10 best drinking video games

Dec 13, 2007

Everyone hates a dull holiday party. So, after a very scientific survey involving people raising their hands as we shouted out questions, we've determined that there are two main causes for sucky year-end get togethers. The first is relatives and friends who don't play video games. The second is sobriety.

Thus, we here at GamesRadar have set out to eradicate these two poopers of the holiday party. Thanks to some surprisingly enthusiastic lab testing, we've come up with this list of video games - and corresponding drinking games - to help liven things up. These aren't necessarily the 10 best games ever - they're just our surest picks to have your party rocking, your console working overtime, and the largest selection of your guests barfing in your neighbor's petunia patch.

Editor's Note: Obviously, this is targeted toward our over-21 readers. GamesRadar does not advocate underaged consumption of alcohol. So parents, please: no letters about how we encouraged your 15 year-old to drink.

Above: Snorlax knows how to party

10. Pokemon Battle Revolution (Wii, predecessors on GameCube and N64)

What it is:
A gladiator-style bloodbath in which teams of Pokemon, those lovable, cuddly fantasy critters, savagely maul and pummel one another into unconsciousness.

Why it's perfect:
It's violent enough for a man, but cute enough for a woman and thus, perfect for a mixed crowd. Plus, because this is basically turn-based prizefighting, the whole crowd can get involved by "betting" drinks on the action. Just be warned: if the ladies see too many cute critters getting pounded, they may turn on the game (hence its 10th-place standing). Have a friendlier back-up ready.

Where does the booze go?
For the main competitors, it's easy: each battle's overall loser drinks a whole glass of whatever. For the audience, it's all about betting upon which pokemon will do more damage each turn, or possibly risking it all on who'll win the overall battle.

Eric Bratcher
I was the founding Executive Editor/Editor in Chief here at GR, charged with making sure we published great stories every day without burning down the building or getting sued. Which isn't nearly as easy as you might imagine. I don't work for GR any longer, but I still come here - why wouldn't I? It's awesome. I'm a fairly average person who has nursed an above average love of video games since I first played Pong just over 30 years ago. I entered the games journalism world as a freelancer and have since been on staff at the magazines Next Generation and PSM before coming over to GamesRadar. Outside of gaming, I also love music (especially classic metal and hard rock), my lovely wife, my pet pig Bacon, Japanese monster movies, and my dented, now dearly departed '89 Ranger pickup truck. I pray sincerely. I cheer for the Bears, Bulls, and White Sox. And behind Tyler Nagata, I am probably the GR staffer least likely to get arrested... again.
Latest in Games
Lunar Remastered Collection
"Will today’s players still enjoy a game from 30 years ago?": JRPG icon Kei Shigema says he was thrilled to see Lunar getting a remaster even after all this time
The Witcher 4 screenshot with Ciri using sword and sorcery to fight an ancient monster
CD Projekt boss says "cutting-edge single-player games" – you know, like The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 – will "continue to enjoy great popularity" despite industry shifts
Cyberpunk 2077
Despite releasing exactly zero new games, CD Projekt bagged $120 million in profit for 2024 – the Witcher and Cyberpunk studio's third-best result ever
Batman looking over the city during Batman: Arkham City, one of the best PS3 games.
The PS2 Batman Begins game was considered such a "disaster" that Christopher Nolan turned down a Dark Knight-inspired game
Yasuke and Naoe ready to fight on the Assassin's Creed Shadows On The Radar thumbnail
On The Radar: Assassin's Creed Shadows coverage hub
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe assassinating target with Tanto skill
Assassin's Creed Shadows' first title update is a hotfix with three lines of patch notes and a download size up to 9GB
Latest in News
Lunar Remastered Collection
"Will today’s players still enjoy a game from 30 years ago?": JRPG icon Kei Shigema says he was thrilled to see Lunar getting a remaster even after all this time
Nick Offerman as Bill and Murray Bartlett as Frank in The Last of Us episode 3
The Last of Us season 2 showrunners tease a "gorgeous" episode akin to season 1’s Emmy-nominated Bill and Frank story: "Just you wait"
The Witcher 4 screenshot with Ciri using sword and sorcery to fight an ancient monster
CD Projekt boss says "cutting-edge single-player games" – you know, like The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 – will "continue to enjoy great popularity" despite industry shifts
Cyberpunk 2077
Despite releasing exactly zero new games, CD Projekt bagged $120 million in profit for 2024 – the Witcher and Cyberpunk studio's third-best result ever
Muse
Daredevil: Born Again midseason trailer teases Matt Murdock’s violent fight with Muse, including a gory scene straight from the comics
Batman looking over the city during Batman: Arkham City, one of the best PS3 games.
The PS2 Batman Begins game was considered such a "disaster" that Christopher Nolan turned down a Dark Knight-inspired game