There’s no denying that freshers’ week is going to be a strange affair this year. While previous years will have meant non-stop partying, sweaty night clubs and theme nights, this year is undoubtedly going to be a much more toned back event. It's not all a bad news though - universities across the country have made sure that there’s still plenty to do for new students, with everything from virtual freshers’ fairs to socially distant in-person events. In terms of those moving into halls and shared housing, many universities will be introducing social bubbles to help reduce the risk of infection. So, while crazy nights out might be out of the question, for now, there’s still the chance to enjoy a few laid back gatherings with your housemates to get you embracing the student experience.
Yes, sitting around the table with cheap booze, playing a few drinking games is one of those experiences that everyone has at university. However, there’s only so many times that you can play Ring of Fire - sometimes it’s nice to mix things up a bit. The world of card games has certainly boomed over the years, with so much more being available than your average pack of Uno cards, with everything from ice-breaker style games to drinking games that think outside the box. So, if you want to make sure you’ve got options when it comes to pre-drinks with your housemates, read on for our top picks of card games for freshers’ week.
Cards Against Humanity
Classed as “a party game for horrible people,” Cards Against Humanity is one of those alternative card games that has taken the world by storm. If you’re not aware of the game, it’s pretty simple to play - each player takes it in turns to be the ‘card czar’ and to draw a black card. These cards will have either questions or fill-the-blank scenarios, and the other players will pick a white card from their hand that they think is the best fit. Each player submits their card face down to the card czar, who reads them to the group and decides which one wins the round. Easy, right?
What we didn’t mention is what’s on the cards. Certainly, not a game for the easily offended, both sets of cards are packed with wickedly dark humour with politically incorrect, offensive jokes that will have you laughing and then feeling guilty for it. Ideal for when everyone’s had a few drinks, this hilarious and quirky game will soon become a favourite for your next house party. However, it’s probably a good idea not to break it out on the very first night.
What Do You Meme?
It’s weird to think there was a time when memes didn’t actually exist, and now there’s an entire card game based on them. What Do You Meme? follows a similar premise to Cards Against Humanity, in that each player submits an answer card and while another chooses the winning answer. The difference is that you’re matching your cards to an image featured in a classic meme. It features a whole array of the memes you’ll be used to seeing, and even a few you might have forgotten over the years too, and each round has the potential to create a hilarious new one.
While there are a fair few cards that are a bit blue, this one is a lot safer to play if you’re worried about offending your new uni pals. There’s a grand total of 360 caption cards and 75 photo cards, so the possibilities are endless, but if you become a real fan of the game, there’s a whole host of expansion packs available too, including a NSFW deck if you really can’t resist a little dark humour.
Incohearent
An ideal ice-breaker game that’s sure to get everyone talking, Incohearent is the perfect game to bring out during pre-drinks. The aim of the game is super simple - to make sense of a gibberish phrase before the timer runs out. Each card has words printed on them that look like they don’t quite make sense, but when you say them out loud, they’ll sound awfully familiar. Other players will need to identify the phrase before the time is up - easy! It’s playable in under 40 minutes, so it’s a great one to play before you head off out or dive into a drinking game.
Buzzed
While we’re on the topic of drinking games, Buzzed is one that you and your housemates are sure to love. Just be warned - it WILL get you tipsy. Ideal for anyone that can never remember the rules to the classics like Ring of Fire, this is a simple game that you can play quickly and has no complicated rules. Essentially, all you have to do is do what the cards tell you - you’ll draw a card that might say “challenge another player to a thumb war, loser has to drink” or “anyone wearing more than two earrings drinks.” It’s incredibly easy to play and will make a great ice-breaker for those first few nights!
Wtf?
A great game for those with dirty minds, Wtf? combines bluffing, quick thinking and of course plenty of laughs. At the flip of the timer, players must answer questions on the cards, winning the card if they get the question right. The player at the end of the game with the most cards is crowned the winner, but there’s a little more to it than that. The questions involved don’t actually have right or wrong answers, and it’s down to the other players to decide whether or not they’ll challenge your answer. If they do, and you genuinely don’t know the answer, this is where your bluffing skills come into play - as the game advises, fake it til you make it!
Drunk Stoned or Stupid
Perfect for meeting new people whose drunk and embarrassing mishaps you don’t quite know yet, Drunk Stoned or Stupid is all about the terrible decisions we’ve all made over the years. The game contains 250 prompt cards which are along the lines of “who’s most likely to…?” During your turn, you’ll pick a card and read it aloud, and then decide who out of the other players gets it - but it’s not that easy, as they can dispute it! The first person to get 7 cards is the loser, so if you’re presented with a card you’ll have to be prepared to tell a few embarrassing stories - whether you are the most likely to or not!
New Phone, Who Dis?
New Phone, Who Dis? is a creation of the minds behind What Do You Meme?, so you’ll know there’ll be plenty of laughs to come from this one. The premise is simple, each round a player draws an “inbox” card, while the other players submit a “reply” card. The person who drew the inbox card chooses the funniest reply, and that player who’s card it is wins the round - sound familiar? The aim of the game is to create some hilarious and perhaps downright awkward text chains, and let's be honest, to make us all feel better about any drunk text conversations we’ve had over the years.
So there you have it, plenty of choice when it comes to freshers’ week games. For even more options, check out our full selection of card games that will be guaranteed to get you and your housemates laughing! Just because things will look a little different this year, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have a few drinks and plenty of laughs with your new uni pals - we’ve got plenty to keep you entertained. Whether or not you want to sanitise the cards afterwards is entirely up to you!
Written by Amy Jackson - Content and Features Writer at My Favourite Voucher Codes - 4th September 2020
