What Do You Meme: The Meme-Loving Austin Board Game Experience
In the meme-loving community of Austin board gamers, What Do You Meme stands out as a social and humorous card game that celebrates internet culture. This game takes inspiration from the memes that dominate social media, turning them into a fun and creative competition. Perfect for casual game nights, it’s become a popular option among Austin tabletop games enthusiasts, blending the world of memes with the joy of playing with friends.
The Story Behind the Austin Boardgame What Do You Meme
What Do You Meme was created by Elliot Tebele, the man behind the popular Instagram account @FuckJerry, in 2016. The game capitalizes on the internet’s love of viral memes, with a simple but engaging premise—players combine caption cards with image cards to create the funniest memes.
The success of What Do You Meme mirrors the rise of internet culture, where memes have become a dominant form of communication. Tebele's vision was to bring this digital phenomenon into a physical format, creating a game that could capture the laughter, irreverence, and creativity of the online world. It became an instant hit, quickly spreading across the country, including Austin, where board game nights thrive on fun and interaction.
How to Play: The Rules of Austin Meme Boardgame Creation
Playing "What Do You Meme" is as simple as creating a viral meme, but just as satisfying:
Setup
Each player is dealt a hand of seven caption cards. These are the cards that players will use to write their meme captions.
A deck of image cards (meme templates) is shuffled and placed in the middle. The game requires one person to act as the judge for each round.
Gameplay
The judge selects a meme image card from the deck and shows it to the other players. This could be anything from the infamous "Distracted Boyfriend" to "Grumpy Cat."
The other players choose one of their caption cards to pair with the image, trying to create the funniest or most fitting meme.
The judge reads each caption card aloud and selects the funniest combination. The player who submitted the winning caption earns the image card as a point.
Objective
The goal is to create the funniest meme combination possible and to win rounds by getting the judge to pick your caption. The game continues for a set number of rounds or until players decide to stop, with the player with the most image cards winning the game.
Optimal Number of Austin Tabletop Game Players: More Memes, More Fun
What Do You Meme is best enjoyed with 3 to 20 players, making it a versatile option for small or large gatherings. However, the game is most enjoyable with 4-8 players. This size allows for enough variety in the captions while still keeping the rounds fast-paced and engaging. Larger groups tend to add more variety and hilarity to the game, as more caption combinations can be presented, making it a perfect fit for Austin board game nights where humor and creativity take center stage.
Strategies for Winning: Create the Perfect Meme
Though What Do You Meme is a lighthearted and social game, employing some strategy can give you an edge in winning:
Know the Judge’s Humor:
Each judge has a different sense of humor, so understanding what type of jokes or captions they enjoy can help. Some judges may prefer absurd combinations, while others might lean toward more clever or relevant memes.
Save Your Best Cards:
If you have a caption card that perfectly fits a popular meme image, consider holding onto it for the right moment. Timing your best cards can lead to easy wins.
Use Throwaway Cards Strategically:
Sometimes, you’ll have a hand of captions that just don’t fit the meme image well. In these cases, it’s better to use a throwaway card and focus on drawing new captions for future rounds.
Combine Current Events or Trends:
If you can connect a caption to something that’s relevant to current events, trends, or viral topics, it’s more likely to resonate with the judge and other players.
Play to the Group’s Vibe:
Some groups prefer more wholesome humor, while others lean into the sarcastic, edgy nature of memes. Paying attention to how others respond can help guide your decisions in choosing the best captions for the judge.
Meme Madness in Austin with the Tabletop Game What Do You Meme
What Do You Meme has quickly earned its spot as a favorite Austin board game. Its ability to turn internet culture into a fun, physical party game makes it a staple at game nights, parties, and social gatherings across the city. Whether you're captioning an old-school meme or responding to the latest viral trend, this game ensures laughter and creativity for all.
