Publish or Perish: Humorous Academic Party Game for 3-6 Players | Ages 14+

Overview

Publish or Perish is a light-hearted party game that invites 3 to 6 players to step into the shoes of ambitious researchers who chase publish-worthy ideas and defend delightfully absurd ones. With light banter, quick rounds, and smart trivia, the game transforms a regular night into a playful academic salon.

Designed for ages 14 and up, this game sets a friendly tone for lab gatherings, writing retreats, conferences, or relaxed game nights at home. It was created by Max Hui Bai, Ph.D., and has been tested by graduate students, professors, and scholars from research institutes around the world. The playful badge of peer review even carries a wink: Almost Approved by Reviewer 2.

What makes it fun

• Light-hearted gameplay that combines publish-style bragging with witty non sequiturs and clever defenses.
• Trivia questions spanning 20+ disciplines designed for curious minds who love to connect ideas across fields.
• One-page rules that make setup fast and learning quick, so you can start playing in minutes.

What you will experience during play

• Engaging banter as players pitch zany research agendas and counterarguments.
• Social energy that grows with each round, from casual chuckles to shared laughter.
• Accessible strategy that rewards creativity and quick thinking, not jargon-heavy knowledge alone.

Ideal settings

Perfect for lab parties, writing retreats, academic conferences, and casual game nights with fellow scholars.

What you get in the box includes a compact deck of questions, answer cards, tokens, and a concise rules sheet. The components are compact and colorful, designed for easy handling and clean setup.

In short, Publish or Perish invites you to explore a playful version of academia where curiosity, humor, and social connection come first, and the outcome is open to interpretation rather than guaranteed results.