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Pillbox Games

Pillbox Games Side Effects | Strategic Take that Card Game of Therapy, Medication, Disorder Cards & Chaotic Interaction | Stylish Art Game for 2–8 Players Ages 14+ | 10–30 Minute Playtime

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Availability: In Stock.
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Arrives Monday, Jul 6
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Style: Side Effects Base Game


Features

  • STRATEGIC TAKE THAT GAMEPLAY Race to treat your Disorders using Drug and Therapy cards while protecting yourself from opponents who may steal what you need or hand you new conditions. Every turn adds a twist that keeps players engaged.
  • EASY TO LEARN, CHALLENGING TO MASTER With simple rules and short turns, Side Effects is fast to pick up but rewards clever timing, hand management, table awareness, and bold risks. A sharp mix of accessibility and depth for adults and hobby gamers.
  • SXSW AWARD FINALIST RECOGNITION Side Effects earned a finalist spot for the SXSW Gamers Voice Award, celebrated for its striking visual style, inventive gameplay, and ability to spark conversation at every table.
  • DYNAMIC PLAYER INTERACTION Begin with four Disorder cards and search for (or steal) the Drug cards needed to treat them. Episode cards disrupt plans, flip advantages, and create dramatic momentum swings that keep every round unpredictable.
  • CRAFTED AS A WORK OF ART - Designed by Jade Shames and Ben Bronstein with support from Kat Thek and Jen Igartua, Side Effects pairs bold illustration with refined design to create a striking, memorable tabletop experience.

Description

Side Effects drops players into a darkly humorous struggle to manage Disorders using Drug and Therapy cards while navigating constant interference from opponents. Each player begins with four Disorders face up, shaping their early strategy and creating an immediate sense of tension. To treat them, players must draw or steal the Drug cards that match their conditions, all while staying alert to opponents who may disrupt their progress or hand them new problems to solve. Episode cards add unpredictable twists, shifting momentum and forcing players to rethink their approach from turn to turn. The gameplay is fast, interactive, and filled with dramatic reversals. New players can learn the rules in minutes, yet the timing of when to reveal, treat, block, or sabotage gives experienced players room to explore deeper strategy. Side Effects excels at sparking table talk, laughter, and memorable stories as alliances form and collapse in the span of a few turns. A finalist for the SXSW Gamer’s Voice Award, Side Effects is celebrated not only for its gameplay but also for its striking visual identity.

Age Range Description: Kid


Brand Name: Pillbox Games


Included Components: Side Effects


Unit Count: 1.0 Count


Item Type Name: board game


Model Name: Side Effects


Set Name: Side Effects


UPC: 602573618868


Global Trade Identification Number: 68, 80


Manufacturer Maximum Age (MONTHS): 1188.0


Manufacturer Minimum Age (MONTHS): 168.0


Model Number: GHG004


Manufacturer Part Number: 004GHG


Manufacturer Warranty Description: No Warranty


Manufacturer: Pillbox Games


Material Type: Cardboard


Number of Players: 2-8


Container Type: Box


Other Special Features of the Product: Take that gameplay, racing to cure diseases, using prescriptions and therapy, experiencing side effects


Number of Items: 1


Customer Package Type: Standard Packaging


Estimated Playing Time: 30 Minutes


Is Assembly Required: No


Indoor Outdoor Usage: Indoor


Educational Objective: To teach players about the complexities and side effects of drug use and therapy in a fun and engaging way


Operation Mode: manual


Power Source: manual


Theme: Strategy


Color: Multicolor


Product Style: Side Effects Base Game


Grenre: Strategy


Item Dimensions L x W: 6.2"L x 5.3"W


Package Quantity: 1


Size: 5.3 inches (W) x 6.2 inches (L) x 2 inches (H)


