The card game that warns you: ‘”feelings may arise,” and begs the question, “how are you, really?”

“We’re Not Really Strangers” is the red and white card game that has turned into a social media and marketing empire. Created by Koreen Odiney in 2018 to develop meaningful connections, the purpose of the game is to allow people to know each other on a deeper, more personal level. The game begins with every player taking turns drawing cards, answering four cards for every round, with three rounds in total. The first round is perception, and it’s all about how others perceive each other on the surface level. The second round is connection, and it’s meant to dig deeper to strengthen relationships. The last round is reflection, where the questions are meant to allow players to take time to think back on what they have learned about their partner or group members. Lastly, the final card: a handwritten note given to the other players that they’re only allowed to read when alone.

Additionally, “We’re Not Really Strangers,” or WNRS, pronounced ”winners,” has taken off as a social media giant, and allowed people to develop a new form of self-care, healthy relationships and positivity through their posts. Social media can be full of hate and negative messages, but WNRS is a positive source of light with their posts and overall message. While the game forces players to let their walls down, it’s all for the better to strengthen a person’s relationship with the people around them.

Through my personal times and experiences playing the game, it was definitely eye-opening. It gave me an insight into how the people and friends closest to me view me, and it also gave me a chance to thoroughly express to the ones I love what I’ve noticed about them and that I care about them. By being vulnerable and open with the people I’ve played with, we have grown closer, and I’ve treasured the final notes people have given me. There’s an actual psychological connection to handwritten notes, and expressing gratitude is one of the easiest ways to feel better about yourself, as it boosts your serotonin levels.

With additional packs that you can add to expand the game, WNRS allows players to consider all aspects of their life to evaluate how they’re truly feeling. The three rounds are meant to build a connection between people – even two total strangers – so when players experience the game with friends and family, they can learn amazing things about those closest to them. Their constant theme of evaluating relationships and their effect on people’s lives allow players and followers to improve what’s not bringing them joy in their life. WNRS wants players to re-evaluate what is truly benefiting them.

While people may call the aesthetic “cliché” or “just a trend,” their constant messages with minimalistic designs are iconic and unique. With more than 3.7 million followers on Instagram, the game’s influence over social media is undeniable. WNRS constantly sends out newsletters for updates on their merchandise, and followers can pay a subscription to be a part of their text feed. Their “Vulnerable Sunday” posts are direct messages from Odiney, that are based on what she’s going through or feelings she wants to address with her following. The WNRS presence has grown to be eye-catching with their simple and very clear messages.

WNRS focuses on the topics that not a lot of people want to discuss, such as negative thoughts, toxic relationships and vulnerability. More and more of social media has become dedicated to breaking down the stigma of mental health and addressing issues in life that are often not talked about enough. As people in society continue to be more open about what they’re struggling with, WNRS creates a greater impact now than it could’ve in past years. Social media follows people everywhere, and their daily reminders and posts allow for followers to take a breath and remind themselves that they are loved and cared for.