"closed House": The Erotic Role-playing Game That Dusts Off Your Imagination.
Need for spice, a shot of creativity, or simply a pretty object to place in the living room? With "Maison Close," Maïa Mazaurette and Passage du Désir present a role-playing game that awakens desire without ever blushing.
A Game Unlike Any Other: When Fantasy Turns to Cardboard
Forget about dice revealing approximate positions and awkward dares. "Maison Close" comes in the form of 80 illustrated cards, each a colorful little work of art. Each card opens the door to a setting, a character, or a sensual scenario. The result is that you build your ideal pleasure house, card by card, with no fixed rules or moral judgment. Imagination leads the way, and that's the real revolution: putting fantasy at the heart of the game, rather than performance.
The Maïa Mazaurette touch: humor, freedom, kindness.
If you read her columns, you're familiar with the tune: a blend of science, spice, and kindness. Maïa Mazaurette is the author of both the texts and illustrations, with that touch of irony that hits the spot. "There's no such thing as a good or bad fantasy," she reminds us. The game then becomes a tool for empowerment: we laugh, we fumble, we wonder. In short, we finally move beyond the reflex of "I'm ashamed so I stay silent."
Solo, duo or tribe: three game modes, zero pressure.
- Solo: Like introspective tarot, you draw a card and let whatever the image awakens come to you. Ideal for reconnecting with your libido (and avoiding a lack of inspiration).
- Duo: Each person takes turns drawing a card and gradually builds a shared scenario. Guaranteed laughter, but also true revelations about hidden desires.
- Group: Cabaret atmosphere, master of ceremonies role, improvisations... Perfect for a bachelorette party or an evening with friends who aren't afraid of irony.
A booming intimate wellness market
According to ResearchAndMarkets, the global market for sexual wellness products is expected to exceed $45 billion by 2027, with an annual growth rate of over 7%. In France, the "design erotic toys and games" segment is driving growth, benefiting from a normalization of discourse on sexuality (thanks to podcasts, educational Instagram accounts, and yes, Maïa's columns). "Maison Close" fits right into this trend: playful, aesthetic, and socially acceptable content.
Desire Passage: 21 stores to democratize pleasure
Founded in 2006, Passage du Désir now boasts 21 retail locations across France and a very active e-commerce website. Its creed: sustainable development of the couple. Translation: products selected for their quality, chic decor (goodbye fluorescent neon), and advice without taboo. With "Maison Close," the brand further strengthens its image as a sexy but classy concept store, far from old school clichés.
A designer object that looks good on the coffee table.
Matte packaging, pop illustrations, compact size: the game costs 19.90 euros and claims a prime spot in your living room.
Place it next to the magazines; guests notice it, ask questions, and voila, the conversation comes alive.
The bet is simple: to desacralize sexuality through beauty rather than vulgarity. An approach reminiscent of the success of beautiful erotic books or "aphrodisiac" scented candles.
Why Does It Work? Psychology of Gaming and Desire
The game activates the prefrontal cortex, an area linked to creativity and anticipation. Simplified translation: the more you play, the more excitement builds even before the act itself. Sexologists refer to this as erotic "feed-forward". Essentially, the exciting promise releases dopamine, the pleasure hormone. As a result: 66% of French couples report that imagination is their primary driver of desire (Ifop survey 2024). "Maison Close" comes with the ideal starter pack.
Irresistible gift idea (and not just for Valentine's Day)
Birthday, housewarming, Secret Santa at the office (for open-minded colleagues)... For less than 20 euros, the item ticks all the boxes: original, pretty, clever. And then, giving desire is to offer quality time, which 57% of couples rank at the top of their relationship expectations (Ipsos barometer 2025).
How to use it without getting burned?
A helpful reminder: consent remains rule number one. Before drawing the cards, we set the boundaries: comfort zones, limits, safe word if necessary. We draw, we laugh, we either keep or put back the card, it's as simple as that. No obligation to act on it: some evenings end with just a spicy brainstorming session, and that's perfectly fine too.
And tomorrow? Erotic imagination as cultural heritage.
With "Maison Close," Maïa Mazaurette launches an exciting trail: treating desire as a cultural fact. After all, our fantasies tell the story of our era, our fears, our cravings.
Who knows? In a few years, we might collect these cards as we collect movie posters. For now, they're just waiting for one thing: to be shuffled, redistributed, reinvented. It's your move!
Nota Bene: the term "Maison close" historically refers to French brothels of the 19th century. Here, it is repurposed to denote an imaginary place, freely constructed by players, without exploitation or violence. Just play, and lots of pleasure.
