A party game where you talk about many things.
The Metagame is a social card game about culture that encourages players to share their wildest and most intelligent ideas about everything made by humans – from Hungry Hungry Hippos to the Big Mac, Dirty Dancing to The Electric Slide.
Seven ways to play.
The Metagame has seven different games to play. In the same way that a traditional deck of playing cards lets you play anything from solitaire to poker, The Metagame is like a game operating system with new games invented all the time.
By Local No. 12
I made The Metagame with John Sharp and Eric Zimmerman, as part of our design collective, Local No. 12. Local No. 12 makes games that play with culture.
Origin story:
The Metagame began as a collectible card game about videogame aesthetics for the 2011 Game Developer’s Conference. During the conference, we received so many requests for a full set that we quickly launched a Kickstarter campaign. That first videogame-only edition - and an expansion pack - quickly sold out.
As a follow up in 2012, Local No. 12 worked with art magazine Esopus to create a "culture edition" that expanded The Metagame into art, design, media, and culture outside of games.
Expansions and Editions
There are currently three expansions: Sci Fi, Film 101, and The Games Edition (with Shut Up & Sit Down). There’s also a special limited Queer Edition that was designed for the 2014 Different Games Conference.
Awards and Recognition
The Seriously Good Game Award, Shut Up and Sit Down
The Bernie DeKoven Major Fun Award
Official Selection, IndieCade
Official Selection, XOXO
Official Selection, Boston Festival of Independent Games