Buffalo Game Rules: Count, Clap, and Conquer the Herd!

What's the Buffalo Game Rules? 🤔

Looking for a drinking game that starts simple but quickly spirals into hilarious complexity? Then welcome to the herd with Buffalo! This game is all about counting in a circle, using specific gestures to pass the turn, remembering special actions for certain numbers, and then dealing with new, player-made rules every time someone successfully reaches the goal. It's a test of memory, focus, and your ability to not crack under pressure (or laughter).

What You'll Need 🛠️

This game is refreshingly simple in its requirements:

Players: At least 4 people to form a decent "herd" (circle). More can be fun, up to around 10-12.
Drinks & Cups: For those inevitable slip-ups!
No cards, no balls, just your wits (and maybe a good memory!).

Getting Set Up ⚙️

Form a Circle: Have all players sit or stand in a circle. That's it, you're ready to stampede!

How to Play: Navigating the Numbers 🐃

The basic goal is for the group to count upwards from 1 to 21, with specific actions to pass the turn and handle certain numbers.

Starting the Count: One person starts by saying "One!"
Passing the Turn (Most Numbers):
- To pass the turn for most numbers, the current player says the next number in sequence (e.g., if they received "One," they say "Two!").
- While saying their number, they must also clap one of their own shoulders (left or right). The direction of this shoulder clap indicates who goes next – if they clap their left shoulder, the person to their left takes the next number; if they clap their right shoulder, the person to their right goes next.
- The next person then says the subsequent number and claps one of their shoulders to pass it on again.
Special Hand Signals (Numbers 7 and 14):
- When the count reaches Seven (7) or Fourteen (14), the player whose turn it is does not do a shoulder clap.
- Instead, for both 7 and 14, the player holds their arms out in front of them, parallel to each other and to the floor (like they're holding a tray, or perhaps mimicking buffalo horns).
- Determining the Next Player: The direction for the next player is determined by which arm is conceptually on the bottom or top:
  - For Seven (7): The player indicated by the direction of your bottom arm goes next. (e.g., if your left arm is naturally lower when you hold them parallel, the person to your left goes).
  - For Fourteen (14): The player indicated by the direction of your top arm goes next.
- The player who receives the turn after a 7 or 14 continues the count with the next number (8 or 15 respectively) using the standard shoulder clap.

Concept: Image showing the parallel arm signal for numbers 7 and 14. Alt text: "Player demonstrating the parallel arm signal used for numbers 7 and 14 in the Buffalo drinking game."

Mistakes & Penalties:
- If a player:
  - Forgets the current number.
  - Says the wrong number.
  - Uses the wrong gesture (e.g., shoulder claps on 7, or uses the arm signal on a wrong number).
  - Hesitates for too long.
- ...they must take a sip of their drink. The count then resets back to "One," and that player (or a designated starter) begins a new round from the beginning (including any new rules that have been added – see below).
Reaching 21: "BUFFALO!" & Making a New Rule:
- If the group successfully counts all the way to 21 without errors:
  - The player who says "Twenty-One!" immediately shouts "BUFFALO!"
  - While shouting "BUFFALO!", they make "horn" signals with two fingers of each hand placed behind their ears (like antlers or buffalo horns) and point at another player in the circle.
  - The player who is pointed at must finish their current drink.
  - That same player (who just finished their drink) then gets to make up a new rule for the game.
Adding New Rules:
- New rules can be anything! Examples:
  - "On number 5, everyone must pat their head."
  - "Instead of saying 'Three,' you have to moo like a cow."
  - "The shoulder clap direction is now reversed."
  - "Every time someone messes up, they also have to do 3 jumping jacks."
- These new rules stack on top of all existing rules (including the original ones for 7 and 14). The game gets progressively harder and sillier!
Continuing the Game: After a new rule is made, the count resets to "One," and the game begins again with all accumulated rules in play.

Concept: Image showing someone triumphantly shouting "BUFFALO!" with finger-horns, pointing at another player, perhaps with a new rule being written on a conceptual whiteboard. Alt text: "Player celebrating reaching 21 by shouting 'BUFFALO!' and making horn gestures, while another player contemplates a new rule for the game."

Ending the Game 👋

Buffalo has no official end! It can keep going as long as the group is having fun and can still remember (or hilariously forget) the ever-growing list of rules. The game usually winds down when players decide they've had enough or the rules become too wonderfully convoluted to manage.

If you enjoy games that involve adding new rules and testing memory, you might also like King's Cup Game Rules, which also features a "Make a Rule" card!

The Dojo's Take 🍻

Buffalo is a fantastic "slow burn" kind of drinking game. It starts off deceptively simple, but as more and more custom rules get layered on, it becomes a true test of memory and composure. The physical actions (shoulder claps, arm signals, new rule actions) add a fun, active element. Watching a friend confidently stride towards 21 only to forget that number 12 now requires them to bark like a dog is where the real joy of Buffalo lies!

Looking for more group games that don't require many props? Check out our selection of simple party starters!

Drink Responsibly 🙏

With new rules potentially causing more frequent mistakes (and thus, sips), it's good to keep an eye on everyone. Play at a comfortable pace, drink responsibly, and remember that laughter is the main goal here.

Your Questions Answered: FAQ ❓

For the 7/14 arm signal, how do we decide which arm is "bottom" or "top" if they're perfectly parallel? Good point! Usually, it's just based on how a player naturally holds their arms. One arm will likely be slightly dominant or held a fraction lower/higher. Don't overthink it; a quick consensus or just the player's intent is fine. The key is that it changes the direction from a simple left/right.
What if someone makes a rule that's impossible or mean? The spirit of the game is fun. If a rule is genuinely impossible, too complex to be fun, or targets someone unfairly, the group can veto it or ask the rule-maker to simplify.
How do we keep track of all the new rules? That's part of the challenge! For the first few, memory works. If it gets really complex, someone could jot them down, but often the fun is in the collective (mis)remembering.
Can the person who just made a rule be the one pointed at for "BUFFALO!" on the next successful round? Yes, anyone in the circle is fair game to be pointed at when "BUFFALO!" is achieved.
What's a good starting number of players? 4-6 is great because the turn comes back around reasonably quickly. With too many (10+), it can take a long time to get back to the start, especially as rules pile up.