---
product_id: 222908205
title: "Side Effects"
brand: "pillbox games"
price: "200 zł"
currency: PLN
in_stock: null
reviews_count: 13
category: "Pillbox Games"
url: https://www.desertcart.pl/products/222908205-side-effects
store_origin: PL
region: Poland
---

# 10-30 min quick game rounds Fast-paced strategic card play Award-winning bold artwork Side Effects

**Brand:** pillbox games
**Price:** 200 zł
**Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock

## Summary

> 🧠 Outsmart, outplay, and outlast with Side Effects — where every card counts!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Side Effects by pillbox games
- **How much does it cost?** 200 zł with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Currently out of stock
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.pl](https://www.desertcart.pl/products/222908205-side-effects)

## Best For

- pillbox games enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted pillbox games brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Striking Visual Identity:** Bold, tarot-sized cards with mirrored text for effortless reading across the table.
- • **Dynamic Player Interaction:** Constant momentum shifts with Episode cards keep every round unpredictable.
- • **Strategic Take-That Gameplay:** Race to treat Disorders while outsmarting opponents with steals and sabotage.
- • **Easy to Learn, Deep to Master:** Simple rules with rewarding timing, hand management, and bold risk-taking.
- • **Perfect Game Night Palate-Cleanser:** Quick 2-8 player sessions that spark laughter, conversation, and replayability.

## Overview

Side Effects is a fast, strategic card game for 2-8 players featuring a unique take-that mechanic where players race to treat mental health Disorders using Drug and Therapy cards. With simple rules and quick 10-30 minute rounds, it balances accessibility and depth, making it ideal for both casual and hobby gamers. Celebrated as a SXSW Gamer’s Voice Award finalist, the game stands out with its bold, tarot-sized artwork and dynamic player interaction that keeps every turn fresh and unpredictable.

## 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. Designed by Jade Shames and Ben Bronstein with artistic contributions from Kat Thek and Jen Igartua, the game blends bold illustration with clean iconography, making it both eye-catching and intuitive to play. With support for 2–8 players and a playtime of 10–30 minutes, Side Effects fits comfortably into any adult game night, offering a stylish mix of chaos, timing, and clever decisions.

Review: Fun and easy to learn! Great little card 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!
Review: Well worth the price, awesome game for older family - 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!

## 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 Gamer’s 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.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B07JM57JV7 |
| Best Sellers Rank | #6,342 in Toys & Games ( See Top 100 in Toys & Games ) #192 in Dedicated Deck Card Games |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,310) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 12.6 ounces |
| Item model number | GHG004 |
| Manufacturer | Pillbox Games |
| Manufacturer recommended age | 14 years and up |
| Product Dimensions | 6.2 x 5.3 x 2 inches |
| Release date | July 29, 2020 |

## Images

![Side Effects - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51eWyBKamJL.jpg)
![Side Effects - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81dTjJs1Z9L.jpg)
![Side Effects - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81eMOjJnSBL.jpg)
![Side Effects - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/9151s7y-yXL.jpg)
![Side Effects - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91GwOqIxJ6L.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: How young could you be to play this game?**
A: While not super dirty there are adult themes in the game. So I think it's up to preference. I'm pretty open with my kids, I'd have had no issues 13 and up, but that's me.

**Q: What size are the cards?**
A: 4.75in tall 2.75in wide

**Q: Does this include the High Tolerance and Misdiagnosis cards?**
A: My daughter said it doesn't, but she wished it did .

**Q: Is this the game produced by Pillbox Games?**
A: Yes, Pillbox Games is the sole publisher.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fun and easy to learn! Great little card game!
*by M***. on September 28, 2023*

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!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Well worth the price, awesome game for older family
*by C***N on August 12, 2025*

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!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very fun, for adults or older teens.
*by S***S on August 19, 2025*

This is very fun, and easy to play. I wouldn't play with anyone younger than maybe 16 or 17. The art on the cards and the box is very nice, I was really impressed with it and it is quite funny. It's not a huge box, so you can easily take it to game night, or it won't take up too much more space in your closet full of board games if you are like me.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Pillbox Games Side Effects: Unleash The Fun & Chaos Using Therapy & Medication in This Hit Card Game for 2 to 8 Players
- Side Effects Booster Shot
- Pillbox Games Hex Effects: a Fast-paced Card Game with Potions and Disasters, 2-8 Players, 10-30 Min Play

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*Product available on Desertcart Poland*
*Store origin: PL*
*Last updated: 2026-01-24*