Joker's Wild - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play

Joker's Wild is a drinking game in the Card Games category for 3-10 players that takes about 20-30 min with a medium difficulty level.

Jokers create chaos in this card game

Equipment Needed

Setup

Shuffle a full deck of 54 cards, including both jokers, and place it face-down in the center of the table. Each player should have their drink within arm's reach. Decide the starting player by drawing cards,lowest card starts, and ties redraw.

How to Play Joker's Wild

  1. Include jokers in the deck
  2. Play normal high card
  3. Joker drawn = wild rule activated
  4. Red Joker = everyone drinks
  5. Black Joker = reverse direction and double drinks
  6. Joker beats everything
  7. Joker holder makes a rule
  8. Chaotic fun guaranteed

Tips & Strategies

Keep a mental tally of who's holding jokers, as the rule-making power can seriously shift the game dynamic. When creating a rule as a joker holder, target vague habits like 'no saying the word drink' to trip people up over time. If you pull the Black Joker, immediately announce the direction change,hesitation can disrupt the flow. Watch the pile grow if doubles stack; being unprepared when it's your turn to drink is a rookie mistake.

Variations

Double Jokers Down: If both jokers are drawn in the same round, all players must finish their drinks and the game resets to a fresh shuffle.. Wildcard Rulebook: Instead of creating a new rule every time a joker is drawn, the joker holder picks from a pre-written set of house rules everyone agrees on before the game starts.. Silent Jokers: If you pull a joker, you must enforce its effect without speaking,gestures only. Any verbal slip-ups mean you drink instead of the group.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if two people draw jokers in the same round?
If two jokers are drawn, the second joker cancels the first joker's effect, but the second joker's effect still applies. For example, if the Red Joker was drawn first and the Black Joker second, no one drinks for the Red Joker, but the turn direction reverses and drink amounts double.
Can a joker holder cancel a rule they previously made?
Yes, if the same player draws another joker later, they can remove their own previous rule or replace it with a new one. They cannot cancel someone else's rule.
Does a joker beat another joker when comparing cards?
No, jokers are considered equal when comparing cards. If two jokers are drawn in a single round, the focus shifts to their effects rather than comparing ranks.
What happens if the deck runs out of cards?
If the deck is depleted but players want to continue, shuffle the discard pile (excluding jokers), place the jokers back into the reshuffled deck, and keep playing.

Players: 3-10 | Duration: 20-30 min | Difficulty: medium

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