Romantic games

Everything comes down to the quality of the questions. Good games avoid the magazine-quiz feel and look for subjects a couple doesn’t spontaneously bring up: forgotten memories, hazy plans, things never said. Bad ones line up closed questions answered in three words. When possible, read a few examples before buying.

Structure matters next. Some games offer separate themes — past, future, intimacy, plans — which let you choose the tone of the evening. Others mix everything together, producing odd sequences between a childhood question and a physical dare.

Think about real-world use. Unlike explicit games, a conversation game gets brought out regularly: it ages well because the answers change over time. A set of 100 to 200 cards covers several years without repeating.

Finally, if it’s a gift, check that the box doesn’t announce itself too loudly. Many of these games are given for Valentine’s Day or a birthday and discreet packaging changes how it’s received.

To step it up a notch, see the naughty card games or the naughty dice. The full games range brings all three formats together.