How to Play
Make them need
the full story.
I once... is a storytelling game about inventing the fake anecdote the Judge most wants to hear more about. The app handles cards, rounds, and scoring. You provide the storytelling.
Best played in person or over voice chat with friends.A round in seven steps
- 1
One player is the Judge. Everyone else gets a private hand of 10 cards.
- 2
A shared Prompt appears for the round.
- 3
Build a premise with the Prompt plus at least 3 cards from your hand.
- 4
Arrange the cards in story order and choose the right Action form where needed.
- 5
Lock your story when you’re ready.
- 6
Stories are revealed one at a time. Narrate your fake anecdote aloud.
- 7
The Judge chooses the story they most want to hear more about.
Tell it your way
The cards are the bones of the story. You fill in the details.
Add connective words, grammar, names, explanations, and suspiciously specific details. You do not have to speak only the literal card text.
What wins?
The story they need to hear
The Judge picks the anecdote they would most want the full story behind—not simply the funniest one. It might be absurd, suspenseful, surprising, clever, or unexpectedly convincing.
Optional rule
Judge’s Follow-Up
If the Judge can’t decide, they can ask a follow-up question. Stay in character and make it up on the spot.
Try “Why were you there?”, “What happened next?”, “How did you explain that?”, or “Who else knew?” The relevant players answer immediately, then the Judge chooses. This is not a separate or timed phase.
Scoring
Points at a glance
- Mild3 points
- Spicy2 points
- Hot1 point
- Round winner+4 points · 1 Round Win
- Prompt0 points
Ordinary-looking cards score more because they usually take more creativity to make interesting.
Refresh your hand
Mulligan
Once per Judge cycle, you can swap 1–3 unplayed cards you don’t like. They’re replaced by cards of the same type. An unused mulligan does not carry over.
Take turns
Judge rotation & Ready
The Judge rotates each round and does not build that round; their hand stays theirs for later. Lobby Ready is a social signal. Results Ready tells the Judge you’re prepared to continue.
Ending the game
The Final Round
Choose a round limit in the lobby or play Open-ended. Playing Open-ended? Vote to make the next round the last one. A strict majority calls the Final Round.
Find your table
Join the Discord
Find people to play with, organise a game, report bugs, or share feedback.