Erotic Games
Sex games, or erotic games, are cards, dice and board games with dares, positions and questions to play as a couple or with friends. To choose an erotic game, first think about how much time you have and who you will play with, then check the language of the cards.
What are erotic games?
An erotic game is a deck of cards, a set of dice or a board game whose challenges are erotic: positions, kisses, massages, daring questions or small dares. It helps you break the routine, talk about what you both fancy without having to bring it up cold, and make foreplay last longer. Most are designed for two, but there are also versions for groups, hen and stag parties and parties in general. Some come with extras, such as edible body paint, although the game itself is always the main thing.
Types of erotic games
By mechanics and length, erotic games fall into three formats with different purposes. There are also erotic spinners, scratch cards and role-play card games that mix formats.
- Erotic board games: the full format, with a board, counters and cards, for sessions of 60-90 minutes. They are for when you want a whole night and not just a short while. The brands with the most weight are Tease & Please, Diablo Picante, SECRETPLAY and FIERCE GAME.
- Erotic cards: deck format, halfway between dice and a board. Depending on the deck, they give 50-1000 combinations, so a deck lasts months if you rotate it. The brand with the most decks is Kheper Games.
- Erotic dice: the smallest format, for short sessions or as a supplement to another game. You roll, an action comes up and you do it. They are good for getting started without having to set aside time. There are options from SECRETPLAY, Diablo Picante and Kheper Games.
When to choose each format
If you are torn between formats, think about the kind of night you have in mind.
- Tonight, no planning: dice. Nothing to prepare and the mechanics make sense in 5 seconds.
- A whole Saturday ahead: board game. The session has several stages and builds up gradually.
- Something that lasts several nights: cards. With 50-1000 combinations per deck, it won't be used up in a single night.
- Hen or stag party with friends: a board game or daring cards designed for groups, which cope well with an audience. You will find more ideas in hen and stag parties.
- Anniversary gift when you don't know their tastes well: cards or a combined set. If one format doesn't click, there are more than 50 cards inside to try something else.
- Same-sex couple: any format with a specific label, because there are adapted versions of all three types.
- Gentle introduction to BDSM: themed cards or dice. They make it easier to set limits and don't oblige you to finish a session. You will find the equipment in BDSM.
Brands that appear in several formats
Five brands appear in at least two of the three subcategories, and it helps to know what each one offers before you choose.
- Diablo Picante (Spain): by number of games it is third, behind Kheper Games and SECRETPLAY, and one of the most affordable. More than a third of its range is dice, and the rest is board games, spinners and voucher books; it has no card decks. The design is openly spicy, as the name suggests. It suits couples who already know the genre.
- SECRETPLAY (Spain): polished but affordable. It has very complete board games (Mission 69, La Pirámide Secreta, Verdad o Reto, SEXXXZZLE), card decks (Sex Play, Pull & Play, Reto 30 Días) and dice. The finish and the box make them good as gifts.
- Kheper Games (United States): the benchmark for erotic cards. Its Adventurous Sex, with 100,000 combinations, and LUST, with 30,000, are the deepest decks on the market. It also makes board games such as Fantasy Affairs, INTIMACY, SEX and HUMP.
- Tease & Please (Netherlands): specialises in complete board games, with an elegant European design. The truth game Party Edition is one of its best-known pieces.
- Bijoux Indiscrets (Spain): elegant design and gift format. It is stronger in accessories and kits than in games, but it has several card sets for couples.
What not to buy as your first erotic game
There are four purchases that often go wrong the first time.
- An expensive board game without having tried anything from the genre: what you have spent pushes you to finish the session, and that creates pressure. Cheap dice or a cheap deck give you room to see which format you enjoy.
- A bondage or BDSM set as a gift for someone you haven't talked to about the subject: it is more a statement of intent than a thoughtful gesture. The Dados Fetish Submissive or the 50 Positions of Bondage line from Kheper Games only work if you have already talked about it.
- A party game when what you want is a plan for two: El juego de la verdad Party Edition from Tease & Please or Diablo Shots are designed for groups, and on an intimate date for two they break the mood.
- A game in English if neither of you speaks it fluently: Kheper Games usually includes translated instructions, but the cards are not translated. If you have to stop to translate every action, the fun is lost.
What the research says
There are no studies that measure erotic games themselves, but there is something close: doing something new together. In three studies with couples (Muise et al., 2019, J Pers Soc Psychol), doing new activities together that broaden each person's experience was associated with more sexual desire and, through that desire, with more satisfaction in the relationship. It is an association and the study does not look at games, so it does not prove that any particular game will achieve this. It is, though, a good reason to suggest something different from the usual now and then.
How to choose
- Format: dice for a short while, cards for several nights and a board for a long session; the product page says what is in the box.
- Players: check whether the game is for a couple or a group; party games state how many people they take.
