Quick answer
To win Everyone Else Thinks This Game Is Awesome!, you need to answer trivia questions creatively, bluff convincingly, and strategically assign grad students to other players' answers.
Why bluffing matters more than trivia knowledge
This game isn't about being the smartest person in the room. The core mechanic is writing down an answer that sounds plausible enough for other players to assign their grad students to it. Even if you don't know the real answer, a confident-sounding guess can earn you points.
The twist is that everyone writes their answer simultaneously, then takes turns assigning their limited grad students to the answers they think are correct. You want your answer to attract grad students from others, not just be correct.
Common mistake: being too literal
New players often try to answer every question factually. But if your answer is too obscure or too obvious, other players may ignore it. The best strategy is to write an answer that sounds right but is slightly off, so it's believable without being a sure thing.
Also, remember that you only have a limited number of grad students each round. Don't waste them all on one answer unless you're certain.
How to play and win: step-by-step guide
- Set up the game: Each player takes a set of answer sheets and a pen. Shuffle the question cards and place them face down. Each player also receives a set of grad student tokens (the number depends on player count). Common mistake: Forgetting to count your grad student tokens before the first round. Make sure you have the correct number.
- Read a question aloud: One player draws a question card and reads the trivia question to the group. All players then have a short time (usually 30-60 seconds) to write down their answer secretly on their sheet. Checkpoint: If you don't know the answer, invent something that sounds plausible. A confident bluff is better than leaving it blank.
- Reveal and assign grad students: All players reveal their answers simultaneously. Starting with the player who read the question, each player assigns their grad student tokens to the answers they believe are correct. You can split tokens among multiple answers or put all on one. Common mistake: Assigning tokens too quickly. Wait until all answers are revealed to decide, as some bluffs may be obvious.
- Score the round: The player who read the question reveals the correct answer. Each player who assigned a grad student to the correct answer earns 1 point per token placed. The player who wrote the correct answer earns 1 bonus point for each token assigned to their answer (regardless of correctness). Checkpoint: If your answer is correct, you want as many grad students on it as possible. If it's a bluff, you still want tokens for the bonus points.
- End the game and determine the winner: Play continues for a set number of rounds (typically 8-10) or until the question deck runs out. The player with the most points wins. Common mistake: Not tracking points accurately. Use the score sheet provided to avoid disputes.
Product details
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Everyone Else Thinks This Game Is Awesome!: Released in September 2024, this game was created in collaboration with New York Times best-selling creators Zach & Kelly Weinersmith. The Weinersmiths' background in humor and trivia ensures the questions and bluffing mechanics are well-tuned for a fun party experience.
Everyone Else Thinks This Game Is Awesome!