Korean drinking games: 20 table games and how to play them

These are twenty games that are popular at Korean tables — at a pojangmacha, a dinner with friends, or a night in. Despite the name, none of them needs alcohol: every game works the same with water, soda or nothing at all, and each page has a no-alcohol version. Pick one below for the full rules, or let the wheel choose.

Props games

• Titanic — A small glass floats in a taller one. People add a little to the floater. When it sinks, that person takes the turn. (2+ players, small props)
• Bottle Cap — Hold a soju bottle cap and take turns flicking its rolled metal tail. When the tail breaks off, the two people beside the player who broke it take the forfeit. (3+ players, small props)
• High-Low — The number inside a soju cap is the answer, 1 to 50. Guess around the booth. Thumb down if you went high, thumb up if you went low. Exact number is out this round. (2+ players, small props)

Rhythm games

• Bunny Bunny — One person is the bunny. Neighbors hit carrot on the beat. Miss the hands or the word and that person is out this round. (3+ players)
• 3-6-9 — Count up around the table. Clap on 3, 6, or 9. Say the number when you should clap, and that person is out this round. (2+ players)
• 007 Bang — Zero, zero, seven, then bang on the beat. Point at someone. Miss the count or freeze, and that person is out this round. (3+ players)
• Strawberry — Clap or tap a steady beat. Do not speed up. Pick who says the first word. (2+ players)
• Whale — Tap a steady beat. Pick who says the first “whale”. (2+ players)
• Graveyard — Lock the neighbor word once: “ghost” or yuryeong. Pick one grave. That’s your opener. (3+ players)

Quick thinking games

• Nunchi — The last number is how many people are playing. Anyone can shout the next number. Same number twice, or the last number, and that person is out this round. (3+ players)
• Baskin Robbins 31 — Somebody opens with the first chunk, starting at 1. (2+ players)
• Subway — Pick one real line the table actually knows. Say it out loud. Seoul Line 2 is the usual special. (2+ players)
• Babo — Point at who goes first. Face the next person. Don’t overthink it. (3+ players)
• Hunmin — One person drops a Korean initials, first sounds only. Say it slow. Example: h-g. (3+ players)
• Pan — Agree once: a miss is “out this round” or “takes the turn”. Don’t flip the special later. Pick a caller. (3+ players)

Social games

• Image Game — Somebody throws a prompt: “who is the most ~” (late, loud, messy, extra). Make it sting a little. (4+ players)
• APT / Apartment — Stack hands. Count from the bottom while the bottom hand slaps up. Someone calls a floor. That hand’s person is out this round. (3+ players)
• King — Draw lots. One mark is the king. Everybody else gets a number. Hide it till the king calls you. Keep the numbers secret. (3+ players, small props)
• The Game of Death — Sit so everybody can see the fingers. This is a booth game, not a secret. (4+ players)
• Alone — Everybody sits. Somebody is the caller this round. (4+ players)