Party Game: The Courtly Kiss

💋 The Courtly Kiss: A Playful, LGBT+ Friendly Card Game of Affection and Strategy

Looking for a dignified alternative to spin-the-bottle?
The Courtly Kiss is a flirty, light strategy game perfect for parties where affection, humor, and a touch of playful competition are on the menu.

💡 Why Play Courtly Kiss Instead of Spin-the-Bottle?

• Inclusive by Design: No gendered roles, no forced pairings—anyone can kiss anyone.

• You’re Always Involved: Unlike spin-the-bottle, you never have to sit out to avoid discomfort. Even when you’re avoiding kisses, you’re still playing and making meaningful choices.

• Graceful Opt-Out: The Ice Queen role gives you a stylish, in-game way to pass on kisses without stopping the fun.

• Built-In Agency: You can strategically pursue or dodge kisses based on the cards you play, making the game feel playful but empowering.

• More Suspense, Less Pressure: The outcome isn’t random—it’s a tug-of-war of choices and risks. You always have ways to change your fate.

• Playful Social Balance: Cupid lets you tilt the story in real time—protect friends, stir up drama, or gently challenge each other.

• Flexible Vibes: You can keep it light with hand kisses and air kisses or go spicier depending on the group’s comfort level.

Minimum: 4 players
Recommended: 4–8 players
Materials: One standard deck of playing cards (including Jokers if you’d like to add optional chaos)

---

💌 Quick Flavor Summary:

In the grand halls of affection, each round will reveal the Belle (the one to be kissed) and the Gallant (the one who gives the kiss).
But beware—tied players become Rivals, cancelling each other out and leaving the field to others.

If the Belle and Gallant turn out to be the same person, they are crowned the Enchantress, a rare honor that lets them choose anyone they desire to kiss them—or they may choose to become the Ice Queen, signaling their wish to abstain from a kiss while still remaining gracefully in the game.

And at any moment, a clever player may call upon Cupid to change the course of fate.

---

🎴 How to Play: The Courtly Kiss

📝 Game Setup:

• Minimum 4 players. Works best with 4–8.

• Shuffle a standard deck of playing cards.

• Deal two cards to each player.

• Players must always hold at least two cards at the start of each round.

• Place the rest of the deck in the center as the draw pile.

---

🔁 Game Flow: Two-Phase Rounds

Each round has two parts: Debut and Courting.

✨ Part 1: The Debut – Who Will Be Kissed?

1. Each player selects one card face down.

2. When everyone has chosen, reveal all cards.

3. The player who played the highest card becomes the Belle (the one to be kissed).

4. If multiple players tie for the highest card:

   • They are declared Rivals.

   • Rival cards cancel each other out and are removed from the round.

   • The next highest card becomes the Belle.

   • If more ties occur, keep cancelling until a single Belle remains.

5. Everyone draws one card.
   (If you now have fewer than two cards, draw up to two.)

---

💋 Part 2: The Courting – Who Will Deliver the Kiss?

1. Each player selects one card face down.

2. When everyone has chosen, reveal all cards.

3. The player who played the lowest card becomes the Gallant (the one who gives the kiss).

4. If multiple players tie for the lowest card:

   • They are declared Rivals.

   • Rival cards cancel each other out and are removed from the round.

   • The next lowest card becomes the Gallant.

   • If more ties occur, keep cancelling until a single Gallant remains.

5. Everyone draws one card.
   (If you now have fewer than two cards, draw up to two.)

---

🧊 Special Situation: The Enchantress and The Ice Queen

If the same person is both the Belle and the Gallant in the same round:

• They are crowned the Enchantress.

• The Enchantress may choose anyone at the table to kiss them.

• Alternatively, they may declare themselves the Ice Queen and decline to receive a kiss.

• If they choose to be the Ice Queen:

  • They do not receive a kiss this round.

  • They draw an extra card at the end of the round (as if they had not been kissed).

Ice Queen Advantage:

• In a single future round where the Ice Queen becomes the Belle and has more than two cards, they may play an extra card from their hand to cover their Belle card.

• This allows the Ice Queen to transfer the Belle role to the next eligible player.

• However, another player may still play Cupid on the Ice Queen to reverse this cover and restore their Belle status.

---

🏹 Real-Time Twist: Calling Cupid

Any player with more than two cards in hand may quickly call “Cupid!” before the kiss happens.

• The first player to call it gets to play one card from their hand.

• Cupid can replace either the Belle or the Gallant card.

• The replaced card is removed from play, and Cupid’s card now decides the role.

• Only one Cupid play is allowed per round.

• Important: If you call Cupid, you do not receive an extra card at the end of the round, even if you were not kissed.

---

📖 Rival Example:

Three players reveal:
Player A: 10 ♣️
Player B: 10 ♦️
Player C: 8 ♠️
Player A and B are Rivals → Their cards cancel each other → Player C becomes the Belle.

---

🌟 Drawing Cards:

• Everyone draws one card at the end of each part.

• If you were not kissed at all this round, draw an extra card.

• If you call Cupid, you do not draw an extra card, even if you were not kissed.

• You must always hold at least two cards at the start of each new round.

---

🎯 Ending the Game:

The game continues until everyone has been kissed at least once.

• Once all players have been kissed, play one final round to crown a grand finale Enchantress, if fate allows.

• You can track kisses on a simple sheet or by casual memory.

• Optional: Set a maximum number of rounds (like 10) if you want to limit playtime.

---

🌈 House Rules (Optional Extras):

• The Joker Twist: Add Jokers to the deck. If played as Cupid, the Joker cancels the kiss that round or reverses who kisses whom.

• Public Tracker: Keep a visible list of who’s kissed whom to encourage variety.

• “Dare Kiss” Variant: On the final round, allow the Enchantress to invent a small, courtly challenge for the person they choose to kiss.

---

💖 Why This Game Works for Everyone:

• Agency and strategy: You can avoid or pursue kisses with intention.

• Inclusive by design: Anyone can kiss anyone.

• Funny, flirty, flexible: Adjust the vibe from sweet to spicy.

• Socially balanced: The extra card draw for un-kissed players ensures no one is sidelined.

• Graceful opt-out: The Ice Queen role lets players gracefully avoid kisses without disrupting the game.

---

📃 Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet: The Courtly Kiss

Game Setup:

• 4+ players

• Standard deck

• Everyone starts with 2 cards

Round Structure:

Part 1: The Debut

• Play one card face down.

• Highest card = the Belle (to be kissed).

• Ties = Rivals (cancel each other out).

• Draw one card.

Part 2: The Courting

• Play one card face down.

• Lowest card = the Gallant (delivers the kiss).

• Ties = Rivals (cancel each other out).

• Draw one card.

Enchantress: Same player is both Belle and Gallant = they choose who kisses them.

Ice Queen: An Enchantress may opt to refuse a kiss and become the Ice Queen.

• The Ice Queen may later cover their Belle card to transfer the role (if holding more than two cards). Doing so also loses them the Ice Queen role but they may earn that again.

• Cupid may override this cover.

Cupid: Anyone with 3+ cards can quickly call "Cupid!" to override one Belle or Gallant card. Only one Cupid per round. If you call Cupid, you do not draw an extra card even if you were not kissed.

Rival Reminder: Tied players cancel each other. No kisses happen between Rivals.

Card Flow: Draw up to 2 cards per part. Un-kissed players draw an extra card unless they called Cupid.

Game End:

• Continue until everyone has been kissed at least once.

• Optional final round to crown an Enchantress.

• Optional time limit: Max 10 rounds.