New Phone Who Dis? Game Rules & How to Play

New Phone, Who Dis? Your Ultimate Guide to Laugh-Out-Loud Game Instructions

Alright, let's talk about a game that's practically guaranteed to have you snorting with laughter – New Phone, Who Dis? If you've ever found yourself staring at your phone, trying to craft the perfect witty (or hilariously inappropriate) text message reply, then this game is absolutely for you. It taps into that universal experience of modern digital communication, twisting it into an epic battle of wits and absurdity. Forget complex rulebooks and long setups; the beauty of this game is its simplicity and how quickly it gets everyone cracking up.

But before you dive headfirst into a world of questionable texts and even more questionable replies, you probably want the lowdown, right? You want the New Phone, Who Dis game instructions laid out clearly, no fuss, no muss. Consider this your friendly, informal guide to becoming a master of digital banter.

What's the Big Idea, Anyway?

At its heart, "New Phone, Who Dis?" is a party game all about creating the funniest, most unexpected, and often outright wild text message conversations. Think of it like a text-based version of Cards Against Humanity, but with a more modern, relatable twist. You're given a setup (an incoming text message) and your job is to deliver the most side-splitting reply from the cards in your hand.

It captures that awkward, hilarious, and sometimes downright bizarre essence of texting. We've all received a text that made us pause, scratch our heads, or burst out laughing, and this game essentially bottles that feeling. The goal isn't just to be funny, it's to be unexpectedly funny, to craft a reply that takes the conversation in a direction nobody saw coming.

Peeking Inside the Box: What You'll Be Working With

Before we get to the actual gameplay, let's quickly go over what you'll find when you crack open a fresh box of "New Phone, Who Dis?" (or any of its expansion packs, because trust me, you'll want them).

You'll primarily be dealing with two types of cards:

  • White "Inbox" Cards: These are your setup cards. Each white card presents a text message that someone has "sent" to you. These are the prompts, the starting points for your comedic genius. They can range from mundane ("Running late, traffic is a nightmare.") to slightly odd ("Is this a good time to talk about what happened last night?").
  • Black "Reply" Cards: These are your punchline cards. Each black card offers a potential reply to a text message. These are where the magic happens, where you get to unleash your inner comedian. They're often short, punchy, and designed for maximum comedic impact.

That's pretty much it! Simple, right? No dice, no complicated board, just cards and your collective sense of humor. The game is typically designed for 3 to 20+ players, making it perfect for anything from a cozy game night with a few friends to a full-blown party.

Getting the Party Started: Setup Instructions

Okay, you've got your crew, you've got your cards. Now, let's get this show on the road! The setup for "New Phone, Who Dis?" is super straightforward, which is one of the many reasons it's such a hit.

  1. Gather Your People: First things first, get everyone together! The more the merrier with this game, as different personalities bring different comedic styles to the table.
  2. Choose Your "Text Message Sender" (Judge): For the first round, one player needs to be designated as the "Text Message Sender" or "Judge." This person will be responsible for drawing and reading the white setup card and ultimately deciding which reply is the funniest. A common way to pick is for the person who most recently sent a text message to go first. For subsequent rounds, this role usually rotates clockwise.
  3. Shuffle the Decks: Give both the white "Inbox" cards and the black "Reply" cards a good, thorough shuffle separately. You want a fresh mix for every round!
  4. Deal the Black Cards: Each non-judge player should receive 7 black "Reply" cards. The Judge doesn't get any black cards for this round, as their job is purely to judge.
  5. Place the Decks: Put the remaining white and black card decks face down in an easily accessible spot for everyone.

And just like that, you're ready to dive into the hilarity! See? I told you it was simple.

The Flow of a Round: How to Play "New Phone, Who Dis?"

This is where the fun really kicks in. Each round of "New Phone, Who Dis?" follows a simple, repeatable pattern, ensuring everyone gets plenty of chances to shine (or totally bomb, which can be just as funny).

