This Card Game Is My New Favorite Way to Bond with Friends and Family

I don’t know about you, but over the past two years, I’ve felt really disconnected from my friends and family. Please don’t be misunderstood: My phone is constantly pinging with funny text messages from friends and my log of FaceTime calls with loved ones goes on for days. But with the world being as it is, I’ve found our conversations… lacking. I love a good catch-up and a heart-to-heart, but lately, many of my conversations (both virtually and in-person) haven’t been as deep as they once were. A sign of the times, I guess. So when I heard about beauty brand Alleyoop’s new card game In the Loop — a game designed to help you connect — I was more than excited to give it a try.

Inspired to design an experiential game to keep you connected and grateful for those around you, In the Loop is the brainchild of Alleyoop’s founder Leila Kashani. “We often get carried away living our busy lives, that we seldom stop to check in with ourselves and with others, and after a year like last year, we could all use more positive vibes,” she says. “So, we created this game to get you reflecting on all the good things you’ve experienced, promote a deeper bonding, have some fun, and learn new things about one another.”

So how do you play? First of all, it takes a minimum of two to tango. Start by placing the shuffled deck in the center of the group. The person who recently had a birthday picks first. For each Connect Card, the player decides if only they answer or if the whole group does, too. For each Make Moves Card, the player who selected must perform the task for the group. Each deck comes with 100 cards: 80 Connect Cards that spark fun, meaningful conversations and 20 Make Moves Cards, aka action cards to be performed for some extra fun, laugh-till-you-cry moments!

The first time I played this game was on a trip to visit my best friend who I hadn’t seen in four years. While we talk constantly, we found that while playing this game we not only had some of the deepest conversations we’ve had in a while, but we learned a heck of a lot about each other. In fact, we ended up staying up until the wee hours of the morning laughing, bonding, and reconnecting. But the thing we both agreed that we loved about this game is that all the questions are positive: Your conversations will get deep, but none of these prompts will make them go dark — we could all use a little light, no?

Small and compact, this fun card game costs only $20, making In the Loop a great, affordable addition to your game collection and a must-have for your next holiday get-together. So if you’re ready to end the year on a high note and get back in the loop with the ones you’re closest to, pick up In the Loop today. Psst! It also makes an awesome stocking stuffer!

Buy now: In the Loop, $20