what do you meme rules
What Do You Meme? is a popular adult party card game where players pair hilarious captions with photos to create the funniest memes possible. Mastering its straightforward rules can turn any game night into non-stop laughter, especially as the game has evolved with expansions and house rules shared across forums in recent years.
Core Setup
The game supports 3-7 players (ideal for 4-6) and includes Photo Cards (meme-worthy images), Caption Cards (witty phrases), and an optional easel for display.
Each player starts with 7 Caption Cards dealt from the deck—think blank- slate humor waiting for the perfect picture match.
Determine the first judge playfully: official rules suggest whoever has the most Instagram followers, but groups often pick randomly or clockwise.
Round-by-Round Play
Here's how a typical round unfolds in this creativity-fueled showdown:
- Judge Draws and Reveals : The judge pulls a Photo Card and places it face-up (on the easel if using one) for everyone to see—imagine a ridiculous stock photo begging for sarcasm.
- Players Submit Captions : Non-judges secretly pick one Caption Card from their hand that they think pairs hilariously with the photo, submitting it face-down to the judge.
- Judge Shuffles and Reviews : The judge mixes submissions, reads each aloud (pairing with the photo), and picks the funniest combo —subjectivity reigns, often sparking debates and roars of laughter.
The winner snags the Photo Card as 1 point ("meme point"), and everyone draws back up to 7 Caption Cards.
Judge role passes clockwise for the next round—keep rotating until the deck runs low or you hit a point goal (often first to 7-10).
Winning and Game End
Play until someone collects the most Photo Cards, or set a round limit (e.g., full deck depletion).
Pro Tip : Ties? Judge breaks them, or award to all—no mercy for close calls!
Bonus Twists for Extra Fun
Players love customizing, as forum discussions highlight since the game's 2016 launch:
- House Rules : Use personal phone photos for real-life roasts, or add "bonus points" for clever pop culture ties.
- Expansions : New packs like Family Edition tone down edge for broader play, with kid-safe captions.
- Speed Rounds : Time submissions (30 seconds) to amp chaos, a trending variant in 2025 game nights.
"The judge selects the funniest caption card based on humor, creativity, and sometimes how well it ties into the meme card or real-life references. There’s no wrong answer—just what makes the whole group laugh the most!"
Common Pitfalls and Forum Insights
Reddit's r/memes and board game threads warn against overused templates in inspired play, but for What Do You Meme?, the focus stays on fresh pairings.
Avoid incomplete hands—always refill, or risk weak submissions that tank your score.
Trending Context (Feb 2026) : With viral TikTok challenges reviving the game post-holidays, groups mix in AI-generated photos for modern twists, per recent forum buzz—keeps it fresh amid 2025's social media fatigue.
Quick Comparison: Official vs. Popular Variants
Aspect| Official Rules 13| Popular House Rules 10
---|---|---
Judge Selection| Most IG followers| Random or clockwise
Photo Source| Deck only| Phones/personal pics
Scoring| 1 point per win| Bonuses for themes
Rounds| Until deck ends| Fixed (e.g., 10)
Players| 3-7| 2+ with teams
TL;DR : Judge picks photo, others submit captions, funniest wins the card—rotate, repeat, laugh endlessly.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.