  1. The Judge Draws a White Card: The designated Judge for the round picks one white "Inbox" card from the top of its deck.
  2. The Judge Reads the White Card Aloud: This is crucial! The Judge reads the incoming text message on the white card out loud for everyone to hear. Make sure to read it with a little flair, as if you're actually receiving that text.
  3. Players Choose Their Best Reply: Now it's the other players' turn to shine. From the 7 black "Reply" cards in their hand, each player silently chooses the one they think makes the funniest, most shocking, or most perfectly absurd response to the white card's text message. This is where your comedic timing and understanding of your audience come into play!
  4. Players Submit Their Reply Cards: Once everyone has chosen their card, they place it face down in a stack in front of the Judge. This keeps things anonymous and adds to the suspense.
  5. The Judge Shuffles and Reads the Replies: The Judge collects all the submitted black cards, shuffles them up (to maintain anonymity!), and then reads each reply card out loud, one by one. This is often the point where uncontrollable giggles and outright belly laughs start echoing around the room. The Judge should try to read them in the context of the original white card, just like a real text conversation.
  6. The Judge Picks the Winner: After reading all the replies, the Judge makes the toughest decision of the round: choosing the funniest one! The player who submitted the chosen black card is the winner of that round.
  7. The Winner Claims the White Card (Point!): As a token of their comedic victory, the winning player gets to keep the white "Inbox" card from that round. This card acts as their point for the round.
  8. New Round, New Judge: Discard all the black cards played in that round (unless you're playing with a very small group and need to reuse them). Each player draws back up to 7 black "Reply" cards from the deck. The role of the Judge then passes to the player on the left (or simply rotates clockwise).

Repeat this process, and watch the hilarity unfold!

How Do You Win "New Phone, Who Dis?" When Does It End?

Unlike some games with rigid finish lines, "New Phone, Who Dis?" offers a bit more flexibility in how you decide to end the game. It's often more about the journey of laughter than a definitive destination.

  • Set a Point Goal: A common way to play is to set a target number of white cards (points) to win. For example, "First player to collect 7 white cards wins!" You can adjust this based on how long you want to play.
  • Play for a Set Number of Rounds: You could also decide beforehand to play for a certain number of rounds (e.g., "Let's play 10 rounds, and whoever has the most white cards at the end wins!"). This works well if you have a set amount of time.
  • Play Until You're Done Laughing: Honestly, for many groups, the game just naturally winds down when people have had their fill of laughter, or when it's getting late. If you're having a blast, why stop? In this scenario, there might not be an official "winner," but everyone walks away a winner for having had so much fun.

It's truly about the shared experience and the pure joy of making each other laugh.

Pro Tips for Maximum "New Phone, Who Dis?" Fun

Want to elevate your game night from "pretty good" to "OMG, my sides hurt!"? Here are a few friendly pointers:

  • Know Your Audience: This is probably the biggest tip. Some groups love edgy, dark humor. Others prefer something more silly and lighthearted. Tailor your card choices to the people you're playing with for maximum impact.
  • Embrace the Absurd: Don't be afraid to go completely off the rails with your replies. Sometimes the most ridiculous, out-of-left-field answer is the one that gets the biggest reaction.
  • Don't Be Afraid to Hold Cards: You've got 7 cards. If a prompt comes up and none of your current cards feel quite right, maybe none of them are. Sometimes it pays to discard a few less-than-stellar cards (check your house rules, but typically you'd just keep them for the next round) and hope for better draws. Strategically holding onto a truly golden reply card can win you multiple rounds.
  • Be a Good Judge: If you're the Judge, try to be impartial and pick the card that genuinely makes you laugh the hardest. Don't play favorites! Reading the cards with enthusiasm and good comedic timing also makes a huge difference.
  • House Rules are Your Friend: Feel free to introduce your own house rules! Maybe you allow players to discard one card per round for a fresh draw, or maybe the winner of a round gets to choose the next Judge. Make it your own!
  • Expand Your Horizons: Once you've played through the base game a few times, definitely look into the expansion packs. They add so many new white and black cards, keeping the game fresh and the laughs rolling. Trust me, you'll want them!

Why We Can't Get Enough of This Game

Honestly, "New Phone, Who Dis?" is more than just a game; it's an experience. It's an instant icebreaker for new groups, a fantastic way to reconnect with old friends, and a reliable source of genuine, uncontrollable laughter. It's so easy to learn, so quick to set up, and it taps into a type of humor that's universally understood in our digital age.

So, next time you're looking for a fun, engaging, and utterly hilarious activity for your game night, grab a copy, gather your friends, and get ready to send some truly unforgettable (fake) texts. You'll be glad you did!