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Welcome to Skimm Tested, a series where we put viral products to the test and give you our honest, unfiltered reviews.
What I tested…
Nothing Left Unsaid card game ($24.99)
Why I tested…
How I tested…
I sat down with my mom to play this card game over a holiday weekend. The family was together, so it felt more natural to discuss large topics. We shuffled the deck and got to playing.
Test Results…
Variety of questions. There are 126 prompts, so more than enough questions to better gauge what someone is thinking and feeling. I asked questions like, “If you have pets, who would you want to care for them?” and “Who should make medical decisions for you if you’re unable?” Some questions felt heavier than others, so if you land on a question that feels too intense for the moment, simply skip. I wanted my mom to feel supported and not pressured to answer. What’s great about this game is that you can control what you ask simply by placing a card back into the deck.
Ease of play. There’s something relaxing about gamifying the situation — as odd as that may sound. We played in the comfort of her home, in her favorite room, with coffee and breakfast present. The entire experience felt more relaxed versus doing something like this in a lawyer or doctor’s office. With other family members around, people were able to chime in or throw a joke into the mix to deflate any moments of fear or anxiety.
Gateway to answers. At the very core, this is a storytelling game. You start with a question, but that often sparks a conversation or anecdote. Allowing her to resurface memories about her own parents and experiences with their deaths helped us discuss what she would want in an end-of-life situation.
Sidenotes…
These questions can trigger emotional responses, so take breaks if necessary. While the questions help prompt and get the conversation flowing, be patient and kind with whoever you’re playing with.
Don’t be surprised if playing triggers an emotional response within yourself. At first, I was so focused on how she was feeling, that I wasn’t considering how I would react to some questions. Asking my mom something like, “Would you like company or prefer to be alone?” made me realize that these are her wishes, and no matter what I think or feel about a certain topic, I need to respect her requests.
The questions are broken into sections like Grief and Support, Legacy and Planning, Comfort and Care, Assets, Liability and Insurance, Reflections and Relationships, and more. My suggestion would be to break up the game since there’s a lot to cover. Go slow, and know that you can always return at a later date.
There are also definition cards to ease the conversation if someone is confused. Some example definitions include ethical will, heir, legacy message, and more. There’s a lot to learn, and terminology shouldn’t be a blocker to the discussion.
The Fine Details…
Live Smarter
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