🎬 Horror Movie Drinking Games

Nothing pairs better with horror movies than drinks—the liquid courage helps with the jump scares, and the rules give you something to focus on besides your fear. These games work with any horror movie but shine brightest with the classics.

1. Universal Horror Drinking Game

How to play: Standard rules that work with ANY horror movie. Sip when: someone says “Hello?” into darkness, a character investigates a noise alone, someone trips while running, a phone/car doesn’t work, there’s a fake-out scare. Drink when: there’s a real jump scare, someone dies, the killer appears. Finish your drink: if the killer “dies” but comes back.

Pro tip: Adjust drink sizes based on the movie. A Paranormal Activity marathon needs lighter sips than a slasher flick.

2. Slasher Movie Drinking Game

How to play: Perfect for Halloween, Friday the 13th, Scream, etc. Drink when: someone has sex (they’re doomed), a weapon appears, there’s a chase scene, someone makes a dumb decision, the final girl is established. Shot: when the killer is unmasked or when a major character dies.

Best movies: Scream series, Halloween series, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street.

3. Found Footage Drinking Game

How to play: For Blair Witch, Paranormal Activity, REC, etc. Drink when: the camera glitches, someone says “Did you hear that?”, there’s night vision, someone films instead of helping, you see something in the background the characters don’t. Finish drink: when you realize everyone’s doomed.

4. Jump Scare Challenge

How to play: Everyone starts with a full drink. When a jump scare happens, last person to flinch or scream gives out drinks. If you spill your drink from a scare, finish it. Track flinches—most flinches by end of movie does a shot.

Bonus: Works great with headphones and individual screens for maximum scare isolation.

5. Horror Trope Bingo

How to play: Create bingo cards with horror tropes (basement investigation, splitting up, creepy kid, jump scare fake-out, etc.). Mark squares as tropes appear. First bingo gives out 5 drinks. Blackout means everyone else finishes their drinks.

6. Scream Trilogy Marathon

How to play: Scream-specific rules. Drink when: Ghostface calls, someone references horror movie rules, there’s a chase, Randy gives a monologue, someone dies. Shot when: the killer is revealed. Extra rule: drink every time someone says “What’s your favorite scary movie?”

7. The Conjuring Universe Game

How to play: For any Conjuring, Annabelle, or spin-off. Drink when: Lorraine has a vision, Ed does something brave/stupid, a doll appears, there’s a religious artifact, someone doesn’t believe the haunting. Finish drink: during the final exorcism/confrontation.

🎃 Costume Contest Games

Costume contests are Halloween party staples, but adding game elements and drinking stakes takes them from basic to legendary. These variations keep everyone engaged even if they didn’t win.

8. Multi-Category Costume Contest

Categories: Scariest, Sexiest, Most Creative, Best DIY, Best Pop Culture Reference, Best Pun, Most Effort for Least Recognition, Best Couples/Group, Most Uncomfortable, Worst Costume (intentional). Each winner picks a drinking rule that lasts 30 minutes. Losers in each category drink.

9. Costume Voting Drinking Game

How to play: Everyone votes anonymously for each category. When votes are read, if your costume gets 0 votes in a category, drink. If you voted for yourself and won, drink double. If there’s a tie, tied contestants have a drink-off to determine winner.

10. Costume Speed Dating

How to play: Guests rotate 2-minute “dates” where they must stay in character. After all rotations, vote for most committed character. Break character = drink. Worst character commitment does a shot.

11. Costume Guess Who

How to play: One person leaves the room. Group picks a costume to describe. Person returns and asks yes/no questions to guess which guest’s costume they’re describing. Wrong guesses = drink. Each wrong guess adds a drink to the penalty.

12. Costume Roast Battle

How to play: Bracket-style roast competition. Contestants roast each other’s costumes, crowd votes. Loser drinks. Winner advances. Champion gets to create one party rule for the rest of the night.

13. Celebrity Costume Lookalike

How to play: Search “celebrity [costume theme]” and see how your costume compares to what celebrities wore. Most similar to a celeb gives out drinks. Least similar drinks. If you somehow match a meme costume, social media shot.

🔪 Murder Mystery & Mafia Games

Halloween is the perfect time for murder mysteries—the costumes set the scene, and the spooky atmosphere adds tension. These games range from quick party games to full evening experiences.

14. Quick Murder Mystery

How to play: Assign roles secretly: 1 murderer, 1 detective, rest are civilians. Lights go out, murderer “kills” by tapping shoulders. Lights on, detective has 3 guesses to find murderer. Wrong guess = detective drinks. Correct = murderer drinks and new round starts.

15. Full Murder Mystery Dinner

How to play: Use a pre-made kit or create characters that match guest costumes. Serve courses between clue reveals. Drinking rules: Wrong accusation = drink. Caught in a lie = shot. Successfully deceive someone = they drink.

