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In our process of living and learning, we often ponder: what truly makes life fulfilling? Answers vary—some find joy in bank account zeros, Instagram hearts, or passport stamps. For others, it’s all about mindfulness and gratitude. Happiness is truly a personal journey.
Consider the profound insights of the Harvard Study of Adult Development—a venerable research journey spanning eight decades. Its revelations are striking: the quality of our relationships profoundly influences our emotional well-being and consistently makes people happy more often than wealth or success. Participant’s happiness with their relationships was even shown to impact their physical health.
This revelation resonates deeply for us. Our connections with others are not merely threads of social fabric but hearty veins that weave the tapestry of our overall well-being.
In our digitally connected world, where superficial exchanges abound, have we paused to truly connect? Have we delved beneath the surface to explore the depths of our happiness?
How do we start to build deeper connections?
What Are Conversation Card Games?
Enter conversation decks—a haven for engagement and meaningful exchanges. They serve as gentle reminders to nurture our connections and savor the richness of each moment through play.
Each conversation game has its own details and questions, but each deck is geared towards connection through laughter and vulnerability.
Amidst life’s hustle and bustle, amidst the noise of daily routines and obligations, let’s pause. Let us cherish the bonds we’ve forged and nurture them with intention. Let us delve into conversations that nourish the soul and deepen our understanding of ourselves and others.
Below, we present our curated selection of conversation-starter games—a lighthearted and meaningful way to open mindful dialogue and heartfelt connection. Let us embark on this journey together, one conversation at a time.
1. BestSelf
Best For | Best conversation deck for kids
Price | $25
BestSelf strives to create tools that help people to succeed. Their kids and family “Little Talk” conversation deck is the ideal way to forge deeper connections with kids and enhance every meaningful moment together. If you have been looking for ways to help a child practice self-reflection and identify what they care about, these cards are for you.
BestSelf offers a diverse array of captivating conversation decks, each designed to enrich different aspects of your life—from relationships and icebreakers to dating, family talk, self-discovery, and intimacy. With a commitment to fostering meaningful connections, BestSelf aims to enhance every facet of your life. Additionally, the company prioritizes environmental sustainability by partnering with Nomos, a sugar-cane-based paper company in Colombia, to contribute to a healthier planet.
Conversation Deck Details
- 150 question cards within 6 topics:
- Emotional Intelligence
- Hopes & Dreams
- Likes & Dislikes
- Random
- Reflection
- Self-Expression
- Ideal for kids between the ages of 5 – 14 years old
- The cards are made with sustainably sourced sugarcane paper
What Makes The Cards Unique?
We love how the cards cover several topics that allow kids to express themselves and feel heard. The questions are also open-ended, so you can use the cards on multiple occasions and likely get different answers.
2. Where Should We Begin?
Best For | Best conversation deck for adults
Price | $40
Where Should We Begin was created by renowned couples therapist Esther Perel. You may be familiar with her immensely popular podcast known by the same: Where Should We Begin? With Esther Perel. Following the pandemic, many people were experiencing relationship atrophy and struggling to find ways to connect. The conversation game was created to help people avoid shallow small talk and encourage bringing people together through storytelling.
Conversation Deck Details
- 250 story cards that inspire play
- 30 prompt cards with 12 tokens for advanced play
- A 6-sided die that allows for variations throughout the deck
- Ideal for 2-6 players who are 18+
What Makes The Cards Unique?
Where Should We Begin encourages listening, sharing, laughter, and vulnerability. Its emphasis on storytelling makes the game feel personal and raw while still being approachable. We are big fans of Esther Perel and you can see her unique style shine through in this game.
3. Actually Curious
Best For | Best conversation deck for co-workers
Price | $25
Actually Curious is a socially conscious, Black-owned family business dedicated to fostering emotional connection. The cards are crafted with ethical labor and sustainable paper, reflecting their commitment to both people and the planet. Drawing from insights from psychologists, journalists, and game developers, the Actually Curious card deck game prioritizes empathy and addresses essential topics. With expansion packs including Happy Hour, Culture, and Human Rights, there’s something for everyone. Conveniently sized and portable, it’s ideal for road trips or deepening connections with colleagues.
