How to play:

In Proof of Life, you’ll play Question, Think, and Create Cards to explore the often-tender subjects of death, grief, and loss, while reflecting on how you’re living your life.

The goal of Proof of Life is to play a set number of cards to assemble a circle with other players. The player who places the last card that completes the circle wins the game.

The size of the card circle depends on the number of players:

One or two players: 8 cards
Three players: 10 cards
Four players: 12 cards

2-4 Players

To begin, shuffle and deal out seven cards to each player. The remainder of the deck stays in the box within reach of all players.

The person whose birthday is closest to the current date starts the game by choosing any card in their hand to play.

Play continues clockwise. Always draw back up to 7 cards after your turn.

The player who places the final card, completing the circle of cards, wins the game.

Card Types

There are three types of cards in Proof of Life: Question, Think, and Create Cards.

Question Cards

When playing one of the 121 Question Cards, pick any other player to read it aloud to. After they answer, place the cars in the circle.

Think Cards

Each of the 111 Think Cards have an “I think” statement, with a multiple choice option or fill-in-the-blank space.

Pick a player to read it aloud to, and try to guess how they would answer. If you guessed correctly, place the Think Card in the card circle.

If you guessed incorrectly, discard the card and draw a new card from the deck.

Create Cards

The 33 Create Cards each have a writing or drawing prompt.

Play a Create Card by following the directions and sharing your answer, then adding it to the circle of cards. Other players are welcome to also respond.

We suggest setting a time limit of five minutes per card when playing with others, as well as having paper and pen on hand.

Create Cards, by design, are creative tasks that may take more time to play than other cards in Proof of Life.

Each Create Card has a distinct pink back, making it easy to separate them from the rest of the deck.

If you’d like to save them for an extended game or solo mode, you’re welcome to do so.

Solo Play

You can play Proof of Life by yourself, as a creative exercise or journal prompts, to reflect on your dreams of a meaningful life, how you’d like to be remembered, and the losses and grief you experience and carry.