Unleash Hilarious Creativity: How to Play Consequences, Step-by-Step

Consequences is a classic party game that’s guaranteed to bring laughter and unleash surprising stories. It’s a collaborative writing game where each player contributes a line or phrase to a developing narrative, without knowing what the other players have written. The result is often a delightfully absurd and unexpected tale. This guide will provide a detailed, step-by-step breakdown of how to play Consequences, ensuring a fun and engaging experience for everyone involved.

What is Consequences?

At its core, Consequences is a game of chance and collaborative storytelling. Players take turns writing specific parts of a story on a piece of paper, then folding the paper over to conceal their contribution before passing it to the next person. Because no one knows what the previous players have written, the story unfolds in a completely unpredictable and often hilarious way. The final story is then read aloud, revealing the surprising and often nonsensical consequences of each player’s contribution.

Why Play Consequences?

Consequences is more than just a game; it’s a fantastic way to:

* **Spark Creativity:** The game encourages creative thinking and imaginative writing, even for those who don’t consider themselves writers.
* **Promote Laughter:** The unpredictable nature of the story inevitably leads to humorous and absurd situations.
* **Foster Collaboration:** Although players write independently, they are contributing to a shared narrative, fostering a sense of collaboration.
* **Break the Ice:** Consequences is a great icebreaker game for parties and gatherings, helping people to relax and connect.
* **Enjoy Screen-Free Fun:** In a world dominated by screens, Consequences offers a refreshing alternative for entertainment.

Materials You’ll Need

Playing Consequences requires minimal materials:

* **Paper:** Several sheets of paper, one for each story you want to create.
* **Pens or Pencils:** Enough for each player to have one.
* **Players:** At least three players are recommended for a good game, but the more, the merrier!

Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Play Consequences

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to play Consequences, including variations and helpful tips:

**Step 1: Setting Up the Game**

1. **Gather Your Players:** Assemble your group and explain the basic premise of the game. Make sure everyone understands that the goal is to contribute to a story without knowing what others have written.
2. **Distribute Supplies:** Give each player a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil.
3. **Determine the Story Prompts:** Before you begin, decide on the specific prompts you’ll use for each turn. A standard set of prompts is listed below, but you can customize them to fit your group’s interests and sense of humor.

**Step 2: Standard Story Prompts (The Traditional Sequence)**

This is the most common and widely used sequence of prompts for Consequences. It’s a reliable framework that produces consistently amusing results:

1. **Write a Name (Man):** The first player writes the name of a man. This can be a real person, a fictional character, or even a funny made-up name. Fold the paper over to conceal the name.
2. **Write a Name (Woman):** The second player writes the name of a woman. Again, this can be real, fictional, or made-up. Fold the paper over.
3. **Where They Met:** The third player writes the place where the man and woman met. Be creative! It could be a romantic beach, a bustling supermarket, or even a bizarre location like a penguin sanctuary. Fold the paper over.
4. **He Said:** The fourth player writes something the man said to the woman. This could be a cheesy pickup line, a profound declaration, or something completely random. Fold the paper over.
5. **She Said:** The fifth player writes something the woman said in response to the man. This should be a reply to the previous statement, but it doesn’t have to be logical or romantic. Fold the paper over.
6. **What He Gave Her:** The sixth player writes what the man gave the woman. It could be a gift, an object, or even something abstract like his heart or his attention. Fold the paper over.
7. **What She Said:** The seventh player writes what she said after receiving the gift. This should be a reaction to the gift, but again, it doesn’t need to make perfect sense. Fold the paper over.
8. **The Consequence:** The eighth player writes the consequence of their meeting and actions. This is where the story takes a turn, and the result of the encounter is revealed. It could be a happy ending, a tragic event, or something completely absurd. Fold the paper over.
9. **The World Said:** The ninth and final player writes what the world said about the event. This is often a humorous or philosophical observation about the whole situation. Fold the paper over.

**Step 3: Playing the Game – Turn by Turn**

1. **The First Player:** The first player writes their response to the first prompt (e.g., the name of a man) at the top of their paper.
2. **Folding the Paper:** After writing their response, the player folds the top of the paper over to conceal what they’ve written. Make sure to fold it well so that the next player cannot see the previous response. The player then passes the paper to the player on their left (or right, as agreed upon beforehand).
3. **The Next Player:** The next player receives the paper and writes their response to the second prompt (e.g., the name of a woman) below the fold. They then fold the paper again to conceal their response and pass it on.
4. **Continue the Process:** This process continues until all players have had a chance to respond to all the prompts on their paper. Each player writes, folds, and passes the paper until it returns to the original player.

**Step 4: Reading the Story Aloud**

1. **Unfold the Paper:** Once a paper returns to the original player, they unfold it completely.
2. **Read the Story:** The player then reads the story aloud, revealing the surprising and often hilarious consequences of each player’s contribution. Read each line in order, as it appears on the paper.
3. **Enjoy the Laughter:** Be prepared for laughter and amusement as the story unfolds. The combination of different writing styles and unexpected twists will likely create a truly unique and memorable tale.

**Step 5: Repeat and Vary!**

* **Play Again:** After reading one story, collect the papers and start a new round with new prompts or the same prompts for a different outcome.
* **Vary the Prompts:** Experiment with different prompts to keep the game fresh and interesting. See the section below for alternative prompt ideas.

