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)
Ikkyu-san
Introducing a playing card game called “Ikkyu-san” that you can enjoy right away even without knowing the rules! Shuffle the deck well and lay the cards face down in a ring (donut shape).
Then, players take turns flipping one card at a time, placing it face up in the center, while saying “Ikkyu-san.” Whenever a number that matches the wordplay for “Ikkyu-san”—that is, 1, 3, or 9—appears, quickly place your hand on the pile of cards.
The player who is the slowest to place their hand takes all the cards in the center.
If you make a false touch (place your hand when you shouldn’t), you must also take the cards there.
Continue until all the cards laid out in the ring are gone.
In the end, the player with the most cards in hand loses.
SNAPNEW!
This is a simple game that children old enough to read numbers can enjoy.
First, deal the playing cards evenly to all players.
After dealing, decide the turn order, and each player places one card from their hand onto the table in turn.
When you play a card, say the number on it out loud.
As the cards are played, if the same number appears consecutively, quickly say “SNAP” and place your hand on the pile.
The first person to put their hand on the pile takes all the cards on the table, and the game continues.
In this game, the person who runs out of cards loses.
Stay focused and try to build up your hand!
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!
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!
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!
Get the party going! A roundup of perfect playing card games for drinking parties (21–30)
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.
