Apples to Apples Party Box Edition Reviews

• A superior party game that always amuses

  
  By A1GALZCXD8FHOR on 2004-11-23
  Trying to find a game that a large number of people can play, one that can be a great equalizer of abilities, yet is always fun? Go no further than Apples to Apples.
  
  We purchased this game a year ago and it has been so well-received by the people we play it with that now many of those same people own it themselves. What higher praise can you give to a game that you play it and then want to own it yourself?
  
  The play of Apples to Apples could not be easier. It contains nothing more than two sets of cards. Each green card has an adjective or description on it (like "Awful," "Scary," or "Scintillating")while red cards have nouns (like "Waterfalls," "The CIA," "George Washington," or "Mad Cow Disease.") Each person gets a set of red cards and each will be a judge in turn for the winning answer. The judge turns over a green card and players must play a red card from their hand that they believe will line up with the word on the green card or will appeal to that round's judge. Table talk is encouraged and makes the game more fun. The judge then decides which red card best fits the green card and the one who played the winning red card wins the round. It's that simple.
  
  The fact that everyone gets to not only play, but also judge, makes the game unpredictable. Some judges will look for the most logical match, while others may go for the absurd pairing. You can also add some other tricks, too, that enliven the game. If you have six or more people playing, you can play so that the last person to play a red card has to take his back and sit out the round--makes for quick thinking and crazy answers.
  
  We've never had a single person ever dislike this game and it is the one we reach for over Cranium, Taboo, Balderdash, and all the other party games like them. For its cleverness and simple play, Apples to Apples has won numerous awards, including Games Magazine's Top 100 Games award and a special citation from Mensa.
  
  This edition is loaded with cards and has virtually unlimited gameplay. It's the best deal for the money. It is hard to tell if this version is the one that includes the wooden box (once called "The Crate Edition"), but that nice, woodburned box is truly wonderful to have and makes the game seem even more special.
  
  Purchasing this game is a true no-brainer. It's fun for a wide variety of ages and number of players, takes no time to learn, and always plays differently from one match to the next. And it's a hoot! If there is any con, it's that the cards can get a little manhandled over time since they are not fully laminated, but that's not enough to diminish the joy this game brings.
  
  A can't miss game and worth every penny.
  
  

• Incomparable Fun

  
  By A2I6MHMAZZDCRX on 2005-01-09
  I was introduced to this game a year ago and fell in love with it. It's great for kids and adults and sure to provide plenty of fun.
  
  Each player has seven red cards in their hand. They have actions or nouns on them. Things like "Charging Rhinos," "James Bond," "Paying Taxes," "Mirror," or "Walt Disney."
  
  Each round has a judge. The judge turns over the top green card, which contains an adjective like creative, handsome, feminine, horrid, scary, etc. Each player then picks the card from their hand they feel best matches the green card and plays it face down. Now the fun starts. The judge picks the red card he or she feels best matches the green card. Obviously, there are some loosers since it's hard with seven cards to always match everything. But there are usually some good options as well. Once the winner of that round has been chosen, they take the green card and then become the judge of the next round.
  
  Obviously, the more you know about the people you're playing with, the better off you'll be. And the funnier it can get. And you'll get to know other people quickly this way.
  
  So what makes the Party Box Edition different from the regular version? This box contains not only the original cards, but also the cards that are in the first two expansion packs. You get twice the number of cards as the original box for only a little higher price. More fun. More outrageous comparisons. What's not to like?
  
  This really is a game that kids and adults can play together and keep everyone entertained and competitive. And it's rather addicting. I can't wait to play it again.
  
  

• Apples to Apples works in many, many ways

  
  By A1GEMT7FSFKPDD on 2006-11-11
  We've only had the game a week, but we're loving it. We bought it as this year's game to try out at the holidays. Husband and I wanted to see if it was as good as advertised, so we began playing with just the two of us. Hey, it's fun as a two player game, especially if you and your S.O. can come to concensus by convincing the other that your card is the best. Great debate game in that regard. When we absolutely cannot agree, we toss the hand. Have played it with the kids (22 and 21) and 5 year old granddaughter. Granddaugher is on my team. Everyone gives me extra time to explain what the cards say and their meaning, and then she and I whisper and strategize on which one to play. She loves it and has been asking for it on game night. (She's getting the Jr. version for Christmas and we know she's going to love it.). Another very nice thing is it's easy to set up (actually, no setup required) and quick to play a hand. Youngest son (21) lives with us and if he's got a quick ten minutes or so, he'll bring it out and say "let's play a hand". He and his girlfriend stayed an hour past their scheduled departure time because someone always said "just one more hand". Our extended family is into Balderdash (acutally, Beyond Balderdash these days), but when I roll this out at the holidays, I expect it to be a new champion (Balderdash has been the leader for years). Highly, highly recommended, especially if you love thinking games.
  
