Apples to Apples is a fun party game. It is different from most board games in that the outcome is really left up to the discretion of the players. Each player gets a turn being the judge. The sum of the decisions made by the judges throughout the course of the game will determine the eventual winner.
On each players’ turn to be the judge, he or she plays a green card, which has a descriptive word like “overwhelming,” “exciting,” or “disgusting”. The other players must play a red card from their hand that best fits the description on the green card played by the judge. Red cards contain a word or phrase that describes a person, place, or thing, like “a gas station bathroom,” “going to church,” or “Rush Limbaugh”.
Apples to Apples is a game that is definitely more about the journey than the destination. The eventual winner is mostly irrelevant. The joy of the game is in the individual contests to claim each green card. Knowing the judge plays a huge role in winning a green card. You’ve got to know whether your judge remembers the 70’s with great fondness or considers disco to be a black mark in the history of music.
My nine-year-old son introduced Apples to Apples to our family. I was initially hesitant about playing because there are so many references (eg. Danielle Steele) that mean nothing to him. As it turned out, with seven red cards in each player’s hand, the odd obscure reference can always be pushed to the side, while the always popular “picking your nose” will find its way to the top.
Apples to Apples is a lot of fun for adults and any kids old enough to read.