Adult Games

An adult game is a way to start something without anyone having to ask. Cards, dice, a board or a scratch card decide what happens next, and the rules take the awkwardness out of saying it. Some are a warm up for a night in, some are for a party, and a few are a structured way for a couple to find out what they both want to try. This guide sorts the types and explains what makes one worth playing twice.

Types

Dice sets pair an action die with a body part die and take a minute to learn; they are the cheapest and the simplest, and the best ones have more than six faces or several dice. Card games deal dares, questions or positions, and range from mild to explicit; the box usually says. Board games move pieces around a track with tasks on each square and last an hour or more; they suit a whole evening. Scratch cards and coupon books are single use and make a good gift. Party games are for groups and stay mostly on the clothed side of things.

Couple or party

Games for two go further, faster, and assume a bed nearby. Party games are written to be played with friends and keep things to dares, questions and drinking; check before bringing a couples game to a dinner. Most boxes say which they are on the front.

Level

Every game has a level, from talking and touching to full sex, and the good ones let the players choose or build up. A game that starts explicit leaves nowhere to go; one with levels, or with cards sorted by heat, lasts an evening and more. For a first game with a new partner, choose one with a gentle first stage.

Language and replay

Check the language on the box; most games sold here come in English with translations, and a game with dares to read out is more fun in a language both people speak well. Replay value comes from the number of cards or faces: fifty cards is a few evenings, two hundred is a year. Games with blank cards to write your own are the ones that get kept.

What makes a good one

Clear rules that fit on one card. Dares that are specific enough to do and open enough to interpret. A way to skip a card without ending the game. Good print quality, because cards that are handled with lubricated hands need to survive it. And, above all, the assumption that both players can say no to any card; a game that is fun is one where that is built in.

Gifting and discretion

Adult games are one of the easiest gifts in the category: no size, no material, no guessing about taste beyond the level. The parcel is a plain box with no logo or sender reference, and the game box itself is usually discreet enough for a drawer.

Frequently asked questions