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!
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- Punishment games that liven up drinking parties and banquets
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- Games for two people to enjoy. A roundup of party games that liven up drinking gatherings.
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- Put a penalty on the line! A roundup of party games that get everyone hyped
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- 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)
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.
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!
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.
Get the party going! A roundup of perfect playing card games for drinking parties (21–30)
nervous breakdown
There aren’t any difficult rules at all! It’s Concentration—the game where you flip over face-down playing cards and try to find two with the same number.
I bet many of you got hooked on it as kids.
It’s a deceptively intense card game that really tests your memory.
Part of the fun is how easy it is to chime in from the sidelines.
While you’re tossing around comments like “Was it really there?” or “Try flipping that one,” before you know it, everyone’s getting totally into it!
