How To Play: Faces

Have you ever stared at a friend’s face so hard that you started questioning your whole friendship? Welcome to How To Play faces, the board game where even your dodgy poker face gets put to the test. In this guide, I’ll lay out the game rules (with less confusion than last time, I swear) and spill the very best winning strategies we’ve uncovered after many hilarious, suspicious rounds.

Overview

What’s in the box

• 150 Face cards
• 60 Description cards
• 6 Voting dials
• 6 Player pawns
• 1 Scoreboard
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Faces: Rules Summary

Setup

1. First, give each player a voting paddle and some score tokens. If Steve grabs extras, make him share.

2. Pick someone to start as the Judge. My group always made the tallest person go first, mostly so we could blame them when we lost.

3. Shuffle the Faces cards and deal out the required number (usually 6) face up in the middle.

4. The Judge draws a Description card, but keeps it secret for now.

Gameplay

1. The Judge reads the funny (sometimes bizarre) description out loud. Try not to laugh, but let’s be real, you will.

2. Everyone else picks the face card that best matches the description. Shout, debate, or just glare mysteriously—your choice.

3. Once everyone picks, reveal your votes at the same time. No peeking! I once caught my friend Linda peeking, but she says she was ‘just stretching.’

4. The Judge reveals which face they think fits the description best.

Winning

1. Every player who matched the Judge’s pick scores a point. The Judge gets a point for every match too (unless you all gang up on them—classic move).

2. Continue playing with a new Judge each round. The Judge duties swap like hot potato.

3. The first player to a set number of points wins. In my house, that number is always up for debate, but 10 works fine.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If there’s a tie, go with whoever most convincingly argues in their favor. Or just arm wrestle for it—up to you!

2. If you run out of description cards, reshuffle and keep the fun going.

3. Special party mode rule: Whenever someone laughs uncontrollably, they lose a point. Try keeping a straight face during How To Play faces—it’s not going to happen.

Now that you’re ready, get your friends together and try How To Play faces. You’ll discover who has the best poker face, and who, like me, just can’t stop giggling.

Best Faces Strategies

Become a Face Whisperer: Winning by Reading Faces

Spot the Micro-Expressions

1. Watch for those quick eye flicks. People often look away from the real choice!

2. Twitchy mouths often mean nervousness—use that!

Observe the Over-Actor

1. If someone tries too hard to act casual, they’re probably bluffing. I learned this when my friend Steve went full Shakespeare!

2. Beware the awkward giggle. It usually means guilt.

Consistency is Key

1. Notice how people react round after round during How To Play faces. Spot changes to catch their lies.

2. Ask simple questions—see if their answers stay steady or start to wobble!

Mastering Creative Clue Giving in How To Play faces

I’ve seen it myself—clues can make or break your game night. Instead of boring hints, think outside the box and keep your friends guessing. Below are my go-to strategies for creative clue giving that have saved me from embarrassing losses (and one time, a near friendship-ending argument over a fake mustache clue).

Use Pop Culture References

1. Pick clues from movies, memes, or songs your group knows.
2. Drop a subtle catchphrase—watch how faces light up (or go totally blank).

Keep It Personal

1. Reference inside jokes you share with your friends.
2. Connect clues to real-life moments you’ve all lived through.

Bait and Switch

1. Give a clue that sounds obvious, but twist it to keep players second-guessing.
2. Use misdirection! Sometimes, the best clue is one that points away from the obvious.

Remember, How To Play faces rewards players who mix smarts with silliness—so don’t be afraid to get weird with your clues!

Mastering Bluffing in How To Play Faces

Spot Your Moment

Timing is key. Don’t just bluff whenever. Instead, pick moments when players feel confident about their guesses. They never see it coming!

1. Wait until players trust you.
2. Choose rounds with tricky faces.
3. Change your usual behavior to throw them off.

Mix Up Your Play

If you always play straight, bluffing gets obvious. Switch between honest and sneaky each round for better results.

1. Alternate bluffing with truth-telling.
2. Keep your poker face ready.

Watch Reactions

Always pay attention to how others react when you bluff. Their faces might give away if they caught on. Learn and adjust each time.

1. Notice nervous laughter.
2. Spot confused looks.
3. Remember who trusts you most.

Ready to Master the Art of How To Play faces?

Look, if you’ve stuck with me this far, your face muscles are probably as tired as mine after three rounds of this game. Whether you’re a natural born liar or your poker face would make a toddler giggle, you’ve got everything you need to win at How To Play faces now. Just remember—read the room, get weird with your clues, and don’t be afraid to laugh when your Grandma starts imitating a chicken for her card. That’s what makes this game pure gold. Good luck, champ! And if all else fails, blame your terrible clues on me. My friends do.

Want to know what we think of Faces? Read our detailed review of Faces here