🍺 Cup & Ball Games

The classics that built house party culture. These require some setup but deliver maximum entertainment.

Beer Pong

Players: 2 teams of 2 | Equipment: 20 cups, 2 ping pong balls, long table

Setup: Arrange 10 cups in a triangle on each end of the table, filled 1/3 with beer.

Rules:

• Teams alternate throwing ping pong balls at opponent’s cups
• If a ball lands in a cup, the opposing team drinks that cup and removes it
• First team to eliminate all opponent’s cups wins
• Losing team drinks remaining cups on winner’s side

Pro tip: Bounce shots count as 2 cups but can be swatted away. Aim for the back cups first.

📖 Complete Beer Pong Guide with 20+ Variations →

Flip Cup

Players: 6-20 (two equal teams) | Equipment: Plastic cups, long table

Rules:

• Teams line up on opposite sides of a table, each player with a cup
• First players drink, then place cup upside down on table edge
• Flip the cup with a flick so it lands right-side up
• Once successful, next teammate goes
• First team to finish wins

Pro tip: Use minimal beer (a few ounces) for faster rounds. Flick from the bottom rim.

📖 Master Flip Cup: Rules, Technique & 15+ Variations →

Slap Cup

Players: 6+ | Equipment: Many plastic cups, 2 ping pong balls

Setup: Fill cups with varying amounts of beer and arrange in center. Two players start with empty cups and balls.

Rules:

• Both players try to bounce ball into their cup
• If you make it on first try, pass cup and ball to anyone
• If you make it after multiple attempts, pass to person on your left
• If the person on your right makes it before you, they slap your cup away
• You grab a new cup from center, drink it, and keep trying
• Game ends when center cups are gone

Chandelier (Gaga Ball)

Players: 4-10 | Equipment: Large center cup, individual cups, ping pong ball

Setup: Large cup in middle filled with beer, surrounded by smaller cups (one per player).

Rules:

• Players take turns bouncing ball toward cups
• Hit someone’s personal cup: they drink
• Hit your own cup: you drink double
• Hit the center cup: everyone chugs, last to finish drinks the center cup

🃏 Card-Based Drinking Games

All you need is a deck of cards and drinks. These games are portable and endlessly variable.

Kings Cup (Ring of Fire)

Players: 4-10 | Equipment: Deck of cards, large cup

Setup: Spread cards face-down around a center “King’s Cup.” Each card has a rule:

• A (Ace): Waterfall – everyone drinks in sequence
• 2: You – pick someone to drink
• 3: Me – you drink
• 4: Floor – everyone touches floor, last one drinks
• 5: Guys – all guys drink
• 6: Chicks – all girls drink
• 7: Heaven – point up, last one drinks
• 8: Mate – pick a drinking buddy for the game
• 9: Rhyme – say a word, go around rhyming it
• 10: Categories – name a category, go around listing things
• J (Jack): Never Have I Ever (3 fingers)
• Q (Queen): Question Master – others must answer questions with questions
• K (King): Pour into King’s Cup – 4th King drinks it all

📖 Complete Kings Cup Guide with 15+ Wild Variations →

Ride the Bus

Players: 4-8 | Equipment: Deck of cards

Rounds:

1. Red or Black: Guess color. Wrong = 1 drink
2. Higher or Lower: Guess if next card is higher/lower. Wrong = 2 drinks
3. In-Between or Outside: Will next card be between your two cards? Wrong = 3 drinks
4. Guess the Suit: Wrong = 4 drinks
5. Ride the Bus: Loser (most drinks) faces a pyramid of face-down cards. Flip each one – face cards mean drinks!

Pyramid

Players: 3-8 | Equipment: Deck of cards

Setup: Build a pyramid with cards face-down (5-4-3-2-1). Deal remaining cards to players.

Rules:

• Flip pyramid cards starting at base
• If you have a matching card, you can give drinks to others (and show your card)
• Or BLUFF that you have a match – if called out, you drink double
• Base row = 1 drink, second row = 2 drinks, etc.
• Top card = 5 drinks

F*ck the Dealer

Players: 4-8 | Equipment: Deck of cards

Rules:

• Dealer holds deck, player guesses top card value (A-K)
• Wrong guess: dealer says higher or lower, player guesses again
• Wrong twice: player drinks the difference (guessed 5, card was 9 = 4 drinks)
• Right guess: dealer drinks
• After 3 wrong guesses in a row, dealer passes the deck

Irish Poker

Players: 3-8 | Equipment: Deck of cards

Similar to Ride the Bus with 4 rounds of guessing, but played as a group with everyone getting a row of 4 cards.

Asshole (Presidents and Assholes)

Players: 4-8 | Equipment: Deck of cards

Rules:

• Deal all cards evenly. Player with 3 of clubs starts
• Play cards equal to or higher than previous card
• First to empty hand = President, last = Asshole
• Social hierarchy: President makes rules, can give drinks anytime
• Asshole must give best card to President each round

Across the Bridge

Players: 2+ | Equipment: Deck of cards

Setup: Lay 10 cards face-down in a row (the “bridge”).