  

• 3 1/2 Luck of the Draw

  
  By A1SYLII0808HD6 on 2006-12-30
  I have to agree with the reviewer who used the recently popular expression, "Meh." The mechanics of "Apples to Apples" are well described by others here; briefly, the "judge" reads off an abstract concept, and players choose the card from their deck that best matches that concept.
  
  For example, the judge might choose (this is done randomly) the card "scintillating," and each player selects from their (also randomly drawn) deck the word that he or she believes the judge will most likely say is the best "match." That's it... there really isn't that much opportunity for discussion, and if you defend a particular choice (they're all read aloud after each player makes a selection), the judge will probably know which one is yours. Then it becomes a game of favorites.
  
  Another problem is that the ratio of luck over skill is too high: You may be a creative and imaginative person, tuned into connotations and allusions, but you're always limited to the cards you draw. That's an important flaw with the game that our group experienced. Theoretically, the element of chance evens out with time, but in the short run it became frustrating for players who drew "bad" potential matches.
  
  Positives include the fact that's it probably easier to play than "Balderdash." Moreover, there are also a number of blank cards, so that you can customize the game according to words and concepts that appeal to you and/or the other participants. The manufacturers suggest some variations to the game, but these don't substantially change it. To maintain interest, I suggest throwing out all of these suggested variations and implementing your own creative ideas. (Any word-based twist will generate a variation.) Finally, "Apples to Apples" is outrageously priced for what you get.
  
  

• Great game for all sorts of people

  
  By A2XWBGXW13TUTO on 2004-11-26
  I decided to purchase this game based on the recommendation of a friend. I played it for the first time on Thanksgiving with a group of friends that my husband and I had over for dinner. What a great game! We had a fairly diverse group and were cracking each other up with our offered answers the whole way through. I think we also learned a little bit more about each other through playing Apples to Apples. Since you are trying to "woo" the judget to pick your card, you start to figure out how each person thinks, what their sense of humor is like, etc. We chose to play some of the game variations suggested by the maker and enjoyed it even more than the standard game rules. I prefer this game to Cranium and other similar games. I am already planning to give this game as a gift to a couple of people this year.
  
  I agree with Daniel L Edelen that one of the only things I am not 100% thrilled with is the cards. If they were laminated more like poker/playing cards they would hold up longer. A couple of our cards already have some dinged up edges.
  
  
• This is the best game ever!
  By on 2006-08-12
  I was at camp when one kid brought the Apples to Apples Jr. Edition to play. When I first herd the rules for Apples to Apples it seemed a little confusing. But after just 1 round we all understood the game and were laughing so hard. I don't think there was 1 round when I wasn't laughing. This game is good for all ages. I played with about 10 kids ages 5-15. I can't wait to buy this game. I am not sure which version to get. I played both the regular and Jr. version and love them both. But I do recommend that if you are playing with younger kids to get the Jr. version. It is a lot easier for them to understand and the cards have things that they know, for example a ham sandwhich, bike, red apple, a bad haircut, a school, etc. If you have never played this game you are missing out!
  
  
• Family choice
  By A1YO4BDN1TWLQV on 2006-10-10
  This is the best family game I've played in ages.
  Easy to learn.
  Doesn't depend on age or education.
  Great for big groups as a hand can be played by an individual or by a team. And a completely new hand can be added to the game without any problem at any time during the game.
  
  When we play, we don't follow the rules of winning. Instead we play until the last dog dies. If someone needs to drop out for any reason, another person can take his place or the hand can stay open while a player is absent.
  
  I've given several for gifts and will give more this Christmas!
  
