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Best games like Apples to Apples (2026) — Apples to Apples made the rotating-judge card game a family staple: a judge reveals a word, everyone plays the card from their hand that fits best, and the judge picks a favorite. It is easy, funny and works for almost any group. These six games use the same judge-picks-a-winner idea, from family-friendly picks to adult party decks.
Our top pick like Apples to Apples: Snake Oil
Combine two word cards to invent a ridiculous product, then pitch it to the customer of the round. It keeps the judge format, stays family friendly and gets everyone performing.
Price band: $20–$30 (about $25) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Apples to Apples alternatives at a glance
Family picks first, adult picks after.
- Best overall: Snake Oil — invent and pitch silly products (about $25)
- The original: Apples to Apples — the family judge game (about $15)
- Best adult swap: Cards Against Humanity — the adult fill-in-the-blank game (about $29)
- Best for meme fans: What Do You Meme? — caption the photo (about $30)
What makes a good Apples to Apples alternative
The magic of Apples to Apples is that the judge changes every round, so winning depends on knowing the person judging. Every pick below keeps that rotating judge. They differ in what you play: product pitches, captions, text replies or magnet-word sentences, and in how family friendly they are.
1. Snake Oil — best overall game like Apples to Apples
Players: 3 to 10, ages 10+ · Price band: $20–$30 (about $25) · Pick for: Best overall game like Apples to Apples · See Snake Oil on Amazon
The customer of the round draws a character card that tells everyone who they are shopping as. Everyone else combines two word cards from their hand into a product (a “burp balloon” or a “rumor mirror”) and pitches it in character. The customer buys the best pitch. The box has 340 word cards and 30 customer cards.
It is our top pick because it is just as family friendly as Apples to Apples but makes everyone a performer. Rules: how to play Snake Oil.
Skip it if: your group includes shy players who dislike speaking up. The pitch is the whole game.
2. Apples to Apples — best for replacing a worn-out deck
Players: 4 to 8, ages 12+ · Price band: $10–$20 (about $15) · Pick for: Best for replacing a worn-out deck · See Apples to Apples on Amazon
If your family just wants the original back, the current Mattel edition has more than 500 cards and a color-blind accessible deck with symbols on each card. A judge plays a green description card, everyone plays a red noun card, and the first player to collect four green cards wins in this edition.
Rules: how to play Apples to Apples.
Skip it if: your group has played the original to death and wants something new.
3. Cards Against Humanity — best adult alternative
Players: 4 or more, adults · Price band: $20–$30 (about $29) · Pick for: Best adult alternative · See Cards Against Humanity on Amazon
The adult take on the same idea. The judge reads a black card with a blank, and everyone plays their most outrageous white card. It is the game most people graduate to from Apples to Apples.
Rules: how to play Cards Against Humanity.
Skip it if: kids or easily offended guests are playing.
4. What Do You Meme? — best for meme fans
Players: 3 or more, adults · Price band: $20–$30 (about $30) · Pick for: Best for meme fans · See What Do You Meme? on Amazon
The judge puts a photo card on the easel, and everyone plays the caption card from their hand that makes it funniest. It is easy to teach and very visual.
Compare it to Cards Against Humanity in What Do You Meme? vs Cards Against Humanity.
Skip it if: your group does not follow internet culture.
5. New Phone, Who Dis? — best for group-chat humor
Players: 2 or more, ages 17+ · Price band: $10–$20 (about $19) · Pick for: Best for group-chat humor · See New Phone, Who Dis? on Amazon
The judge draws an inbox card, a text message, and everyone answers with their funniest reply card. It feels like a hilarious group chat played out loud.
Rules: how to play New Phone, Who Dis?.
Skip it if: the party includes younger teens. It is aimed at adults.
6. Ransom Notes — best for creative groups
Players: 3 to 6 or more in teams, ages 17+ · Price band: $30+ (about $40) · Pick for: Best for creative groups · See Ransom Notes on Amazon
Instead of playing a card, you build a sentence from a handful of word magnets to answer the prompt, and the judge picks the best note. With 840 magnets, no two answers are alike.
Rules: how to play Ransom Notes.
Skip it if: your group wants fast rounds. Building a note takes a minute or two.
Apples to Apples alternatives compared
| Game | Price band | Players | Family friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apples to Apples | $10–$20 | 4–8 | Yes |
| New Phone, Who Dis? | $10–$20 | 2+ | No (17+) |
| Snake Oil | $20–$30 | 3–10 | Yes (10+) |
| Cards Against Humanity | $20–$30 | 4+ | No |
| What Do You Meme? | $20–$30 | 3+ | No |
| Ransom Notes | $30+ | 3–6+ | Mostly no (17+) |
For more family-friendly options, see our best family card games.
Questions about games like Apples to Apples
What is a good family game like Apples to Apples?
Snake Oil. It uses a rotating judge and stays clean.
What is the adult version of Apples to Apples?
Cards Against Humanity is the best-known adult version.
How many players do you need?
Most of these games work best with four to eight players.
