Historical drinking games
People have always drunk and played: drinking games from ancient Greece, China and England.
5 games
Historical drinking games: 5 games
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Fuddling Cup
Special Players:2+ Rules: Easy -
Jiuling
No equipment Players:5+ Rules: Easy -
Kottabos
Players:2+ Rules: Easy -
Pitch-Pot (Touhu)
Special Players:2+ Rules: Easy -
Wager Cup (Maiden Cup)
Special Players:2+ Rules: Easy
Many historical drinking games need special equipment that is available as a replica today, such as the Fuddling Cup or the Wager Cup. Others, like Jiuling or Kottabos, are easy to recreate.
Drinking games with history
People have always drunk and played: the ancient Greeks flicked wine dregs at targets in kottabos, drinking rules are still common at Chinese banquets, and in the Middle Ages trick vessels like the Fuddling Cup tested dexterity.
Recreating them today
Many historical games can be rebuilt with simple means – kottabos with ping pong balls and a bowl, for example. That makes them a special highlight for themed parties.
The most popular historical games
- Fuddling Cup – From 17th-century England: linked cups that only empty cleanly in the right order.
- Jiuling – From ancient China: everyone may propose a contest – the loser drinks.
- Kottabos – The drinking game of the ancient Greeks: drink up and fling the last drops at a target.
- Pitch-Pot (Touhu) – The throwing game from ancient China: arrows into the pot, the loser gets the drink.
- Wager Cup (Maiden Cup) – From 16th-century Germany: the cup with skirt and bucket that has to be emptied without spilling.
Which historical games are the most popular?
Especially popular are Fuddling Cup, Jiuling, Kottabos, Pitch-Pot (Touhu). You’ll find all the rules above.
Which historical games are quickest to explain?
Explained in a minute: Fuddling Cup, Jiuling, Kottabos, Pitch-Pot (Touhu).