How to Play the Red Flags Board Game

The board game Red Flags “The Game of Terrible Dates” is one for the adults of the family. That said, it was our teenage daughter who picked it out and all of us have enjoyed playing the game.

It’s an Apples to Apples style game with a twist. It’s cleaner than Relative Insanity and Cards Against Muggles.

Let’s get into Red Flags and learn the rules, how to play and what makes this game different than the others.

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How to Set Up Red Flags

First, the game has white cards (good things) and red cards (not so good things). To start, pick one player to be the single. This player will be the first judge. Now all other players will take three red cards and four white cards.

Playing Red Flags

Once you’re all set up, each player will choose one of the white cards to describe a date for the single player. You should choose your card based on what you know about the single. Does she like fairly tale romances? Then “lives in a castle” might be a good card. Is she an animal lover? The “owns 100 horses” might be the perfect thing. Or what if he’s really into fitness? Then a date who is a “spin instructor” might be the best card.

Once the white cards have been chosen, everyone, one at a time, presents their date to the single. The single listens and considers the options.

Now, each player gets to place a red card or a Red Flag on the player’s to their left’s date. For example, the date who lives in a castle might “never stop paying the ukulele.” The date with the 100 horses might “greats you with a headbutt.” And the spin instructor might “regularly hosts tea parties for dolls.” Again, players should use what they know about the single. If the single loves technology, “lives off the grid” might be a deal breaker.

Once everyone has thrown the dirt, it’s time to debate. Players can argue why their date is still the best choice or why someone else’s is a “must not.” The single has to choose the best, or least awful, date who they would consider dating long-term.

The player whose date is selected, gets to keep their Red Flag card as a point. These cards will be used to keep track of the score. All other cards are discarded.

Round Two

Now, the single position rotates to the left. All players discard all of the cards in their hands. All players but the single draw 3 red cards and 4 white cards. The process starts over, but you need to keep your new single’s preferences in mind as you choose.

There are cards that have blanks on them for you to fill in. For example “is a professional____” is a white card. You can fill in the blank with anything that your single would like. There are also red cards with blanks like “Has ____ for hands.” Again, you can fill it in with anything that you know your single would not like.

Winning Red Flag

In a short game, everyone gets to be the single twice. The player with the most Red Flag cards at the end of the rounds is the winner.

If you’d like to play a longer game, playing until someone wins 7 Red Flag cards is a great length.

The instructions say also that you can simply keep playing until “none of you want to go on a date ever again.”

What We Like

First, we are fans of the Apples to Apples style of game. Next, this game is simple to learn. It really takes only, what, 30 seconds to learn how to play. Next, the quality is top notch and the box is the perfect size—no wasted space but the cards don’t get squashed and they’re not hard to get out. Last, the fact that you start each round with new cards is great. One of the draw backs from some of the other games like this is if you get stuck with a card that you don’t like, then you’re down a card for the rest of the game. This game solves that issue.

What We Don’t Like

Well, I guess I would have to say that as a family game, it’s not a perfect fit. We played when the girls were younger and they just weren’t quite old enough. Now that they are older, it was fine but they said it was a little odd to pick dates for their parents who’ve been together for 30 years. Both girls have played with friends and loved the game.

The only other thing would be that the debating can get a little lengthy with the same things being said. We put a time limit on it and that fixed it when needed.

Should you Add Red Flags to your Family Game Shelf?

The answer to this is a little two parts. First, as a family game, no. But as an adult game, especially for those in the dating world, then yes we would recommend this game. It would make a great Galantines Day or Valentine’s Day game too!

To get your copy of Red Flags, shop here; Canadians here.

For more fun try out the Apples to Apples Jr edition here. Be sure to visit the Family Game Shelf shop for tons of fun with seasonal and original games like our Valentine’s Games and more!

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