Get the party started! A roundup of perfect playing card games for drinking parties
A fun drinking party with everyone together!
If we’re going to make the most of it, it’d be great to have games we can all play together, right?
When you think about that, the first thing that probably comes to mind is a deck of cards.
This time, I’m going to introduce lots of card games—from ones that get big groups pumped up to ones that make a two-person drink really exciting!
I’ve put together a wide range, from classics to lesser-known games.
If you bookmark this article, it might come in handy not just for drinking parties, but in all kinds of situations!
- [From small to large groups] Drinking games recommended for college students
- Punishment games that liven up drinking parties and banquets
- Party Games That Spice Up Your House Drinks Night
- Games for two people to enjoy. A roundup of party games that liven up drinking gatherings.
- Types of playing cards and how to play
- Recommended card game. Easy! Fun! Adults get hooked too!
- Put a penalty on the line! A roundup of party games that get everyone hyped
- Party games that liven up group dating events
- Drinking party crowd-pleasers: party and banquet games
- A fun penalty game recommended for men
- Simple but intense! A quick-and-easy penalty game that hypes everyone up
- Recommended for college students! Punishment game ideas that will make everyone laugh and hype things up
- Ideas for team-based games to enliven a party
Get the Party Started! A Roundup of Perfect Playing Card Games for Drinking Parties (11–20)
Splash
The playing card game that UNO is based on is American Page One.
This game adds a rule called “Dobon.” Dobon means you can go out if the number on the card your opponent plays equals the sum of the numbers of the cards in your own hand.
For example, if your opponent plays a 6 and you have two 3s, you win.
You can also Dobon even when your opponent plays their final card; in that case, the player who Dobons wins.
This rule keeps the excitement going until the very end, so give it a try!
29
29 is a game whose appeal lies in bluffing and strategy, similar to blackjack.
Players take turns playing cards to the table, aiming for a total of 29.
The person who plays the last card wins the cards on the table.
The cards you collect can be used in the next round as well.
It’s a slow-paced game that lets you think as you go, making it perfect for playing between bites and sips.
There’s also a rule that lets you play a Joker as any number, so feel free to adopt it if you like.
High & Low
With the simple High & Low rules—guessing whether the next number is higher or lower—you’re sure to have fun even with people unfamiliar with card games! Shuffle and split the deck well.
The first dealer flips the top card face up and places it in the center.
The other player places their top card face down in the center, declares whether it’s higher or lower than the opponent’s card, then flips it face up.
If the declaration is correct, they take both cards; if it’s wrong, or if the numbers are the same, both cards go to the discard pile.
In the end, the player who has collected the most cards wins!
Pig’s tail
Buta no Shippo tests not only your brain but also your reflexes.
In this game, cards are arranged in the shape of a pig’s tail, and players flip them over; when a specific card appears, everyone must place their hand in the center.
The player who is the slowest to place their hand has to take all the cards on the table, and the more cards you collect, the closer you are to losing.
Things can get heated, so be careful not to get too forceful.
By the way, there are advanced techniques in this game—like feinting as if you’re going to place your hand to provoke a mistake.
Give them a try!
Quartet
Quartet is a game where you collect four cards of the same rank or suit.
Use a standard deck without jokers, and remove exactly one card beforehand.
Deal the remaining cards evenly to all players.
You’re ready to start! On your turn, choose a player and ask for a specific card you want.
If that player has the card, they must give it to you; if they don’t, your turn ends.
If you receive a card, you may ask again.
When you collect a set of four matching cards, reveal them.
Continue until everyone has no cards left.
The player who makes the most sets of four wins!
Gonin-kan
Basically, card games like trump are usually played individually, right? But sometimes you might feel like teaming up with friends.
That’s where I’d like to introduce Goninkan.
It’s a game where two teams of three players compete.
The rules are similar to Ecard, and you work with your teammates to form winning combinations and rack up points.
The rules are a bit complex, but once you learn them, it’s sure to get exciting.
It’s actually been made into a video game, too, so learning the rules that way is also an option.
speed
Put your reflexes to the test and have a serious showdown! When it comes to one-on-one card battles, nothing beats Speed! Since your starting hand is key, it’s not just the fastest player who has the advantage—surprisingly, luck can really sway the outcome.
Play while staring down your cards like you’re trying to memorize them! Rules can vary by region—such as how to handle Jokers or specific rules about Aces and Kings—so be sure to confirm them first!
Sevens (card game)
When explaining the rules feels like a hassle, why not try Sevens? It’s a simple game where you line up cards in order by placing numbers before or after the 7s, and if you can’t play a card, you lose.
That means you can start right away.
Despite its simplicity, there’s plenty of strategy, so it’s sure to get exciting.
By the way, in Japan’s official tournaments, you’re allowed to pass up to three times.
Adjust the number of passes to suit the number of players and the desired difficulty.
Yaniv
It’s a game where each player is dealt five cards, and you repeatedly discard and draw to try to get your hand’s total to 5 or less.
How you discard is key: if you have the same numbers or a straight in the same suit, you can discard them together, so use this mechanic to shrink your hand efficiently.
You can draw not only from the deck but also from the previous player’s discard pile, so be mindful of that back-and-forth as you play.
When someone’s total drops to 5 or less, they declare “Yani,” and the winner is decided by the hand totals at that moment—so the trick is how quickly you can get down to 5 or less.
Trump Tower
When you’re worn out from all those brainy games, why not take a breather with a house of cards? You’ve probably seen it at least once—the one where you stack playing cards into a pyramid.
You can quietly build one on your own, or take turns with friends and make it a rule that whoever knocks it down loses.
Competing to see who can build the tallest one also sounds fun.
By the way, the world record is said to be 7.6 meters.
A single deck might not be enough, so it’s a good idea to have multiple decks ready.