Conversation Deck Details
- 52 cards
- Card conversation topics include:
- Background
- Values
- Views on important issues like diversity & inclusion, the environment, and mental health
What Makes The Cards Unique?
We admire how the game prioritizes fostering trust and empathy. Actually Curious fearlessly tackles crucial topics, providing a secure environment for vulnerability.
4. Let’s Get Real Bro
Best For | Best conversation deck for men
Price | $30
Let’s Get Real Bro (LGRB) is a conversation deck game designed with men in mind but is playable by all. LGRB is interested in fostering friendship, connection, and personal growth amongst dudes. This conversation deck doesn’t take itself too seriously by bringing in a light-hearted dynamic but subscribes to real talk and takes the journey of deep relationships and self-discovery seriously.
Conversation Deck Details
- 90 question cards separated into three levels (Kinda Real, Pretty Real, and Super F*cking Real)
- Ideal for 1-6 players ages 17+ (There are some swear words)
- The game comes with six dry-erase cards and markers for players to write down their answers
- Each game purchase comes with one free month of therapy from BetterHelp!
What Makes The Cards Unique?
While most of the conversation decks on this list do not use a point system, LGRB does. While this game isn’t really about winning or losing, the points system does remove some pressure off people who are more anxious about having deeper conversations. The game is described as “Cards Against Humanity meets your therapist.” The cards deliver a laid-back feeling with funny questions and icebreakers that can ease the group into deeper conversations.
5. Life Sutra
Best For | Best conversation cards for dating
Price | $35
Created by an American psychologist, Life Sutra’s dating deck provides four categories to guide couples on their romantic voyage. Whether it’s the excitement of a first date or nurturing an established bond, this conversational game is ideal. Life Sutra encourages couples to embark on a journey of personal and mutual growth, highlighting that dating and connection entail not only finding the “right person” but also cultivating self-awareness.
Life Sutra extends its offerings with Couple Connect and Couple Reconnect cards, catering to couples beyond the dating phase. Committed to sustainability, Life Sutra uses FSC-certified paper and plants 50 trees in the US for every tree used in their cards. Furthermore, for each game sold, they donate one meal.
Conversation Deck Details
- There are 4 decks (220 cards total)
- Self-reflection
- Ice breakers
- Explorations
- Deeper connect
- Ideal for 2 players ages 18+
- Developed by an American psychologist
- Life Sutra donates 10% of their income to local food banks
What Makes The Cards Unique?
We admire how Life Sutra’s four card decks walk dating couples through different stages of connection. Knowing who you are and what you are looking for in a relationship is an essential piece of building a strong connection with a significant other. Life Sutra’s dating decks allow people to identify their individual needs and priorities to then build important values and grow closer as a couple.
6. unCURATED
Best For | Best conversation cards for road trips
Price | $35
Handcrafted in Atlanta, unCURATED is a transformative deck of cards crafted with sustainable printing methods. This engaging conversation game is meticulously designed to foster meaningful dialogues and deepen emotional connections by broadening our understanding of ourselves and others.
Conceived by Dr. Cherini Ghobrial, these vibrant cards possess a playful charm that effortlessly eases even the most challenging questions.
Conversation Deck Details
- 50 cards with three rounds of questions
- 16 questions per round
What Makes The Cards Unique?
We admire the addition of the Shared Agreements Card to the unCURATED deck. This card outlines ways to acknowledge vulnerability and create space for everyone to participate before starting the game. This thoughtful addition helps to give every player some stability before diving into serious conversations.
