It was undoubtedly the gift for children not to slip under the tree at Christmas… Parents had a very unpleasant surprise in recent days, discovering the brand new board game “Who will be the liar?” », created by Michou. A lover of video games, challenges and gags of all kinds, the popular 23-year-old videographer apologized this Friday evening, after many players denounced questions unsuitable for a young audience, even though the game is presented as being accessible from 7 years old.
At the root of this discontent are questions clearly aimed at an adult audience. And which would undoubtedly have sparked no controversy if the game was not presented as an “all-audience” game. Of the hundred cards, only a few pose a problem, but they are explicit: “Have you ever used an everyday object to do something naughty? », “Have you ever had an erotic dream”, “Have you ever used narcotics? » or “Have you ever had an animal in heat who wanted to do it with you? “. Enough to arouse the ire of many dissatisfied customers. Since Thursday, negative comments have been pouring in on social networks. “My 9 year old niece received this for Christmas. The creators of this game really have a problem recommending it to children,” laments an Internet user on “A game for ages 7 and up is a joke,” protests another player. “It’s a shame,” says one Internet user.
Faced with the outcry, Michou, creator of this game and who has millions of subscribers on his social networks, apologized this Friday evening. “I just saw complaints on social media. There was indeed an error on the part of the publisher on the age target of the game, I am finding out what we can do and I will let you know quickly,” he said in a story posted on Instagram as well as a post on Twitter, adding: “I want to apologize to anyone who might have been disappointed by this, really.”
However, a few weeks ago, while promoting “Who Will Be the Liar?” » on YouTube, the jack-of-all-trades influencer among the best known of his generation, indicated that his game, on which he explained having “worked for several months”, was “simple to understand, ideal for playing with friends, with family , or even with new knowledge…”. It was therefore again a question of a game presented as family friendly, even though some of the cards mentioned above were already appearing…
On the website of the game's publisher, Topi Games, the description is just as clear since frequently asked questions are supposed to remove any ambiguity. “ The game “Who will be the liar?” » is it suitable for the whole family? Yes, the game is designed for a young audience, from 7 years old, but is also an excellent option for fun times with the family. can we read. The age of 7 and over which appears on the box is therefore once again confirmed, as is the family orientation of the game.
In “Who will be the liar?” », Players are invited to “tell true or totally bogus stories” based on cards drawn at random (the game has 100). “Tell your funniest, creepiest or shameful stories thanks to cards that will take you back to your real or fictitious memories,” explains Topi Games on its sales page.
It remains to be seen how a board game with such suggestive questions could have ended up being marketed to children aged 7 and over? And why did Michou and Topi Games highlight its “family” potential?
Contacted this Friday evening, the Michou team did not respond to our requests. Le Parisien also tried to contact the CEO and head of communications of Topi Games, without success. Also reached by telephone, the sales director of the company which publishes “Who will be the liar?” » confided “not to be aware” of the controversy, nor of the follow-up which will be given to the marketing of the game.
