There are a lot of video games out there and in this era of mobile and home-based gaming, the choices have never been greater. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic?
Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest and unforgettable games through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best video games, our attention this time turns to games you can play at a bar. From memorable arcade classics to typical card games, there are many options listed below to satisfy you while you’re out clubbing with your friends and family.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
Pool & Billiards
No bar would be complete without a pool or billiards table. This classic man-made game evokes high competition and encourages stellar chatter amongst friends. If you’ve never played the game before, your goal is to knock specific balls down the table’s six sockets. You must center the balls in the middle using a racket and align a white ball down the middle.
Then, you’ll utilize the pool stick to strike the white ball at them. If you hit a striped ball, you must target all those specifically colored balls before gunning for the eight balls. However, if you strike a solid-colored ball, you must hit those in before targeting the eight ball. This is a fun tabletop game with some depth and strategy involved.
If you’re a fan of precision-based games, I’d recommend giving this a shot at a bar.
Air Hockey
Air Hockey is another incredible tabletop game you should play at a bar. This one requires some electricity to get it started but evokes similar satisfaction as pool and billiards. If you’re a fan of classic hockey or classic games like Pong, then you’ll find yourself at home with Air Hockey.
Essentially, this game can be played in a two vs two or one vs one format. People prefer the latter over the former, though. You and your opponent will arm yourself with a paddle that’s meant to strike at the game’s puck. Your goal is to strike the puck into the opponent’s goal. Whoever can attain 10 points first is the winner.
This game boasts incredible precision-based play. It can get competitive, so it’s best to be on your guard while playing. If you ever stumble upon one of these electric-powered tables in a bar, give it a shot.
Skeeball
Skeeball is one of those classic arcade games you could come across in a fancy bar. This game harbors a similar approach to bowling. Instead of rolling a large ball to strike pins, your goal is to roll a minuscule ball down a lane and pray that it lands in one of the higher-numbered holes. The higher the number, the more points you can achieve.
The points vary per machine and establishment. However, the game can provide a swell of time and an addictive loop. Give Skeeball a try if you ever stumble upon a machine at a bar or fancy restaurants like Dave and Busters. You might be able to nail down a slew of tickets at the latter’s establishment.
Bingo
This is one of those activities you’re bound to stumble upon in a bar setting. Bingo is a game many people have played more than once in their lives. However, if you’ve never participated in a Bingo event, it’s genuinely a game about chance. There’s no way for you to cheat in this game unless you know the person calling out the numbers.
The way it works is that players will receive a sheet of paper with random numbers on it. The game’s host (caller) will draw numbers from a box or machine. If the number he pulls out and shouts is on your paper, you’d place a colored tile on that space. To achieve Bingo, you must complete a row of tile-colored numbers. Once you do, you immediately shout, “Bingo!”
The caller will examine your board for cheating purposes. If everything checks out, you’ll be deemed the winner of that round. It’s a fun and simple game to play with friends and strangers. If your bar ever holds a Bingo night, consider joining the fray. You may win a prize.
Darts
Darts is a staple bar game that’s not hard to come by. You see this man-made game in many video games like Grand Theft Auto and others. It’s often the first game that comes to mind when you think of bars. However, if you’ve never played Darts before, we can walk you through it here.
Darts is a precision-based game that resembles the sport of Archery. In it, two or more players throw small sharp pointed missiles at a round target called the dartboard. You’ll score points by hitting certain locations on the board’s marked areas. For example, if you’re dart lands on the outer ring below the number 20, you score twice the points.
If you’re lucky enough to have the dart land in the middle, you’ll score 50 points. Some taverns and bars may vary regarding scoreboards. It’s a simple game that takes a while to master. If you ever see a dartboard lying around, give the game a shot.
Pinball
Back to electronic games, we find ourselves discussing Pinball. Pinball machines are devices you might stumble upon in a bar. This game is rather simple to understand but can be somewhat challenging to master. Essentially, you must pull and release a handle on a machine that’ll send a ball flying into the Pinball table’s board.
Your goal is to make sure the ball doesn’t land in the middle of your flippers. You’ll use your flippers to knock the ball across the board to score points. The game ends if you fail to keep the ball within the playing field. Many Pinball machines offer different layouts and some can be based on your favorite movie and gaming franchises.
If you’re looking for a fun bar game with an addicting gameplay loop, consider trying this out.
Foosball
Looking for something with less of an electric touch, consider playing Foosball. This soccer-based tabletop game promises to give you and your companion endless hours of fun. This is another game, where you’re tasked with scoring the miniature ball into your opponent’s goal 10 times.
The game can be played with numerous players, but two are preferred for more strategic and competitive play. You’ll engage with the ball by pulling and twisting the rods shown in the image above. One team will control the dark foosball players while the other controls the red. It’s important not to use all your strength when playing the game.
Using too much force could cause the ball to fly out off the board. If you’re looking for another competitively fun tabletop game to play at a bar, give this one a shot.
Pac-Man
Pac-Man isn’t just an arcade classic. Many bars are starting to include Pac-Man machines for people to try out. This game serves as a great introduction for those new to video games. If you’re someone who’s never played Pac-Man before, we can assist you. In it, players control a yellow warrior named Pac-Man. You must guide him throw a maze filled with pellets for him to eat.
At a certain time, the four colored ghosts in the middle will exit their imprisonment and head for you. Your goal is to absorb every pellet on the map while avoiding the ghosts. The game gives you four Power Pellets that can render the ghosts inferior, allowing Pac-Man to consume them with a satisfying chomp.
The ghosts do revert to their normal bodies after being eaten or when the pellet’s effect wears out. If you’re waiting for a drink or want something to play to pass the time, give Pac-Man a try.
Uno
Uno is an incredible card game that’s found its way into many households for generations. It’s a simple game that everyone can enjoy whether via its video game adaptations or physically at a bar. As always, we’re here to explain it to you if this is the first time you’ve heard of the card game.
In Uno, your objective is to get rid of all your cards by each game’s end. You’ll do so by placing cards down that match the color or the number present in the middle. The game boasts some special cards that hold different abilities. For example, a card with a caution sign allows you to skip the next player’s turn while a card with a +2 written on it allows you to force them to pick up 2 more cards.
Once you reach your final card, you must call out “Uno.” Otherwise, someone can challenge you and force you to pick up more cards. The game’s ruleset can vary based on the group of people you play with. If you’re looking for a silly card game to play at a bar the evokes competition and hilarity, check out Uno.
Pop Culture and Movie Trivia Night
This is one of those activities that might be rare to most individuals. Most bars often opt for games like Darts or Bingo. However, there are a few establishments that house Pop Culture and Movie Trivia Nights. These trivia nights work like guessing games most of the time and players with a huge background in both fields often have a high chance of winning.
Essentially, the game’s host will ask a bunch of questions related to these fields. You must be the first person to ask the host if you can answer the question. You’ll give a response and hope it’s the correct answer. Like Uno, Movie and Pop Culture Trivia game events vary in ruleset, structure, and topics.
There’s no right way to host an event like this. This can make the event feel secretive and intense. If ever stumble into a bar they’re holding a Pop Culture and Movie Trivia Night event, don’t be afraid to ask about the rules and or participate. You never know if one involves you getting a succulent prize.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best bar games to play when you’re out having fun with friends or family!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!