Karen Board Game
The hilarious party game built entirely around genuine one-star reviews found online. Bluff, guess, and laugh your way through the most unreasonable complaints ever written.
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What's Inside
Karen is a bluff-and-guess party game where players compete to spot real one-star reviews among convincing fakes. Every card features a genuine complaint that someone, somewhere, actually took the time to write.
- ✓3-10 players, ages 14+
- ✓300 review cards with real complaints
- ✓30-45 minutes gameplay
- ✓Three different game modes
- ✓Created by Matt Edmondson
Why Choose Karen
Real Reviews
Every card is based on a genuine one-star review posted online. No exaggeration necessary - real customers provided all the absurdity.
Easy to Learn
Simple rules that can be explained in minutes. Perfect for parties, family gatherings, and game nights with friends.
Three Game Modes
Fill in the Blanks, What's Being Reviewed, and Write the Review - each mode offers a unique way to play and laugh.
Party Perfect
Supports 3-10 players and shines most when people lean into the absurdity. The game rewards creativity and quick thinking.
Everything You Need to Play
Karen comes complete with everything needed for hours of laughter. Quality components ensure a premium playing experience.
- 300 review cards
- 6 Karen face pads
- 6 notepads
- 6 pencils
- 6 star boards for scoring
- 24 gold stars
What Our Customers Say
Based on customer reviews on Amazon
"Love this game. Such a laugh. Couldn't stop laughing the whole way through. It's easy to play you just need to use your imagination!"
Reilly
"A must for squiffy season! Not suitable for kids but hilarious for adults. Good quality cards and budget friendly for a present or stocking filler."
Angel
"Being a real 'Karen' by name, I had to get this for my teenagers. We have had a couple of really fun evenings playing this."
Karen
"It is a lot of fun and the whole family enjoyed it for a get together on holiday."
Susan
"Unusual type of game not played before. Fast paced, various options. Laugh out loud fun to be had with some of the categories. Seriously would recommend Karen but it is for 14 years plus!"
Susan
"I gave this as a surprise gift and sent it to my son. He is in his 20's so the whole TikTok, YouTube trend of Karen videos is something he and his friends send each other. He loved it and so did his friends."
Freddy
About Karen Board Game
Karen Board Game was created to celebrate one very modern phenomenon: the unforgettable one-star review.
Behind the game is Format Games, a UK-based publisher focused on accessible, social party games that work just as well at family gatherings as they do at loud, late-night game nights. The idea for Karen came from scrolling through real online reviews that were so dramatic, unreasonable, or unintentionally funny that they felt like comedy sketches in their own right. Instead of mocking people, the goal was to capture that specific tone - exaggerated outrage, misplaced confidence, and total seriousness over the smallest inconveniences - and turn it into a shared, laugh-out-loud experience.
The result was Karen, a bluff-and-guess party game built entirely around genuine one-star reviews found online. Every card is rooted in something that someone, somewhere, genuinely took the time to complain about. Players are challenged not just to spot the real review, but to write fake complaints convincing enough to fool everyone else at the table.
The Design
From the beginning, the focus was on simple rules that can be explained in minutes, a pace that keeps energy high without dragging on, and humour that comes from creativity and social interaction, not shock value.
Inspired by classic bluffing games like Absolute Balderdash, Karen adds a modern twist by grounding everything in real internet culture. The game rewards quick thinking, social awareness, and the ability to sound just indignant enough to be believable.
The Experience
Karen is designed for players aged 14 and up, works best in groups, and shines most when people lean into the absurdity. It's not about winning efficiently - it's about convincing your friends that your completely made-up complaint might actually have been written by a very real, very unhappy customer.
Today, Karen has found its place as a go-to party game for birthdays, holidays, and gatherings where laughter matters more than competition. What started as a simple idea - "some reviews are funnier than jokes" - became a game that regularly ends with sore cheeks, tears of laughter, and the occasional accusation of being too good at sounding like a Karen.
Karen may be built on one-star reviews, but the aim has always been simple: a five-star night around the table.
Ready to Unleash Your Inner Karen?
Get Karen Board Game and discover who among your friends is best at crafting the perfect complaint.
Shop on Amazon UKFrequently Asked Questions
What is Karen?
Karen is a party game based on real one-star reviews found online. Players attempt to fool each other by mixing fake complaints with genuine, hilariously unreasonable reviews. The goal is to be the first player reduced from five stars to one.
How many players can play Karen?
Karen accommodates 3 to 10 players, making it suitable for small gatherings and larger parties alike. The game tends to shine with 5 or more players, as more participants mean more creative fake reviews and harder guessing.
What age is Karen suitable for?
Karen is designed for players aged 14 and up. The content is based on real reviews and contains no explicit material, but the humour is best appreciated by teens and adults.
How long does a game take?
A typical game runs 30 to 45 minutes. The pacing keeps energy high without overstaying its welcome, and the format allows for multiple rounds in a single session.
What comes in the box?
The box contains 300 review cards, 6 Karen face pads, 6 notepads, 6 pencils, 6 star boards for scoring, and 24 gold stars.
Are the reviews in the game actually real?
Yes. Every review card in Karen is based on a genuine one-star review posted online. No exaggeration was necessary - real customers provided all the absurdity required.
How do the different card categories work?
There are three categories. "Fill in the Blanks" presents a review with missing words for players to complete. "What's Being Reviewed" challenges players to guess what product received a particular complaint. "Write the Review" asks players to craft their own fake review for a given product.
Is Karen similar to other games?
Players familiar with Balderdash or similar bluffing games will recognise the core mechanic. Karen updates the formula with internet-age humour and a focus on consumer complaint culture.
Can players choose which category to play?
Yes. The host selects the category each round, allowing groups to focus on their favourite style of play.
Is Karen meant to be competitive?
The scoring system exists to keep the game moving, but Karen is designed first and foremost to create laughs, stories, and memorable moments around the table.
Do you need to be good at bluffing to enjoy the game?
Not at all. Creativity and humour matter more than skill. Often the worst bluff wins the biggest laughs.
Who created Karen?
Karen was created by Matt Edmondson, a broadcaster and presenter, and is published by Format Games.
Something is missing or damaged in my copy - what should I do?
Contact Amazon customer support with order details and photos of the issue. Format Games is committed to ensuring every customer receives a complete, quality product.
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