If you’ve ever sat in a pub with friends and realised everyone has the sense of humour of a twelve-year-old, Not Safe Four Words is probably the game for you.
Created by Norfolk-based genius Mr C, Not Safe Four Words is a brilliantly silly card game built around one simple goal: making the other players laugh.
Preferably using the rudest phrase possible.
Full disclosure: I know Mr C personally and have spent plenty of evenings in the pub with him over the years. But I also bought my own copy of Not Safe Four Words and this review reflects my genuine experience of playing the game with friends.
How Not Safe Four Words works
There are a couple of different ways to play the game and they’re all straightforward. The Classic Rules in particular are very easy to pick up.
Each player starts with four word cards in their hand. A new card is then turned over from the top of the deck and the player for that round has to combine it with the cards in their hand to create the funniest, filthiest or most ridiculous phrase they can come up with.
If your answer makes the other players laugh, you win the cards from that round. Whoever collects the most cards by the end wins the game.
That’s it.
No complicated instructions. No endless setup. No confusing rules.
Just hilarious chaos.
The words themselves range from mildly rude to genuinely obscene. Some are fairly harmless, involving words like “nuzzle” or “bum”. Others are probably best not repeated on a family-friendly website.
This is very much an adults-only game and isn’t suitable family games night. In fact, it’s probably best played with friends who enjoy Cards Against Humanity-style humour and aren’t easily offended.
The perfect pub game
The Chap and I recently played a few rounds with Mr C at a local pub and within minutes we were all crying with laughter. By the time we left, my face hurt from laughing so much.
Part of the fun comes from how differently people approach it. You can try to be clever. You can aim for maximum shock value. Or you could completely panic and accidentally create phrases so stupid they are even funnier.
It also works brilliantly in a pub because the game moves quickly and doesn’t demand constant concentration. You can chat, order drinks and still jump straight back in without losing track of what’s happening. You just have to be prepared to get some strange looks from other patrons as you all cackle maniacally.
Speaking personally, I’m not usually much of a game person. I’ll normally play one round of something and quietly lose interest. But Not Safe Four Words has an addictive quality where you instantly want another go to see if you can come up with something even funnier next time.
I can already see us pulling it out again with friends over drinks because it creates a silly atmosphere that makes for a genuinely memorable night.
Norfolk-created card game
The cards are high quality and the whole thing comes packaged in a gorgeous box, with artwork by a local graphic designer. It gives the game a polished feel rather than making it seem like a throwaway novelty. In fact, that’s part of what would make it an excellent gift for someone with a daft sense of humour.
It’s also nice seeing a creative project like this come out of Norfolk and successfully make the leap from idea to finished product through crowdfunder backing.
Where to buy Not Safe Four Words
Not Safe Four Words costs £24.99 and is currently available from:
- Langley’s Toy Shop
- Look Twice.
- The game’s website
If you’re in the UK, you can get free shipping using the code SWEDISHSAUCE at checkout.
But maybe don’t open it in front of your grandparents unless you’re prepared for a very awkward evening.
