Last Updated on January 5, 2026 by The Official Game Rules Team

You Laugh You’re Out is a hilarious family party game for people that can’t keep a straight face. The game challenges players to hold in their laughter while someone in the group acts out a silly and ridiculous card for 30 seconds. The rules are simple: if you laugh, you’re out! Perfect for groups ages 14+, this game guarantees loads of laughs and unforgettable moments.

You Laugh You're Out party card game box

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How to Play You Laugh You’re Out

Game Setup

Give each player 6 Laugh Tokens.
Choose the funniest player to go first. That person becomes the Joker and draws the first card from the deck.

A flat lay photo showing the card game You Laugh You're Out on a black table, surrounded by game components and snacks. The central game box is teal with "YOU LAUGH YOU'RE OUT" printed prominently. Components include stacks of teal and purple game cards, a small yellow hourglass timer, and circular "LAUGH TOKEN" pieces. Snacks include a white bowl of popcorn and a white bowl of colorful gummy worms. Two pairs of hands are visible, interacting with the cards.

Gameplay

The Joker reads the card silently and has 30 seconds to perform the challenge written on it.
The Joker can act, move, or interact with other players — whatever it takes to make them laugh.
The Joker is allowed to laugh, but everyone else must keep a straight face!
If a player laughs, they must place one of their Laugh Tokens in the center of the play area.
After 30 seconds, the Joker collects all Laugh Tokens in the center.
Play passes to the left, and the next player becomes the new Joker.

Winning the Game

The game continues until a player runs out of Laugh Tokens. When that happens, the game ends, and the player with the most tokens wins!

A close-up image showing multiple hands belonging to several players clustered around a central hand, which is holding several blue and teal circular "LAUGH TOKEN" game pieces (from the game You Laugh You're Out). The players appear to be counting or exchanging the tokens, with one player pointing to a token in the central palm.

Optional House Rules

No Talking Rule: Jokers can only use gestures — no words allowed!
Double Down: If everyone stays serious, the Joker must give up one Laugh Token.

Notes

The game is all about silly antics and keeping a straight face, even when it gets challenging.
Some versions might have additional rules or variations, like:
- Players can use funny voices or accents during their performance.
- A designated “Joke Master” can try to make players laugh with additional jokes or comments.
- Players can earn back lost tokens by completing certain challenges.

A photo of four friends playing the card game You Laugh You're Out outdoors at a glass-top table. One bald man wearing a denim shirt is hunched over, covering his mouth and nose with his hands to suppress laughter, while a woman in overalls and glasses stands behind him, smiling, likely reading a card. Another woman with curly blonde hair is seated to the left, laughing openly. The game box and a bowl of popcorn are visible on the table.

Conclusion

You Laugh You’re Out is a perfect party game to bring out the laughter and test your ability to stay serious. So grab your friends, prepare to act silly, and see who can keep a straight face the longest!

Video Tutorial

@dssgames
We’ve been getting a lot of questions recently on how to actually play #YouLaughYoureOut so here’s the breakdown 🕺 – #youlaughyoulose #partygames #gamerecommendations #cardgame #gamenight
♬ original sound – DSS Games