OBJECTIVE OF FIRST TO WORST: Work together (or compete in teams) to correctly guess the secret ranking one player creates.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2+ players
MATERIALS OF FIRST TO WORST: 300 cards, score pad, game rules
TYPE OF GAME: Board game
AUDIENCE: 8+
OVERVIEW OF FIRST TO WORST
First to Worst is a fun, family-friendly party game where players try to get inside the mind of the Ranker. The Ranker is the one person who secretly orders five items from first to worst. This is a great game to test how well you know everyone who’s playing. It’s simple to learn, full of “wait, you ranked THAT first?!” surprises, and a great pick for game nights with friends or family. Expect debates and plenty of laughs with this one!
Ready to play? Here are the rules for the First to Worst game.
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SETUP FOR FIRST TO WORST
Before we begin playing, let’s set up the game. To set up, place the deck of topic cards in the center of the table.
Then, choose one person to be the first Ranker. You can decide in any way you want (such as next birthday or oldest player). Don’t worry. Everyone will have a turn. The Ranker should take one set of rank cards.
Now, before you draw the topic cards, make sure you have the score pad on hand.
HOW TO PLAY FIRST TO WORST
So, are you ready to play this super fun party card game that both kids and adults will love? Here are the First to Worst game rules.
THE RANKER
The Ranker takes a set of rank cards and draws five topic cards. Place these cards face up in a row so that everyone can read them. Read them out loud as they are flipped. Each card includes random items, such as:
- Nail clippers
- The Grand Canyon
- Singing in the shower
The Ranker secretly orders those five items from 1 (best) to 5 (worst) using the rank cards. Place these rank cards upside down so the other players don’t know how you’ve ranked them. And do not place down the cards in obvious order, such as placing 1 first for the third card on the table.
The fun part is that these items likely have absolutely nothing to do with one another, so you’re going to have to somehow figure out what is best and what is worst in your opinion!
Remember: Keep this order hidden. Absolutely no hints, reactions, or eye contact giveaways!
Tip: If the Ranker isn’t sure what one of the cards means, discard that card and replace it with another topic card.
THE GUESSING GROUP
Now, it’s time to guess and find out how well you know the Rnaker. Everyone else works together to discuss and agree on the order they think the Ranker chose.
You must submit a single group answer by placing the other rank cards above the five topic cards, placing a 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 above each topic in the way you believe the Ranker ranked the cards.
This may involve logical thinking, wild assumptions, or light-hearted arguing about what you think the Ranker prioritizes most.
THE REVEAL
Once the group locks in their guess, the Ranker reveals the true order by flipping over their rank cards.
Score as follows:
- Every correct guess = 1 point for the group
- Every wrong guess = 1 point for the game
NEXT ROUND
After scoring, the role of Ranker passes to the next player clockwise.
Play as many rounds as you like or until everyone has been the Ranker the same number of times.
END OF GAME
After the chosen number of rounds, tally all points.
The objective? Win more points than the game! Another way to keep track of the points is to subtract a point for every wrong guess, with the objective of having a positive score by the end of the game. How you play is up to you.
OPTIONAL TEAM VARIATION (MORE COMPETITIVE)
If you want a more competitive twist instead of everyone collaborating, divide the group into two or more small teams (2–3 players per team).
Then, play as normal. However, each team comes up with their own guesses for each Ranker’s rankings. Score points for each correct answer.
Playing in this manner, you’re basically playing a parlor game called Personal Preferences.
FIRST TO WORST GAME STRATEGIES
Here are some strategies to keep in mind when playing First to Worst:
- Play the Ranker, not the list: What would they choose first or last?
- Use the extremes: It’s usually easier to identify what someone might rank #1 or #5 before figuring out the middle spots.
- Don’t overthink it: Sometimes the most obvious choice really is the right one.
FIRST TO WORST EXPANSIONS AND ADD-ONS
Love playing First to Worst? Here are some expansions you should consider getting:
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- RANK WHAT MAKES YOUR HEART GLOW - In this engaging collaborative game, players...
- THE RANKER secretly ranks five random things from 1 to 5. Then, as a team, the...
- FIRST TO WORST: COUPLES CONNECTION is the ultimate game of polarizing priorities...
- LEARN ABOUT YOUR PARTNER & FRIENDS! In this fun head-to-head game, players try...
- THE RANKER secretly ranks five random things from 1 to 5. Then, the other player...
- FIRST TO WORST: HOLIDAY EDITION - This all-new family-friendly edition of First...
- RANK WHAT MAKES YOU JOLLY - In this engaging collaborative game, players try to...
- THE RANKER secretly ranks five random things from 1 to 5. Then, as a team, the...
- FIRST TO WORST is the ultimate multi-generational game of polarizing priorities!...
- In this fun collaborative game, players try to get into each others' heads by...
- THE RANKER secretly ranks five random things from 1 to 5. Then, as a team, the...
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