I’m an Extrovert, My Boyfriend’s an Introvert, and This Game Saved Our Date Nights

Welcome to Skimm Tested, where we put products to the test and then give them a report card. (Check out all of our tried-and-tested faves here.)

The assignment…

To see if Esther Perel’s viral "Where Should We Begin?" card game ($40) helps create better connections and inspire meaningful conversations. Not to mention put a special twist on date nights.

What I tested...

Renowned couples therapist Esther Perel’s "Where Should We Begin? A Game of Stories." Aka, a game-ified version of her popular podcast of the same name. This game includes 200 cards with fill-in-the-blank statement prompts and a six-sided die to help players shape their story. 

Straight A’s in…

• Ease of play. The game itself is pretty straightforward — which is great for anyone who hates reading instructions (me). First, we rolled the die to see what type of story we should share (e.g. "Share something risky"). Then, we drew a prompt card to kick off our storytelling. That’s it. That’s the game. It’s nearly impossible to play incorrectly.

• Flexibility. This game is intended for 2-6 players, which means it’s — like that one friend in my group chat — up for anything. My boyfriend and I had the most fun when we both answered the same question and compared experiences. (Let’s just say, I learned a lot.) At one point we got into such a groove, we even nixed the die roll and started selecting cards at random. Anything goes.

• Quality prompts. This isn’t the same old “questions” game we all grew up with. These prompts were made to spark, inspire, and get the ball rolling. Which makes them great journal prompts too, btw. Some personal faves are “The first time I saw my parents as human was…,” “My inner critic loves to say…,” and “The most sensual experience I’ve had without having sex…” I especially loved the variety of topics. Some were deep, some were more surface-level, and some were definitely NSFW. You can imagine which one my (now verryyyy chatty) BF liked most.

Room for growth…

• Six-sided “POV” die. This is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it’s nice to have parameters for storytelling. For example, when the die read “Share something surprising” and my prompt card read “A text message I fantasize receiving,” it was easier to narrow down a story. However, on a different round, the die read, “Share something funny” and the card read “A tough conversation I need to have with a friend…,” and it took my boyfriend a while to find a story that satisfied both.  

Works best for…

• Anyone who wants to break the ice with friends, family, or a new partner; have deeper, more meaningful group conversations; or simply try something new for date night. 

Gets extra credit for…

• Paperless instructions. The inside cover comes with a QR code you can scan for instructions and rules. They’re also super easy to follow (or adjust as needed). Mother Nature approves. 

• Gift-worthy packaging. Seriously, you don’t even have to bother wrapping the box if you’re gifting it to a friend. It’s eye-catching, durable, and features tiny specks of gold foil. I’m actually proud to leave it out for guests to see.

How I did my homework…

• I tested the "Where Should We Begin?" card game for two weeks with my boyfriend. We played casually over dinner, and more seriously over the course of a few hours. Were we not entertained? We were. We really, really were.

Footnotes…

• "Where Should We Begin? A Game of Stories" ($40) 

• Comes with 200 prompt cards, one six-sided dice, and scannable instructions

• It’s the second generation, so you can believe those OG kinks have been worked out 

• For 2-6 players, recommended for ages 18+