It is a total mess out there. If you type cards against humanity site into a search bar right now, you are going to get hit with a tidal wave of knock-offs, weird PDF clones, and third-party retailers that look just official enough to fool your parents. It’s annoying. This game—self-described as a "party game for horrible people"—has been a staple of tabletop gaming since 2011, but its online presence is surprisingly fragmented. You’d think a company that made millions selling actual literal bull manure for Black Friday would have a more straightforward digital footprint, but they’ve always been about chaos.
Most people are just looking for one of three things: the shop, the free version, or the online multiplayer clones. Let’s get into which ones are legit and which ones are just trying to harvest your email for a mailing list you never wanted.
The Only Official Cards Against Humanity Site
The actual, 100% official home is cardsagainsthumanity.com. That is it. If the URL doesn't end in that exactly, you aren't on the home turf.
Honestly, the site is a weird experience. It’s minimalist. It’s stark. It reflects the founders’ background in improv and design. They don't do flashy banners. They don't do "buy one get one free" pop-ups. Max Temkin and the rest of the founding crew at CAH (which started as a Kickstarter project that asked for $4,000 and got over $15,000) have kept the brand remarkably consistent.
When you land on the official cards against humanity site, you aren't just there to buy a box. You're there to see what stunt they're pulling. This is the company that once raised prices for Black Friday. They also once crowdsourced money to dig a massive hole in the ground for no reason other than because it was funny.
Why the PDF Matters
One of the coolest things about the official site—and something a lot of people overlook—is that the game is technically free. Under a Creative Commons license (BY-NC-SA 2.0), the creators actually let you download the entire main game as a PDF.
You can print it. You can cut it out. You can play it tonight without spending a dime.
They know most people are too lazy to cut out 600 cards with scissors, so they still sell plenty of physical boxes. But having that "Print & Play" link right there on the main cards against humanity site is a huge signal of their "anti-corporate" ethos. If you see a site charging you $5 for a digital download of the base game? That’s a scam. Plain and simple.
💡 You might also like: Why Everyone Is Still Talking About Pokemon Scarlet New Pokemon Years Later
Playing Online: The Confusion Begins
Here is where things get genuinely tricky for people. The official cards against humanity site does not actually host a digital version of the game. They never have. They seem to prefer the "analog" experience of sitting around a table, drinking too much, and offending your aunt.
Because of that vacuum, a dozen "clones" popped up.
The Rise and Fall of Pretend You're Xyzzy
For years, if you wanted to play CAH online, you went to Pretend You're Xyzzy. It was the gold standard. It looked like a 1995 chat room and the UI was basically a spreadsheet, but it worked. It had all the expansions. It was free.
Lately, though, server stability has been... spotty. The community has fractured. This led to a new wave of sites like All Bad Cards or Cards Against Online. These are "fan-made" projects. They aren't official. They aren't affiliated with the CAH writers.
If you use these, keep two things in mind:
- Privacy: Most of these sites are built by hobbyists. Don't use your "real" password if you create an account.
- Content: Because they aren't official, they often include "user-generated" decks. Some are hilarious. Some are just edge-lord garbage that isn't actually clever or funny.
The Official "Family Edition" Digital Version
Wait, there is one exception. During the height of the pandemic, the CAH team launched a remote-play version of their "Family Edition." It was a temporary move to help people stay sane while stuck at home. It was hosted on their own infrastructure, proving they can do digital play when they want to—they just usually choose not to.
Identifying Fakes and Counterfeits
The physical board game market is flooded with fakes. If you find a cards against humanity site offering the "Ultimate Bundle" for $29.99, it is a counterfeit.
👉 See also: Unicorn Overlord To Resist Or To Yield: The Choices That Actually Matter
Real CAH cards have a very specific finish. They use a high-quality linen texture. They feel heavy. The knock-offs you find on certain massive e-commerce sites or "discount" hobby shops feel like playing cards you bought at a gas station. They’re glossy, they’re thin, and the black ink usually looks a bit grey.
The CAH team has been vocal about this. They’ve even gone as far as buying their own counterfeits to show customers how bad they are. If you want the real deal, stick to their site or authorized retailers like Target.
The Philosophy of the "Horrible" Brand
Why is the cards against humanity site so sparse? Why don't they have a massive app?
It’s intentional.
The founders—eight high school friends from the Chicago area—have built a business model based on being "anti-business." They don't have a marketing department in the traditional sense. Their marketing is their product.
When they bought a plot of land on the US-Mexico border to make it harder for the government to build a wall, they didn't run ads. They just put the story on their site. When they started "Black Friday 99% Off Sale" where they sold 20-carat diamonds for pennies, the internet did the work for them.
This creates a weird SEO problem. Because their site changes so much based on their latest prank, people often get lost. They think the site has been hacked or that they're in the wrong place. Usually, if the site looks like it’s trying to sell you something completely unrelated to cards (like a "Yowza" subscription or a "Prank Pack"), you’re actually in the right place.
What about the expansions?
There are dozens. The "Red Box," the "Blue Box," the "Green Box." Then there are the niche ones: the Sci-Fi Pack, the 90s Nostalgia Pack, the... uh, Period Pack.
The official cards against humanity site is the only place to see the full, current catalog. Third-party sites often sell discontinued packs at a massive markup. Don't fall for it. Check the source first.
✨ Don't miss: Marvel Spider-Man 2 PS5 Bundle Explained (Simply)
Navigating the Cards Against Humanity Site Safely
If you’re looking to get into the game or expand your collection, here is the roadmap. Avoid the noise and stay on the legitimate path.
- Verify the URL: Always check for the "s" in
httpsand ensure it iscardsagainsthumanity.com. - Check for the PDF: If you're on a budget, scroll to the bottom. Find the "Store" or "About" section. The free PDF link is usually tucked away there.
- Avoid "Generators": There are sites that claim to be an "Online Card Generator." Most are just ad-farms. If you want to make your own cards, the official site sometimes has a "Custom" tool, or you can just use a Word template.
- Support the Creators: CAH does a ton of charity work. They've donated millions to organizations like DonorsChoose and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Buying from the official cards against humanity site ensures that money actually goes to these causes rather than a counterfeiter in a warehouse somewhere.
The game has changed a lot since its debut. They've removed cards that didn't age well. They've added cards that reflect the absolute absurdity of the 2020s. Staying connected to the official site is the only way to make sure your deck isn't full of outdated jokes that just make the room go silent for the wrong reasons.
Actionable Next Steps
- Download the PDF: Before buying a pack, download the free "Print & Play" version from the official cards against humanity site. It's the best way to see if the game's humor actually fits your friend group.
- Check for Seasonal Stunts: Always visit the site during the holidays. That is when they launch their weirdest social experiments and limited-edition items that usually sell out in hours.
- Inspect Your Cards: If you bought a physical set from a third party, check the card stock. If it’s shiny and lacks a linen texture, contact the official support team; they are famously helpful (and sarcastic) when it comes to reporting scammers.