Joking Hazard is the offensive, absurd, and hilarious party card game created by the team behind Cyanide & Happiness, the darkly comedic webcomic that has been pushing boundaries on the internet since 2005. Players compete to build the funniest three-panel comic strips by combining illustrated panel cards, creating narratives that range from wonderfully absurd to shockingly dark, with humor that is unmistakably Cyanide & Happiness – irreverent, surreal, and absolutely not safe for work.
What makes Joking Hazard special is how it translates visual comic storytelling into competitive gameplay. Unlike text-based party games like Cards Against Humanity or What Do You Meme?, Joking Hazard uses sequential art to create narrative flow, punchlines, and comedic timing through the arrangement of comic panels. The same panel can be hilarious in one context and fall flat in another – everything depends on setup, sequence, and the twisted logic of comic strip humor.
This guide covers everything you need to know to play Joking Hazard – the complete rules, card types, bonus rounds, winning strategies, and where to buy the game in Canada.
Table of Contents
Joking Hazard at a Glance
| Category | Detail |
| Players | 3–10 players (best with 4–7) |
| Age | 18+ (extremely mature content, offensive humor) |
| Playing time | 30–90 minutes |
| Game type | Party card game – create comic strips from panel cards |
| Objective | Build the funniest 3-panel comic strip to win rounds |
| Deck | 360+ comic panel cards |
| Difficulty | Very easy – can teach in 2 minutes |
| Publisher | Cyanide & Happiness (webcomic creators) |
| First released | 2016 (Kickstarter success) |
| Best for | Adult parties, fans of dark/absurd humor, Cyanide & Happiness fans |
| ⚠ CONTENT WARNING – EXTREMELY MATURE CONTENT Joking Hazard is rated 18+ and contains extremely offensive, vulgar, and disturbing content including graphic violence, sexual content, bodily functions, death, substance abuse, and dark humor. It is NOT appropriate for children, teens, sensitive audiences, or mixed-company gatherings. This game is designed for adults with a high tolerance for shock humor and offensive material. If you are easily offended or prefer family-friendly games, Joking Hazard is NOT for you. |
The Objective – Create the Funniest Comic
The goal of Joking Hazard is to win the most rounds by creating the funniest three-panel comic strips. Each round, one player acts as the Judge and creates a two-panel setup. All other players submit cards from their hands to complete the comic with a third panel. The Judge chooses their favorite submission, and that player wins the round. The first player to win a predetermined number of rounds (typically 3 points) wins the game.
Understanding Card Types – Red vs. Black Borders
Joking Hazard uses two types of cards distinguished by colored borders. Understanding the difference is essential before playing. The table below shows both card types.
| Card Type | Border Color | Function |
| Red-bordered cards | Red border on left side | Can ONLY be used as the first panel of a comic |
| Black-bordered cards | Black border on both sides | Can be used as any panel (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) |
| Total cards in deck | 360+ cards | Mix of red-bordered and black-bordered panels |
The red/black border system ensures that comics always start with proper setup panels and prevents nonsensical combinations. Red-bordered cards are designed to introduce scenarios, characters, or situations. Black-bordered cards can adapt to any position, providing maximum flexibility.
Setup – Dealing Joking Hazard
- Shuffle the entire deck of 360+ panel cards together.
- Deal 7 cards to each player.
- Place the remaining deck face-down in the centre of the table as the draw pile.
- Choose the first Judge (youngest player is traditional, or any method works).
That is it – you are ready to play. Setup takes less than a minute.
How to Play Joking Hazard – Round by Round
Every round in Joking Hazard follows the same seven-step structure. The table below shows the complete round sequence.
| Step | Action | Who Does It |
| 1 | Judge draws a red-bordered starter card and places it face-up | Judge only |
| 2 | Judge draws a black-bordered card and adds it as panel 2 (completing a 2-panel setup) | Judge only |
| 3 | All other players select 2 cards from their hand to submit as potential panel 3s | All players except Judge |
| 4 | Players submit their 2 cards face-down to the Judge | All players except Judge |
| 5 | Judge shuffles submitted cards and flips them face-up one at a time | Judge only |
| 6 | Judge selects their favorite panel 3 as the winner | Judge only |
| 7 | Winner gets 1 point; all players draw back to 7 cards; Judge role passes clockwise | Everyone |
Why Players Submit 2 Cards
The two-card submission rule is unique to Joking Hazard and creates strategic depth. By submitting two potential panel 3s, you increase your chances of winning – one card might appeal to the Judge’s sense of shock humor while the other leans absurdist. The Judge sees all submissions and picks the single funniest one, regardless of who submitted it.
The Judge’s Authority
The Judge has complete authority each round. Their decision is final, and there is no debate or arguing. This keeps rounds moving quickly and prevents the game from dragging. The Judge role rotates clockwise after each round, ensuring everyone gets equal opportunities to judge and play.
Winning the Game
The first player to win 3 rounds (or 5 for longer games) wins overall. When someone reaches the target, the game ends immediately and that player is declared the winner.
