Drinking party crowd-pleasers: party and banquet games
A lot of people are probably thinking about simple games to play at banquets, right?
Whether it’s a wedding after-party, a New Year’s party, a year-end party, or a welcome/farewell party, having a game that helps everyone bond and adds a touch of flair to the event makes it more fun.
That said, it can be hard to choose a game for a banquet with multiple participants, since there are so many considerations, don’t you think?
So in this article, we’ll introduce banquet games you can enjoy in a variety of situations!
We’ve picked out a wide range—from timeless classics to slightly unique games—so please use this as a reference.
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Party and drinking games that liven up a get-together (1–10)
Bingo
When it comes to classic party games, bingo is the go-to, right? It’s one of those games that gets everyone excited no matter how many people are playing.
Even if you don’t have a bingo machine, these days there are apps that do the job, which is really convenient.
It can be frustrating when you’re just one spot away and still can’t finish, but the thrill of whether you’ll win a fancy prize is part of the excitement too.
Russian roulette
Here’s another classic: Russian roulette.
This time, we use cream puffs, with just one secretly filled with wasabi.
The thrill comes from trying to avoid picking the wasabi cream puff.
Since it’s a cream puff, you can’t really see the filling, which makes it hard to tell even if wasabi is inside—an amusing twist that promises the best reactions.
Speed-drinking contest with baby bottles
A speed-drinking showdown with baby bottles—just the title is already ridiculous, isn’t it? As the name suggests, it’s a game where you put a drink in a baby bottle and see who can finish it the fastest.
Grown-ups earnestly sucking on baby bottles is pretty hilarious on its own.
It seems variety shops have even started selling baby bottles specifically for head-to-head matches lately.
Drinking-Party Hits: Banquet and Party Games (11–20)
Ranking Check
Famous for Masatoshi Hamada’s “Results announcement!” catchphrase, “Geinōjin Kakuzuke Check” is a quiz variety show where you guess which of A or B is the higher-end option.
Many people probably watch it during the New Year holidays.
So how about trying a “Kakuzuke Check” at your next drinking party? The themes could be alcohol, snacks, clothes, musical instruments, and more—just thinking about it brings up tons of ideas.
If you make it so that whoever guesses correctly gets the item that was used in the question as a prize, it could get even more exciting.
First Impressions Game
One person poses a prompt like, “Who’s the most ◯◯ among us?” Everyone points to the person they think fits the prompt best.
The person who gets pointed at the most loses.
For example: “Who seems like they’d be the most popular?” It’s a game where winning and losing are a bit vague, but it sparks conversation and really livens things up.
Yamanote Line game
The Yamanote Line Game is a classic staple at banquets and drinking parties.
It’s a simple game where players take turns saying words that fit a given theme to a set rhythm.
As long as you come up with a theme, you don’t need any props, so it’s a super convenient activity you can do on the spot.
Because it’s a thinking game, it’s guaranteed to liven things up when played at a drinking party where everyone’s a bit tipsy.
Balloon Game
https://www.tiktok.com/@eva_tokyo/video/7398483109626383623This balloon game is guaranteed to get everyone hyped to the max at a party.
In turn, players call out either “big balloon,” “small balloon,” or “regular balloon.” When someone calls one, everyone—including the caller—strikes the corresponding pose.
For “big balloon,” make a small circle with both hands.
For “small balloon,” spread your arms wide to make a big circle.
For “regular balloon,” touch both shoulders, then raise both hands straight up.
Because the actions are the opposite of what’s being said—or completely different—you might get mentally mixed up as the game goes on.
You also have to shout “Yes!” while posing, so give it your all and keep the energy high!
