The Apples to Apples meatspace card game could be seen as one of the most perfect party games around. Whether as an ice-breaker or among longtime friends, it never fails to elicit a few laughs through clever and often ridiculous associations. Thanks to THQ, the card game now joins Catan, Carcassonne, and Uno as one of the few real-world games to make its way onto Xbox Live Arcade.
For the uninitiated, Apples to Apples is, on its surface, an incredibly simple game of word association. Players each hold seven random noun cards that can range from “bacon” to “the San Andreas fault,” and every round you must match one of those cards to an adjective like, say, “temperamental.” A different player is designated the judge each round and must pick the best match, awarding a point to the matching player.
The genius of the game is that there are no clear right or wrong answers, with players instead picking the matches they think the judge will like most. This makes it a great social game, but some of the magic is lost when you play online without faces to relate to. Golden apple cards have been added — allowing players to skip each other’s turns or steal points — but since the game has always been more about fun social interactions than competition, these new cards don’t mesh very naturally into the experience.
Eventually, Apples to Apples’ XBLA version will connect with the game’s Facebook and mobile versions so you can play with even more friends, but a week after launch the feature still isn’t up and running with no word on when it will arrive. The XBLA edition does include a single-player mode, but it’s a throwaway timed word search that players aren’t likely to revisit after earning the Achievement for completing the tutorial.
Apples to Apples on Xbox Live feels a little cheap in its presentation and can’t compare to playing the game in person. However, for those who don’t have the option to play offline due to distance, it’s hard to deny the game’s vibrant charm.
PUBLISHER: THQ • DEVELOPER: ImaginEngine • ESRB: Everyone 10+ • MULTIPLAYER: 3–4 offline; 3–6 online • ACHIEVEMENTS: Multiplayer-dependent • COST: 800 Microsoft Points ($10)
+ Clever and often ridiculous wordplay.
+ Tons of customization options to tailor the rules how you like.
– Key social features with Facebook not available at launch; golden apple cards place odd focus on competition that doesn’t fit.
? The game has to spam my Facebook account with updates for me to earn an Achievement?