Bonus Rounds – Adding Variety
Joking Hazard includes bonus round variations that change the comic creation structure. The table below covers the main bonus round types.
| Bonus Round Type | When It Happens | How It Works |
| Judge’s choice | When Judge’s panel 2 has a red border | Judge picks which player goes first; that player adds panel 3; Judge adds panel 1 |
| Compete for panel 2 | Can be triggered anytime | Players compete to provide the middle panel instead of the ending |
| Reverse order | Creative variation | Work backwards – panel 3 first, then 2, then 1 |
Bonus rounds are optional and can be triggered whenever the Judge wants to mix things up. They are particularly useful when the standard format starts to feel repetitive after many rounds.
Joking Hazard Strategy – How to Win Consistently
While Joking Hazard rewards creativity and humor over pure strategy, certain approaches increase your win rate. The table below covers the most effective strategies.
| Strategy | Why It Works | Example |
| Know your Judge | Different people find different things funny | Play shock value for edgy judges; absurdism for weird-humor judges |
| Subvert expectations | The unexpected punchline wins | Set up wholesome first 2 panels, deliver dark panel 3 |
| Play to Cyanide & Happiness style | The game rewards dark, absurd, surreal humor | Violence, death, bodily functions, existential dread |
| Submit 2 very different cards | Covers multiple humor angles | One shock value, one absurdist – increases win chance |
| Read the flow | Some rounds want story continuation, others want disruption | Continue narrative vs. subvert it entirely |
| Don’t overthink it | First instinct is often funniest | Trust your gut on what’s hilarious |
Joking Hazard Expansion Packs
Joking Hazard has released several expansion packs that add new panel cards to the base game. Popular expansions include:
- Deck Enhancement #1 – Adds 100 new panel cards with fresh scenarios and punchlines
- Deck Enhancement #2 – Another 100 new panel cards expanding the humor variety
- Deck Enhancement #3 – 100 more panels including some of the darkest content in the game
- Toking Hazard – Cannabis-themed expansion with 50+ weed-related panels
All expansion packs are fully compatible with the base game and can be shuffled together freely. For most groups, the base game provides plenty of content for dozens of sessions before expansions are needed.
Tips for Hosting a Great Joking Hazard Session
Set Expectations About Content
Before starting, make absolutely sure everyone in your group is comfortable with extremely offensive, dark, and vulgar humor. Joking Hazard goes further than Cards Against Humanity in terms of graphic visual content. If anyone seems hesitant, choose a different game.
Keep Judging Fast
The best Joking Hazard sessions move quickly. Judges should flip through submissions, pick their favorite, and move on – no lengthy explanations needed. Fast judging keeps energy high and comedy fresh.
Encourage Bold Plays
The funniest comics are often the most unexpected. Encourage players to take risks, try weird combinations, and subvert expectations. Safe, predictable comics rarely win.
Read Comics Out Loud
Some Judges like to narrate the comic panels as they reveal them, adding voices or commentary. This is optional but can enhance the humor, especially when the visual storytelling is particularly absurd.
Play in 30–60 Minute Sessions
Joking Hazard works best in shorter sessions. Playing to 3 points creates a perfect game length. Marathon sessions (2+ hours) can lead to humor fatigue as the shock value wears off.
Where to Buy Joking Hazard in Canada
Joking Hazard is available at Canadian retailers both in-store and online. The table below shows the most reliable sources.
| Retailer | Availability | Price (CAD) | Notes |
| Amazon Canada | Excellent (base + expansions) | $40–60 | Fast shipping, best selection |
| Indigo / Chapters | Good (base game mainly) | $45–65 | In-store and online |
| EB Games / GameStop | Limited | $45–60 | Check online for availability |
| Local game stores | Varies | $45–65 | Support your LGS |
| Walmart Canada | Limited (online mainly) | $40–55 | Inconsistent stock |
The base game typically retails for $40 to $60 CAD. Expansion packs range from $15 to $30 CAD. Buying the base game is recommended before adding expansions – the 360+ cards in the base deck provide plenty of content for most groups.
Joking Hazard vs. Other Party Games
Joking Hazard vs. Cards Against Humanity
Both games use offensive humor and judge-based mechanics, but Joking Hazard uses visual comic panels instead of text, creating narrative flow and visual comedy rather than fill-in-the-blank text humor. Joking Hazard also allows more creative control since you are building sequential stories rather than completing sentences.
Joking Hazard vs. What Do You Meme?
Both use images, but What Do You Meme? pairs single meme images with text captions, while Joking Hazard builds three-panel comic narratives. Joking Hazard requires more narrative thinking – setup, escalation, punchline – while What Do You Meme? is about single-image visual-text pairing.
Summary – Dark Comedy in Comic Form
Joking Hazard is the perfect party game for fans of Cyanide & Happiness, dark humor, and anyone who enjoys pushing comedic boundaries. It translates the webcomic’s signature style – absurd, offensive, visually creative – into a competitive format that rewards timing, subversion, and a willingness to go dark. The sequential art mechanic creates a different kind of humor than text-based party games, and the two-card submission system ensures every round has multiple strong contenders.
Pick up a copy at your nearest Canadian retailer, gather 4 to 7 friends with a high tolerance for offensive humor, and start building comics. The game that brought Cyanide & Happiness to your table is waiting for you.
Internal links: Party & Drinking Card Games – The Complete Canadian Guide | Top 10 Party Card Games for Adults in Canada | Cards Against Humanity: The Canadian Edition Explained | What Do You Meme?: Complete Rules and Tips | How to Play Exploding Kittens: Rules and Tips