The Gentle Code

A card game to keep love curious and alive. This game is for romantic partners or married couples – not friends. Not tonight. Not this game.

HOW TO PLAY

Each Level has 5 Circles (rounds).
Recommended pace: one Circle per evening – if you want more, play another. Start with any Level. Choose what feels right for you as a couple.

  • Level 1 — We Just Met, But I’d Die for You
    Early spark. All charm, no brakes.
  • Level 2 — Slightly Obsessed, Mildly Terrified
    The feelings are mutual. Unfortunately, so is the anxiety.
  • Level 3 — So, Are We Doing This?
    Eye contact now comes with side effects.
  • Level 4 — Comfortable, But Still Flammable
    Cozy love, emotional kindling. One wrong joke and someone’s crying.
  • Level 5 — Love, Loopholes & Laundry
    Devotion with detours. Passion and the GPS to find your way back.

WAYS TO PLAY

The game isn’t meant to end; it’s meant to break routine with moments of depth and playfulness.

Gentle

Partners help each other earn rewards. Your tokens stay visible throughout the game. At the end of the Circle, lay your tokens out and trade with each other to help both of you win Surprise Card rewards.

Competitive

Both of you can win, even with different types of Surprise Card rewards. Keep your tokens hidden until the end of the Circle. No trading at the end to help each other win.

GAME FLOW

Follow the interactive flow below to play the game. Applies to both ways of playing:
Gentle or Competitive.

Loading flow instructions...

TOKENS & SURPRISE CARDS

Token moment? Which type of token to give? Decide yourself - if a moment feels deeply honest, touching, tender, or brave, pick a matching token to reward your partner:

Hover, focus, or tap a token to see what it means.

At the end of a Circle, if you’ve collected 3 tokens of the same type, you may open a matching Surprise Card. Each card includes five invitations — gestures, dares, or shared moments.See Surprises

Tenderness
Tenderness
Tenderness

If you’ve collected 4 mixed tokens, you may instead open the Date Ideas card — a shared prompt for your next moment together. The winner chooses what the next date looks like.See Date Ideas

Tenderness
Truth
Courage
Touch

THE SPARK TOKEN

The SPARK token can only be earned during an unexpected moment—outside the rules—when one partner does something spontaneous, real, or quietly beautiful.

Rules
  • • Each player may receive one SPARK token per Circle.
  • • It is a rare token that can complete any set of three matching or four mixed tokens to unlock Surprise Card rewards.

THE CURIOUS TOKEN

If you skipped a card and your partner wants to ask a follow-up question but nothing comes to mind, they may use a CURIOUS token as a gentle reminder to ask later.

CURIOUS tokens may be saved for future days, but only used during the game.

Rules
  • • At the end of a level, first check for any CURIOUS tokens.
  • • Use them now and follow the Skipping & Soft Escapes rules, or save them for another time if needed.
  • • Questions asked later don’t earn tokens in a new Circle or Level.

CARD SYMBOLS

These symbols appear on your cards. They hint at the tone — playful, deep, curious, or just plain weird.

  • Playful
    Playful
    light & fun
    Thoughtful
    Thoughtful
    honest & curious
    Gentle
    Gentle
    warm & soft
    Emotional
    Emotional
    deep & true
    Reflective
    Reflective
    read, pause & share
  • Special
    Replay
    Replay
    save for later to build a Replay Circle
  • Special
    Weird
    Weird
    blame the monkey, expect the unexpected

END OF LEVEL

At the end of each Level, pause and reflect — then claim a playful title together. It’s your checkpoint and your badge.

REFLECTION CARD

A short pause to notice what shifted. Each Level ends with a playful reflection prompt.

Finish a line like “Right now I feel…” or “Something I noticed about you tonight…”. The goal isn’t perfect answers, just honest ones.

TITLE CARD

Choose a shared name for your Level — from “The Impulse Artists” to “The Morning Enthusiasts.”

It’s a playful badge of honor, and scanning the QR unlocks your title as merch or a printable decal.

Final Notes

Scan QRs for prompts, examples, or shared rituals. Some lead to reflection tools or downloadable Titles (printable for mugs, tees, or keepsakes).

Play slow. Skip what doesn’t feel right. Return to what matters. Or begin again — when you’re both ready.