Tired of Rock Band? Best Party Games for the Rhythmically Challenged

Sick of playing Rock Band or Guitar Hero every time you throw (or go to) a party? A lot of people are. Even though Rock Band 2 and just came out, and Guitar Hero: World Tour is almost here, sometimes you just need a break from that type of game. And there are still plenty of other games that would make a good party great.

Now, I know everyone has a different idea of what is fun. So maybe some of these games aren’t up to your sober standards. But get a little tipsy, get a few friends together, and I can almost guarantee that you’ll have a great time.

1. Wii Sports. Probably the most obvious game on this list, Wii Sports is amazing to play when you’ve been drinking. Watching your tennis swing get less and less accurate with the more you drink is entertaining to everyone around you. Of course, you need to make sure you have the wristband firmly attached, or you may need a new TV the next day, but still. Who doesn’t love pretending to punch and hit things when they’re drunk? Plus, it’s a great game for competition. A lot of people can get involved and take turns. All around, perfect for a fun party atmosphere.

2. Halo 3. Gather your friends up in a circle and take turns trying to massacre one another. This game works best if you’re partying with a bunch of the guys, though the occasional gamer girl will love to join in. Plus, drunken headshots=amazing. I personally recommend taking a drink (or a shot) every time you die. Not that I encourage binge drinking or anything.

3. Super Smash Brothers. A classic. Get out the old N64 and kick each others’ asses like you did in middle school. This is a game which even the most inexperienced person can play; just tell them to hit a random sequence of buttons. And they will still get into the game. There are plenty of fun drinking games to invent along with this game (again, drinks for deaths, handing out drinkings for winning, etc). Go ahead and try it. It’s awesome.

4. Mario Kart. Ever tried to play Mario Kart while drinking? If not, I highly recommend it. And everyone wins with drunken Mario Kart, since it’s just as entertaining to watch you fail as it is to actually fail. And in this game, the more you drink, the more entertaining it is, so get a bunch of people together and party hard.

5. Super Monkey Ball. Any of them. Seriously, a monkey rolling around in a ball? I can’t think of anything that might crack me up more when I’m drunk. So get a bunch of very drunk people in one room, turn on the console and play this. You’ll have an entire room of hysterical lushes in about a half an hour, as long as you’re all fun when you’re drunk. Good times.

There you have it: five alternatives to playing Rock Band or Guitar Hero. And I didn’t even bother to list DDR or Mario Party. I thought it was a bit too obvious. So grab a beer, take some shots, and have fun.