7 Asian Drinking Games You Can Play to Ring in the New Year

Games like beer pong and flip cup have been mainstream for years now, but these games are becoming more and more monotonous by the second. If you’re looking to kick things up a notch this Christmas or New Year’s Eve, try some of these Asian drinking games that are sure to get you feeling jolly in a matter of minutes and deeply regretful by morning.

“Babo” which means “idiot” or “fool” in Korean is a game that should definitely be played earlier in the night when everyone is alert enough to keep up.

The rules of the game are relatively simple: one player kicks things off by saying a number between 1 and 5 while holding up a different number with their fingers. The next person will have to say the number the previous person held up with their hand while putting up a different number themselves, and so on. If someone says the same number as the number of fingers they have up, they lose, and the same goes for the person who fails to say the number of fingers the previous person had up.

Example: the first person holds up one finger but says “three,” the next person must say “one” but hold up a different number of fingers. If they fail to do so, they must take a drink.

The Pocky game, which originates from Japan, is reserved for the most daring people of the group.

Two people start on opposite ends of a Pocky stick and each takes turns taking bites of the chocolate covered biscuit, getting closer and closer, until one person chickens out. The person who gives up or drops the pocky stick has to finish their drink! Basically, it’s the drinking game equivalent of the spaghetti scene from “Lady and the Tramp,” but slightly more PG-13!

This game would be best played a couple of drinks in when everyone’s feeling a bit braver.

“Titanic” is one of the most popular Korean drinking games and a fantastic way to get one person as drunk as possible, as quick as possible.

While sitting in a circle, players must fill a large glass halfway up with beer, then place an empty shot glass inside so it floats. The players then take turns in a circle, pouring soju into the shot glass until it eventually sinks. The person who sinks the glass has to down the entire drink!

Pinoy Henyo is a drinking game inspired by a game show segment from the Philippines and resembles party games like “Heads Up,” just with the added fun of alcohol.

To play, one person has to write down random nouns onto different pieces of paper and place them into a pile with the words facing down. Then the group separates into two teams and decides which of them will be the “guessers.” The guesser’s job is to draw one of the pieces of paper without looking and place it on their heads, then continue to ask yes or no questions until they can guess the word they’re holding up.

At the end of the round, the team with the least amount of correct answers must down their drinks.

The Image Game is the Korean version of the “Who’s most likely to…?” Game or the Shoe Game that many couples choose to play at their wedding.

A group of friends sit together and take turns coming up with different statements such as “The person who is most likely to get a speeding ticket” or “The person who is most likely to get arrested.” Generally, the more intoxicated the group becomes, the more R-rated the statements become.

After counting to three, the group votes by pointing to the person they feel would best fit the description. The person with the most votes has to drink! If you think you’re likely to end up being voted the most for something, you can also block the votes by holding up an “X” with your arms. When that happens, everyone who voted for you has to take a drink instead.

This can be a lighthearted game to play with a group of close friends or, if it escalates, it can also destroy long-term friendships. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

The Osama game is a rather extreme version of the innocent children’s game Simon Says and it also puts all of the power into the hands of one lucky player.

To set up the game, the group must write a different number on each chopstick with one chopstick labeled “Osama.” Each player will then draw a chopstick with their eyes closed. Those who pull a numbered chopstick must keep their numbers secret while the Osama can now give any command for the group to follow. For example, they can say “Number four must finish their drink” or “numbers three and five must kiss.”

The round starts again after the players do what the Osama commands and the group must redistribute the chopsticks.

This Chinese drinking game is possibly the most dangerous game to play out of them all. The odds of winning are very slim, so it’s probably smart to cancel all plans for the next day if you decide to play this at a party.

The method of the game is insanely simple and winning relies completely on luck. Two people will play at a time with them taking turns being the guesser. Both players hold out however many fingers as they would like on the count of three and the guesser will shout out a number between 2 and 20 at the same time.

If the person can correctly guess the total number of fingers displayed, they win, if not, that player must take a drink.

Feature Image via @8koreanbbq (Left), @BuzzFeedVideo (Right)