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You can play a Cards Against Humanity-style game in a browser without buying the physical deck, but the options are not interchangeable. The official Cards Against Humanity Lab is asynchronous and matches you with strangers. For a live game with friends, you need a clone or fan-made service such as Pretend You’re Xyzzy, its currently listed CLRTD instance, Kosmi, or Cards Against Formality.
Here are five currently identifiable options, with the important differences in setup, privacy, player access, and reliability.
Quick comparison
| Site | Best for | Live with friends? | Account required? | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cards Against Humanity Lab | Trying the official online experiment | No | Optional, but needed for full features | Asynchronous play with random internet players |
| Pretend You’re Xyzzy | Traditional live browser play | Yes | Usually nickname-based | The main listed server currently reports that it is down |
| Pretend You’re CLRTD | Private games with deck and password controls | Yes | Nickname and optional identification code | Unofficial third-party clone |
| Kosmi: Offends the Galaxy | Playing with built-in video chat | Yes | Kosmi advertises no sign-up | Unofficial fan edition |
| Cards Against Formality | A free alternative with many card packs | Yes, according to its site description | Sign-in is used to create games | Some current interface steps are not text-verifiable |
1. Cards Against Humanity Lab
Best for: playing the official Cards Against Humanity online experiment when you do not need a private room with friends.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The Lab is the only option in this list operated by Cards Against Humanity itself. It is not a normal multiplayer lobby. The service matches you with random internet players, and each round proceeds asynchronously rather than requiring everyone to be online at the same time.
#1 Best Overall
- A whole new card game written from scratch for mature kids and immature grown-ups to play together.
- Comes with 600 all-new cards about toilets, butt spaghetti, and Mom's friend Donna.
- Tested with thousands of families over many years. Easy enough for kids, funny enough for you. For 4+ players, ages 8 and up.
- A go-to family card game and game-night gift that's kid-friendly and parent-approved.
- Sorry, not as fun as video games.
Every five rounds, you become the judge, also called the Card Czar. A submitted round is judged after enough players have seen the same black card. You can check the outcome later in the Lab’s history or stats area.
How to start
- Open lab.cardsagainsthumanity.com.
- Select Create Account or Sign In for the full experience.
- If you only want to look around, select Play Now under Play in Guest Mode.
- If you choose Create Account, the current flow begins at an age screen at
/register/age.
Guest Mode is heavily limited: you cannot judge rounds, other players do not see your submitted cards, and your statistics are not saved. The Lab can also show A.I.-generated cards. It records selected cards, emoji reactions, reports, and wins to help evaluate future cards and expansions.
There is an unusual account-recovery limitation: the Lab does not store email addresses. If you forget your username or password, the documented solution is to create a new account rather than request a reset.
The Lab’s terms state that the service is available to users aged 13 or older. It is not the right choice for a group that wants a private, synchronous video-call-style game.
2. Pretend You’re Xyzzy
Best for: a classic live multiplayer clone when a suitable server is available.
Pretend You’re Xyzzy is better understood as a server lobby than as one single, permanently reliable website. Open pretendyoure.xyz/zy/ and choose a listed server. Everyone joining the same game must use the same server, unless the host sends a direct game link.
Rank #2
- More Cards Against Humanity comes with 600 expansion cards that instantly double the replayability and girth of your Cards Against Humanity main game.
- If you've never bought an expansion before and you just want more Cards Against Humanity cards, buy this.
- Comes with all the best cards from our original Red Box, Blue Box, and Green Box expansions, plus 50 new ones we've never printed before.
- While this is technically an expansion, you could probably play it by itself. A great gift for anyone who's worn out their main deck. Ages 17+.
- Shiny.
The current lobby lists the main server, The Biggest, Blackest Dick, with a down-status message. It also exposes a separate third-party server, so availability can vary. This is why older instructions that describe PYX as one stable server can lead to a dead end.
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- Open the PYX lobby.
- Choose a server that is responding, or use the direct link supplied by the host.
- Enter a nickname and join an available game.
