Apples to Apples

1 Overview

Apples to Apples is the party game that launched a thousand imitators. A rotating judge flips over a Green Apple card (an adjective) and players race to play the Red Apple card from their hand they think the judge will find most fitting, funny, or compelling. The judge picks a winner, that player takes the Green Apple card, and the role rotates.

It is brilliantly simple and endlessly replayable because the "right" answer changes with every judge. What wins for one person loses for another. Reading the room is the whole game.

Players: 4 to 10 | Time: 20 to 45 minutes | Ages: 12 and up

2 What You Need

• Red Apple cards (nouns: people, places, things, events)
• Green Apple cards (adjectives and comparisons)
• Card tray or box

3 Setup

1. Separate Red Apple and Green Apple cards into two shuffled decks.
2. Deal 7 Red Apple cards to each player. Players keep their hand secret.
3. Choose a starting judge. The youngest player is traditional.
4. Place remaining Red Apple cards in a draw pile accessible to all players.

4 Card Types

Red Apple Cards (Nouns)

Red Apple cards represent nouns: people, places, things, events, and concepts. Examples include "Abraham Lincoln," "A Traffic Jam," "The Beach," "Homework," and "Puppies." Some cards include a brief description at the bottom to clarify what the card represents.

Green Apple Cards (Adjectives)

Green Apple cards are adjectives or comparative phrases. Examples include "Exciting," "Cuddly," "Disgusting," "Revolutionary," and "Smelly." The judge flips one Green Apple card each round, and all other players respond with a Red Apple card from their hand.

5 How to Play

1. The Judge flips a Green Apple card and reads it aloud (including the description if present).
2. All other players quickly choose one Red Apple card from their hand they believe best matches the Green Apple card.
3. Players submit cards face-down to the judge. There is no set time limit, but the game moves faster when players decide quickly.
4. The Judge shuffles the submitted Red Apple cards and reads them aloud one by one.
5. The Judge picks the winner. The judge's decision is final. No arguing allowed.
6. The winning player takes the Green Apple card as a trophy and draws a replacement Red Apple card.
7. All other players also draw replacement Red Apple cards to return to 7.
8. The role of Judge rotates clockwise. Repeat.

6 Winning the Game

The first player to collect the required number of Green Apple cards wins. The number scales with player count:

7 Being a Great Judge

• Read the descriptions. Many Red Apple cards have a small description that makes them funnier or more fitting. Read it aloud.
• Take a moment. Do not rush. Compare cards. Build suspense. The reveal is part of the fun.
• Explain your choice. Briefly say why you picked the winner. This context gets funnier as the game goes on.
• Be unpredictable. If players can predict your preferences, they stop engaging creatively. Sometimes reward the absurd card over the obviously correct one.
• Do not let players argue. The judge's decision is final. Period.

8 Strategy for Players

• Play to the judge, not to the card. What makes one judge laugh will bore another. Know your audience.
• The absurd play beats the obvious play. When everyone else plays something sensible, the unexpected card often wins.
• Ironic or opposite plays work surprisingly often. Playing a dark, surprising card for a positive adjective is exactly the kind of play that wins with certain judges.
• Save powerful cards. Cards with broad appeal work across different judges. Do not burn them on a weak Green Apple.

9 Variants and Editions

Apples to Apples Junior

A kid-friendly version with age-appropriate Red and Green Apple cards. Designed for ages 9 and up. Works well in school or family settings where adult cards would be inappropriate.

Big Picture Apples to Apples

Instead of noun cards, players hold photo cards and play photos to match the Green Apple adjective. Adds a visual element and tends to be more accessible for younger or non-English-speaking players.

Cards Against Humanity

Cards Against Humanity is the adult version of this exact mechanic. Instead of adjectives and nouns, it uses fill-in-the-blank prompts and extremely offensive answer cards. If your group enjoyed Apples to Apples and wants something darker, Cards Against Humanity is the natural next step.

10 Wrong House Rules

• Arguing with the judge: The judge's decision is final. Many groups argue and try to explain their choices. This slows the game and is not in the spirit of the rules.
• Playing with fewer than 7 cards: Always draw back up to 7 cards after a round ends.
• Judge playing a card in their own round: The judge cannot play a Red Apple card in the round they are judging.
• Playing out of turn: Submissions should happen after the judge reads the Green Apple card.

11 History of Apples to Apples

Apples to Apples was designed by Mark Alan Osterhaus and published in 1999 by Out of the Box Publishing. The game won the Mensa Select award in 1999 and quickly developed a devoted following at family game nights and parties across the country.

Mattel acquired Out of the Box Publishing and the Apples to Apples brand in 2007. Under Mattel, the game received major distribution and became a household name, selling tens of millions of copies worldwide.

In 2009, Cards Against Humanity launched as an explicitly adult, darker spiritual successor to the same mechanic. Both games coexist in the market, serving very different audiences.

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12 Frequently Asked Questions

What are Red Apple cards?

Red Apple cards are noun cards representing people, places, things, events, and concepts. Players hold 7 and play one per round.

What are Green Apple cards?

Green Apple cards are adjective cards. The judge flips one each round and all other players submit the Red Apple card they think best matches.

How many cards do you start with?

Each player starts with 7 Red Apple cards and draws back up to 7 after each round.

How many Green Apple cards do you need to win?

8 for 4 players, 7 for 5, 6 for 6, 5 for 7, and 4 for 8 or more players.

Can the judge play a card?

No. The judge does not submit a Red Apple card in the round they are judging.

Can players argue with the judge's decision?

No. The judge's decision is final.

Is there a time limit?

No official time limit. Many groups impose a 30-second house rule for submitting cards.

What is the difference between Apples to Apples and Cards Against Humanity?

Same judge-picks-best-card mechanic. Apples to Apples uses family-friendly content. Cards Against Humanity uses deliberately offensive adult content.

How many players can play?

4 to 10 players. Best with 5 to 8.