Wow, who could have guessed that such a stupid-sounding game could be so amazingly fun?

Apples to apples is a very simple game. It takes about 30 seconds to learn. Basically, there is a stack of red cards, which are nouns, and a stack of green cards, which are adjectives. This is a group game, and players take turns being the judge. Each player holds a bunch of random noun cards in their hand, and the "judge" puts down an adjective card, for example, "sexy". The other players then have ten seconds to put down the card in their hand that they think best represents sexy. The judge then decides which card is the best match and the person who played it wins that round. Sounds sort of lame, right? I thought so.

But it isn't. Because the judge goes through each card that is layed down, eliminating them with explanations, "Clearly the least sexy of these cards is "creamed corn". Who the hell put down creamed corn?" And then the putter downer of creamed corn shouts, "Creamed corn is ridiculously sexy! It's all warm and smooth and creamy!" and then there is a burst of argument over whether creamed corn is sexy or no. And this repeats for every card put down. It is the groupiest group game I've ever played. Everyone is involved and even meek game playing personalities become brazen. And as you start to learn what certain people like, what their humors lean towards, you start to playing to the judge, which actually tends to complicate things.

On Thursday night, I played this game for 5 hours with 8 people. On Saturday, about 4, with 9 people. It is by far one of the best group activites in the world. No one can feel left out with Apples to apples. Or feel bored. It is group gaming perfection.