7. Dinner Parties
Best For | Best conversation cards for dinner parties
Price | $29
These petite playing cards are perfect for fostering intimate conversations among friends, family, or partners. Roswell, a small woman-owned business in Australia, is committed to promoting emotional, intellectual, and physical intimacy.
Printed in small batches to reduce paper waste, these cards are made from FSC-certified paper and soy-based ink, ensuring they’re recyclable and eco-friendly.
Conversation Deck Details
- 50 conversation cards
- 4 categories
- Ideal for 2-6 players
- Printed on FSC-certified paper and soy-based ink
What Makes The Cards Unique?
With thoughtfully curated prompts and topics tailored for social settings, this deck encourages meaningful conversations and memorable moments with friends and loved ones around the dinner table. Its focus on enhancing the dining experience sets it apart from other conversation card games, making it an ideal companion for any dinner party or gathering.
8. The Therapy Game
Best For | Best conversation cards for friends
Price | $36
The Therapy Game by The School of Life is a thought-provoking game designed to facilitate meaningful conversations and deeper insights into one’s emotional well-being. It draws upon principles of therapy and psychology to help players explore their thoughts, feelings, and relationships in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. Through a series of cards and prompts, players engage in introspective exercises, share personal experiences, and gain valuable insights into themselves and others. The game aims to promote self-awareness, empathy, and emotional intelligence, making it a valuable tool for personal growth and self-discovery.
Conversation Deck Details
- 100 cards
- Conversation topics cover five categories:
- Work
- Sex
- Relationships
- Anxiety
- self -reflection
What Makes The Cards Unique?
The Therapy Game by The School of Life stands out from other conversation card decks due to its emphasis on therapeutic principles and psychological insights. Unlike traditional conversation decks, which may focus solely on casual or surface-level topics, the Therapy Game delves deeper into personal introspection and emotional exploration. It encourages friends to listen thoroughly and ensure each other is feeling heard.
9. Let’s Get Closer
Best For | Best conversation cards for families
Price | $30
Looking to create cherished memories on a family night? Let’s Get Closer Family Edition, grounded in Positive Psychology, cultivates a warm and inclusive environment where every family member feels cherished. With three tiers of intimacy, select questions that resonate with your comfort level. There’s no right or wrong way to enjoy—Intelligent Change ensures a game adaptable to all preferences, fostering stronger family bonds.
Intelligent Change presents a range of conversation decks, from standard to couples, team, and table talk editions. Crafted from FSC-certified paper, their decks are environmentally friendly, recyclable, and compostable, aligning with the company’s dedication to sustainability.
Conversation Deck Details
- 100 prompt and wild cards
- Created for all family members of any age
- There are three levels of conversation closeness:
- Close, Closer, & Closest
- The prompts are based on family bonding topics
What Makes The Cards Unique?
We greatly appreciate Intelligent Change’s application of Positive Psychology principles to support families in reinforcing essential relationship values, particularly emphasizing the use of positive language. How we speak to one another has such important connections to our relationship strength.
10. The Conversation Cards
Best For | Best conversation cards for raw interactions
Price | $33
Step into insightful conversations with the Conversation Cards, curated by experts, CEOs, and trailblazers featured on The Diary Of A CEO (DOAC) podcast. Dive into topics spanning entrepreneurship, personal growth, and mental wellness. Each card holds a question from a guest, fostering a unique tradition of wisdom-sharing and connection. There are currently two editions, so be sure to check out the second edition after falling in love witht the first.
Conversation Deck Details
- 52 questions from individuals who have achieved immense success and created meaningful stories
- Suitable for 1+ players
- 1 blank card included for you to develop your own thought-provoking question
- The box and cards are made with FSC & PCW certified board and paper.
What Makes The Cards Unique?
Fans of the DOAC podcast will delight in discovering QR codes on the back of each question card, providing access to video responses from the esteemed guests who answered those very questions on the show! We’re captivated by the engaging discussions on the DOAC podcast and enjoyed the opportunity to witness the intriguing responses firsthand.