How To Play: Red Flags

Red Flags turns dating into a ruthless card game where every dream partner comes with one truly awful catch. I’ve played it with friends, and nothing tests a friendship like arguing over whether “owns 47 cats” beats “still texts their ex.” This guide gives you a clear outline of the game rules, plus the best strategies for winning when the table gets petty, loud, and gloriously unfair.

Overview

What’s in the box

• 225 Red Flag cards
• 175 Perk cards
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Red Flags: Rules Summary

Red Flags turns dating into a loud little contest where everyone builds a dream date, then ruins someone else’s. The goal sounds simple, but your friends will reveal far too much about themselves. Here are the rules.

Setup: Prepare Your Dating Disaster

1. First, choose one player to become the Single. That player judges the round.
2. Next, shuffle the Perk cards and the Red Flag cards into separate decks.
3. Then, deal each player four Perk cards and three Red Flag cards.
4. After that, place both decks where everyone can reach them.
5. Finally, choose a starting Single. You can pick randomly, or let the player with the worst dating story begin.

Gameplay: Build the Best, Worst Date

1. First, the Single draws one Perk card and reads it aloud. This card sets the main trait for every date that round.
2. Next, every other player chooses one Perk card from their hand and plays it face down.
3. Shuffle those cards, then reveal them. Each player now has a possible date with the Single.
4. After that, each player secretly chooses one Red Flag card and plays it on another player’s date. Do not attack your own date, unless your group enjoys cheating before dinner.
5. Reveal the Red Flags and read each full date aloud. Players may explain their choices, defend their date, and gently ruin their friends’ chances.
6. Finally, the Single chooses the date they would actually pick. The winner keeps the round’s Perk and Red Flag cards as a point.
7. Draw replacement cards so that each player returns to four Perk cards and three Red Flag cards. Then, pass the Single role to the left.

Winning: Claim the Title of Least Picky

1. Keep playing rounds in the same way. Each round gives one player a chance to win the Single’s approval.
2. Whenever the Single picks your date, take one point or keep one winning card in front of you.
3. Continue until one player earns three points. That player wins the game.
4. However, your group can set a different target before starting. Four or five points work well with a larger group.
5. Remember, the Single always makes the final choice. You can argue your case, but you cannot demand a rose like a tiny, card-based celebrity.

Special Rules & Conditions: Keep the Chaos Moving

1. Players must play one Perk card and one Red Flag card during the round unless a card says otherwise.
2. A Red Flag card targets another player’s date, not your own. Therefore, choose your target wisely and avoid making your rival look strangely appealing.
3. Players should read every card aloud so nobody misses a detail. If a card creates confusion, the Single makes the ruling for that round.
4. Players may discuss and defend their dates, but the Single can choose for any reason. Logic often leaves the table before the second Red Flag appears.
5. If two dates seem equally good, the Single chooses between them. The group should not hold a second vote unless everyone agrees before the game starts.
6. Keep played cards separate from the draw decks. When a deck runs out, shuffle its discard pile and make a new deck.
7. Most importantly, treat the game as silly fun. Laugh at the cards, not at anyone’s real life. The cardboard already causes enough trouble.

Best Red Flags Strategies

Build a Dream Date That Wins the Table

In Red Flags, strong positive traits win votes before trouble appears. During our last game, my friend picked “great cook,” and everyone pictured free dinners. However, I nearly played “owns twelve cats,” which would have sunk his date faster than my cooking.

Match the Table

1. First, choose traits your group values, such as kindness, humor, or wealth.

Create a Clear Picture

1. Next, pair traits that support one another. A brave doctor feels stronger than random perks.

Use Broad Appeal

1. Then, avoid narrow tastes. Pick qualities most players can enjoy.

Sell the Story

1. Finally, explain your choice with confidence, charm, and one funny detail.

Turn Dealbreakers Into Your Winning Weapon

Read the Table

1. At our Red Flags table, I watch friends before choosing. First, I note whether they hate clingy partners, messy homes, or drama.

Pick the Right Sting

1. Then I offer a card that pokes that spot without making my date look awful. Next, I save extreme dealbreakers for players who lead.

Hide Your Attack

1. However, I avoid obvious attacks because everyone spots desperation. Instead, I pair a mild flaw with tempting perk so opponents must argue against their own tastes.

Change Targets Fast

1. Afterward, I track who defends weaknesses and remember those tells. If Sam praises privacy, I avoid dates. Also, I switch targets when rivals expose my card; pride loses games.

Time Your Worst Red Flags Like a Champion

In Red Flags, I once played my dealbreaker too early and watched the table cheer. Since then, I save ugly cards for the right moment. Timing turns a terrible flaw into a funny gamble, so watch reactions, wait, and strike when it hurts most.

Read the Room

1. First, wait until rivals reveal their standards.
2. Then, attach the flaw to a tempting perk.

Hold the Shock

1. Next, play it after someone celebrates.
2. However, avoid stacking flaws on one candidate.

Use the Pause

1. Finally, use silence before explaining the catch.
2. Therefore, pass if nobody looks worried.

I tested this with friends, and patience won more games than panic. Save the stinkiest card, then smile.

Make Your Red Flags Shine

Red Flags rewards players who know their friends almost as well as they know their own bad dating choices. Build a strong hero, watch for each player’s dealbreakers, and save your nastiest red flags for the right moment. In our games, the winner rarely picked the perfect person. They picked the person nobody could hate enough to reject. Keep your pitch funny, stay flexible, and never trust the player who says, “This one is actually fine.” With a little luck and some shameless charm, you can turn a dating disaster into a well-earned win.

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