- Choose Join to play or Spectate to watch.
The current implementation has several practical limits. Chat and fill-in-the-blank cards were disabled on September 3, 2018, so do not assume that an old guide’s feature list still applies. The interface supports selectable player limits from 3 to 20, but warns that more than 10 players may become cramped. Spectators can watch and chat but cannot submit cards or act as Card Czar.
Browser problems to avoid
- Do not open the same game more than once in one browser. The two sessions may split the server data and make the game unplayable.
- A refresh may briefly display an error that the site documents as safe to ignore.
- Small browser windows can produce badly sized or misplaced controls.
- A player who joins during a round may see an incorrect state until the next round.
- Played cards can appear blank after a player joins or leaves; refreshing may fix the display.
Pick 2 and Pick 3 rounds have their own quirks. Cards may not appear grouped until judging begins, progress may not update until all cards are submitted, and a first or second card cannot be taken back after it is played.
3. Pretend You’re CLRTD
Best for: a live private game with more visible host controls than the basic PYX entry point.
CLRTD is a separately hosted third-party implementation exposed by the PYX lobby. Its current page is xyzzy.clrtd.com/zy/game.jsp, and it identifies itself as CARDS AGAINST CLRTD v1.5. It is not endorsed or sponsored by Cards Against Humanity.
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How to join or host
- Open the CLRTD game page.
- Enter a Nickname.
- Optionally enter an identification code, then select LOGIN.
- Use the game list to choose an existing room, or create one if the interface gives you host access.
- Send friends the game name and password, or use the game’s direct joining details.
The login page also offers or switch to the Old Version, which is useful if the newer interface behaves badly in a particular browser.
Hosts can set a Game password, hide the password, choose the game name, and manage card sets. The deck area includes Used Decks, Available Decks, Search for Decks, and an option to include blank white cards. Only the host can change game options.
Rank #3
- The Nasty Bundle is a collection of six themed packs that's too spicy for most stores. Shuffle these into your deck and make everyone uncomfortable the next time you play.
- Includes the Period Pack, Weed Pack, Ass Pack, Saves America Pack, Picture Card Pack 1, and Picture Card Pack 2.
- This is an expansion, so it requires the Cards Against Humanity main game. Shuffle it into your card game and go. Ages 17+.
- A great value gift set for game nights and bachelorette parties - more themed packs for less than buying them one at a time.
- Also includes ten all-new extra-nasty cards we wrote just for you.
A small but easy-to-miss detail: after changing the game name or password, click outside the input box. The interface applies those values when the field loses focus, so pressing Enter or simply continuing may not be enough.
The game allows 3 to 20 players and up to 20 spectators, although the page warns that more than 10 players may feel cramped. Spectators can watch and chat but cannot play, including during a Card Czar turn.
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Best for: playing with friends while keeping voice and video chat in the same browser tab.
Kosmi’s game page is kosmi.io/cah/. It describes “Offends the Galaxy” as an unofficial fan edition and explicitly says it is not affiliated with Cards Against Humanity. Kosmi presents the game as a free browser party game with integrated video chat; no app download is required.
How the setup works
- Open the Kosmi game page.
- Follow the displayed sequence: Create a room, Invite friends, then Play together!
- Select Start Playing.
- Share the room invitation with the people you want to play with.
Kosmi’s broader platform includes voice, video, and messaging in the browser, and advertises no sign-up for its general service. That makes it a simpler choice than a server-based clone when your group wants a private room and does not want to coordinate a separate Discord or video call.
Do not confuse its convenience with official status: this is a fan-made edition, not an official Cards Against Humanity online mode.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #4
- That's right. It's tiny. It's Cards Against Humanity. The same card game, now small enough to lose in a couch cushion.
- Measures a minuscule 2.6" x 4.4" x 1.8" and weighs 9.7 oz, with 1.25" x 1.75" cards. The banana picture is to-scale.
- Includes the same 600 cards as the regular game, from the latest edition (2.4). We're not allowed to call this product its real title, 'Tiny Cards Against Humanity.' Oh well.
