How to Play All Screwed Up: Rules for the Tangles and Turns Game

By Relatable | Published: 2026-11-05

Category: Guide pratiche

Learn how to play All Screwed Up, the twisted party game of tangles and turns. Follow these clear steps, avoid common mistakes, and keep the laughs coming.

Quick answer

To play All Screwed Up, place the mat, stack the decks around it, and take turns pulling a card and reading it aloud. Every player the card applies to must move as instructed. The last player standing wins.

Setup that prevents mid-game chaos

Clear a space large enough for players to move around the mat without bumping furniture. Keep the decks within easy reach of all players so no one has to stretch or leave the mat to draw.

Because the game involves physical movement, remove tripping hazards and set a few ground rules for safety before you start. For example, agree that players can steady themselves on a nearby chair but cannot use it to avoid the required move.

How turns and card reading work

On your turn, pull the top card from the designated deck and read it out loud exactly as written. The card describes a condition (such as "if you've ever totaled your car") and a movement (such as "put your right foot on blue").

Every player who meets the condition must perform the movement immediately. If multiple players meet the condition, they all move at the same time. If no one meets the condition, the card is discarded and play passes to the next player.

Winning and losing conditions

A player is eliminated when they can no longer maintain their position or they fall. The last player remaining in the game wins. If you want a shorter round, agree before starting that the first player to fall loses and the rest continue until one winner remains.

The game ends when only one player is left standing. If you have a large group, you can play in teams, but note that the product instructions do not specify team rules, so you'll need to decide how team moves work.

Step-by-step: how to play All Screwed Up

Set up the play area: Lay the mat flat in the center of a clear space. Shuffle each deck separately and place them around the mat within easy reach of all players. Make sure there are no sharp corners or fragile items nearby. Check that every player can reach at least one deck without stepping off the mat area.
Choose the first player: Decide who goes first. The youngest player or the last person to arrive can start, or use any method your group prefers. Play then proceeds clockwise. Agree on the turn order before drawing any cards to avoid arguments later.
Draw and read a card: On your turn, draw the top card from any deck (or the deck specified by the game, if any). Read the card aloud so everyone can hear. Do not paraphrase or skip parts of the card. If a card is ambiguous, read it again slowly—do not interpret it for other players.
Apply the card to all matching players: After reading, each player who meets the condition on the card must immediately perform the movement described. If you meet the condition, you must move, even if it puts you in a difficult position. If no one meets the condition, discard the card and the next player draws. Players must be honest about meeting conditions; the game relies on self-reporting.
Maintain your position or fall: Once you move, you must hold that position until your next turn or until another card forces you to move again. If you lose your balance, touch the floor with a hand or knee, or cannot maintain the position, you are eliminated and leave the mat. Eliminated players should move clear of the mat to avoid interfering with remaining players.
Continue until one player remains: Play continues with remaining players taking turns drawing and reading cards. The last player still standing on the mat wins the game. If you want to speed up elimination, use the optional rule that any fall eliminates you immediately.

Product facts

All Screwed Up - Adult Game of Tangles and Turns: All Screwed Up is an adult party game that involves stacking decks around a mat and reading cards aloud. This means setup is quick, but you need enough floor space for players to move around the mat safely.
All Screwed Up - Adult Game of Tangles and Turns