Get ready to laugh until it hurts (and maybe question your sanity a little) with Joking Hazard, the outrageously funny adult party card game from the creators of Cyanide and Happiness. This guide will equip you with everything you need to know to play, win, and unleash your darkest, most inappropriate humor on your unsuspecting friends. Buckle up; this ain’t your grandma’s card game — unless your grandma’s a fan of twisted humor and questionable stick figure situations.
If you’ve enjoyed games like Apples to Apples, where the humor emerges from unexpected combinations of descriptions and nouns, or What Do You Meme?, which challenges players to create the most hilariously fitting caption for quirky images, you’ll find yourself right at home with the dynamic and unpredictable comic panels of Joking Hazard.
Everything You Need to Know Before You Play
Before you dive into the hilarious chaos of Joking Hazard, here’s a quick rundown of the essentials. Gather your friends (at least three players is ideal), and grab your copy of Joking Hazard – that deceptively innocent box packed with cards guaranteed to make you question your friendships (and maybe your sanity). Feeling adventurous? Expansion packs are available to amplify the inappropriate humor. The objective of this party game? To become the ultimate comedic champion by winning three cards. How do you win those coveted cards? By creating the most side-splittingly funny (or horrifyingly awkward) comic strips, as judged by the designated judge of each round. Let’s get this party started! Read on to master the rules and discover the secrets to winning.
Setup
Time to set the stage for some seriously inappropriate laughter! The setup for Joking Hazard is simple:
- Shuffle the Deck: Grab that deck of cards and give it a good shuffle. We’re talking mix-it-up-like-your-sanity-depends-on-it kind of shuffle!
- Deal Seven Cards: Deal seven cards face down to each player. Remember, these cards are your comedic arsenal, so guard them well.
- Choose the First Judge: Now, for the important role of the judge. This esteemed individual will have the power to decide the funniest (or most disturbing) comic of each round. An easy way to choose the first judge? Let the game’s owner take the honor — after all, they probably tricked everyone into playing in the first place.
Ready to unleash your inner comic genius? Let’s play!
Regular Round Rules
Get ready for a wild ride of inappropriate humor! Here’s how a regular round of Joking Hazard unfolds:
- The Judge Sets the Stage: The judge kicks off the round by flipping over the top card of the deck. This card should have a black border (don’t worry about those red-bordered cards just yet). This card becomes the first panel of your soon-to-be-legendary (or infamous) comic strip. The judge then chooses a second black-bordered card from their hand and places it next to the first card. These two cards form the setup.
- Players Craft Their Punchlines: Now it’s your turn to shine! Each player (except the judge) selects a card from their hand that they believe will create the absolute funniest punchline when added to the judge’s setup. Remember, the goal is to make the judge laugh the hardest with your three-panel comic.
- The Moment of Truth: Once everyone has chosen their cards, place them face down in front of the judge. Now, the judge gets to experience the comedic chaos you’ve unleashed! They’ll flip over each card one by one, reading the resulting comic strips aloud for everyone to enjoy.
- And the Winner Is…: The judge then chooses their favorite card – the one they deemed the funniest, most outrageous, or most brilliantly absurd. The chosen player wins the round, takes the winning card, and places it face-up in front of them. This card represents one glorious point.
Bonus Round Rules: Because Two Panels Are Never Enough
Hold onto your hats, because things just got more interesting with Joking Hazard Bonus Rounds! Whenever the judge flips a red-bordered card, it triggers a bonus round— a chaotic twist in the game where players get to flex their comedic muscles even further.
Here’s how a bonus round works:
- Red Alert! Bonus Round Activated: The appearance of a red-bordered card signals the start of a bonus round.
- The Reshuffle: Feeling unlucky? During a bonus round, players get a chance to reshuffle their hands. If you’re holding onto cards that are more likely to elicit groans than laughs, now’s your chance to swap them out for something better.
- Players Become Comic Masterminds: Instead of the judge creating the setup, each player now chooses TWO cards from their hand to create the first two panels of the comic. This is your opportunity to set a comedic trap with multiple punchline possibilities!
- Judgement Time: Players present their two-panel setups to the judge, who then chooses their favorite. The player behind the winning setup scores a whopping TWO points, doubling their comedic dominance.
Buckle up for more rounds of unpredictable humor and strategic card play!
Winning the Game
Ready to claim the coveted title of Joking Hazard champion? The first player to accumulate a glorious 3 points wins the game and earns ultimate bragging rights (until the next round of questionable humor, at least).
But what happens if two or more players are tied? We can’t have a tie in a game as gloriously absurd as this! That’s like ending a pun-off before the groans even start. In the event of a tie, we initiate a thrilling Sudden Death Overtime round. Each tied player draws a single card, lays it face down, and lets the judge determine their fate. The funniest card wins, crowning the ultimate champion of questionable humor!
House Rules and Variations
Ready to take your Joking Hazard game to the next level of inappropriate hilarity? Try these outrageous house rules and variations designed to spice up your game nights and push the boundaries of good taste (and maybe friendship).
Joking Hazard: Jerk Mode
Want to inject a little chaos and competition into your game? Jerk Mode turns those innocent-looking red-bordered cards into weapons of mass hilarity. In this deliciously wicked variation, whenever the judge draws a red-bordered card, they not only get to add it to their own score pile but also get to steal a point from another player!
Marathon Mode
For those nights when you just can’t get enough of the absurd, there’s Marathon Mode. Forget about the three-point limit! In this variation, you play Joking Hazard until every single card in the deck has been played. The player with the most points at the end of this comedic marathon is crowned the champion.
Epic Comic Strip Challenge
Gather your most creative (and slightly unhinged) friends for the Epic Comic Strip Challenge! This variation throws narrative coherence out the window. In this collaborative and utterly unpredictable game mode, you’ll work together (or against each other) to create one giant, sprawling, utterly nonsensical comic strip.
Pro Tips for Maximum Hilarity (and Winning)
Ready to become a Joking Hazard master of the absurd? These pro tips will help you craft side-splitting comics, outwit your opponents, and dominate your next game night.
Understanding the Game
- Know Your Audience (The Judge): Joking Hazard hinges on subjective humor. Pay close attention to the types of jokes the judge finds funny. Do they gravitate toward dark humor, outrageous puns, or situations so ridiculous they defy explanation?
- Embrace the Absurd: Ditch the logic and embrace the unexpected. The funniest Joking Hazard comics often come from the most bizarre card combinations.
Advanced Tactics
- The Art of Misdirection: Sometimes, the most unexpected punchlines hit the hardest. Don’t be afraid to play a card that seems “meh” on the surface—you might just catch your opponents off guard and send the judge into a fit of laughter.
- Embrace the Power of the Pause: Timing is everything in comedy. A well-timed pause before revealing your punchline can build anticipation and make the joke even funnier.
- Know When to Fold ‘Em: Not every hand is a winner. If you’re stuck with cards that are more likely to elicit groans than guffaws, it’s okay to strategically “throw” a round to save your best material for later.
Example of Comic Gold:
Imagine the setup shows someone building a time machine. A hilarious third panel might be:
“…and that’s how I met your mother.”
OR
“…but then I realized I was out of toilet paper.”
Now go forth and create some comedic mayhem! And remember, the most important rule of Joking Hazard is to have fun (within reason, of course).