Alternative Story Prompts and Variations

To keep the game exciting, try these variations and alternative prompt ideas:

* **Character-Focused:**
1. Character’s Name
2. Character’s Age
3. Character’s Occupation
4. Character’s Biggest Fear
5. Character’s Secret Desire
6. Character’s Catchphrase
7. Character’s Greatest Achievement
8. The Unexpected Event
9. The Character’s Reaction
10. The Moral of the Story

* **Adventure-Focused:**
1. The Hero’s Name
2. The Destination
3. The Obstacle
4. The Magical Item
5. The Villain
6. The Hero’s Strategy
7. The Villain’s Weakness
8. The Battle
9. The Outcome
10. The Reward

* **Mystery-Focused:**
1. The Victim
2. The Crime
3. The Suspect
4. The Clue
5. The Detective
6. The Motive
7. The Alibi
8. The Chase
9. The Reveal
10. The Justice

* **Location-Based:**
1. The Location
2. The Time of Day
3. The Weather
4. The Strange Sound
5. The Unexpected Visitor
6. The Discovery
7. The Secret
8. The Danger
9. The Escape
10. The Lasting Impression

* **Abstract Concepts:** This variation encourages more imaginative and philosophical responses.
1. A Feeling
2. A Color
3. A Sound
4. A Taste
5. An Emotion
6. An Idea
7. A Question
8. A Fear
9. A Hope
10. The Meaning of It All

* **Mad Libs Style:** Create prompts with blanks that players fill in with specific types of words (noun, verb, adjective, adverb). For example:
1. The [Adjective] [Noun]
2. [Adverb] [Verb] over the
3. The [Noun] was filled with
4. Suddenly, a [Adjective] [Noun] appeared
5. It [Verb] with great [Noun]

* **Theme-Based:** Choose a specific theme, like science fiction, fantasy, or historical fiction, and tailor the prompts to fit that theme. This can add another layer of creativity and coherence to the stories.

* **Adding Dialogue Tags:** To make the dialogue more engaging, include dialogue tags like “He exclaimed,” “She whispered,” or “They shouted” after each line of dialogue.

* **Picture Prompts:** Instead of written prompts, use pictures as inspiration. Each player looks at the previous player’s picture and writes a sentence or phrase inspired by it. This variation can be especially fun for visual thinkers.

* **Character Traits:**
1. Adjective to describe the man’s personality.
2. Adjective to describe the woman’s personality.
3. An unusual habit of the man.
4. A secret fear of the woman.
5. A ridiculous object the man is carrying.
6. A place the woman dreams of visiting.
7. A thing the man is surprisingly good at.
8. A thing the woman is surprisingly bad at.
9. A shared hobby they both enjoy.
10. The comical misunderstanding that arises.

Tips for Playing Consequences Successfully

* **Encourage Creativity:** Emphasize that there are no right or wrong answers. The more creative and imaginative the responses, the funnier the stories will be.
* **Keep it Concise:** Encourage players to keep their responses relatively short and to the point. This will help maintain the flow of the game and prevent the stories from becoming too convoluted.
* **Fold Carefully:** Make sure that the paper is folded properly after each turn to prevent players from accidentally seeing the previous responses.
* **Read Clearly:** When reading the story aloud, speak clearly and with enthusiasm. This will help bring the story to life and make it more engaging for everyone.
* **Don’t Take it Too Seriously:** Consequences is meant to be a lighthearted and fun game. Don’t worry about making perfect sense or creating a literary masterpiece. Just relax and enjoy the process.
* **Adapt to Your Audience:** Adjust the prompts and variations to suit the age and interests of your group. For example, if you’re playing with children, you might want to use simpler prompts and avoid potentially sensitive topics.
* **Set a Time Limit:** If you have a large group or want to keep the game moving, consider setting a time limit for each turn. This will help prevent players from overthinking their responses and keep the game engaging.
* **Embrace the Absurdity:** The best Consequences stories are often the most absurd and nonsensical. Encourage players to embrace the randomness and let their imaginations run wild.
* **Mix Up the Order:** Change the order of the prompts to create different story structures and outcomes.
* **Pre-Write Prompts:** If you’re playing with a group that’s unfamiliar with the game, consider pre-writing the prompts on separate slips of paper. This will help streamline the process and prevent confusion.

Consequences as a Learning Tool

While primarily a game for entertainment, Consequences can also be a valuable learning tool, particularly for:

* **Creative Writing:** It encourages experimentation with different writing styles and prompts creative thinking.
* **Language Development:** It helps improve vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure.
* **Storytelling Skills:** It introduces the basic elements of storytelling, such as plot, character, and setting.
* **Collaboration and Teamwork:** It fosters collaboration and teamwork skills as players contribute to a shared narrative.
* **Critical Thinking:** It encourages critical thinking as players try to anticipate the potential consequences of their actions.

Conclusion

Consequences is a simple yet incredibly entertaining game that can bring joy and laughter to any gathering. Its collaborative nature, combined with the element of surprise, makes it a unique and memorable experience. By following these step-by-step instructions and experimenting with different variations, you can unlock the full potential of this classic game and create countless hours of fun. So gather your friends, grab some paper and pens, and prepare to unleash your collective creativity with the hilarious game of Consequences! Whether you stick to the traditional prompts or venture into more creative territories, the possibilities are endless, and the laughter is guaranteed.