APT (Apateu)
The Korean hand-stacking game behind the hit “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars: whoever lands on the called floor drinks.
How do you play APT (Apateu)?
“Apateu” is Korean for apartment – the stacked hands are the floors of a building. The game went global in 2024 thanks to the song “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars.
Everyone sits in a circle and chants “apateu, apateu” to the beat, usually four times. Then the starting player calls a number, say nine – that’s the target floor.
Now everyone stacks their hands in the middle, usually both hands each, alternating like a pile. Whoever has the bottom hand pulls it out, puts it on top and counts “one”. The next bottom hand moves to the top: “two”. And so on.
Whoever’s hand lands on top on the called number takes a sip – and calls the number in the next round.
Variations
- One hand: with lots of players, everyone puts in just one hand.
- High numbers: call big floors like 23 or 31, so the hands cycle through the pile several times and nobody can work it out in advance.
- With rhythm: clap crosswise along with the chant before stacking.
Tips
A round takes about a minute and needs no equipment at all – perfect as a warm-up. Play the song in the background and the rhythm takes care of itself.
Agree on drinks and amounts before you start. The game works just as well without alcohol.
APT (Apateu): FAQ
How many players do you need for APT (Apateu)?
APT (Apateu) is played with 3–10 players.
What do you need for APT (Apateu)?
APT (Apateu) needs no equipment – just drinks of your choice.
How hard are the rules of APT (Apateu)?
Rule difficulty: Easy. The instructions above are all you need to start.
Can you play APT (Apateu) without alcohol?
Yes. APT (Apateu) works just as well with water, soft drinks or alcohol-free beer. Agree on drinks and amounts before you start.