  
  
  
  
• Doesn't live up to the hype
  By A232TXGNWPEM7S on 2006-11-20
  I bought this game and brought it to our family gathering. Usually we play games like Beyond Balderdash, Guesstures and Imaginif. This game stalled out the whole evening. Everyone kept wondering when it would get fun and thinking we must have done it wrong. But no... it just wasn't that fun. I realize I'm in the minority and it's probably perfect for families with young children for a bunch of Gen Xers with high expections, it was a rotten apple. For so much hype, it wasn't all that great.
  
  
• Best family game in my collection!
  By AB3I74FIW58XI on 2006-12-06
  My family has hundreds of games in its gaming closet, and Apples to Apples is the finest multi-player game that we have. We have used it in family, social, and even with non-native English speakers with wonderful results.
  
  The game takes no time to set-up, and a full game rarely lasts more than 30 minutes.
  
  It is a great teaching tool to show the relationship between formal definitions and commonly understood meanings.
  
  The game can be played as a serious game or as a purely humorous one.
  
  An excellent addition to any family game collection!
  
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• Awesome game for all ages
  By A3T9OBY0BW6HFZ on 2005-10-13
  We got this game as a "family gift" last year for Christmas. We took it to my parents' home and played for hours with up to 8 people at a time, ages 7-66!!! The kids and adults had a great time alike. The younger ones had difficulty with some of the older pop-culture clues, but the older family members had difficulty with the new pop-culture clues, so it all evened out in the end. My 13 year old nephew loved the game so much he asked for it for his b-day. I happily obliged (ever try buying for a 13yr boy?!?!) Overall, great game, lots of laughs & family fun.
  
  
• Best Party Game!
  By A19OABGFVA0YD on 2004-12-06
  This game is the best party game we have ever played. It is rare to find a game the keeps everyone's attention until the end and this game does just that. It is so fun. We have played it with six people and then again with eleven from ages 20-65 and both times everyone had such a blast and never lost interest. This is the greatest party game ever!!!
  
  
• A little too simple
  By A2U01IN6YFRDSV on 2004-12-11
  I am not crazy about this game. The premise is a little too simple and the "judging" too subjective. As a more intellectual party game fan, my taste runs more to games like Rigamarole and Cranium because they provide so many different subjects and challenges. No one ever gets bored and the laughter and conversation are generated on many different levels.
  
  
• Simply the best
  By AX2L5FRN1R2RW on 2005-03-30
  In my collection of well over a hundred games, Apples to Apples has proved to be the best buy for my money. It is my most played and most requested party game. If you could only have one party game on your shelf, this one should be it.
  
  I have never seen anyone walk away from this game having not enjoyed it. In fact, those that choose to sit out at first (and face it, there are always one or two in a large group) end up inching closer and closer until they finally ask to join in. I brought this game to a wedding last summer and the guests ended up playing it all night after the reception was over. Lately, I have chosen not to bring out Apples to Apples until after we have played several other games because once a group gets started with this game, they don't want to stop playing!
  
  This game is best played in a group of 5-10. We have actually tried it with as many as 19, but it becomes a little unweildy at that point. We have played with all ages, from 7yrs up through "Older Than Dirt," and it has hasn't disappointed.
  
  In my years of serious gaming, Apples to Apples has retained its replayability for me. I was hooked from the beginning, but unlike so many other games, this is one that I can still pick up and play without going into auto-pilot mode. I cannot recommend this stimulating and engaging game highly enough.
  
  
• A great buy
  By A3ATKIU6MZZ4MU on 2006-07-11
  This is one of my favorite family games. It can easily be played by a large number of people, which is always a good thing. Essentially, in this game each player is given seven "red apple" cards, each of which has a noun on it, such as "a school cafeteria," "the FBI," or "sharks." Each card also has a little bonus description or joke, such as "many species living today are similar to those from 100 million years ago. Because change is scary." Each round, a different player is "it," and flips over a "green apple" card, which ahs an adjective on it, such as "hardworking," "foreign," or "shy." The other players each choose on of their noun cards they feel the "it" player will choose as being the best match for the flipped-over adjective. The player whose "red apple" card is chosen keeps the "green apple" card- first player to reach a certain number of green cards wins.
  
  This game is a lot of fun- it has next to no set up and can easily be transported without the box if the occasion arises. Works well with large or small groups, and with people you know well or are getting to know. It is a really good buy.
  