Pro tip: Sites like Night of Mystery have downloadable kits. Assign characters when sending invites so costumes match.

16. Mafia Halloween Edition

How to play: Classic Mafia with Halloween roles. Mafia = Vampires/Killers, Doctor = Witch, Detective = Van Helsing, Civilians = Villagers. Day phase: accusations and voting. Night phase: kills and saves. Eliminated players become ghosts who can’t speak but can drink.

Drinking rules: Eliminated players drink. Wrong accusations = accuser drinks. Mafia wins = civilians finish drinks. Village wins = mafia does shots.

17. Two Rooms and a Boom (Halloween)

How to play: Split party into two rooms. One team has the “Bomber,” other has the “President.” Teams exchange hostages trying to get bomber into president’s room. If bomber and president end in same room, bombers win. Halloween version: Vampire vs. Van Helsing.

18. Wink Murder

How to play: One person is secretly the murderer who kills by winking. When winked at, count to 5 then dramatically “die.” Others try to catch the murderer. If accused wrongly, accuser drinks. Murderer caught = murderer drinks. Last alive with murderer = both drink.

19. Monster Murder Mystery

How to play: Every guest is a classic monster (Dracula, Werewolf, Mummy, Frankenstein, etc.) with a motive and alibi. One monster committed the murder. Clues hidden around the party reveal the killer. First to solve correctly wins; wrong guesses = shots.

👻 Spooky Twists on Classic Games

Take party game favorites and add a Halloween spin. The rules stay familiar, but the spooky additions make them feel fresh and themed.

20. Witch’s Brew Pong

How to play: Beer pong but cups are arranged in a cauldron shape (circle with one center cup). Fill with Halloween-colored drinks or add dry ice for effect. Landing in the center cauldron cup = opponent chugs. Add plastic spiders in cups for “double drink” surprises.

21. Monster Mash Flip Cup

How to play: Each team position is a monster (Zombie, Vampire, Werewolf, etc.). Before flipping, you must do your monster impression. Fail to do the impression = start over. Winning team gets to assign monster roles to losers for 30 minutes.

22. Graveyard Jenga

How to play: Write spooky dares and drinking rules on Jenga blocks. “Tell your scariest real-life story,” “Do your best horror movie scream,” “Drink like a vampire,” “Name 5 horror movies in 10 seconds.” Tower falls = person who knocked it does a shot.

See also: Ultimate Drinking Games Guide for more Jenga variations.

23. Haunted House of Cards

How to play: Kings Cup but Halloween themed. Hearts = horror movie rules (name one or drink), Spades = spooky truths, Diamonds = costume category (drink if yours fits), Clubs = scary dare or drink. King = add to the Witch’s Brew center cup.

Related: Kings Cup Rules for base game.

24. Zombie Tag

How to play: One person starts as a zombie (moves slowly, arms out). When tagged, you become a zombie too. Last survivor wins. Indoor variation: zombies can only move when no one is looking at them. Drinking: zombies drink when they tag someone, survivors drink when tagged.

25. Candy Corn Toss

How to play: Like cornhole but with candy corn thrown into pumpkin buckets. Different point values for different sized openings. Losing team drinks the point difference. Land in the tiny “eye” holes = opponent takes a shot.

26. Mummy Wrap Race

How to play: Teams of two, one wrapper and one mummy. Race to completely wrap your partner in toilet paper. First completely wrapped wins. Mummy that moves during wrapping = restart from that point. Losing team drinks. Mummy who tears through their wrap first = shot.

🧠 Halloween Trivia & Knowledge Games

Test your horror knowledge and Halloween history. Perfect for horror buffs who want to flex their scary movie expertise.

27. Horror Movie Trivia Battle

How to play: Teams compete in horror movie trivia. Categories: Classic Horror, Modern Horror, Horror Directors, Final Girls, Horror Soundtracks, Box Office. Wrong answer = team drinks. Sweep a category = other team finishes drinks.

Sample questions: What year was the original Halloween released? (1978) Who directed The Shining? (Kubrick) What’s the name of the clown in It? (Pennywise)

28. Name That Horror Soundtrack

How to play: Play horror movie soundtracks (Halloween, Psycho, Jaws, The Exorcist, etc.). First to name the movie wins the round and gives out drinks. Play the wrong movie’s theme = drink double.

Pro tip: Spotify has horror movie score playlists perfect for this.

29. Horror Quote Completion

How to play: Read the start of a famous horror movie quote. First to finish it correctly gives out drinks. Examples: “Here’s…” (Johnny!), “They’re…” (heeere!), “I see…” (dead people).

