Boom Cup is a simple, fast bouncing game that only needs a stack of cups and a ping pong ball. You bounce the ball into the stack, and whoever ends up holding the marked “boom” cup at the bottom takes the drink. Cheap to set up and great for a crowd.
Boom Cup at a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Players | 3 or more |
| You need | A stack of cups, one marked cup, a ping pong ball |
| Setup | 2 minutes |
| Type | Bouncing party game |
Chaos
4/5
Difficulty
3/5
Buzz level
4/5
Setup effort
2/5
Our take, 1 (low) to 5 (high).
What you will need to play
You do not need much to get going, but a few cheap staples make the night run smoother. Here is the kit we reach for.
What you need
- A tall stack of plastic cups
- One cup marked as the “boom” cup at the bottom of the stack
- A ping pong ball
- A drink for everyone
How to play
- Stack the cups with the marked boom cup at the very bottom.
- Take turns bouncing the ball, aiming to land it in the top cup.
- Sink it, pass it. Land the ball and you pass the stack on; the next player removes the top cup and tries again with the smaller stack.
- Boom. Whoever is holding the stack when only the marked boom cup is left has to drink.
- Restack and go again.
Pro tips
- Short bounces. A gentle bounce off the table drops in far more often than a hard throw.
- Mark the boom cup clearly. Everyone should know which cup is the punishment.
- Keep the stack tall. More cups means more suspense before the boom.
Stack it fast or drink to your own bad hands.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Dirt cheap to set up
- Quick rounds keep everyone involved
- Great for a big group
Cons
- Needs a decent bouncing surface
- Flimsy cups collapse mid-game
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Frequently asked questions
How do you play Boom Cup?
Stack cups with a marked boom cup at the bottom, then take turns bouncing a ball into the top cup. Each time someone sinks it, a cup is removed. Whoever is left holding the boom cup drinks.
What do you need to play?
Just a stack of plastic cups, one marked as the boom cup, a ping pong ball and drinks. It is one of the cheapest party games to set up.