  
• Great Fun at Parties or With the Family!
  By A217NNDT6VE0FO on 2007-11-30
  This is a fun game to play for almost any age. It's great at parties, with a group of friends, or just as an ice breaker. Probably the best thing about it is how much knowing a person can help. It is extra fun and fulfilling to get your card chosen because you know the dealer and can guess what would be most appropriate for them. Apples to Apples is very similar to another game called The Perfect Present. That game plays very similarly, but instead of choosing appropriate words, players choose "gifts" that the dealer might want instead. This also turns out to be extremely fun because you can offer cool gifts such as super powers or world peace, instead of just guessing what word the dealer finds most appropriate. I would highly recommend either one of these games for children or adults that are looking for a fun game to play with friends or people they just met.
  
  
• Why this game rules...
  By AGOCUK7HRQ7P7 on 2006-09-04
  This game rules because it is fun for the entire family, and it is tons of fun. The last time I played this with kids they did not want to stop. It is also a great way to kill time on 8-hour road trips! Recommended for family bonding, get togethers, original/imaginative home entertainment, and loads of laughs. You don't have this yet?
  
  
• Wow.
  By on 2006-12-07
  This game just seems so boring! Once you play it, it starts to get addiciting! The more you play, the funnier it gets. If the card is "Scary" I've known people(me)to put down "Regis Philbin" This game is awesome!
  
  
• Easy, Fun, and Fast
  By A3OPLTPX08O77P on 2006-12-11
  Great game to play with large groups- plays very quickly- you don't need an entire afternoon for this one. Another great thing about this game is that you don't really have to worry about losing any pieces, or having batteries to make things work. The amount of fun you have playing this, is going to be determined by how fun the people you are playing with are.
  
  
• Meh.
  By A3NNRFNIANUA8U on 2006-12-13
  My mom bought us this game for Christmas last year. We thought it looked cool--it was an interesting new concept. We played it for a couple hours, and it wasn't fun. My mom was dominating the game, nobody could come close to her, and it seemed like the game would never end. I did not think that the game went quickly, even with 7 people. We played for almost four hours and weren't through the cards. We haven't played it since. Then we dragged it out on Thanksgiving with friends, and it was better; the game was much more evenly split. It is very limiting, and you often get cards in your hand that you can't use and have to throw off--since playing a winning card is how you score points, it doesn't help you win. Plus, we all agreed to just stop playing, where my family just wouldn't quit. My friends said they had played it once as a speed version, where the last person to put down a card doesn't get to play their card, I think we'll try that next time. That would speed it up and make it a little more fun.
  
  
• Good party game, but there are better ones
  By AA7WTO9XTKFNF on 2004-11-25
  Apples to Apples has a simplistic premise that's easy to learn and is definately all around good fun. But for more depth and interesting conversation/laughs/behavior, my taste runs more to games like Cranium and Rigamarole. As a party game lover, I think a good party game encourages creativity on many different levels. So Apples to Apples is fine for a night, but you're not going to want to pull it out over and over again.
  
  
• The kids LOVE it
  By A24CCV23H8S59V on 2007-05-10
  This game kept all 9 cousins occupied for HOURS. Their age range is 6 to 26 and they were ALL into it...ALL day. Don't ask me to explain it, but any game where a 6 yr old, through immense 6-yr old concentration, can oust her 22 yr old ("Hey, I'm older and I know I"ll win) cousin...now THAT'S a good game.
  
  
• Great multigenerational game
  By A3J2QKARG138L2 on 2004-12-02
  The best thing about this game is that it is enjoyable for a wide range of ages, though not everyone may know all the pop culture icons listed on some of the cards. The rules are simple and easy to understand. the length of the game can be adjusted to however long you have to play the game. One of my all time favorite games!
  
  
• Apples to Apples is the best party game!
  By A2LV1DYSOIOYQE on 2005-06-15
  We bring it every time we go to or host a party. It takes just 30 seconds to learn and every one loves to play it. Also at our parties, people can drift into and out of the game without affecting the outcome too much. It's just a lot of fun to play!
  
  
• An enjoyable game
  By AW84MCIJAX48F on 2004-10-13
  This is an enjoyable card game that also increases vocabulary for the 10-14 year age group. A random category is chosen and players must play cards that are related to that category. It gets real funny when your cards don't quite fit! Great family game.
  
