Setup
Players
- 4-8
Materials
- Red Apples Cards
- Green Apple Cards
- Card Trays
Scoring
- The green apple card selected by the judge wins each round.
Additional Setup Notes
- Shuffle and distribute the Red Apple Cards into the four deep well card trays. Shuffle and distribute the Green Apple Cards into the two shallow card trays.
Objective
The first player to collect 8 Green Apple Cards wins!
Gameplay
Choose a player at random to be the first judge. The judge deals seven Red Apple Cards, face down, to each player including themselves.
The judge will then pick a Green Apple Card from the top of the Green Apple Card deck, read the card aloud, and then place it face up in the center of the table.
All other players choose the Red Apple Card from their hand that is best described by the word on the Green Apple Card the judge chose. Players place these cards face down in front of the judge.
The Judge mixes the cards placed face down in front of them so they don’t know who played which card. The judge turns over each Red Apple Card, reads it aloud, and then selects the Red Apple Card they think is best described by the word on the Green Apple Card.
To keep score players will keep the Green Apple Cards they have won on the table in front of them.
Discard the Red Apple Cards that were not chosen.
The role of judge and the card trays are passed to the person to the left of the previous judge and the new judge deals each player enough Red Apple Cards to bring their hand back to 7 Red Apple Cards.
Play Continues in this manner.
Link to official gameplay rules here.
Endgame
The amount of Green Apple Cards needed to win depends on how many players are playing the game.
- 4 players: 8 Green Apple Cards
- 5 players: 7 Green Apple Cards
- 6 players: 5 Green Apple Cards
- 7 players: 5 Green Apple Cards
- 8 players: 4 Green Apple Cards
Examples / Demonstration
- The chosen judge deals 7 Red Apple Cards to each player at the table.
- The judge picks a Green Apple Card from the top of the deck and reads it aloud.
- All players except the judge choose the card from their hand they think is best described by the Green Apple Card and place them face down in front of the judge.
- The judge shuffles the Red Apple Cards players chose for them and reads each of them out loud.
- The judge chooses which card they think is best described by the Green Apple Card and awards that Green Apple Card to the player that placed it.
- The role of judge and the card trays are moved one player to the left and the new judge deals enough cards for all players to have 7 Red Apple Cards in their hands.
- Play continues until there is a winner.
Variations and Alternate Rules
Apple Turnovers: Deal five green apple cards to each player. The judge turns over a red apple card and reads it out loud. Players now choose the green apple card from their hand they think fits the red card picked by the judge the best. The judge then selects their favorite green apple card and awards the red apple card to the winning player.
Quick Pick for Four: For a four player group players may play up to 2 red apple cards from their hand but must place them face down on the table one at a time. Only the first 4 red apple cards placed on the table will be judged, so think fast.
Crab Apples: This variation is played just like the normal game but the judge chooses the card that is least described by the Green Apple Card. For Example you might choose the “Charging Rhinos” red apple card when the green apple card was “Dainty”.
FAQs
Where can I purchase Apples to Apples?
Apples to Apples can be purchased from most major department stores, game shops, and online retailers.
Are there more card options available for purchase?
Yes! Apples to Apples has many expansion packs with new cards available for purchase.
What ages are best for Apples to Apples?
Unlike its younger sibling Cards Against Humanity Apples to Apples is very well suited for all ages and does not include any “adult” themes.
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