How to Play Drunk Jenga

Setup

Objective

Ahh, Jenga… the heart-pumping game that kids and adults alike can’t get enough of. Despite its ability to send our anxiety skyward with each turn passed, Jenga remains a beloved party game thanks to its camaraderie and thrills, making it the perfect venue for enjoying a few beverages with friends. Drunk Jenga is a twist on the classic Jenga game that adds drinking prompts, mini-games, and gameplay instructions that send the already nerve-wracking game into a realm of delightful chaos. The objective of Drunk Jenga is similar to regular Jenga- no matter what you do, don’t send the tower tumbling to the floor. 

Gameplay

Begin by constructing the Drunk Jenga tower 18 stories tall with 3 blocks per row. We recommend positioning the blocks so that the rules are hidden from players to keep the prompts a surprise. Choose a player to go first by selecting the oldest or youngest player in the group. 

Like in the classic Jenga game, the first player will use one hand to pull a block from the tower without compromising its integrity. Players cannot take a block from the top row of blocks (nice try!)  Feel free to take it slow, because whoever topples the tower will have to finish their entire drink. Once the player has successfully pulled a block, they will read aloud the rule or action the block prompts. 

For example: a player might pull a block with “Rule #29 Do the chicken dance.” The player will then do their best chicken dance before returning the Jenga block to the top of the tower. After a player has pulled a Jenga block, completed the listed rule, and returned the block, their turn ends. Remember: no peeking at blocks before pulling! 

Going counter-clockwise, players will take turns tackling the Drunk Jenga tower and completing the block rules. As the turns progress, new rows of blocks will form until the structure becomes a tad top-heavy. You don’t want to be the player staring down a teetering Drunk Jenga tower, so keep a steady hand!

Endgame

The end of Drunk Jenga will be quite obvious: the Jenga tower will fall in a cascade of fallen blocks. Whether it’s after 32 blocks pulled or 5 measly blocks plucked, the Drunk Jenga tower will eventually succumb to the shenanigans. Whoever pulled the unlucky block that caused the Drunk Jenga tower to collapse must finish their entire drink. After the tower falls, it’s up to the group to decide if they’d like to reconstruct and start again. 

Drunk Jenga Strategy

The only fool-safe strategy for winning Drunk Jenga is avoiding losing Drunk Jenga. Keeping a steady hand becomes more difficult with the more drinks ingested, so make sure to mind your alcohol consumption if you’re drinking to avoid any clumsy tower collapses. Take each turn slowly, hold your breath if you need to, and do everything you can to keep the Jenga tower in one piece. 

Drunk Jenga Rules (Examples)

Drunk Jenga is such a beloved game because it’s tailor-made for those playing it. Since there is a bit of arts and crafts involved in the set-up, players can brainstorm whatever rules they’d like, whether they’re classic drinking prompts or inside jokes among their friends. For example, one of the rules could be singing an alma mater or doing the best impression of a cherished sports mascot. 

The sky’s the limit when creating Drunk Jenga rules, but let’s face it- a traditional Jenga game has 54 blocks. That’s quite a few rules to come up with and write down, so make sure to shake it up between drinking prompts, mini-games, action blocks, and gameplay blocks that could impact how players are forced to play the game. Below, find 54 popular Drunk Jenga rules to include in your game, but remember: feel free to add some personal zest to make it more fun! 

