If you don’t know this about me, it’s time you found out that I’m a huge fan of board games. I like to play all kinds – everything from party style games like Cards Against Humanity to complex favourites like Dinosaur Island. So, when I was offered a copy of ‘Game of HAM’ to review, I was stoked!
Note: The copy of the game was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. This review isn’t being paid for, though, and all the opinions are my own.
Our Review for the Game of HAM Card Game
I actually got this game awhile ago, but thanks to the pandemic it was pretty tough to get together to play a party game. Especially one that can’t be played with less than 3 adult players. It’s not like we could use the kids!
But, we did get a chance to play Game of HAM! Here’s what I thought of it.
First impressions
The box is interesting, and stands out on the shelf. It seems to be channeling a ‘campy’ feeling. The kind that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
At first glance it definitely looks like a standard ‘Apples to Apples’ style card game… That is until you pull out the game board and other pieces.
The ham tokens are super cute, and the instructions were full of style. Since so many games are similar, style is important if you want to stand out. The game pieces are high quality.
The game play
Game of HAM is an adult’s only game. This isn’t something you want to play with your kids unless they’re grown up!
I won’t go into too much details about how to play the game, since that’s what the rule book is for. Basically the goal is to get to the end of the game board, and there’s some fun twists to make it more challenging.
The different spaces help dictate what kinds of cards you’re going to draw, when you can then use to help you and mess up your opponents.
In board game lingo, we call that “take that!” game play. So it combines that aspect with something ‘party’ like Cards Against Humanity.
The board
The game board is super simple, which you need when you’re playing a party style game. You don’t want to spend forever explaining to a group of friends how to a play a game.
That’s what makes these card games so popular; the rules are very simple.
Thankfully, Game of HAM includes a quick start guide so you don’t need to spend too long worrying about how to play.
The board also has variations so no two play experiences are the same. There’s nothing worse than a game getting stale after a few plays!
Replayability
Speaking of variants, that’s where this game shines compared to others in this category. Most of the rule book is actually dedicated to offering rule variations that keep it interesting. Some of them are a little bit more complicated, but that’s great if you’re playing with a more advanced group.
There’s also a lot of cards, and it’s fair to say the creators won’t have any problems selling booster or supplementary packs later on if they want to freshen the game up.
Is it actually funny though?
Look, I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t find Cards Against Humanity to be that funny. What’s funny about these games is when your mom asks what “bukkake” means, not the card itself.
The cards in Game of HAM are for adults. If you’re looking for something clean, this isn’t a game for you. Go get Apples to Apples or something.
The cards in Game of HAM are funny enough, but with the right group of people can be downright hilarious.
With so many games of this style out there, it’s tough to stay unique and they’ve done that. The only complaint I have is the use of “insert name” cards, which I’m personally not a fan of.
The downsides
While Game of HAM is great, it’s definitely not perfect. If you’re playing it for the first time and aren’t familiar with the game, it definitely has more of a learning curve than other cards games. Especially if you’ve had a few drinks.
The same goes for the variations: you probably don’t want complicated rules later into an evening of drinking. In fact, if you’re looking for a funny drinking game this probably isn’t my first choice.
I personally didn’t love the rule book and the way things were explained were a bit confusing, but like most modern games there’s a video that you can watch that explains a lot better. This is a common problem with board games, though, so it’s not too much to worry about. And once it clicks it’s pretty simple.
My verdict
So what do I really think of the game? It’s fun, and it has a lot of potential. I wish it was easier to get together with friends and really try it out. I’ll definitely be pulling it out when I get the chance.
If you’re bored of Cards Against Humanity, or looking for something that’s both board game and hilarious party game, then consider giving Game of HAM a shot.
Want more info? They have a website.
Buy Game of HAM
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