Rules:

• Flip cards one by one
• Number card: safe, keep going
• Face card: drink and add cards to the bridge (J=1, Q=2, K=3, A=4)
• Goal: make it across without face cards

🎲 Dice Drinking Games

Fast-paced and luck-based. Great when you want quick rounds.

Drunk Dice (7-11-Doubles)

Players: 4+ | Equipment: 2 dice, cup

Rules:

• Fill a cup with beer and place in center
• Roll dice. If you get 7, 11, or doubles: pick someone to drink
• Chosen person must finish the cup before you roll those numbers again
• If they finish first, you drink

Mexicali (Mia)

Players: 3-6 | Equipment: 2 dice, cup to hide rolls

Rules:

• Roll dice secretly under cup
• Announce your roll (can lie) – e.g., “5-3”
• Next player must beat it or call bluff
• Highest roll: 2-1 (Mexicali), then doubles (6-6, 5-5…), then regular (6-5, 6-4…)
• Caught lying or can’t beat real roll = drink

Three Man

Players: 3-8 | Equipment: 2 dice

Setup: Everyone rolls – lowest roll is “Three Man.”

Rules:

• Roll 3 or any combo adding to 3: Three Man drinks
• Roll 7: person to left drinks
• Roll 11: person to right drinks
• Doubles: give dice to two people, they roll – lower drinks
• Three Man stays until someone else rolls snake eyes (1-1)

Ship, Captain, Crew

Players: 2+ | Equipment: 5 dice, cup

Rules:

• 3 rolls to get Ship (6), Captain (5), Crew (4) in that order
• Remaining dice = cargo (treasure). Highest cargo wins
• Loser drinks

💬 Verbal & Social Drinking Games

No equipment needed – just drinks and your wit. Perfect for anywhere.

Never Have I Ever

Players: 4+ | Equipment: None

Rules:

• Everyone holds up 5-10 fingers
• Take turns saying “Never have I ever [done something]”
• Anyone who HAS done it drinks and puts a finger down
• First person to lose all fingers does a punishment drink

Pro tip: Start mild, escalate as the game goes on. Gets spicy quick.

Most Likely To

Players: 4+ | Equipment: None

Rules:

• Someone asks “Who is most likely to [do something]?”
• On count of 3, everyone points at who they think
• Drink for each finger pointed at you

📖 150+ Most Likely To Questions →

Two Truths and a Lie

Players: 3+ | Equipment: None

Rules:

• Say 3 statements about yourself – 2 true, 1 false
• Others vote on which is the lie
• Wrong guesses = drink
• If everyone guesses right = you drink

Would You Rather

Players: 3+ | Equipment: None

Rules:

• Ask “Would you rather A or B?”
• Everyone chooses. Minority group drinks
• If it’s tied, everyone drinks

Paranoia

Players: 4+ | Equipment: None, maybe a coin

Rules:

• Whisper a “who” question to person next to you (“Who would survive longest in a horror movie?”)
• They answer out loud with a player’s name
• Named person can flip a coin – heads means the question is revealed, tails it stays secret
• Wrong flip = drink

Cheers to the Governor

Players: 5+ | Equipment: None

Rules:

• Count to 21 around the circle
• Whoever says 21 makes a rule replacing a number (e.g., “7 is now ‘banana’”)
• Mess up = drink and restart
• Successfully hit 21 = everyone cheers “To the Governor!” and drinks

Fingers (Finger Spoof)

Players: 3-8 | Equipment: Cup in center

Rules:

• Everyone puts one finger on rim of cup
• One person counts “3, 2, 1” then guesses how many fingers will remain
• Everyone can remove finger or keep it
• Correct guess = you’re out. Wrong = stay in
• Last person in drinks the cup

Medusa

Players: 4+ | Equipment: Shots in center

Rules:

• Everyone looks down
• On count of 3, look up at another player
• If your eyes meet = both yell “MEDUSA!” and take a shot
• No eye contact = safe

Fuzzy Duck

Players: 4+ | Equipment: None

Rules:

• Go around saying “Fuzzy Duck”
• Anyone can say “Does He?” to reverse direction
• After reversal, phrase becomes “Ducky Fuzz”
• Mess up or hesitate = drink

I’m Going to the Bar

Players: 3+ | Equipment: None

Rules:

• First person: “I’m going to the bar to get an [A drink]”
• Next person repeats and adds a B drink
• Continue through alphabet, remembering all previous drinks
• Mess up = drink

🎬 Movie & TV Drinking Games

Turn any movie night into a party. Drink when specific things happen on screen.

How to Make Any Movie a Drinking Game

1. Pick 3-5 triggers (things that happen often but not constantly)
2. Assign drink amounts (1 sip, 2 sips, finish drink)
3. Add one “waterfall” trigger for rare events

Classic Movie Triggers

• Horror: Jump scare, someone says “Let’s split up,” death
• Rom-Com: Awkward moment, almost-kiss, misunderstanding
• Action: Explosion, one-liner, car chase
• Marvel: Stan Lee cameo (RIP), post-credits tease, CGI fight

Popular TV Drinking Games

• The Office: “That’s what she said,” Jim looks at camera, Michael says something inappropriate
• Friends: “We were on a break,” Joey says “How you doin’?”, coffee shop scene
• Game of Thrones: Someone dies, wine is poured, “Winter is coming”

Sports Drinking Games

Perfect for game day. Set rules based on the sport:

• Football: Touchdown, flag, commercial break, turnover
• Basketball: Three-pointer, foul, dunk, timeout
• Baseball: Strikeout, home run, walk, replay review

📖 March Madness Drinking Games Guide →

🌴 Outdoor & Tailgate Games

Games that work great in the backyard, beach, or parking lot.

