Drug use, personal demons, wild episodes, and more. Side Effects is a "take that" card game where players race to treat all the diseases in their psyche with medication and therapy.
Players start with four disease cards dealt face up in front of them (their "psyche") and then four cards in a concealed hand. Players take turns picking up cards from the deck and trying to find the right drugs to treat their diseases. A drug card will treat a disease but also leave the player open to receiving new diseases (of that drug's list of side effects) from other players.
Each disease card has a unique punishment written on it and episode cards will trigger these punishments. Play an episode card on another player to hinder them or help yourself.
The game is over when one player treats all of the diseases in their psyche.
WARNING: Choking Hazard. Small Parts Not for Children under 3 yrs.
"Please ignore the 1 star review and think about buying this game. It’s the best card game I’ve ever played and super fun. It’s intense, silly and quite comedic. Nothing in life is meant to be serious and this game isn’t meant to be serious. It has little pamphlet inside talking about awareness and we all deal with the stuff involved in this game."
— Meowpaws (5/5)
Medical professionals will get a kick out of this
"I noticed the box and given its fall thought this might be a fun pick up while visiting family and my 13year old niece loved it - she wanted everyone to play"
— ALing (5/5)
Incredibly distasteful game.
"Really not how mental health issues should be treated. If you are going to buy it, I would consider who you play it with very carefully. You may just loose friends as well as the game."