I’ve always enjoyed stories about erotic games–strip poker, an adult version of truth-or-dare, spin-the-bottle turned naughty, etc. More interestingly, based on the sales figures of All In: Strip Poker Done Right, I’m not alone. What’s not to like? It’s a great device for cutting through inhibitions and letting a group of “normal” people act crazy.

[quote align=”right” color=”#999999″]Boundaries were tested and shattered, reluctance was felt and conquered.[/quote]
One of the first stories I ever read (the title and author lost in that place where bulletin boards went) was about a deck of naughty cards and a room full of half-friends. Despite it having been written in second person, it left an impression on a young me that has lasted to this day. Like any good slow-burn, the tension rose as the dares on the cards got more and more explicit. Boundaries were tested and shattered, reluctance was felt and conquered. And in the end, everyone had a sexy time.

That device is what makes naughty game erotica so appealing. Kirsten McCurran, author of Truth or Treat (a sexy variant on truth or dare), says that “sexy stories give people, or characters, an excuse to lose their inhibitions and do things they might secretly want to do, but don’t have the ability to just come right out and do.” I think that a lot of people identify with this situation, even though most people would never actually play one of these games.

[quote align=”left” color=”#999999″]sexy stories give people, or characters, an excuse to lose their inhibitions and do things they might secretly want to do[/quote]
Litfan, author of The Deal series on literotica that covers strip poker, strip darts, and spin-the-bottle, adds, “I really like the playful tone games bring into the mix … it does set up a nice excuse for the clothes to come off and everybody to get all hot and bothered.”

For me, the success of an erotic game story lies in the strength of its characters. The mechanics of the erotic game create the framework, but no one wants to read a framework. Who the bottle points to when it stops spinning is only interesting the first two or three times; how the characters to react to that bottle is where the story resides.

BE Thalia, author of the Taking Chances series, says:

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Motivation is an important consideration for any story, but it’s even more challenging with these kinds of structured, device driven story. Why are the characters doing what they’re doing? It can’t be just because the rules dictate that they do them. That’s the excuse, for both the players and the writer. What’s really going on behind the scenes? But this isn’t the challenge just for these kinds of stories; watching a character grow and learn something new about themselves is what good erotica is all about.

Have an erotic game story you’ve read? Add a comment below. I’m always for another entertaining read.