Humans Against Stress Game Rules (Optional)

​Humans Against Stress can be used as a set of flashcards for discussion, or as a fun game that incorporates challenges and coping skills. Below are the rules for game mode. There are options for two players, a small group, and teams. And of course you can always flip through the cards on your own to review skills!

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Objective

What would you do in a challenging situation? Players take turns stepping into the role of the Designated Human, selecting the best skill to handle a challenge while the Stress Busters try to predict their choice. The better your educated guesses, the higher your score! In team play, teams take turns playing separately, earning points based on how well they understand their teammates' choices. You can play one-on-one competitively, or just discuss and guess each other’s choices for fun. All the while you're considering creative and effective ways to work against stress! 

 

Setup

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• The game is played in a telehealth session through the screen share in your virtual telehealth platform (ie, Zoom, Simple Practice, Doxy, etc.), or on a projected screen for in-person groups.

• Visit the Humans Against Stress page (this page) and share the screen with your client(s). Even better, have your client share their screen with you, and that way they can interact with the game. 

• One player acts as the Host, running the game interface, while sharing their screen. They will be responsible for flipping the cards and keeping score.

• Each round, a Challenge Card is revealed, along with three possible Skill Cards as responses. Click the cards to flip them over and draw new challenges or skills. Begin with a fresh board of all new cards each round.

• Use the scoreboards below the cards to keep score (optional). If you're playing with teams, choose one board for each team.

 

How to Play

Small Group Mode - 3 to 6 Players

1. Choose the Designated Human:

   • One player takes the role of the Designated Human for the round.

2. The Designated Human Secretly Chooses:

   • A new set of challenge and skills cards is revealed. The Designated Human secretly selects one Skill Card they believe is the best response to the Challenge Card. They can use the honor system, send their choice to the host in private chat, or write it down and reveal it later.

   • The Designated Human may not discuss their choice before votes are locked in so they don’t influence the vote.

3. Each Stress Buster Votes Individually (Out Loud or in Chat):

   • Each Stress Buster announces which Skill Card they believe that specific Designated Human would choose. (It is not necessarily the skill they themselves would choose.)

4. Discussion:

   • The Designated Human then reveals their choice and explains why they picked that Skill Card.

5. Scoring:

   • Each Stress Buster who guessed correctly earns 1 point.

   • The Designated Human earns 3 points for discussing the skill and leading the conversation.

6. Next Round:

   • A new player becomes the Designated Human, and the process repeats. Flip the cards over to reveal a new set. 

 

Winning the Game (Small Group Mode)

• The game continues until a player reaches 15 points, triggering the final round. Each player will be the Designated Human one more time, ending with the player who triggered the final round. 

• Once the final round is complete, the player with the highest total points wins.

• In the case of a tie, one final tiebreaker round is played.

• Optional: For time-limited sessions, you could instead make an announcement when 10 to 15 minutes is left and play one final round. Whoever has the most points at the end wins. 

 

Team Mode Variation: Groups of 8 or More

How It Works:

• Players are divided into two or more teams.

• During each round, one team plays while the other observes.

• One player from the active team becomes the Designated Human for that round.

• The rest of their team acts as Stress Busters, voting on what they each think their own Designated Human would choose.

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Scoring (Team Mode)

• Each correct vote earns the team 1 point. For example, if a team has 4 players and two of them voted correctly, the team earns 2 points from that round’s voting. 

• The Designated Human’s team also earns 3 points for participating in the discussion, regardless of whether they had correct guesses. 

• Optional: If you choose to allow strategic interference (advanced), the opposing team may discuss the options aloud to strategically mislead the active team’s Stress Busters.

 

Strategic Interference Rules (Optional):

• If you’re allowing strategic interference, the observing team can discuss the Skill Cards and try to influence the voting team’s decisions.

• They must base their arguments on the cards themselves (no personal attacks or excessive distractions).

• The voting team can ignore or counter the opposing team’s arguments.

• The Designated Human cannot debate or be influenced—they have already locked in their choice and may not assist their own team.

• It is recommended you play at first without strategic interference so players can familiarize themselves with the game. You may then choose to add this element if you think it would be fun and appropriate for your players. 
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Winning the Game (Team Mode)

• The first team to reach 30 points wins.

• If you’re playing a time-limited game, set a timer to announce one final round. Whichever team has the most points at the end of that round wins.

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Two Player Mode: Competitive Option

How It Works:

• Players take turns being the Designated Human. 

• The Designated Human secretly chooses a skill card and writes it down.

• The opposing player, or Stress Buster, tries to guess which skill the Designated Human chose for that round. If the Stress Buster gets it right, they get one point. If the Stress Buster gets it wrong, the Designated Human gets a point.

• Each player should describe why they chose the card they did before continuing with the next round. (Sometimes the Designated Human’s choice may have been intended to mislead their opponent and that’s okay, as long as they can make a case for why their chosen skill still works!)

• Play until one player gets 10 points. Celebrate whether you won or not and play again! 

 

Two-Player Mode: Cooperative Option

How It Works:

• Instead of voting, both players secretly select a Skill Card they personally believe is the best response.

• They each write down their choice, and then reveal them at the same time.

• If they match, they celebrate their shared wisdom! 🎉

• If they don’t match, they discuss their choices. Remember everyone copes in different ways! 
   

Optional Cooperative Scoring:

• Humans Against Stress is great tool for discussing skills, even if the players don’t compete! 

• Instead of competing for points, use one scoreboard and track how often players align in their choices over multiple rounds. Try to get 5 to 10 matching choices in a session!