1. Two Truths and a Lie: Play a quick game of Two Truths and a Lie.
2. You: Choose someone to take a drink.
3. The Magic Number: Give away three drinks to the group.
4. Bear Hug: Give another consenting player a big hug. 
5. Guys: All men drink.
6. Chicks: All women drink.
7. Heaven: Everyone points to the sky, whoever is last drinks.
8. Date: Choose someone as your date and hold hands with them for the remainder of the game.
9. Heads or Tails: Flip a coin and guess how it will land. If correct, give a drink. If wrong, take one.
10. Truth or Dare: Play a quick round of Truth or Dare with another player of your choosing.
11. Take a Shot
12. Categories: Choose a category and everyone must name something within that category. Whoever repeats or can’t come up with something in the category must take a drink.
13. Change-Up: Drink with your non-dominant hand for the remainder of the game.
14. Never Have I Ever: Play a quick game of Never Have I Ever.
15. “No Offense”: Before every sentence, the player must now say “No offense but…” If they forget, they must take a drink.
16. Thumb War: Challenge a player to a thumb war. The loser drinks.
17. Vow of Silence: For three rounds, the player cannot speak. If they slip up, they must drink.
18. Rocks, Paper, Scissors: Challenge a player to Rocks, Paper, Scissors. The loser drinks.
19. Cowboy: The player must speak in a country accent. If they drop the twang, they must take a drink.
20. Give a Toast: It’s time to give your best impromptu speech for the group before raising your glass in cheers. 
21. Fairy Princess: Spin in a circle 5 times and attempt to walk in a straight line.
22. Karaoke: It’s time to flex those vocal chords! Sing a karaoke classic in front of the adoring fans.
23. Question Master: If you pull this block, you become the Question Master. If anyone answers a question you ask, they must drink.
24. Do a Lap: Race a lap around the group. Players may decide how many laps.
25. Eye Contact: If you make eye contact with any players before your next turn, they must take a drink.
26. No Laughing: If you laugh in the next three turns, you must take a drink.
27. Give a Sip
28. Wild Style: Make an animal noise as loudly as possible.
29. Take a Sip
30. Bust a Move: Do a jig! 
31. Change Places: Everyone must switch their seats.
32. Shotgun: Shotgun a beer. 
33. Cha-Ching: Venmo the player to your right $1. 
34. No Peeking: After pulling the block, place the block on top of the tower with your eyes closed. 
35. Commit to the Bit: Tell your best joke or funny story. 
36. Hydrate or Diedrate: Chug an entire glass of water.
37. Switcheroo: Switch an article of clothing with another player.
38. Ambrosia: Create a mystery cocktail for a player of your choosing.
39. Lovebug: Give another player a compliment.
40. Give a Shot
41. Balance Beam: Stand up on one leg until the next turn.
42. Reverse Reverse: The direction of the game will reverse.
43. What’s in the Bag: Reveal the contents of your bag (or pockets) to the group.
44. Take 5 Drinks 
45. Get Rich Quick: The person sitting across from you must Venmo you $1. 
46. Historian: Share the past five Google searches in your phone’s search history.
47. Bust a Rhyme: Make up a rap or poem and perform it for the group.
48. Give 5 Drinks 
49. Staring Contest: Challenge another player to a staring content. Whoever blinks first, drinks.
50. Go Again: Go twice in a row.
51. Beauty Salon: Drastically alter your hairstyle. Bonus: Have the group provide the hair-do.
52. Atten-hut: Drop and give the group 10 push-ups.
53. Newlyweds: Get down on one knee and give your best proposal to a lucky player in the group.
54. Waterfall: Everyone drinks at the same time. Once the player who pulled the block stops drinking, the chain going counter-clockwise can stop whenever they’re ready, and so on and so forth.

Drunk Jenga Variations

There are millions of variations of Drunk Jenga out there due to the endless customizations possible within the crafted game. Since players will need to create the Drunk Jenga blocks, the possibilities are infinite, but some popular alterations have prevailed.

• King’s Cup Drunk Jenga: When crafting rules for blocks in Drunk Jenga, some game crafters will utilize rules played in King’s Cup to make brainstorming simpler. For King’s Cup Drunk Jenga, you’ll want to provide a cup in the middle of the group for pouring into that players will have to drink if they topple the tower. 

• Example: Players might write “Rule #23 Dump your drink into the cup. Later in the game if a player pulls a block and causes the Jenga tower to collapse, they must drink the dreadful concoction as a penalty. 

FAQs

How many people should play Drunk Jenga?

Since there are so many potential turns in a game of Drunk Jenga, it’s a game that can be played with as little as two players with no set maximum player limit. However, the more players, the more people are able to potentially topple the tower. We suggest playing Drunk Jenga with 2-8 players.

Can we put back a Jenga block after beginning to pull it out?

After starting to pull a block it can be returned, but only in its original position, meaning it could be a recipe for disaster to attempt.

Who is in charge of setting up the tower after the first round?

The unlucky player responsible for the tower collapse has the fun job of setting up the next round.

Disclaimer

The Game Farm does not encourage or promote alcohol consumption of any kind. We do not take responsibility for any injuries, damages, or other consequences that may arise from the consumption of alcohol while playing our games.

It is the responsibility of each individual player to drink responsibly and know their limits. We recommend that players drink plenty of water and take breaks throughout the night to avoid becoming intoxicated.

If you are underage, please do not drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol underage is illegal and can have serious health consequences.

We hope you have fun playing our drinking games responsibly!