GamingReport.com
Justin Cauffman
February, 2003
USA

Apples to Apples is fun, easy to play, and hilarious. This game is a great party game. The outside of the box says it takes "5 minutes to Learn", and they’re not joking. It takes even less time to set up. I selected some non-gamers to test this game out on, my parents and relatives. They have a difficult time playing anything other than "Gin-Rummy". So I put my family (ages 32-65) around the table and placed the "Apple Crate" box in the middle of it and watched the game unfold."This is a nice Box", says my Mother (Wooden box with a sliding lid). Next came a very nice two sided instruction card in color. "’This doesn’t look too hard", says my Brother-in Law.

Inside the box are two trays containing six packs of cards, four red and two green. We pull out one of the trays and put the box aside. The instructions are simple. We choose a judge and deal red cards to each player. Picking a judge to start the game is left up to us. That being decided, the judge picks up a green card and reads the descriptive word out loud. The rest of us put down a red card from our hand we think will best match the word. The judge picks one red card he/she thinks is the best match. The person whose card was chosen keeps the green card, the next person over becomes the judge and the whole process begins again. This continues until someone receives enough green cards to win the game.

An example of one round:

Green Card: Sharp (pointed, keen, acute)

Red Cards put down: Spam, Flipper, Motorcycles, Stunt people, Garrison Keillor. (Each Red card has a description in-case you don’t know who or what it is.)

The judge this round was my Dad and he chose Motorcycles because he’s seen some‘Sharp’ looking motorcycles in his day. This game is funny because the green cards can be interpreted in so many different ways. You end up getting some really wacky combinations on the table. You are also allowed to lobby the judge to pick a certain card. If you know the judge well you will want to pick red cards that you think will appeal to him/her.

Our first game was about 25 minutes with set up and reading the instructions. Our second was around 30 because there was a lot more lobbying going on. It was a good way to kill an hour while waiting for dinner to be ready. Clean up is a snap, put the cards in the box and put the lid back on. Plus - no shuffling required! There are also three variations on the game to keep it fresh.Out of the Box also has a web site that supports the game. This was the exclusive "Apple Crate" version. You could also buy the basic box set. There are expansion sets available, and even junior sets for nine and seven year olds.

In the end, I have to say the game came through on its promises. It is one of the best party games I’ve played. And the fact that my parents enjoyed and understood it is a big endorsement. I’d say this is a great game to keep handy in the closet for any party or gathering.

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