Credit: Olivia Bachar
From board games to card games, games are a classic activity for all ages.
Many games are targeted towards specific age groups. Take Apples to Apples, a fun, PG rated word game for children or Scrabble, a spelling game that is a favorite among grandparents..
There is now a new genre of games that appeal to a college age audience: young adult party games. These PG-13 games take classics like the aforementioned Apples to Apples and put an adult spin on them. The adult version of Apples to Apples, called Cards Against Humanity, has become a cult classic and can be found in every college dorm building. Despite its popularity, I would not call it the best party game for college students. This title instead should be given to For The Girls, the ultimate college game.
For The Girls is marketed towards women, being “Perfect for: Bachelorette Parties, Girls’ Night In, Girls’ Night Out, Birthday Parties, Sororities, PreGames, Reunions and More.” Although the target demographic is women, non-women should not be discouraged from playing, the game is fun for all. Well, almost all, I would not recommend this game to those under high school age. Some of the game’s content is sexual in nature, making it not appropriate for children.
The game is quite unique in its actual play. In order to win the game, you must get 25 cards. Players win cards by doing dares, receiving cards from other players or keeping cards from the deck. Players lose cards by messing up when playing the mini “name” game, like naming vegan foods until someone cannot answer (example: tofu). There is a color coded die which corresponds to the cards and what kind of action you do. For instance, pink cards mean you do a dare, green means you give the card to another player based on a prompt, and purple means you keep the card if the prompt applies to you. The prompts are silly, raunchy and bound to make your entire group laugh. Party games like For The Girls fulfill a need for games that college students can relate to.
The gameplay is not only engaging enough for party scenes, but also interactive enough that groups can bond and become closer with each other. Games like Apples to Apples or even Cards Against Humanity aren’t able to create these kinds of friendships.