Stump

Players: 4-8 | Equipment: Tree stump, hammer, nails

Rules:

• Everyone hammers a nail partway into stump
• Take turns flipping hammer and hitting any nail (one motion)
• Hit someone’s nail = they drink (amount based on how far it went in)
• Nail fully in = that person finishes their drink

Dizzy Bat

Players: 2+ | Equipment: Wiffle ball bat, beer

Rules:

• Fill bat with beer, chug it
• Put bat on ground, put forehead on bat, spin 10 times
• Someone pitches a ball – try to hit it
• Miss = drink more

Cornhole (Drinking Version)

Players: 2-4 | Equipment: Cornhole set

Rules:

• Standard cornhole rules apply
• Opponent scores = you drink (1 per point)
• They sink it in the hole = finish your drink

KanJam

Players: 4 (2v2) | Equipment: KanJam set

Rules:

• Partner can deflect your frisbee into the can
• Opponent scores = your team drinks
• Instant win (through the slot) = opponents finish drinks

👫 Two-Player Drinking Games

Don’t need a party to play. These work great with just two people.

Battle Shots

Equipment: 2 grids with shot glasses arranged like Battleship

Rules:

• Set up shot glasses as your “ships”
• Call coordinates like Battleship
• Hit = opponent drinks that shot

Speed Facts

Equipment: None

Rules:

• Pick a category (movies, countries, songs, etc.)
• Go back and forth naming things
• Hesitate or repeat = drink

Higher or Lower

Equipment: Deck of cards

Rules:

• Flip first card
• Guess if next card will be higher or lower
• Wrong = drink
• Build a streak – longer streak = more drinks for next wrong guess

Truth or Drink

Equipment: None (or question cards)

Rules:

• Ask partner a question
• They either answer honestly OR take a drink to pass
• Great for dates or getting to know someone

👥 Large Group Games (10+ People)

When you’ve got a crowd, you need games that keep everyone engaged.

Power Hour

Players: Any | Equipment: Shot glasses, timer/playlist

Rules:

• Take a shot of beer every minute for 60 minutes
• Use a Power Hour playlist that changes songs every 60 seconds
• Song change = drink
• Equal to about 7-8 beers total

📖 Power Hour Guide with Playlist Ideas →

Civil War

Players: 6+ (3v3 minimum) | Equipment: Beer pong setup x3, many balls

Rules:

• Each player has 3 cups in a triangle
• No turns – continuous shooting (grab balls and throw)
• Can’t shoot if you’re drinking
• Team eliminated when all cups are gone

Stack Cup

Players: 8+ | Equipment: Many cups, 2 balls

Rules:

• Fill cups and arrange in center
• Two people start with empty cups, trying to bounce ball in
• Make it = pass cup left
• If passed to you while you’re still trying, stack your cup on theirs
• Take a new cup from center, drink it, keep trying

Roxanne

Players: 10+ | Equipment: The song “Roxanne” by The Police

Rules:

• Split into two teams
• Team 1 drinks every time “Roxanne” is sung
• Team 2 drinks every time “Red Light” is sung
• Simple but devastating

Thunderstruck

Players: 6+ | Equipment: The song “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC

Rules:

• Stand in a circle
• Play the song. First person starts drinking when “Thunder” is sung
• Keep drinking until “Thunder” is sung again – then next person goes
• Some people get long stretches, others get lucky

⚡ Quick & Easy Games

No setup needed. Start playing in seconds.

Drink While You Think

Name famous people. Next person names someone whose first name starts with previous last name initial. Must drink while thinking.

Quarters

Bounce quarter into shot glass. Miss = drink. Make it = choose who drinks.

Picolo App

Free app that generates drinking game prompts. Perfect for lazy game nights.

Straight Face

Everyone writes funny sentences on paper. Take turns reading them with a straight face. Laugh = drink.

Bite the Bag

Put paper bag on floor. Pick it up with your mouth (no hands touching ground). Each round, tear an inch off the bag. Fall or can’t do it = drink.

🍻 Drinking Game Safety & Tips

Play Responsibly

• Eat before and during: Food slows alcohol absorption
• Stay hydrated: Alternate drinks with water
• Know your limits: It’s always okay to tap out
• Use lower-ABV drinks: Light beer or seltzers for longer games
• Never drive: Plan transportation before you start

Hosting Tips

• Have non-alcoholic options for designated drivers
• Keep snacks available throughout the night
• End games before people get too drunk
• Make sure everyone has a safe way home

Substitutions

Any game can be played with non-alcoholic drinks! Soda, juice, or water work fine. The games are fun regardless.