Cards Against Humanity

Cards Against Humanity produces adult party card games with annually rewritten content. Chicago-founded 2011.
Cards Against Humanity produces adult party card games with annually rewritten content. Chicago-founded 2011.

Eight Chicago friends turned a 2008 New Year's Eve joke into a cultural phenomenon. Cards Against Humanity became Amazon's number one game within weeks of its 2011 launch, proving that hilariously inappropriate humor bonds strangers and strengthens friendships through shared laughter at gatherings worldwide.

Cards Against Humanity Quick Facts

  • Founders: Josh Dillon, Daniel Dranove, Eli Halpern, Ben Hantoot, David Munk, David Pinsof, Max Temkin, and Eliot Weinstein
  • Location: Chicago, Illinois
  • Founded: 2011 (conceived 2008)
  • Specialty: Adult party games, family editions, themed card expansions
  • Materials: High-quality cardstock with Helvetica typography
  • Known For: Annual content refresh, free Creative Commons PDF, $500,000 Science Ambassador Scholarship for women and non-binary STEM students

Why Cards Against Humanity Stands Out

  1. Continuously Evolving Humor: The writing team rewrites the game annually, replacing dated jokes with current cultural references. Your 2024 deck reads completely differently than older versions, ensuring fresh gameplay even for repeat players.
  2. Genuine Accessibility Through Generosity: Despite $40-50 million annual revenue, the creators maintain the original game as a free downloadable PDF under Creative Commons licensing. This philosophy separates them from purely profit-driven competitors and builds genuine community loyalty.
  3. Purpose Beyond Entertainment: The $500,000 Science Ambassador Scholarship demonstrates their commitment to social impact. Buying their products directly funds educational opportunities for women and non-binary students in STEM fields.

Cards Against Humanity Product Lines

Base Game

The complete 600-card foundation featuring black question cards and white answer cards that define the entire experience. One player reads a black card aloud while others submit their funniest white card response—the judge awards points to the winner each round. Designed for immediate play without complicated setup, making it perfect for couples looking to laugh together or breaking social tension at adult gatherings.

Major Expansions

Boxed 300-card expansions that dramatically expand gameplay variety. Red Box, Blue Box, Green Box, Absurd Box, Everything Box, and Hot Box each deliver entirely new card collections that shuffle seamlessly into your existing deck. Absurd Box specializes in surreal, bizarre humor while Everything Box spans everything from classical composers to cryptocurrency. Each plays standalone or combines with others for personalized deck composition.

Themed Packs

Compact 30-card expansions targeting specific interests and audiences. Science Pack was developed with actual astronomers and supports STEM scholarships. Dad Pack celebrates fatherhood humor while Period Pack, Weed Pack, and Ass Pack form the adults-only Nasty Bundle designed for mature crowds comfortable with explicit content. Theatre Pack, Fantasy Pack, and Sci-Fi Pack cater to genre enthusiasts seeking references within their communities.

Family Edition

A 600-card reimagining developed with child psychologists for players aged eight and up, maintaining the same engaging gameplay mechanics without adult content. Glow in the Dark Box expansion adds 300 family-appropriate cards while Written By Kids Pack showcases content created by actual children. This version enables multi-generational play and serves as a perfect introduction before players graduate to the adult editions.

Themed Bundles

Curated multi-pack collections offering better value than purchasing individual products separately. The Nasty Bundle combines six provocative packs too explicit for mainstream retailers, while the Nerd Bundle focuses on gaming and pop culture references. Hidden Gems Bundle resurrects discontinued fan favorites. These collections help players build comprehensive libraries matching their humor preferences and social circles.

Accessories and Storage

Premium storage solutions and gameplay enhancements that protect and organize large card collections. The Bōks leather case holds nearly 2,000 cards in sophisticated packaging designed for display. Your Dumb Jokes pack includes 50 blank cards for creating custom content. Limited edition items and novelty merchandise like the Clam-O-Naise package release periodically for collectors and dedicated fans.

Cards Against Humanity Selection Guide

Product Card Count Type Best For
Base Game 600 cards Core set First-time players and complete newcomers
Green Box 300 cards Large expansion Experienced players seeking variety without themed restrictions
Absurd Box 300 cards Large expansion Players who love surreal, bizarre scenarios and absurdist comedy
Family Edition 600 cards Core set Multi-generational gatherings and younger players ages 8+
Nasty Bundle 180+ cards Six-pack bundle Mature audiences comfortable with extremely explicit humor
Science Pack 30 cards Themed pack STEM enthusiasts and players with scientific backgrounds

Who Chooses Cards Against Humanity

Couples seeking connection through laughter: Partners discover hidden aspects of each other's humor and creativity during gameplay. The game breaks conversational barriers and creates shared inside jokes that strengthen relationships. Players appreciate how unexpected card combinations spark genuine surprise and unguarded reactions revealing authentic personalities.

