In short: The best Oktoberfest drinking games bring Wiesn spirit to any table – whether in the beer tent, the garden or at a house party. Here come traditional classics like the stein-holding competition and Flunkyball, quick beer-mat games and the Shotski as the group highlight, each with simple rules.
💡 By the way: that's exactly why we built the SwigSki3000® — four people, one ski, one shot on cue. More on that further down ↓
No beer tastes as good as the one you've earned by playing. Oktoberfest drinking games are the heart of every proper Wiesn celebration: they bring the group together, guarantee laughs and turn an ordinary party into a real O'zapft-is. Here you'll find the best games – from tests of strength to a round of group shots – with clear rules so you can start right away.
Typical Oktoberfest drinking games are traditional strength and skill games built around beer: the stein-holding competition as an endurance test, finger wrestling and the nail hammering game as Bavarian classics, plus Flunkyball and beer-mat games for the group. Add to that modern shared gadgets like the Shotski, which four people drink from at once. What they all have in common: they're easy to explain, most fun in a group, and work just as well in the beer tent as at a house party.
The Traditional Classics: Strength & Skill
Stein-Holding Competition (Masskrugstemmen)
The ultimate Wiesn classic: a full one-litre beer stein is held out horizontally with a straight arm – whoever holds it up longest without the arm dropping or beer spilling wins. Sounds easy, turns into agony after 30 seconds. For a house party, a full glass beer stein works just as well – as long as it's shaking.
Finger Wrestling (Fingerhakeln)
Two opponents each hook a finger through a leather ring and try to pull the other across the table. A genuine Bavarian strength sport – the loser drinks. Since it really pinches, better to play with a bit of caution.
Nail Hammering Game (Hammerschlagen)
Everyone gets a nail loosely tapped into a wooden beam. Taking turns, each player gets one strike with the narrow side of the hammerhead. Whoever sinks their nail last has to drink or buy a round. A skill game that's surprisingly addictive.
Practical side effect: because the SwigSki3000® is made of four individually removable modules, it goes straight into the dishwasher after the round instead of into a corner.
Flunkyball: The Team Drinking Game for the Garden
Two teams face each other, each with a full beer bottle at their feet, with an empty bottle standing as the target in the middle. One team throws a ball at the target bottle; if it hits, that team starts drinking – and keeps drinking until the other team has stood the knocked-over bottle back up and run back to their spot. Whoever empties their bottle first wins. Perfect for larger groups in the garden and guaranteed to get lively.
The mini-ski with glass as an accessory for the Oktoberfest party – by @apresallstars
The Shotski: The Group Ritual of Every Oktoberfest Party
If one game delivers the photo moment of every Oktoberfest party, it's the Shotski: a ski fitted with four shot glasses, from which four people drink at once on command. The challenge is coordination – if one person tips too early or too late, things get wet. That's exactly what makes it fun. As a proper nightcap between the beer games, it brings the group together like no other gadget.
Quick Games for In Between
Not every game needs setup. These classics work spontaneously at the table:
- Beer-Mat Flipping: place a beer mat over the edge of the table, flick it up and catch it as it falls. Whoever catches the most at once decides how many sips everyone else has to drink.
- Never Have I Ever … (Wiesn Edition): taking turns, everyone names something they've never done – anyone who has done it drinks. With a Wiesn twist ("Never have I ever eaten a whole roast chicken by myself") it's especially funny.
- Prosit Roulette: every time "Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit" is sung, whoever's been drawn has to finish their drink. A Mini-Ski-Roulette as the ski version of a spinner decides in proper style who gets picked.
- Sip Bingo: everyone guesses how many times the brass band strikes up "Prosit" – whoever guesses wrong drinks.
The Wiesn Olympics: Turn All the Games into a Tournament
Things get really lively when you combine the individual games into a tournament – the highlight of any Oktoberfest party. Here's how:
- Form teams: split your guests into two to four teams, ideally with funny Wiesn names like "The Pretzel Biters" or "Team Obatzda".
- Set the disciplines: four to five stations in rotation – the stein-holding competition, Flunkyball, Hammerschlagen, beer-mat flipping and, as the grand finale, the Shotski.
- Award points: every discipline won earns points. Keep a scoreboard – it fuels the competitive spirit.
- Award ceremony: the winning team receives the "Golden Pretzel" (a gingerbread heart works too) – and the losers buy the next round.
The advantage: a tournament gives the evening a clear thread, gets even shy guests involved, and makes sure nobody's just standing on the sidelines. Plan around 15 minutes per discipline so the tension holds all the way to the big Shotski finale.
Party Safely: The One Golden Rule
As much fun as Oktoberfest drinking games are, a bit of consideration belongs in the mix. Always have water and non-alcoholic alternatives on hand, so drivers and anyone taking a break can join in too. Many games work just as well with Radler, alcohol-free beer or apple spritzer. And the golden rule: nobody has to – whoever sits one out simply buys a round of pretzels instead. That way the Wiesn stays a celebration for everyone.
If the group grows, the Shotski simply grows with it via the extension set — four modules are the base, and every additional pair adds two more spots.
From the Idea to the Full Oktoberfest Celebration
Drinking games are the heart of it, but it only becomes a real Wiesn once everything else comes together. How to bring decorations, food, traditional dress and gadgets together is covered in our full Oktoberfest party guide. Which gadgets are actually worth it for group toasts is covered in our Oktoberfest gadgets guide. And if you love drinking games in general, there's plenty to discover beyond Oktoberfest too: our big collection of drinking games without equipment works just as well at the beer table, and for a relaxed afternoon under the chestnut trees we've put together our beer garden drinking games. The best part about most of these games: they work with whatever's already on the table and adapt effortlessly to any group size – from a cosy evening for four to a big garden party with the whole club. So you'll always have the right game ready for every Oktoberfest celebration.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Oktoberfest Drinking Games
What are typical Oktoberfest drinking games?
Typical games are traditional strength and skill games like the stein-holding competition, finger wrestling and the nail hammering game, plus team games like Flunkyball. Add to that modern shared gadgets like the Shotski, which four people drink from at once. They're all easy to explain and most fun in a group.
Which drinking game works best for large groups?
Flunkyball is ideal for large groups: two teams compete against each other, which creates atmosphere and involves a lot of people. The Shotski also works great, because four people always take part at once and it can be passed along quickly.
How do you play the stein-holding competition (Masskrugstemmen)?
A full one-litre beer stein is held out horizontally in front of the body with a straight arm. Whoever holds the stein up longest without the arm dropping or beer spilling wins. It's pure endurance – after half a minute it gets surprisingly hard.
Can you play Oktoberfest drinking games alcohol-free?
Yes, all the games work just as well with Radler, alcohol-free beer or apple spritzer. Always have non-alcoholic alternatives and water on hand, so drivers and anyone taking a break can join in too. Nobody has to drink – whoever sits one out simply buys a round instead.
What is the Shotski and how does it work?
The Shotski is a ski with several shot glasses mounted on it. Four people stand side by side, lift the ski together and drink at the same time on command. The trick is coordination – if one person tips too early, things get wet. That's exactly what makes it a party highlight.
Which games work without any preparation?
Beer-mat flipping, "Never Have I Ever …" in the Wiesn edition and sip bingo on the brass band all work spontaneously at the table. They need no equipment beyond what's already on the table, and get the group in the mood right away.