Item Dimensions: 6.2 x 5.3 x 2 inches


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Monday, Jul 6

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Fun and easy to learn! Great little card game!
Style: Side Effects Base Game
Side Effects initially caught my eye because of its cool art style. Its skeleton-mental health theme gives it a morbid (and often funny) aesthetic and the box art is gorgeous! The long, skinny "tarot" sized cards are lovely to hold and sturdy, with beautiful artwork on both sides and vertically mirrored effect text that makes it easy to read cards sitting across the table. This small format detail is incredibly important to gameplay. Mechanically speaking, Side Effects is a fabulous, fast-paced little card game with a kind of rock-paper-scissors dynamic! Because you need to sort out conditions to deal out each player's "psyche" and then reshuffle them into the deck, you are going to have to shuffle these cards A LOT, and I could see that wearing them out in the long term. Side Effects gives each player a psyche full of illnesses that they must treat. But treating them with medication leaves you vulnerable to other conditions, and while you're attempting to treat yourself you also need to prevent other players from outpacing you or penalizing you. There is a fair amount of strategy to be had here, but it is light enough to be quite beginner-friendly. The game dynamic causes quite a bit of laughter and playful "punishing" moments. For more seasoned board gamers, this game is a wonderful palate-cleanser between games or for the end of a gaming session! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2023 by M.
    • Fun game with a uinque gameplay
Style: Side Effects Base Game
I saw this boardgame on store with a higher price and decided to get it from Amazon. It is such a good and fun game with unique gameplay. My husband and I started with the basic pack but decided to get the expansion one after a few days. The game is very easy to learn as well
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2026 by Ethan Lam
    • Morbid humor, check. Fast enough play a few games, check. Beautiful artwork, check.
Style: Side Effects Base Game
This game has been more fun than it had any right to be. There are nights me and my group of players just don't play other games because we want to play this. And whoever did the game design is top tier, brilliantly put together. The card quality is roughly that of a tarot card little bit thicker maybe, the print is beautiful full color, and the actual artwork used in the various cards are stunning. I think the thing I like most of though is the actual box with its gold foiling it's just such a beautiful little container that you can kind of take anywhere. If you're traveling a lot and want a game that you can just whip out and teach somebody in like 30 seconds this is the game. Should fit in any pack easily. Here's a quick run through of what the game looks like. Everyone is dealt for random illnesses such as anxiety, depression, impotence, etc. Everyone draws four cards and you can get a mix of treatment cards that cure your illnesses, other illnesses that you can inflict on other players who are susceptible to them, and then there are therapy cards that cure almost anything, and lastly a car to trigger episodes. Each illness has a specific side effect that you will experience through the game as a great example if you are mad and someone makes you have an episode all of the cures you've used on your illnesses are gone. Each treatment, with the exception of therapy, will make you susceptible to different things so depression makes you susceptible to impotence or anorexia or suicidal thoughts. When you see a player susceptible to a illness can give it to them to prevent them from winning. You win by hearing all of your diseases. Great fun for I would say probably somewhere around the lines of 13 and up there's a little bit of a morbidness when you're talking about illnesses such as Suicidal Thoughts. With a group of adults this is a blast, it can accommodate up to six players roughly, turns go by really fast, and the game doesn't last more than like 20 minutes unless you have max players and everyone is playing optimally. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2026 by Daniel Goodman
    • Super fun and great artwork! Super fun and great artwork!
Style: Side Effects Base Game
Review Image by Chance of a Lifetime
Review Image by Chance of a Lifetime
Review Image by Chance of a Lifetime
We play a lot of games - basic ones and more high strategy ones. This game was actually pretty easy once you got the hang of it. It does take some slight strategy and you definitely have to pay attention to what cards you have and the disorders your opponents have. You cane cure yours, give others more disorders, or make them have an episode, but any action can backfire on you too. My adult son and I played and really enjoyed it! We laughed and had a good time. One game can be very quick or take a but if time - it just depends on the luck of the draw. This is definitely a game we can play over and over again. Pros: Easy to learn Can play with 2-10 people, so more options for group size. We have only played with two and it was fun. The artwork on the cards. It is fun. Cons: The cards are larger than regular cards and harder to shuffle. You have to separate out the disorders, shuffle and deal them out, and then shuffle them back in the deck each game. That is time consuming. Some complained about the fact that it calls out or makes fun of mental health. It is actually accurate on the treatments and side effects of them, so it isn't making fun and is realistic. Yes, players can give each other disorders and such and make it fun, but it is a game folks! I have a psychology degree and have family members with mental illness and I do not take offense to this game. If you do, don't play it. I highly recommend this game if you don't mind the content of it. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2023 Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2023 by Chance of a Lifetime
    • Definitely recommend
Style: Side Effects Base Game
OMGsh!!! Such a fun game! Just bought the booster pack with more /different illnesses. Can’t wait to play again. I think it’s best with more vs less people. I’d say age appropriate. There is nothing derogatory or inappropriate. The only condition we felt might be questionable would be “impotence” but I guess it depends on the child and how the parents explain things. Our youngest is almost 16. We were fine with it. It is not represented with bad taste. It’s just a card with the word and a pic that is more comical than other. We felt the game was in good taste. Instructions are easy except for the “trade” section. But no big deal it was a take it or leave it out. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2026 by Just me
    • Clever game, nice production values
Style: Side Effects Base Game
We were pleased to find the positive messages and mental health resource links in the instructions. For a game that could be accused of making light of serious subjects, this was tastefully done and comes off as a positive not a negative. The cards look and feel a little like Tarot Cards in their size, card stock, and presentation. Game rules are not too difficult. Replayability, maybe middle of the road. This is a really clever game with a novel subject matter, and vary fun to show off to the right audience. Gameplay is a little like Mille Bornes but not as engaging. They use generic names of all the medications, to avoid copyright issues presumably. Sort of wish they could have used the more common names. Buy this one for the subject matter. The design and artwork is delightful. No regrets, go for it. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2023 by Amazon Customer
    • Details Matter and they did just that!
Style: Side Effects Base Game
Aesthetically pleasing, morbidly funny, well thought out and detail oriented card game. I love all the thought process that went into making this game. Details are not only accurate but funny. Played it quite a few times already and its one of my favorites. Easy to play and not too time consuming.
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2026 by Marissa Smith
    • Well worth the price, awesome game for older family Well worth the price, awesome game for older family
Style: Side Effects Base Game
Review Image by C&K Hsn
Do yourself a favor and buy the expansion pack too, trust me. Great game to play with teens, it's slightly edgy but also destigmatizes mental illnesses by opening the door to discussion. The information is mostly accurate (pretty sure Madness isn't in the DSM). It is easy to learn, you'll just want to keep the instructions handy to refer back to so you can strategize. Shuffling with the expansion pack is no small feat, but well worth the time and effort. My kid love giving each other mental breakdowns and plotting revenge. We added a couple of our own house rules: (1) you can force a treatment on someone (and then give them one of the side effects after). (2) Made it so the Restock card also lets you discard your whole hand. We're still thinking of changing the punishment for Dry Mouth as it is pretty weak. We can't wait for the new Vice cards to be released! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2025 Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2025 by C&K Hsn

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