Party hosts building memorable gatherings: Whether hosting bachelorette celebrations, housewarming events, or casual friend meetups, hosts choose Cards Against Humanity because it transforms awkward silences into uproarious laughter. The game works equally well with established friend groups and mixed gatherings of strangers seeking quick social connection.

Cards Against Humanity Manufacturing Standards

  • Creative Commons Licensing: The CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license enables free sharing and community remixing while protecting against unauthorized commercial exploitation of their original content.
  • Annual Writing Refresh: Professional writers update the entire card catalog yearly, removing dated cultural references and replacing them with current touchpoints. Your newest edition reads like a completely different game compared to older versions.
  • Card Czar Rotation System: The judge role rotates between players each round, ensuring diverse perspectives evaluate humor and preventing single-player dominance throughout extended gameplay sessions.
  • Modular Deck Design: All expansion packs and themed collections integrate seamlessly with existing decks. Players customize their experiences by selecting which content combinations best match their social circle's preferences.
  • Clean Helvetica Typography: Minimalist design using Helvetica font eliminates visual distractions, keeping player focus entirely on text content and the humor generated by unexpected card combinations.

Why Cards Against Humanity Delivers

Cards Against Humanity succeeds because the founders fundamentally understand humor and human connection. Unlike competitors copying their format, these eight Chicago friends continuously evolve content through professional writers, ensuring jokes stay culturally relevant rather than stale. Their annual refresh commitment proves they're not coasting on a 2011 hit—they're actively improving the game. The decision to offer the original as free Creative Commons demonstrates confidence in quality over artificial scarcity. With annual revenue exceeding $40 million yet maintaining free accessibility and investing $500,000 into STEM scholarships, they've built something genuinely rare: a company pursuing profit without compromising principle.

Using Cards Against Humanity

Setup requires minimal preparation—shuffle the white and black card decks, deal seven white cards to each player, and designate a starting judge. Black cards determine round length and answer requirements (some demand multiple white cards for complex answers). Play progresses quickly, with most rounds concluding in minutes. Rounds continue until a predetermined score is reached, typically between 5-10 points per player depending on group size. Games accommodate 3-20+ players, though groups under six or over ten sometimes experience pacing issues. Storage using the premium Bōks case protects cards from bending and keeps large collections organized for easy shuffling.

Explore More

Complete Card Game Collection

Beyond Cards Against Humanity, discover the full range of adult party games and entertainment options featuring complementary products for groups seeking varied entertainment experiences.

Shop Cards Against Humanity at Sex-Toy.com.au

Shop the complete Cards Against Humanity collection at Sex-Toy.com.au. Choose from the base game, major expansions including Absurd Box and Everything Box, themed packs spanning science to sci-fi, and the family-friendly edition. Australian owned, discreet shipping Australia-wide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cards Against Humanity and how did eight Chicago friends create this cultural phenomenon?
Founded in 2011 after a 2008 New Year's Eve joke, Cards Against Humanity became Amazon's number one game within weeks. The eight Chicago creators built a party game combining hilariously inappropriate humor that bonds strangers and strengthens friendships through shared laughter.
Do Cards Against Humanity cards stay fresh and relevant compared to older versions of the game?
Professional writers completely rewrite the card catalog annually, replacing dated cultural references with current touchpoints. Your 2024 deck reads completely differently than older versions, ensuring fresh gameplay even for repeat players who own multiple editions.
Can Cards Against Humanity offer different gameplay experiences through expansions and themed collections?
Six major 300-card boxed expansions including Absurd Box and Everything Box integrate seamlessly with the base game. Compact 30-card themed packs span science, dad humor, theatre, fantasy, and sci-fi interests, plus the Nasty Bundle for mature audiences seeking explicit content.
Is Cards Against Humanity designed for couples looking to connect through laughter and discover each other's hidden humor?
Partners using Cards Against Humanity discover unexpected aspects of each other's creativity during gameplay. The game breaks conversational barriers, creates shared inside jokes, and sparks genuine surprise through unexpected card combinations that reveal authentic personalities and strengthen relationship bonds.
Are Cards Against Humanity games available for Australian customers with discreet shipping nationwide?
Shopping at Sex-Toy.com.au provides complete access to Cards Against Humanity collections including base games, expansions, themed packs, and family editions. Australian owned business offering discreet shipping Australia-wide with comprehensive product selection and competitive pricing.