Scrabble and Schlitz: Great Games to Play Under the Influence

Most us grow out of playing drinking games after it’s no longer socially acceptable to play beer pong past the age of 21.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some classic board games after a round or two of cocktails.  It’s been said that I may have an unhealthy sense of competition when it comes to board games but sometimes it just feels good to win all the fake money.  I’ll probably never grow out of playing games, but my beverage of choice when I do play doesn’t have to stay Capri Sun.  So if you’re looking to entertain your inner child after a night on the town, here are some games that get the job done.  And for the record, if you Google drunk Twister, well, I’ll leave that to you.

Mad Gab

If there was ever a game conducive to slurring, Mad Gab has got you covered.  Each game card features a common turn of phrase or pop culture reference but broken down into syllables not easily recognizable. For example, the card says “Jeweler Rob Hurts”, translates to Julia Roberts. So after multiple cups of mystery punch last Friday, I was sounding out words like stroke patient who just mastered hooked on phonics.  For a bonus round, I recommend trying it with a Scottish accent.

Cranium

Last Thanksgiving, after all the family wining and dining was over, my friends I gathered round with a bottomless supply of beer and game of Cranium. If you’re not familiar with the game, each card also has some pop culture reference that you have to get your teammate to guess through either, drawing, humming, acting out, or molding with clay. So you can imagine the difficulty my teammate had when they tried to mold out of clay the pivotal scene in Titanic when Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are standing up on the ship together before everyone drowns and stuff.  And this was just the first round.  It makes charades look like something cavemen invented.

Catch Phrase

What happens when you combine Hot Potato and word games? Catch Phrase!  This think-on-your feet-game features a phrase that appears on the screen that you have to describe to your teammates. For example, how do you describe “Strong, Silent, Type”.  Add to the equation a slightly hefty plastic device and some Colt 45, and people might get hurt and things may break.  It makes me break into a sweat like a lie detector test on Maury.  The game’s simple enough so there’s no sheet of rules to argue over or plastic pieces to lose (I’m talking to you, Game of Life).

Apples to Apples

There’s a reason why this game can be found at so many bars, the box may say 7 and up, but it was obviously designed with adult players in mind. The game is broken down into two sets of cards. One has descriptions on it, the other has things or people. Each round, one person will pull a description card while the other players have to choose from their things/people cards that best fits that description. Say if the card says, ‘hot and spicy”, that could to refer to: Bill Cosby, bean bag chairs, or Ancient Rome.  Think of it as a way better version of the SAT analogy test.  and don’t let people play who take it too literally, otherwise that shit will drag on and ruin your friendship.

Games to Avoid

Anything that involves serious thinking and strategy.  These offenders include: Monopoly, Scrabble, and Chess. Unless your idea of a wild night out involves a bottle of Malbec and light conversation.