30. Halloween History Trivia

How to play: Questions about real Halloween history and traditions. Where does trick-or-treating originate? (Celtic tradition) What was the original name for Halloween? (Samhain) What vegetable were jack-o-lanterns originally made from? (Turnips). Each wrong answer = drink.

31. Serial Killer or Fictional?

How to play: Name a killer. Players guess if they’re a real serial killer or fictional movie villain. Wrong guesses drink. Correct guesses give out drinks. Keep score—most wrong at the end does a shot.

Warning: This game can get dark. Know your audience.

32. Horror Emoji Decoder

How to play: Show emoji combinations representing horror movies. 🔪🚿 (Psycho), 👻📞 (Scream), 🎈🤡 (It), 🪓❄️ (The Shining). First to guess correctly gives out drinks. Last place in each round drinks.

🎃 Pumpkin & Candy Games

Halloween staples turned into adult party games. Pumpkins, candy, and costumes combine with competition and drinking.

33. Extreme Pumpkin Carving

How to play: Speed pumpkin carving competition with categories: Scariest, Most Creative, Best Pop Culture Reference. Time limit: 30 minutes. Drink while you carve. Judges vote. Loser cleans up all the pumpkin guts while drinking.

Pro tip: Provide carving kits and templates for guests who need guidance.

34. Pumpkin Bowling

How to play: Set up empty bottles or cans as pins. Roll small pumpkins to knock them down. Standard bowling scoring. Gutter ball = drink. Strike = give out 3 drinks. Spare = give out 1 drink. Lowest score after 10 frames does a shot.

35. Candy Corn Shot Roulette

How to play: Fill shot glasses—most with candy corn, some with actual shots (vodka or pumpkin schnapps). Players pick blindly. Get a shot? Take it. Get candy? Eat it and you’re safe. Add one “poison” shot (something gross) for extra stakes.

36. Bobbing for Apples (Adult Version)

How to play: Classic bobbing but with twists. Write numbers on apples—number indicates drinks to give out. Or: bob for mini liquor bottles (sealed). Or: apple with an X means you’re safe, no X means drink.

Hygienic alternative: Apples hanging from strings, no shared water.

37. Candy Classification Drinking Game

How to play: Dump Halloween candy and categorize by type (chocolate, fruity, sour, worst candies). Debate rankings—lowest-ranked candy type = everyone who likes it drinks. Create a bracket. Candy that loses the final = that candy’s fans do shots.

38. Pumpkin Seed Spitting Contest

How to play: After carving, roast some seeds and keep others raw. Distance competition for raw seeds. Accuracy competition for roasted (aim for a cup). Last place in each round drinks. Hit the target cup = give out drinks.

39. Candy Corn Stacking

How to play: Stack candy corn as high as possible in 60 seconds. Tower falls = drink and restart. Highest stack at the end wins and gives out drinks equal to their stack count. Lowest does a shot.

🏚️ Haunted House & Scavenger Hunts

Turn your space into a haunted experience or send guests on spooky adventures. These games use the whole venue.

40. DIY Haunted House Walk-Through

How to play: Designate a dark area of the house as “haunted.” Guests go through solo or in pairs. Plant party members as scare actors. Drinking rules: Scream = drink when you exit. Jump = drink. Grab someone = shot. Make it through without reacting = give out 3 drinks.

41. Spooky Scavenger Hunt

How to play: Hide Halloween items around the venue (plastic spiders, mini skeletons, fake eyeballs). List of items to find with point values. Most points wins. Items can be traded for drinks or immunities. Finding the “cursed item” (one special object) = shot.

42. Ghost in the Graveyard

How to play: Outdoor night game. One person hides as the “ghost.” Others search. When found, ghost chases everyone back to base. Tagged people become ghosts next round. Last person not tagged wins and assigns drinks. Drinking: tagged = drink. Ghost caught before tagging anyone = shot.

43. Flashlight Tag

How to play: Played in the dark. “It” has a flashlight. Tag people by shining the light on them and calling their name. Tagged people are out. Last remaining wins. Drinking: tagged early (first half) = drink. Last tagged = shot. Winner gives out drinks.

44. Haunted Photo Challenge

How to play: Scavenger hunt but for photos. List of spooky photo challenges: selfie with something dead (decoration), reenact a horror movie scene, most scared face, best ghost impression. First team to complete all challenges wins. Losers drink.

45. Escape Room Challenge

How to play: Create puzzles around the party space. Teams must solve to “escape.” Clues can require drinking to unlock (“take a shot to get the next hint”). Fastest team wins. Last team finishes their drinks.

🐺 Werewolf, Mafia & Social Deduction

Halloween is perfect for hidden role games where monsters lurk among the villagers. These games create tension, paranoia, and lots of drinking.

46. One Night Ultimate Werewolf

How to play: Quick werewolf variant—just one “night” phase. Roles get switched and moved. 5-minute discussion, then vote. