Who doesn’t enjoy a good drinking game? We certainly do, and the Medusa drinking game is simple, fast, and, most importantly, fun. So before we look at the rules, let’s take a quick look at what the game is all about.
What is The Medusa Drinking Game?
If you enjoy games like Battle Shots, then we think you’ll likely enjoy the Medusa drinking game. While the game can be played with as few as three people, it works best with a larger group. It’s a pretty simple game when you get right down to it but still good fun.
The first thing to do is have all players seated around or across from each other. Then give each player a shot glass; you can fill the glasses first or leave them empty to fill later; it doesn’t matter at this point.
Once every player has their shot glass, they should all bow their heads and look down. Then one player should count to three. Finally, on three, each player should look up. Now, this is where things get interesting.
The idea is each player should quickly look at one of the players around them. It could be the player next to you, in front of you, or someone at random. Of course, any players looking at each other will have to down their shots!
Any player who isn’t being looked at won’t drink. So yes, this could mean one unlucky (or lucky, depending on your view) player could be chosen by numerous players and will have to down multiple shots before moving to the next round.
Medusa is usually played as a “starter” drinking game. This means you play it to warm up before moving on to a game like Ring of Fire or King’s Cup. But you can certainly play it for multiple rounds, and it’s sure to be plenty of fun.
There are even a few different ways to play Medusa to add new twists/ elements to the game. We’ll look at all the rules you can use below in the game guide. But before that, let’s look at what you’ll need to play Medusa.
What You’ll Need to Play?
To play the Medusa drinking game, you’ll need some alcohol, any kind can be used, and some glasses. Shot glasses are the traditional choice, but you can also use plastic cups as you’d use in Beer Pong.
If you do opt for shot glasses, you might want to consider plastic ones. They are safer and a great idea for group drinking games. This bulk lot of 100 1 oz shot glasses would be a great option.
Plastic cups are your best option if you want to play with larger cups. This bulk lot of 10 oz cups would be a great choice. Once you’ve got your cups/ glasses sorted and your alcohol ready, the game can begin!
Rules and Gameplay
The Aim of The Game
They might both have ancient Greek theming, but Medusa plays very differently from the Hercules Drinking Game. The aim of the game is to simply have fun with friends. There are no points or teams; it’s just a great game to play for fun.
The Set-Up
There is a little set-up work required to play this game. The first thing to do is get everyone in position. Medusa works brilliantly on a round table where everyone can clearly see each other.
But it can be played in almost any setting, even if everyone sits on the floor in a circle. Once everyone is seated, give out the cups/ glasses and decide whether to fill them now or later. Either option works, so just go with what you think is best. Once done, the game can begin!
Playing Medusa
Once everyone has their glass/ cup, players should all bow their heads together. Then, one player should count down aloud to the group, simply saying “three, two, one,” and everyone should look up on one.
Each player should look at another person. It can be the player across from you, the player next to you, or anyone else. The only rule is you have to be looking at someone. If two players look at each other, they must both down their drinks.
However, if multiple people are looking at the same person, then that person will need to down multiple drinks. It should be equal to the number of people looking. You can set this limit yourself, but usually, if three people are looking at the same person, that person will need to drink.
That’s the basic gameplay of the Medusa drinking game, but there are a few different rules you can use if you want to add some new twists/ elements to the game. Let’s take a look at these in more detail.
Perseus Rule
Named after the Greek hero who killed Medusa, this house rule can add a new competitive element to the game. With this rule, players can shut their eyes for one round during the game.
If a player looks at another player who has their eyes shut, they will need to take two drinks instead of one.
The player who shut their eyes usually won’t have to drink for that round. However, if two players are looking at each other and both have their eyes closed, the rule is void, and both players will have to drink.
The Medusa Drinking Game – Fast-Paced and Fun
This drinking game is quick, easy to play, and ideal for groups. It makes a great outdoor drinking game that is well-suited for multiple rounds as the main game or a short game to warm up before you head out or play something else.
