Marco Polo Drinking - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play
Marco Polo Drinking is a drinking game in the Outdoor Games category for 4-12 players that takes about 15-30 min with a easy difficulty level.
Pool game with drink penalties
Equipment Needed
Setup
Fill a pool or any large outdoor area with at least 4 players in swimsuits or waterproof clothing. Designate one person as 'Marco,' who will close their eyes and attempt to tag other players by calling out 'Marco' and listening for their response of 'Polo.' Have drinks stationed poolside or nearby, where tagged players can immediately take penalty drinks before rejoining the game.
How to Play Marco Polo Drinking
- Set up the game according to basic rules
- Players take turns or play simultaneously
- Penalties result in drinking
- Success means assigning drinks
- Continue until winner emerges
- Loser faces final penalty
- Winner earns bragging rights
- Adjust rules as needed for your group
Tips & Strategies
When you're 'Marco,' stagger the timing of your 'Marco' calls to catch players off guard or move quickly after hearing a 'Polo' to close in on their position. If you're trying to avoid being tagged, don't be afraid to tread water quietly or move in unexpected patterns to throw off Marco's sense of direction. Assign a referee to make sure everyone takes their penalty drinks if the action gets chaotic,trust me, someone's always going to try to sneak out of it. Drink penalties should be kept light (like one sip) to keep the game fun and prevent anyone from bowing out too early.
Variations
Drink Multiplier Marco: Instead of one sip per tag, assign drinks equal to the number of times 'Marco' had to call before tagging someone.. Silent Polo: Players can only say 'Polo' once per round, making it harder for Marco to locate them and increasing suspense.. Land and Water: Allow the 'Polo' players to climb out of the pool but limit them to a specific area on land (like a patio or deck), adding an extra layer of strategy for evasion.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens if Marco tags the wrong person?
- If Marco tags someone who wasn't the one saying 'Polo,' Marco takes a penalty drink and continues being 'It' for the next round.
- What’s the final penalty for the loser?
- The person tagged the most times by the end of the game finishes their drink or takes a pre-agreed 'loser shot' as the final penalty.
- Can Marco open their eyes in the pool?
- Marco is never allowed to open their eyes while searching, but if they need to adjust for safety (like navigating near edges), a referee can temporarily pause the game.
- How do players assign drinks after a successful evasion?
- If a player avoids being tagged for an entire round, they get to pick another player to take one drink as their reward.
Players: 4-12 | Duration: 15-30 min | Difficulty: easy
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