Choosing Drinking Games: What Works at a Party and What Stays in the Cupboard
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
A game that fizzles out after ten minutes is a waste of money. Here's how to choose a drinking or party game that suits the number of guests, the space, and the company – including non-alcoholic versions.
Almost everyone knows the feeling: a game is brought out, the explanation takes five minutes, two people lose interest, and after one round, the box is closed again. It's a shame, because a game that does catch on determines how the evening unfolds. The difference is rarely in the price and almost always in three things: how quickly you explain the rules, how many people play simultaneously, and how much space you need.
Below, we'll go through the types of games that work well at a birthday, house party, or student night — and what to look for before you buy. A preliminary note: a drinking game is just as much fun with soda or non-alcoholic beer. We'll get back to that later.
What makes a party game work
When choosing, pay attention to four points. Explanation time: Can you explain it in one minute? Anything longer loses half the table. Waiting time: How long does someone sit idle between turns? With six players and a game with long turns, the rest will tune out. Space: A throwing game needs a long table, a dice game fits on a coffee table. Volume: Games where everyone shouts at once don't work well in an apartment with thin walls.
A practical rule of thumb: buy one game that can be played by many people simultaneously and one that remains fun with just four people. This covers both the busy beginning of the evening and the after-party.
Three types of games and who they work for
Dice games: quick, small, and always ready to play
Dice games are the most accessible category. You don't need table space, the rules are on the dice themselves, and you can always have someone join in. The Beer Game Dice Yellow - 2 pieces (€4.00) are the cheapest way to test if it's a hit with your group. If you want something that stands out on the table, there's the Beer Game Dice XXL (€9.95).
Advantage: you can just put them in a drawer afterwards. Disadvantage: pure dice rolling gets dull after half an hour. Therefore, combine them with a game from one of the next two groups.
Aiming and throwing: many people at once, more space needed
Skill games hold attention the longest because there's something to practice. The Ring Toss Game (€14.95) is a classic example: you hang it up or set it down, and people keep trying all evening. If you're looking for something where two teams face each other, there's the Puck Power Shooting Game (€10.00).
For the most famous form—beer pong—you mainly need a long table and cups. If you don't have that table, the Beer Pong Inflatable Hats with Cups (€19.95) is a variation you play standing: the cups are on an inflatable hat. And for the host of the evening: the Beer Pong Apron (€14.95) is more of a gift item than a game item, but it works well as a giveaway.
Card games: calmer, longer, and with less fuss
If you're at a table with a smaller group, cards work better than throwing games. A poker night is the clearest example of this: it flows naturally, everyone knows the basics, and you can play for hours. You need chips — Poker Chips 50 pieces in 6 colors (€9.95) or the Poker Chips 25 pieces in 6 models (€9.95) — and a deck of cards. If you play often, an Automatic Card Shuffler for 1 to 2 decks (€12.95) saves a lot of shuffling between hands.
There is a separate category of card games tied to an occasion: a birthday, a graduation, a milestone. These work because the tasks revolve around the main person, so even people who would otherwise drop out participate. Think of the 30 Year Beer Game (€12.95) for a thirtieth birthday, the Graduation Beer Game (€12.95) around graduation ceremonies, or Dad's Beer Game (€12.95) as a gift for a father.
Practical point: these games are one-off in nature. Buy them as a gift or for one evening, not as a permanent stock for the cupboard.
What else you want on the table
Small glasses. A set of 6 shot glasses of 60 ml (€3.00) is one such example: also great for soda, lemonade or a non-alcoholic tasting.
Enough cups. Expect more than the number of guests — cups get lost or fall over.
A surface that can withstand spills. A tablecloth or tray saves cleaning work.
Water on the table. Always put out a pitcher; it's the simplest thing you can do.
Agreements you make beforehand
A drinking game dictates the pace of drinking, and that pace is higher than people would choose themselves. A few sober agreements keep the evening fun. Agree that participating with soda or non-alcoholic beer counts just the same – most of these games work exactly the same way with them. Don't let the driver play with alcohol. And keep in mind that the age limit for selling and serving alcohol in the Netherlands is 18; the current rules can be found at rijksoverheid.nl.
If you're organizing a party for a mixed group, choose a skill game or card game rather than a game that's entirely about drinking. That way, everyone participates, regardless of what's in their glass.
Quick choice per situation
Situation
What works
Why
House party, 10+ guests
Aiming or throwing game
Many people simultaneously, short turns
Themed birthday party
Card game related to the occasion
It's about the birthday person, so everyone participates
Four people at a table
Poker with chips
Remains engaging for hours, few items needed
Small apartment
Dice or cards
Little space, little noise
On the road or traveling
Mini playing cards
Fits in a jacket pocket
Briefly summarized
Choose based on the company and space, not on what looks funny in the webshop. One game for the crowd, one for the after-party, enough cups, and a pitcher of water: that will get you further than five boxes that no one explains.
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