Venns with Benefits: Rules and First Game Setup

Quick answer

Set up Venns with Benefits in under five minutes: shuffle the three card decks, deal each player a hand of fill-in-the-blank cards, and take turns drawing a pair of subject cards to create the funniest Venn diagram connection.

How to set up and play Venns with Benefits

1. Shuffle and deal the decks: Separate the three decks: subject cards, fill-in-the-blank cards, and voting cards. Shuffle the fill-in-the-blank deck and deal 5 cards to each player. Place the subject deck and voting deck in the center of the table. Make sure everyone has exactly 5 fill-in-the-blank cards before starting the first round.
2. Draw two subject cards: The first player (the Judge) draws two subject cards from the top of the subject deck and places them face-up in the center. These are the two 'wildly different things' that everyone must connect. Common mistake: drawing only one subject card. Always draw two — the game is about finding common ground between two distinct items.
3. Each player writes a connection: All players (except the Judge) choose one fill-in-the-blank card from their hand and write a word or short phrase that completes the sentence to create a funny connection between the two subjects. Players place their completed cards face-down in the center. Don't overthink it. The funniest answer often wins, not the most clever one. If you're stuck, think of a stereotype or a shared trait.
4. Judge reads and votes: The Judge shuffles the submitted fill-in-the-blank cards and reads each one aloud. After all cards are read, the Judge picks the funniest or most creative connection. The player who submitted that card earns 1 point. If there is a tie in the Judge's mind, no one gets a point. This encourages clear winners and avoids split decisions.
5. Rotate the Judge and continue: After scoring, the Judge role passes to the next player clockwise. Each player discards their used fill-in-the-blank card and draws a new one to keep a hand of 5. Play continues for as many rounds as you like, or until a player reaches a predetermined point goal (e.g., 5 points). Set a point goal before the first round to avoid endless play. A typical game lasts 6–10 rounds with 4–6 players.

Game components

• Venns with Benefits: The Hilarious Venn Diagram Game: Venns with Benefits is a creative party game that asks players, 'What do these two wildly different things have in common?' Use fill-in-the-blank cards to create Venn diagrams with funny, dark, or simply brilliant connections. The three-deck system (subject, fill-in-the-blank, voting) makes setup straightforward and keeps every round fast, so you can focus on creativity instead of rules.