7

Whoever played the winning card is given the green adjective card to represent a point. Each player draws a new red apple card to replace the one played (except the judge who didn't play one), and the role of judge passes to the left. If a player doesn't like one of his/her red cards, our group allows him/her to swap it out for a new one before the start of the next turn.
Step 8

The group can determine ahead of time how the game will end. One variant is to play until someone has a set number of points, as specified in the rules based on the number of players. It is also fine to agree that everyone will get to be the judge exactly once or twice. There is also nothing wrong with playing until people get tired or bored, and want to do something else. The game is very informal, and is just meant for laughs.
Step 9

With all that said, the game can easily be adapted for use in the classroom, or in an after-school or homeschool group. In such cases it might be best to establish that the intention of the game is not to be funny, but to truly explore the adjectives and nouns in play, and look for connections. That can also lead to research projects, essays, or group discussions.
Step 10

As mentioned, there are editions of the game for children 7 and up, and also 9 and up. There are also many expansion sets for the main edition that you can mix in as you see fit. There is also a Jewish Culture edition of the game, as well as a Christian Bible edition, and a British Isles edition. These editions can be played independently, or mixed and matched with cards from the original set.

Note that blank sheets of red and green cards are available for customizing and printing at home. A software template is included. With this you can add custom cards to the game such as your favorite adjectives or the names of people in your gaming group. That leads to even more laughs. Apples to Apples should be easy to find at your online or local source of games, possibly including your local bookstores. Have fun! ☺

Comments

kattwoman2 said

on 4/8/2009 I love this game! A friend of mine got "Sensual" and I had "My Body". So, I did a flirtatious thing with it ending up as "My Body" and everyone burst out laughing because my friend was gay. I love this game.