Ever wanted to judge your friends’ faces and tell wild stories without hurting their feelings? You’re in the right place, because this is my review of Faces—a party game that puts your poker face (and your bluffing skills) to the ultimate test. I dragged my friends into several rounds, stared at a lot of awkward people, and laughed enough to make my cat leave the room. Let’s see if this game is a keeper or just another face in the crowd.
How It Plays
Setting up
Grab the deck of face cards and deal everyone a hand (no, not a literal hand—that’s another game). Pick someone to be the first judge. Lay out a row of face cards on the table so everyone can see all those glorious mugs staring back.
Gameplay
The judge reads a prompt. It could be anything from “Who just ate a lemon?” to “Who forgot their pants?” Everyone else looks at the faces, picks the card that fits, and places their vote in secret. The judge tries to guess which face got the most votes. Then, everyone reveals their picks and debates why Greg’s grumpy grandpa face was clearly the pants-forgetter.
Winning the game
You score points for matching other players’ votes and for the judge guessing right. The first player to hit the target score wins and gets bragging rights as the face-matching champion until next time, or until your group gets distracted by pizza.
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for Faces.
How Does Faces Play? All About the Madness of a Round
I’ll never forget the time my mate Greg tried to bluff us with a face that looked like he was hiding a secret, but when all the votes came in, we realized he just had gas. That’s the joy of Faces—it takes facial expressions and turns them into a game of wild guessing and laughter.
Here’s how a round works: One player, let’s call them The Judge (or, in our group, The Face Boss), draws a card with a funny or odd description. This could be anything from “who ate the last cookie” to “who’s hiding an embarrassing tattoo.” The Judge picks one photo card from the big stack of funny faces in the box. These faces are the real stars of the game, ranging from grandmas with epic frowns to kids with wide-eyed shock. The Judge then puts four face cards on display for all to see.
The other players now have to guess which face The Judge thinks matches the description best. They place their vote in secret, using voting cards. If you match The Judge’s choice, you get points. If you fool others into thinking your pick is The Judge’s choice, you get even more points. It’s a mix of reading your friends, bluffing, and sometimes just going with the face that makes you laugh the hardest.
Every round goes fast—sometimes too fast, because everyone keeps wanting to play “just one more.” Rounds come packed with banter, side eyes, and the occasional plea (“C’mon! That face is CLEARLY hiding a tattoo!”).
Next, I’ll talk about how many giggles per minute this game packs—and whether it’s fun enough to make you snort soda through your nose!
Fun Factor and How Much Faces Will Make You Snort-Laugh
Let me tell you, Faces is basically board game comedy night. Once we opened the box, each new round felt like an improv show where everyone had the same script—”crack up laughing”. The rules are simple, but the real fun comes from how ridiculous the faces on the cards are. One friend said, “This is like a yearbook photo shoot gone terribly wrong.” Not far off the truth!
Here’s how a normal round went with my group: Someone read out the question, like “Who just stepped on a Lego?” Then we all looked at the wild set of random photo cards, each face telling its own wild story. There’s always that one person (me, I’ll admit it) who tries to seriously debate which photo is objectively most horrified, while everyone else pees themselves laughing over a guy who for some reason looks like a surprised trout. It’s glorious, silly chaos.
The best/worst part? No skill needed. It’s all about out-funning your friends. The game has a magical way of making even your grumpiest mate giggle. Even Grandma (who usually hates board games because she says “they’re for children and taxmen”) found herself making up wild backstories for the faces. I lost count of how many cups of tea I nearly snorted.
On a scale from “awkward family reunion” to “stand-up comedy night”, Faces lands firmly on the side of hilarity. Sure, it doesn’t make you feel clever like some games do, but it does make you feel happy—and that’s not nothing.
But can Faces keep the fun rolling with a brand new crowd every time? Sharpen your fake moustaches, because up next we’ll see how it holds up with different groups!
How Replayable is Faces With Different Groups?
Let’s talk replayability, because nobody wants a board game that runs out of steam after one round! Faces, I can confirm, does not have this problem. I’ve brought it out with my game group, my family, and once, at a barbecue where the only thing more mixed than the guests were the hotdog toppings. Every time, the game worked its magic in a new way.
Here’s the secret sauce: Faces is only as wild as the players. Your buddy who’s part-time serious and full-time sarcastic? He makes up the most bonkers reasons for his choices. Aunt Linda, who thinks Facebook is the peak of technology? She giggles at every card and throws in random stories about people nobody knows. Even with shy folks, Faces gets people to open up after a turn or two—nothing breaks the ice like a card that screams “I just ate three lemons.” The fun isn’t just in matching faces, it’s in the reactions, the stories, and the excuses people dream up.
In replay terms, Faces keeps things fresh because people always surprise you. Cards get shuffled, new stories happen, and the group dynamic changes every game. If you think you’ve ‘solved’ the game, just swap out a player and it feels like a brand new experience. There’s not many games where I’ve seen my friends ask for ‘just one more round’ with such desperation.
Next, I’ll wrestle the big question: Is Faces fair? Or is it all luck, no skill? Grab your detective hats, it’s time to find out!
Is Faces Fair Play or a Luck Fest?
Let’s be real. If you want a game that rewards sharp wits and cunning planning, Faces is not that game. I learned that the hard way when my friend Greg, who thinks Monopoly is too brainy, stomped us all in his first go. This game is all about reading people… or sometimes just guessing wildly and hoping for the best. When my aunt Judy played, she picked a face because it looked like her neighbor’s cat, and somehow everyone agreed. So, skill? Not really.
Every round, the judge picks the face that best fits an oddball description. But the twist? The judge’s reason is anyone’s guess. Once, the clue was “most likely to become famous.” I picked the face with a dazzling smile, but the judge picked the guy who looked like he just saw a UFO. Her reason? ‘He looks stunned, just like I’d be if I was suddenly famous!’ I had no chance.
Luck, and maybe how well you know the judge, plays a huge role. If you’re hoping for even a smidge of fairness—sorry, Faces says ‘not today.’ But you know what? That’s kind of the point. It keeps everyone on edge and never lets anyone feel too smart. In my group, even board game snobs laugh so hard they forget to complain about balance or strategy.
So, do I recommend Faces? Only if you don’t mind a little chaos and a lot of laughs. If you want to flex your brain muscles, skip it. But if you’re on team ‘fun first,’ get ready for some wacky, lucky, and totally unfair rounds. Who knew picking faces could be so silly?
Conclusion
So, that’s the full picture on Faces! It’s a goofy, laugh-out-loud party game perfect for anyone who enjoys making wild guesses and has a weakness for silly expressions. It shines brightest with new groups and never takes itself too seriously. If you crave deep tactics or want to win with skill, this isn’t your best choice—luck is boss here. But if you want to watch your friends point at a face and argue if it looks like someone who owns a pet tarantula, then Faces will not disappoint. Thanks for reading—now go judge some faces!
