
Try These 7 Card Games For A Deeper Emotional Connection With Lovers And Friends

So you’ve been dating your new boo for a few weeks now, and things are going smoothly. Your dates are well-planned, the texting is consistent, and the chemistry is evident. But you’ve started to notice that when it’s time to dive into deeper topics around your shared values, future ambitions, and perspectives on the world, the conversations seem to go… flat. While one part could be due to personal reservations and boundaries, another possible reason could point to the need for the right prompts to promote vulnerability and closeness.
In other words, you might need some help queuing up the intimacy levels.
Cultivating intimacy in relationships is often a gradual process that requires effective communication, empathy, and a willingness to be open and vulnerable with one another.
The beauty in forming deeper levels of intimacy is that it can come in different forms depending on your relationship dynamics. With emotional intimacy, a couple may find themselves forming a connection by sharing their thoughts, feelings, and vulnerabilities with another person. Through empathy and a sense of mutual understanding, partners are able to become more open and honest with each other and feel safe and accepted in return.
Physical intimacy, on the other hand, involves physical bonding and affection between individuals. In a romantic context, this can include activities like holding hands, hugging, kissing, and sexual intimacy, but can extend beyond romantic relationships and include the caring touch between friends and family members.
While the needs and love languages of each partner may vary, engaging in meaningful conversations, exchanging ideas, and sharing beliefs and a sense of purpose within your relationship can serve as a vital tool to build and strengthen healthy emotional attachment.
7 Intimacy Card Games to Play For Deeper Connection In Your Relationships
Intimacy card games are the latest trend to help fortify relational bonds between your significant other or even close friends. From spicy prompts to insightful conversation starters, you can start pulling back the layers and digging beyond the surface in a fun and meaningful way with this array of intimacy card games.
Let’s Get Deep Card Game
Amazon
Discover the depths of your companion with a set of couple cards designed to spark meaningful conversations. To play, divide the 400 cards into "Ice Breaker," "Deep," and "Deeper" piles, and the initiator of the relationship draws cards from each category for engaging discussions, starting with an ice breaker and progressing to deeper questions.
Love Lingual Level 2: Card Game
Love Lingual
The Love Lingual is a relationship-building tool designed to enhance human connection by prompting meaningful conversations between couples. It offers 150 cards categorized into Family, Intimacy, Couple, Individual, and Past & Future topics, allowing partners to deepen their relationship in various aspects of life. Each question aims to accelerate intimacy and create enjoyable conversations, making it a perfect gift for couples or for use in marriage counseling.
Lulu & You Affection Couples Games
Amazon
Spice up your love life with this date night box game filled with question cards that will ensure better quality time together and a stronger connection. It's not just a game, it's your ticket to laughter, intimacy, and a closer bond!
Drunk in Love: Original Couples Drinking Card Game
Amazon
“Drunk in Love" is the relationship litmus test you've been waiting for. Draw cards, face dares, or take sips; it's like truth or dare but with a twist. Share laughs, secrets, and a couple of drinks — your date night is about to get a whole lot more interesting!
We’re Not Really Strangers - Couples Edition
Amazon
If you’ve ever asked yourself how well you know your partner, this deck will give you the answers you need to unlock new levels and uncover new layers in your partner.
BestSelf Intimacy Deck for Couples
Amazon
Elevate your date nights and dinners with these prompts from BestSelf. Each question will turn small talk into soulful conversations by exploring hopes, dreams, and shared aspirations. This deck is perfect for all relationship stages and will spark those "aha" moments you'll treasure.
I Know Collection Conversation Cards
Amazon
Strengthen your relationship's foundation with these couples’ conversation cards. Whether you're newlyweds or seasoned lovebirds, these cards make communication a breeze and are perfect for date nights or just a cozy evening in.
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Featured image by BraunS/Getty Images
Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
Ashley Versher is known for her work in the Tyler Perry's Beauty In Black series and more recently, she starred alongside Taraji P. Henson in the Netflix film Straw. But she is more than just her acting credits and stunning looks (her hair alone is everything). In an xoNecole exclusive, Ashley dishes on her first celebrity crush, how she spends her downtime, and her go-to haircare products because we need the deets.
Get to know Ashley below.
xoNecole: Where are you from?
Ashley Versher: San Francisco - BAY AREAAAAAA!!!!
xoN: What was your first major acting role?
AV: A 49ers Super Bowl commercial - I think I was 3.
Ashley Versher
Johnny Marlow
xoN: Have you ever had an embarrassing or funny audition story? If so, what happened?
AV: Yes! I was doing a self-tape once and I forgot to take off my bonnet. But the tape was so good I sent it in anyway.
xoN: Your hair is gorgeous. What has it been like navigating Hollywood with natural hair?
AV: Thank you so much! Navigating Hollywood with natural hair has definitely been a journey of self-discovery. Early on, I had to make a conscious decision about how I wanted to show up—not just in this industry, but for myself. Once I fully embraced my natural hair and committed to the journey, everything else began to align. It’s been nothing short of empowering.
Navigating Hollywood with natural hair has definitely been a journey of self-discovery. Early on, I had to make a conscious decision about how I wanted to show up—not just in this industry, but for myself.
xoN: What are your favorite go-to hair products?
AV: Ooooooo, right now I’m loving Camille Rose’s Jai Twisting Butter—it’s super moisturizing and gives me a fun, bouncy twist-out! I’ve also recently gotten into oils, and I’m especially loving sweet almond oil.
xoN: We know you as an actress, but what is another special talent you have that most people don't know about?
AV: I trained as a classical violinist for 13/14years.
xoN: Who is your hero?
AV: My mom. She’s incredible - full stop.
Ashley Versher
Johnny Marlow
xoN: How do you like to spend your down time?
AV: Ha! What’s that!? Jk jk, I love to travel, that’s honestly my favorite thing.
xoN: Who was your first celebrity crush?
AV: Prince.
xoN: What is your dream role?
AV: One day I will play a witch with Harry Potter-like powers!
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Feature image by Johnny Marlow