Tired of polite party games that end with everyone smiling and unscathed? Crave an experience that thrives on dark humor, awkward situations, and the sheer joy of your friends’ horrified laughter? Look no further than Joking Hazard, the wildly inappropriate and hilariously twisted card game from the warped minds behind the Cyanide & Happiness comic.
This isn’t just a game; it’s a social experiment in poor taste and comedic timing.
What is Joking Hazard?
Created by Cyanide & Happiness co-creators Rob DenBleyker, Kris Wilson, Matt Melvin, and Dave McElfatrick, Joking Hazard is a fill-in-the-blank comic strip game that plunges players into the absurd, dark, and often shockingly funny universe of the iconic webcomic.
The core gameplay is simple, drawing clear inspiration from games like Cards Against Humanity but with a unique visual twist. Players compete to complete a three-panel comic strip to create the funniest—or most disturbing—outcome possible.
What’s in the Box?
The core game box is packed with everything you need to ruin friendships and create unforgettable memories:
- 360+ Cards: The deck is comprised of three types of cards:
- Panel Cards: These are the meat of the game. Each card is a single panel from a Cyanide & Happiness comic, featuring a wide array of characters, situations, punchlines, and shocking imagery.
- Add-Your-Own-Words Cards: Blank cards are included, allowing you to write in your own custom phrases, inside jokes, or personal insults, making every game unique to your group.
- The “Make Your Own” Card: A special card that lets a player draw their own panel, for when the printed options just aren’t depraved enough.
- The Official Rulebook: Contains the straightforward rules and, more importantly, several alternate game modes to keep the chaos fresh.
How to Play: A Recipe for Disaster
- The Judge: Each round, one player acts as the Judge. They draw three Panel Cards from the deck and place them down in order to form the beginning of a comic strip (Panel 1 and Panel 2).
- The Play: All other players choose one Panel Card from their hand that they believe best completes the story as the third and final panel.
- The Reveal: The Judge shuffles all submitted panels (including a fourth random “Redraw” card from the deck to add an element of chance) and reveals them one by one.
- The Winner: The Judge picks their favorite three-panel comic. The player who submitted the winning panel keeps it as a point. A new player becomes the Judge, and the next round begins.
- Victory: The first player to collect 3 winning panels is crowned the champion of terrible decisions!
Why It’s a Must-Have Party Game
- Visual Humor: Unlike text-based games, Joking Hazard’s visual punchlines allow for a different kind of comedy. The artwork sells the joke in a way words alone cannot, leading to sudden, gut-busting realizations.
- Infinite Replayability: With hundreds of panels and the ability to create your own cards, no two games are ever the same. The combinations are as endless as they are bizarre.
- Perfect for Specific Tastes: It proudly knows its audience. If you and your friends enjoy dark, edgy, offensive, or surreal humor, this game is an absolute home run. It’s a fantastic icebreaker for groups that thrive on this energy.
- Quick to Learn: You can explain the rules in under a minute. The focus isn’t on complex strategy; it’s on creativity, shock value, and understanding the Judge’s twisted sense of humor.
A Word of Warning
Joking Hazard is absolutely, 100% NOT for everyone. It is explicitly rated for ages 18+ for a very good reason. The content is frequently offensive, dealing with themes of violence, sex, death, and other adult topics in a brutally cartoonish way. Do not bring this to a family gathering with your conservative grandparents or a party with easily offended friends. Its charm is its willingness to cross every line it can find.
Final Verdict
Joking Hazard is a masterclass in targeted, offensive humor. It successfully translates the signature style of Cyanide & Happiness into a interactive, engaging, and uproariously funny party game. If your idea of a good time involves creating comics about vengeful squirrels, suicidal stick figures, and profoundly awkward social interactions, this game deserves a permanent spot on your shelf.
Ready to corrupt your game night? Unleash the chaos and see who among your friends has the darkest, funniest mind.
