Matthew Inman, the creative mind behind The Oatmeal & co-creator of Exploding Kittens, has unveiled his latest project: Horrible Therapist. This new card game brings a twisted spin to the popular prompt-and-answer format, inviting players to explore the darker corners of comedic scenarios set in a therapist’s office.
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Game Mechanics & Content
Horrible Therapist’s gameplay revolves around creating hilarious & often outrageous comic strips. The game begins with a designated “therapist” selecting a question card, such as “Why are you so anxious today?” Players then respond with answer cards, which might include statements like “I ran over a priest with my car.” The final touch comes from “treatment” cards, offering responses that range from the absurd to the inappropriate.
The game’s content is decidedly mature, with Inman drawing inspiration from his own experiences in therapy. He explains, “During sessions with my therapist, I often found myself having intrusive thoughts… Despite being horrible & strange, intrusive thoughts are totally normal… So rather than keep these terrible images to myself, I turned them into a card game.”
Artistic & Comedic Value
Horrible Therapist boasts an impressive 480 panels of artwork, allowing for countless combinations & replayability. Inman describes the game as “basically my neuroses channeled into a horrible, hilarious game.” This approach ensures that each playthrough offers a unique & potentially side-splitting experience.
Availability & Editions
Currently, the Extra Horrible Edition of Horrible Therapist is available exclusively on Amazon, priced at $24.99. For those who prefer their humor a bit less risqué, a tamer version is slated for release in 2025.
Target Audience & Comparisons
Clearly aimed at mature audiences, Horrible Therapist embraces an edgy & taboo-breaking style of play. While it may share some similarities with family-friendly games like Apples to Apples, it’s more accurately compared to the irreverent humor of Cards Against Humanity. The game’s content makes it unsuitable for younger players or those easily offended.
Despite its provocative nature, Horrible Therapist is designed with party play in mind. Games are quick, lasting about 15 minutes, & can accommodate up to eight players. This combination of brevity & capacity makes it an ideal choice for gatherings & game nights.
As party game enthusiasts eagerly add Horrible Therapist to their collections, it’s clear that Matthew Inman has once again tapped into the zeitgeist of adult humor. By transforming the often serious setting of a therapist’s office into a playground for dark comedy, Inman has created a game that promises to generate laughter, shock, & memorable moments in equal measure.
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