- A perfect travel card game and stocking-stuffer gift for camping trips, shrink-ray mishaps, or smuggling into North Korea. Best with 4 to 20+ players, ages 17 and up.
- America's #1 goldfish coffin.
5. Cards Against Formality
Best for: a free browser alternative offering a large selection of card packs.
Cards Against Formality describes itself as a free multiplayer browser card game inspired by Cards Against Humanity. Its current site says that signing in lets users create games and that joining its free email list unlocks more than 30 card packs.
Because the current server-rendered page does not expose text-accessible labels for all controls, it is safer not to promise exact button names or a precise room-creation path. Start at the homepage, sign in if you need to create a game, and follow the controls shown in the live interface. Friends should use the joining information generated by the host.
Cards Against Formality is an inspired alternative, not an official Cards Against Humanity service. It is worth trying if pack variety matters more than using the official Lab or a well-known PYX-style interface.
Which site should you choose?
- Choose the Cards Against Humanity Lab if you want the official service and are comfortable playing asynchronously with random players.
- Choose Kosmi if your priority is a private game with built-in video and voice chat.
- Try CLRTD if you want passwords, deck selection, spectators, and other host controls.
- Try Pretend You’re Xyzzy if you find a working server through its lobby or receive a direct game link.
- Try Cards Against Formality if you want a free alternative with access to 30-plus card packs after joining its email list.
What about the official Cards Against Humanity app?
There is no official live online mode that lets you open a private room and play Cards Against Humanity with friends. The official Lab is asynchronous, matches players with random internet users, and does not function like a standard live party-game room. Sites such as Kosmi, CLRTD, and Cards Against Formality are alternatives or clones and should be treated as unofficial services.
FAQ
What is the official way to play Cards Against Humanity online?
The official option is the Cards Against Humanity Lab at lab.cardsagainsthumanity.com. It is asynchronous, matches you with random players, and makes you judge every fifth round. It is not a private live room for friends.
Best Value
- Cards Against Humanity: Canadian Edition is a card game for horrible people. This is the main game for Canada. Buy this first.
- Comes with 500 white cards and 100 black cards for eternal replayability, plus a booklet of sensible game rules and preposterous alternate rules.
- One player asks a question from a black card, and everyone answers with their funniest white card. Best with 4 to 20+ players. For ages 17 and up.
- A funny card game and easy gift for game night, eh. Sorry.
- Includes special Canadian cards so funny you'll forget you live in Canada.
Can I play Cards Against Humanity online with friends for free?
Yes, using unofficial alternatives such as Kosmi, Pretend You’re CLRTD, Pretend You’re Xyzzy when a server is available, or Cards Against Formality. Kosmi is the most direct choice if you also want integrated video chat.
Is Pretend You’re Xyzzy still working?
The current site is a server lobby rather than one guaranteed server. Its primary listed server currently shows a down-status message, while the lobby exposes a separate CLRTD instance. Availability can therefore depend on which server you select.
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Not in the current main implementation documented by the site. Chat and fill-in-the-blank cards were disabled on September 3, 2018.
Do these sites require an account?
Requirements differ. The Lab offers account creation, sign-in, and limited guest mode. CLRTD uses a nickname and optional identification code. Kosmi advertises no sign-up for its general browser platform. Cards Against Formality says signing in is needed to create games.
Are these official Cards Against Humanity services?
Only the Cards Against Humanity Lab is official. CLRTD, Kosmi, and Cards Against Formality identify themselves as unofficial or inspired alternatives, while Pretend You’re Xyzzy is a separate clone and server ecosystem.
The Bottom Line
For the official experience, use the Cards Against Humanity Lab—but expect asynchronous matches with strangers rather than a private room. For a live game with friends, start with Kosmi if you want video chat, or try the CLRTD instance for passwords and deck controls. Pretend You’re Xyzzy can still be useful, but check its lobby first because server availability is not consistent.
Quick Recap
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