  
• Best Game Ever!
  By AWPK4OGV7VYMK on 2006-11-23
  One day my friends and I decided to buy this game because it was recommended by another friend. We brought it home and played it and from then on it became our obsession. We brought it to school and every party we went to and it became a hit with everyone. People would beg me to bring it and get mad when I forgot it. We are 16, this is not just a game for little kids or families, it's great for everyone and will be a big hit whenever you play it!
  
  
• lacks creativity
  By A12WRR6688PRCY on 2006-11-27
  If you are looking for the kind of game that allows players to come up with their own creative answers to questions, this misses the boat. It's format is like "Balderdash" or "wise-or-otherwise" where you aim to influence other players to vote for your answer, but this game you only select one of the cards in your hand as the answer to the question, versus the much more creative answers that arise when players are responsible for writing their answer from scratch. I highly recommend the other two games I mentioned that are in the same vein.
  
  
• Fantastic party game for small and large groups!
  By A1H4FOB6SWAXPY on 2006-12-17
  We played this a couple of months ago with a group of 4 coworkers/friends, and discovered how much fun you have with this game in trying to figure out each person's personality and level of humor. Since then, we have bought this game 5 times to give away as gifts. We played it again last night with a big group of 10 people, during which we realized this game isn't about how well you match up descriptions or stack up against the card, but what you find entertaining for yourself and your friends with the cards you are dealt with. Each of us 10 were laughing insanely at ourselves at one point or another. Definitely recommended as a gift or to take along to a dinner gathering!
  
  
• A great game for monkeys
  By A34TAXH67KWREH on 2007-02-09
  This game is very boring with absolutely no strategy and no skill involved. I hate it when some one drags this game out at a party, stating they just came across a great game they havent played yet. another ornament for the closet is suppose. Heres an idea get a deck of cards and play hearts. Easy to learn impossible to master.
  
  
• A top-notch party game -- no artistic skills required.
  By A33TBHM3O9AY17 on 2004-12-16
  This game is on the one hand quite simple, and on the other quite profound in its concept. Your "equipment" consists of two decks of cards, one green (smaller deck) and one red (larger deck). Gameplay is very easy, but also a ton of fun.
  
  At the start of the game, each player is dealt a hand from the red deck, with each card containing a random word or phrase, usually a noun but not always. During each round, one player (the "judge") takes a card from the green deck, which contains various (and again random) descriptive words and phrases. The other players then choose one of their red cards to best match the judge's green one, but that decision is totally subjective, according to the opinion (whim?) of the judge for that round. Whosever card the judge picks wins that round. The first player to win a certain number of rounds (players can decide in advance) will win the game.
  
  The simplicity of the concept is also its beauty. The randomness of the words and phrases on the cards regularly leads to some rather unusual, even riotously funny, associations. And of course, the players often feel the need to embellish or to explain their occasionally absurd choices -- somehow there's a twisted logic behind every one. Doesn't matter though, because the judge is free to disregard every shred of logic and choose whatever goofy association he or she wants.
  
  The long and short of it is, this game is good clean fun, and suitable for all ages from about teenage and older. Although there is a finite number of cards in the box, there is pretty good replay potential since everything stays random and it's statistically unlikely in the extreme that any two rounds will be the same. But expansion packs are available anyway. At $30 for the regular box set, the price is a tad steep for just a couple decks of cards (the "wood crate" set is about $35), but it's a worthy investment anyway. Try it, and I'm sure you'll like it.
  
  
  
  
• Not really for kids!
  By A1W5EJBGBGOLVF on 2005-01-15
  This is a great game for all situations (as long as all situations include people with a sense of humor). Because there is a lot of talking, and a lot of opinion-expressing going on during the entire game, it really brings out people's personalities, as well as their abilities to deal with others.
  
  My family (well, families) have all loved playing this game...we even played a huge game with the extended family on Christmas Eve, which made the night fly by.
  
  It has even (sshhhh) been used as a drinking game with friends, but that is just sort of how things work out.
  
  Very fun game that can include all ages and ability levels. The only people who might have a hard time are people who have trouble seeing or hearing the cards.
  
  

• The Game of SCATTERGORIES
• Apples to Apples - Apple Crate Edition (Expansion Crate One)
• Apples to Apples Party Box Expansion 1
• Eat It!
• Apples to Apples Junior 9+ 2nd Edition

• Apples to Apples Party Box Expansion 1
• Apples to Apples Kids
• Balderdash Game
• Taboo
• Apples to Apples Junior 9+ 2nd Edition