How to Play What Do You Meme: A Fun Guide to the Viral Card Game

If you’ve ever spent an entire night scrolling through memes with friends, laughing until your cheeks hurt, there’s a good chance you’ll fall head over heels for What Do You Meme? It’s the party game that basically turns your group chat chaos into real-life laughter.

But here’s the funny part a lot of people own the box, barely skim the instructions, and still wonder if they’re playing it right. So let’s fix that. Whether you’re new to the game or just want to master your meme-making skills, here’s everything you need to know from setup and rules to pro-level humor tactics.

The Game Everyone’s Talking About

Memes have become the world’s universal language. You can’t go a day without seeing one that photo of the distracted boyfriend, the woman yelling at a cat, or Leonardo DiCaprio raising a glass. What Do You Meme? takes that exact energy and turns it into a social game you can play anywhere: at parties, dorms, family gatherings (well, maybe not every family), or game nights with friends.

The game was created by Ben Kaplan and Elliot Tebele yes, the guy behind the famous Instagram account @f*jerry**. The idea was simple: give people the chance to caption viral memes in hilarious ways and vote on whose meme reigns supreme.

The best part? You don’t need to be a comedian to win just someone who gets the internet’s weird sense of humor.

What Is the What Do You Meme Card Game?

At its core, What Do You Meme? is a caption-based card game where players compete to create the funniest combination of text and image. You get a stack of photo cards (the memes) and a much bigger pile of caption cards (the punchlines).

Each round, one player becomes the judge, choosing which combo makes them laugh the most. The rest? Pure creative chaos.

It’s made for ages 17 and up because, let’s be honest, some of those captions can get a bit… mature. Think “Cards Against Humanity,” but with memes.

What’s Inside the Box

Open that glossy white box and here’s what you’ll find:

That’s the physical version. You can also get What Do You Meme? app editions and digital expansions that keep the fun going online.

How to Play What Do You Meme?

Alright, let’s get into it. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown of how to play:

1. Gather your crew.
You’ll need at least three players, but it’s funnier with five to eight. More people = more chaos = more laughs.

2. Pick a judge.
Each round has one judge who picks the winning meme combo. The role rotates clockwise after every round.

3. Set up the round.
The judge draws a random photo card and places it on the easel for everyone to see.

4. Deal caption cards.
Every player gets seven caption cards to start. Keep them secret like poker cards no peeking.

5. Play your caption.
Each player picks one caption card that they think best matches (or completely destroys) the meme photo. They place it face-down in a pile.

6. The judge reads them all.
The judge shuffles the caption cards, reads each one aloud, and picks the funniest or most fitting combo.

7. The winner keeps the meme card.
That player earns a point. First to seven meme cards (or whatever number you decide) wins the game.

And that’s it simple, hilarious, and always unpredictable.

How to Play Like a Pro (and Actually Be Funny)

Sure, it’s “just a game,” but a little strategy never hurts. If you want to rack up meme wins like a true internet troll, here are a few insider tips:

• Play to your judge. If your judge loves dark humor, pick something twisted. If they’re more into irony, go for subtle sarcasm.
• Don’t overthink it. The funniest memes often come from the most random or stupid pairings.
• Use the element of surprise. Throw in a caption that no one expects shock value works.
• Save your best captions. Sometimes you’ll get a card that’s too good for the current meme. Save it for a round that fits perfectly.
• Timing matters. Play after a drink or two and you’ll understand why this game was designed for adults.

Bottom line: it’s not about being the funniest person in the room; it’s about reading the vibe and playing into it.

Why Is What Do You Meme Rated 17+?

Let’s address the question everyone asks: why is What Do You Meme rated 17+?

The simple answer adult humor. Some caption cards include mature language or themes that make sense only to older players. It’s not explicit like a rated-R movie, but it’s definitely not for kids who just discovered SpongeBob memes.

If you want something tamer, there’s a What Do You Meme: Family Edition, which swaps out the questionable jokes for clean, kid-friendly ones. Perfect for family game nights where you’d rather not explain why everyone’s laughing nervously.

Is What Do You Meme a Good Game?

Absolutely but it depends on who’s playing.

If your group loves memes, sarcasm, and inside jokes, this game will be a hit. It’s light, quick, and doesn’t require strategy or trivia knowledge. It’s about shared humor.

Here’s what makes it stand out:

Pros:

• Quick to learn most people get it within 2 minutes.
• Replayable new rounds feel fresh because humor evolves with the group.
• Customisable add your own caption cards or house rules.
• Excellent icebreaker for parties or awkward reunions.

Cons:

• Loses charm with overly serious players.
• Some jokes can get repetitive after many rounds.
• Needs the right crowd humor mismatches can kill the vibe.

