There are a lot of drinking games. Most, quite honestly, are ridiculously complicated or just generally suck. We have picked two of the ones that we consider to be worth playing.
The first is quarters which is relatively simple, but at least if you already know it, you'll know what the official rules are.
The second, Thumper, which we consider the finest drinking game mankind has ever created.
Quarters
Supplies: people and beer (as usual), a quarter (hence the name), and a small glass. Usually a mini "rocks" glass.
A mindless game that actually requires a certain amount of coordination.
All players sit around a table, or similarity hard surface, and, in turn, try to bounce the quarter off the table into the glass.
If successful, the player can tell any of the other players to drink, as well as receiving another turn. If the player fails, play passes to the next in the circle.
If the player is fortunate enough to make three bounces in a row, this player may make a rule. Anything goes. Some favorites are:
"Can't say "drink," "drank," or "drunk."
"Can't point with your fingers."
"No proper names." (ie. if someone's name is Tom, you can't call him "Tom," but you can call him "dickhead."
"Everyone must drink before each attempted bounce."
Be creative - you have the authority to make people miserable with this rule - unfortunately though, any rule you make also applies to you. So also be careful.
If any rule is broken during the course of play, the violator subsequently "consumes some booze."
Some common variations:
The glass that you bounce into also contains the beer to drink. The trick is to then drink the beer without swallowing the quarter.
If the player bounces and hits the rim of the glass, without the quarter going in, he/she receives another free attempt.
If the player misses, and feels confident enough, he/she may "chance" for another attempt. If the player makes the chance attempt, things proceed as if it were a normal turn. However, if the chance attempt fails, that player must drink the beer.
*OR*
Following a failed "chance" attempt, the player may wish to attempt a "kill." if the attempt is successful, play continues as normal, but if the attempt fails, the player must chug a full beer non-stop.
Thumper
Required supplies: people and beer.
Simple game for troubled college youths. You can get very drunk playing this.
The first thing to do is for each person to choose a hand gesture that they would like to have represent him/her during the game. Can be simple, polite, or sexually enticing, but it must be SHORT.
Everyone sits in a circle, everyone starts the game by "drumming" their hands on the table or floor or whatever the playing surface may be. During the drumming, someone says "WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME?" everyone responds with "THUMPER!!!" then the leader says "IS EVERYBODY READY?" responded with "READY!!"
At this point the leader performs his/her own hand gesture, immediately followed by the gesture of any other player. This player then performs his/her own gesture followed by another players, etc.. and so on. When a cue is missed or when someone responds too slowly, the "violator" must drink. This person then is the leader for the next round.
Also be creative with what is said during the drumming, it's not limited to the above two questions. You could also call a slo-motion or high speed switch at anytime.
*ADDITIONAL "415 BOSTWICK" RULE (this will accelerate the drunkeness)
If a player screws up three times in a row, the player must do a "Viking Throw." The guilty player must stand in the center of the table take a full beer and chug it while the other around the table chant:
"Drink the beer you son-of-a-bitch,
Drink the beer you son-of-a-bitch!"
When done the player must overturn the glass above his head to show that the glass is empty.
If the player (because he is too wasted and cannot drink the beer, he has to pour the remainder over his head.
POINTING: You must drink every time you point a finger at anyone.
You have to be very motivated (at least initially) to play this game. You will find this game can destroy hours of your life and many brain cells. But you will learn to love it almost as much as life itself.