Disclosure

Something we don’t get to play often any more are party games. Not because we don’t want to, but because the current trend is towards games that push the envelope with content. I think you can blame the success of Cards Against Humanity and other copycats that have tried to one-up them. Even classics like Telestrations have been issued in adult-only versions.

A good portion of these games rely on a similar mechanic. Have people put together a phrase and let a “judge” pick the one they like best, awarding the creator a point. This is most famously known as the “Apples to Apples” mechanic, since it was most likely the first game to utilize such a method.

We recently came across a party game that is also utilizing this successful design but putting their own spin on what is required to win. Instead of putting together a phrase or picking a matching word, Utter Nonsense by Utter Nonsense LLC asks players to sound out a phrase in a particular accent!

How does this work? Each player is given a set of seven phrase cards. The “Nonsense Judge” then turns over an accent card from the top of the deck and lays it face-up for everyone to see. Players then check their hand and (attempt) to say the phrase in the accent indicated.

The phrases aren’t short one-liners either. They are longer sentences like:

“Before we jump, you should know that I’m not insured.”

“What do you mean you threw away my toenail clipping collection?”

and “Percy, please pass the purple plum parfait.”

These are funny enough on their own, with some being full-on tongue twisters! But you have to perform it in the accent chosen! You might have to imitate the judge’s favorite cartoon character, channel your inner wookie and speak like Chewbacca or even perform it in rap style.

Once everyone has had the chance to speak (in clockwise order from the judge), the Nonsense Judge picks their favorite (funniest, most accurate, whatever criteria they decide) and awards them the accent card. The first player to amass a total of five accent cards is the overall winner of Utter Nonsense!

We particularly liked the alternate rule included called the “Challenge Rule”. To help combat favoritism, anyone may challenge the judge’s decision once per game and take on that round’s winner in a head-to-head battle. The winning player and the challenger each pick a new phrase from their hand and say it in the same accent. This time everyone else votes to determine who gets the card!

Utter Nonsense supports up to an amazing 20 players, but we found the sweet spot to be 6-10. Enough players to get a lot of variety of answers, but not so many that turns take too long. In all honesty, with the number of cards provided in the Utter Nonsense box, there is no reason you couldn’t split the contents in half and run two games at the same time! Name another game that has that feature without charging you extra!

You can find copies of this Target-exclusive game at Target.com or in your local Target store. While you’re there you’ll notice a “Naughty Edition”, which was the original iteration of Utter Nonsense. We can’t attest to how bawdy it is or isn’t, but if you’re willing to give it a shot let us know how family friendly it is or isn’t!

In the meantime, enter below to win a copy of the family edition of Utter Nonsense for yourself! Remember to come back each day for additional entry opportunities and you’ll be on your way to “Puttin’ the shrimp on the barbie”!

Utter Nonsense Game Giveaway

