The Best Date-Night Boxes of 2026, Tested With My Hinge Dates

Similar to the Five Senses deck above, this scratch-off card set is in order, with optional “level up” cards to really increase intimacy, and individual cards for each partner with secret instructions. For this date, both of you will bring a red object that you point at certain points to indicate that you are ready for physical touch. Then you’ll go out to dinner and have deliberate conversations, and every time a partner takes out a red object, you’ll follow the cues to initiate increasingly intimate physical activities, ranging from holding hands to kissing the neck. So there we were, gorging each other on al pastor tacos (I kid) at Illegal Taqueria.

Many cards urged partners not to interrupt or solve problems, but to ask questions and talk dirty. My date said, “I think it might be for couples who hate each other.” I had to agree. The second part of the date involved driving and stoplights, but since we were in Brooklyn, we walked on trash-filled sidewalks and pretended to be a suburban couple on the fritz instead.

The rest of the date involved buying things like whipped cream and blindfolds for sexy time. I’m vegan and I had no desire to lick the cream off the chest hair, so we came home, took off our clothes, and did our best to keep our eyes closed (rather than blindfolded). I think overall it was a strange experience for both of us. If you and your partner need a lot of encouragement to connect, compliment, and get physical, this set is for you.

Date: Greg, 10/10 (Note: I didn’t meet this guy on Hinge; I met him the old-fashioned way, at 2 a.m. in a bar.)

Box: 6/10