Ludus

Apples to Apples consists only of two decks of cards: Things and Descriptions. Each turn, the current referee selects a Description and players try to pick, from the cards in their hands, the Things that best match that Description. The referee then chooses the Thing that appeals most and awards the card to the player who played it. The unusual combinations of Things and Descriptions are humorous to the extreme, and will quickly have the entire room in an uproar. Once a player has won a pre-determined number of cards, that player wins.

Apples to Apples: Expansion Set 1 Adds 216 green apple cards, 72 red apple cards, and rules for these variations:

• Apple Turnovers Variation - For a change of taste, start by dealing five GREEN apple cards to each player. The judge turns over a RED apple card from the top of the stack. Players choose the GREEN apple card from their hand that they think is most like the word on the RED apple card. The judge then selects the GREEN apple card that he or she thinks is best, and awards the RED apple card to the person who played the selected GREEN apple card.
• Crab Apples Variation - For a tart twist, choose and judge red apple cards that are least like, or the opposite of, the word on the green apple card. For example, you might choose Charging Rhinos when the word Dainty is played.
• Baked Apples Variation - For a more leisurely and thoughful game, allow everyone, except the judge, to play a red apple card in each round. You may wish to set a time limit for each round to prevent a player from taking too much time.

Apples to Apples: Expansion Set 2 Adds 216 green apple cards, 72 red apple cards, and rules for these variations:

• Big Apples Variation - For the confident types, this is a way to "put your apples where your mouth is!" Two or more players boasting that the judge will pick their card can agree to each wager one of their green apple cards. If the judge selects one of their red apple cards, that player wins the green apple card and all of the wagered green apple cards. If the judge does not pick one of their red apple cards, the wagered cards are forfeited to the bottom of the card stack.
• 2 for 1 Apples Variation - For a real deal, the judge turns over two green apple cards to start the round. Each player selects the red apple card from his or her hand that is best described by both green apple cards. After the judge selects a red apple card, both of the green apple cards are awarded to the winner.
• Apple Potpourri Variation - For an unpredictable mix, each player selectes a red apple card from his or her hand before the judge turns over the green apple card. 'After'' the red apple cards are played, the judge turns over a green apple card. As usual, the judge then selects the winning red apple card.

Apples to Apples: Expansion Set 3 Adds 216 green apple cards, 72 red apple cards, and rules for these variations:

• Apple's Eye View Variation - For a different perspective, the judge must pick a red apple card based upon the point of view of somebody, or something else (for example, a house cat, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Clinton, a speck of Dust... or anything). The player to the left of the judge determines which point of view the judge must use for that round.
• Bad Apples Variation - For players who want to rid themselves of a red apple card, allow players to discard one red apple card from their hand when it is their turn to be the judge. Players who discard a red apple card can replace it by drawing a new red apple from the stack.
• Apples for Three Variation - For a three-player game, play two red apple cards after the judge turns over the green apple card. The judge then chooses a winner from the four red apple cards that were played by the other two players.

Apples to Apples: Expansion Set 4 Adds 216 green apple cards, 72 red apple cards, and rules for these variations:

• Bottom of the Barrel Variation - For a clever way to wind down a game, players must play out the seven cards in their hands, without redrawing. As players deplete the red apple cards from their hands, the judge's and the player's choices become more and more challenging!
• Rotten Apples Variation - For times when the submitted red apple cards don't fit the green apple card, a judge may replace the current green apple card with the card from the top of the stack. The judge must use the new green apple card to choose one of the red apple cards. Only one green apple card is awarded. Each judge is allowed this option once per game.