I’ll be the first to admit it: I’ve got a bit of an addictive personality when it comes to high-stakes games. There’s just something about that "will-he-won't-he" tension that gets my blood pumping. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Shotgun Roulette.

If you’ve seen the clips blowing up on TikTok or Steam, you know the vibe—it’s dark, it’s gritty, and it’s basically a math-heavy version of Russian Roulette with a 12-gauge twist. I spent the last few weekends deep-diving into the mechanics, and honestly, once you learn how to play the Shotgun Roulette game, you realize it’s way more about strategy than just blind luck.

Here’s my personal guide on how to survive the round and why I eventually had to take the game off the screen and onto my actual dining room table.

The Rules: It’s All in the Shells

The game is deceptively simple, which is exactly why it’s so stressful. You’re sitting across from a Dealer, and there’s a shotgun between you.

1. The Count: The Dealer shows you a handful of shells—some are "Live" (red) and some are "Blanks" (blue). My biggest tip? Count them. If you aren't tracking the ratio, you've already lost.

2. The Load: The Dealer shuffles them into the gun in a random order.

3. The Decision: On your turn, you have two choices.

   • Shoot the Dealer: If it’s a Live round, you deal damage. If it’s a Blank, your turn ends.

   • Shoot Yourself: This sounds crazy, but if you’re sure it’s a Blank, shooting yourself lets you skip the Dealer’s turn and go again. It’s a massive tactical play if you get the math right.

Mastering the Items

In the rounds I’ve played, the game really starts when the items come out. These are the tools that let you cheat fate.

• The Magnifying Glass: This lets me peek at the shell currently in the chamber. No more guessing.

• The Beer: I use this to "rack" the slide and eject whatever shell is currently loaded. It’s perfect for clearing out a "maybe" shell.

• The Cigarette: This gives you a life back. Simple, but essential when you're down to your last charge.