Verdict? It’s not for everyone, but when it hits, it really hits.

What Do You Meme vs. Similar Games

You might wonder how it stacks up against other adult party games. Here’s a quick side-by-side:

While Cards Against Humanity built the adult-humor game genre, What Do You Meme? gave it a fresh, social-media twist. It’s faster, lighter, and a lot more visual which makes it great for people who think in pictures (aka, everyone with a smartphone).

Expansion Packs & Spin-Offs

Once you’ve mastered the core deck, there’s a whole world of expansions to keep things spicy:

• NSFW Expansion Pack: For those who think regular What Do You Meme isn’t unfiltered enough.
• TikTok Edition: All memes and captions inspired by viral TikTok moments.
• Family Edition: Kid-friendly fun without the awkward explanations.
• Game of Thrones, The Office, SpongeBob Packs: Themed sets for fandom lovers.

They also have a mobile app version, perfect if you’re travelling or just don’t want to carry the box around. You can play solo, online with friends, or even generate random memes for inspiration.

The Secret Sauce Behind Its Success

So why did What Do You Meme blow up when so many other party games faded away?

Because it taps into something deeper than just laughter relatability.

Memes reflect how we see the world: fast, funny, slightly cynical, but totally human. The game lets players turn those collective internet moments into something tangible. You’re not just laughing at the meme; you’re becoming part of it.

Plus, the visual factor makes it instantly engaging. You don’t need to read long cards or guess trivia you just look at a meme and feel it.

And with memes constantly evolving, the game never really goes out of style. There’s always a new inside joke waiting to happen.

How to Make Your Own Meme Cards

Here’s a fun twist: you can create your own caption or photo cards to add personal flavor. Maybe a funny group photo, a wild inside joke, or that infamous night someone fell asleep mid-party.

To do this:

9022. Print your photo on card-sized paper (roughly 3.5 x 5 inches).
9023. Write a caption card that matches your group’s humour.
9024. Mix it in with the original deck.

Suddenly, the game gets way more personal and infinitely more hilarious.

When to Play What Do You Meme

It shines best in relaxed, laughter-filled environments think Friday nights, birthdays, game nights, or post-dinner hangouts. It’s not ideal for formal settings or with grandparents (unless they’re really cool grandparents).

You can also play it over video call just hold up the meme photo and let everyone send captions through chat. It surprisingly works well online.

Tips for Hosting a Meme Night

If you want to turn a normal evening into a meme-filled event, here’s a simple setup:

• Theme it. Have everyone wear something inspired by a meme (yes, Shrek counts).
• Keep the snacks flowing. Popcorn, nachos, and drinks go hand in hand with laughter.
• Set the tone. Play some upbeat music in the background nothing too loud.
• Add mini challenges. The winner of each round gets to pick the next meme theme or makes the loser do a silly dare.

Before you know it, the night turns into a highlight reel of inside jokes.

The Psychology of Why It’s So Addictive

There’s a reason people can play this for hours it triggers the same instant-gratification loop that social media does. Each round gives you a little dopamine hit: you make people laugh, you feel clever, you want to do it again.

It’s also a great icebreaker. The cards do the heavy lifting for awkward groups you just read, laugh, and bond.

For anyone tired of small talk, this is your golden ticket.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

If you’re new, watch out for these classic slip-ups:

• Repeating the same caption tone. Mix it up sarcasm, irony, chaos.
• Ignoring the judge’s taste. You’re not playing for yourself; you’re playing to win their laugh.
• Dragging rounds too long. Keep the pace fast; it’s funnier when it’s spontaneous.
• Not shuffling captions properly. Bias ruins the surprise.

Fix those, and your game instantly levels up.

What Do You Meme for Families and Work Events

If you love the format but need it PG-friendly, the Family Edition or Office Edition works perfectly. It keeps the humor clean and safe for all ages without losing the fun.

It’s also great for team-building, especially remote teams that need something quick and hilarious to break the ice.

The Verdict: Should You Buy It?

If you’re looking for a game that:

• Doesn’t take itself seriously,
• Makes everyone laugh (sometimes cry-laugh),
• And works in almost any casual setting

Then yes, What Do You Meme? is absolutely worth it.

It’s not about strategy or skill. It’s about connection, humor, and turning viral moments into memories you’ll actually remember.

The Final Laugh

At the end of the night, What Do You Meme isn’t just about winning. It’s about the moments in between the ridiculous captions, the uncontrollable laughter, the shared glances that say “I can’t believe you played that card.”

In a world obsessed with screens, this game brings memes back where they belong with people, not pixels.

So grab a deck, call your friends, and get ready to create the funniest gallery of meme masterpieces your table’s ever seen.