- Language: check the language of the cards, not just that of the instructions.
- Theme: positions, foreplay, dares, role play, bondage or versions for same-sex couples. Choose the one you already fancy, not the one that makes you feel awkward.
- Content: number of cards, dares or positions, and extras such as edible body paint or accessories. If anyone has allergies, check the ingredients of anything edible on the product page.
Erotic games: frequently asked questions
Where should we start if we have never bought an erotic game?
With dice or a deck of cards, not a board game. They cost little, there are no rules to learn and, if the format doesn't click, you have lost almost nothing. The Dado de Acción Diablo Picante or the Juego 3 dados SECRETPLAY for couples are the most tried and tested starting points. By your second purchase you will know whether you want more depth (board) or more variety (cards).
What is the difference between Diablo Picante and SECRETPLAY games?
SECRETPLAY has almost twice as many games and is in all three formats (board, cards and dice), with better printing, more polished boxes and more elaborate mechanics, at a slightly higher price. Diablo Picante has fewer and more affordable ones, mainly dice, spinners and voucher books. To play it once, Diablo Picante; to bring it out many times or give it as a gift, SECRETPLAY.
Do they work for couples who have been together for many years?
Yes, and it is one of the most common uses. After years together it helps to skip the introduction or getting-to-know-you cards and look for a real challenge: tricky positions, timed dares such as Chronomasutra or board games with their own storyline. Routine is broken by something that surprises you.
Are there games for couples of two women or two men?
Yes. Diablo Picante has Kamasutra LGBT chicas and LGBT chicos, designed specifically for same-sex couples, and Kheper Games has Lesbian Sex and its Bondage line in cards for non-heteronormative audiences. With a standard set, a couple who are not straight leave a good part of the game unused.
Are they suitable for threesomes or groups?
Yes, if you choose the right format. Group games such as Diablo Shots, El juego de la verdad Party Edition from Tease & Please or Casino boudoir take 3-6 players; classic couples' dice do not, because their mechanics assume two people. For a hen or stag party or a night in with friends, look for a “party edition” game.
How long does an erotic board game last?
Between half an hour and 2 hours, depending on the game. Those from Kheper Games (Fantasy Affairs, INTIMACY) are designed for 60-90 minutes, those from Tease & Please can stretch to 2 hours if played in full and those from Diablo Picante are quicker, at 30-60 minutes. You don't have to finish: you can stop, carry on another night or play just one round.
What language do erotic games come in?
It depends on the brand and the edition, and the product page tells you. Diablo Picante comes in Spanish. SECRETPLAY is usually bilingual, in Spanish and English, or comes with between four and eight languages including Spanish, but several of its games (Sex Play, Reto 30 Días, Chocaddict, Choc & Pepper) also have an edition in French and Portuguese only, which carries “FR/PT” in the name or says so on the product page. From Bijoux Indiscrets there are only some dice with stickers here. With Tease & Please it depends on the game: a little over half come with Spanish, alone or alongside English (El juego de la verdad Party Edition, Misión Íntima, Sexpert, Monogamy and four of the hearts); two hearts do not, one in French and Dutch and another in Italian and German, and they carry this in the name; for the rest the language is not stated, so check the product page and, if it doesn't say, ask before buying. Kheper Games comes in English: those sold in Spain usually carry a sticker with the instructions translated, but the cards remain in English.
What is the most reliable gift in this category?
Erotic cards. They take up little space, cost little and bring many combinations, so they are not used up in one night. The Cartas Kamasutra mini SECRETPLAY with 54 positions are the most reliable gift, and the Cartas del tarot sexual from Kheper Games suit couples with a sense of humour. You will find more ideas in sex gifts.
Are there digital versions or apps?
Yes, but they don't replace the physical game. There are apps that imitate spinners or dare generators and they can be useful to try before you buy. What they lack is the ritual of opening the box, rolling the dice and drawing the card, which for many couples is half the fun.
What should I do if I buy a game and it doesn't click with us?
Change format, keep what did work or give it away. If it was a board game, try dice; if it was cards, try a board. Sometimes out of 50 cards 10 work, and that is enough. It is common for the first one not to click with couples new to the genre, which is why it helps to start with something cheap: the second purchase is usually much more successful.
What is the difference between a sex game and a sex toy?
The game suggests what to do; the toy is what you use to do it. Games are cards, dice and boards with dares and positions, while vibrators, dildos and the like are in sex toys. If you want both together, take a look at packs and kits.
Are there role-play or fantasy games?
Yes. There are games with role-play cards, such as Fantasy Play from SECRETPLAY, and fantasy games that add extras such as edible body paint. They suggest scenes and roles instead of isolated positions, and they are a good excuse to talk about what each of you would like to try. If the game includes bondage or domination, agree the limits and a signal to stop beforehand.
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