---
product_id: 222908205
title: "Side Effects"
brand: "pillbox games"
price: "€ 52.13"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
category: "Pillbox Games"
url: https://www.desertcart.fi/products/222908205-side-effects
store_origin: FI
region: Finland
---

# Unique tarot-sized cards for easy handling Striking, award-nominated visual design Fast-paced 30-min gameplay Side Effects

**Brand:** pillbox games
**Price:** € 52.13
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🧠 Outsmart, outplay, and outlast with Side Effects — the card game where strategy meets chaos!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Side Effects by pillbox games
- **How much does it cost?** € 52.13 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.fi](https://www.desertcart.fi/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

- • **Compact & Premium:** Tarot-sized, sturdy cards with mirrored text ensure smooth play and a tactile, premium feel.
- • **Social & Engaging:** Sparks laughter, alliances, and memorable moments—perfect for game nights and networking.
- • **Accessible Yet Deep:** Simple rules and short turns make it quick to learn but reward clever timing and bold risks.
- • **Award-Winning Design:** Finalist for SXSW Gamer’s Voice Award, blending sharp visuals with inventive mechanics.
- • **Strategic 'Take That' Gameplay:** Race to treat disorders while sabotaging opponents in a dynamic, interactive card battle.

## Overview

Side Effects is a fast, strategic card game for 2-8 players where you race to treat disorders using Drug and Therapy cards while disrupting opponents. Featuring tarot-sized cards with mirrored text for easy reading, it offers quick-to-learn yet deep gameplay that rewards timing and strategy. Celebrated as a SXSW Gamer’s Voice Award finalist, its bold art and dynamic player interaction make it a standout choice for professionals seeking a fun, social, and intellectually engaging game 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.

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: Fun game with a uinque gameplay - I saw this boardgame on store with a higher price and decided to get it from desertcart. 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

## 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 |
| Age Range Description | Kid |
| Best Sellers Rank | #11,684 in Toys & Games ( See Top 100 in Toys & Games ) #225 in Dedicated Deck Card Games |
| Brand Name | Pillbox Games |
| Color | Multicolor |
| Container Type | Box |
| Customer Package Type | Standard Packaging |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,357 Reviews |
| Educational Objective | To teach players about the complexities and side effects of drug use and therapy in a fun and engaging way |
| Estimated Playing Time | 30 Minutes |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00602573618868, 06025736188680 |
| Grenre | Strategy |
| Included Components | Side Effects |
| Indoor Outdoor Usage | Indoor |
| Is Assembly Required | No |
| Item Dimensions | 6.2 x 5.3 x 2 inches |
| Item Dimensions L x W | 6.2"L x 5.3"W |
| Item Type Name | board game |
| Manufacturer | Pillbox Games |
| Manufacturer Maximum Age (MONTHS) | 1188.0 |
| Manufacturer Minimum Age (MONTHS) | 168.0 |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 004GHG |
| Manufacturer Warranty Description | No Warranty |
| Material Type | Cardboard |
| Model Name | Side Effects |
| Model Number | GHG004 |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Number of Players | 2-8 |
| Operation Mode | manual |
| Other Special Features of the Product | Take that gameplay, racing to cure diseases, using prescriptions and therapy, experiencing side effects |
| Package Quantity | 1 |
| Power Source | manual |
| Product Style | Side Effects Base Game |
| Set Name | Side Effects |
| Size | 5.3 inches (W) x 6.2 inches (L) x 2 inches (H) |
| Theme | Strategy |
| UPC | 602573618868 |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |

## Images

![Side Effects - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81dTjJs1Z9L.jpg)
![Side Effects - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81eMOjJnSBL.jpg)
![Side Effects - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91GwOqIxJ6L.jpg)
![Side Effects - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91JJfsPa-YL.jpg)
![Side Effects - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91WU+1BRrpL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Style** options.

## 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!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fun game with a uinque gameplay
*by E***M on February 22, 2026*

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

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Morbid humor, check. Fast enough play a few games, check. Beautiful artwork, check.
*by D***N on March 16, 2026*

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.

## 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

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.fi/products/222908205-side-effects](https://www.desertcart.fi/products/222908205-side-effects)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Finland*
*Store origin: FI*
*Last updated: 2026-06-02*