Colorful: A Party Game Where Perception is Everything

There’s a moment in Colorful where you look around the table, hold up a bright orange card, and ask, “This is definitely the color of cheddar, right?” What follows is usually laughter—or a heated debate. That’s the charm of this clever little party game from Jordan Draper Games. It’s quick, quirky, and taps into the strange and subjective world of how we see color.

My family discovered Colorful a year or so ago and it’s the game that often gets pulled out when there’s no time to play (or learn) something more complicated. As well, you can play with up to 6 players which is a bonus when there’s a big crowd.

What Is It?

Colorful is a compact party game for 2 to 6 players that lasts about 15 minutes. The rules are refreshingly simple. Players try to match colors based on categories and clues, revealing just how differently we all interpret the world. It’s the kind of game where you learn that your friends think “the color of envy” is purple, not green—and they’ll argue that point with confidence.

The game is a reimagining of Match Me! by Japanese designer Ohtani Tadashi. Jordan Draper brought it to a wider audience with updated components and multiple rule variants. At its heart, Colorful is about one thing: getting inside someone else’s head and seeing color through their eyes.

Who’s It For?

Colorful is a social game with an possible age range of 6+ although it claims to be more suited to adults. It works best with groups that enjoy casual conversation, light competition, and moments of surprise. It doesn’t demand strategy or deep tactics. Instead, it thrives on interpersonal chemistry and gut instincts. And although there are points involved, Colorful is less competitive than fun.

If your game night leans toward crunchy Euros or high-conflict card games, Colorful might feel too breezy. But for gatherings, mixed-age groups, or as a breather between heavier titles, it shines.

Families, especially those with older kids or teens, will enjoy it. So will art-minded players or anyone who finds pleasure in the subtle differences between cyan and teal.

How to Play

Each player starts with a hand of vibrant color cards. One player draws a category card—say, “Fruit”—and then offers a specific prompt, like “Strawberry.” This draw rotates around the table. Everyone secretly selects the colour from their hand they believe best represents that prompt.

All players choose one colour card from their hand and place it face down. Once everyone has selected, all cards are flipped face up at the same time. Points are awarded when players match each other’s colour picks. Then you move on to the next round. There’s 5 rounds unless there are 6 people, then a 6th round can be added.

There’s no talking during the colour selection phase, but that never stops the chatter afterward. Why did someone think that dull green was “Strawberry”? Who knew “Sadness” looked so much like light blue? The game turns abstract judgments into memorable moments.

The box also includes variant rules, including a version where players only use the category without a specific example, adding an extra layer of interpretation.

Here’s a vide from the designer.

So good!

Colorful’s biggest strength is its simplicity. It sets up in under a minute and teaches even faster. It’s portable, intuitive, and immediately engaging. The colours are bold and satisfying, the cards are sturdy, and the minimalist aesthetic adds to its appeal.

It also encourages empathy and conversation. Players quickly realize that perception isn’t universal. One person’s “angry red” is another’s “embarrassed pink.” It sparks discussion, laughter, and occasional mock outrage and that’s where it earns its keep.

Origin Story

Colorful started as Match Me!, a Japanese game that relied on the cultural and emotional connections people make with color. Jordan Draper discovered it and brought it to international attention through his publishing label, known for minimalist, design-forward games.

In this adaptation, he preserved the core mechanics while offering English translations and new gameplay modes. Draper’s version stays true to the original concept but makes it more accessible to Western audiences.

The game reflects his broader design philosophy: clean visuals, compact size, and a focus on social interaction over complex rules. It’s a smart example of how local ideas can become global with just the right touch.

So here’s a question – if you picked red as the colour of salmon, what will you pick for the colour of Santa a few rounds later? hahahahah ……

Where to buy?

You can purchase from Jordan Drapers website but it is often sold out. Try BoardGames4Us here.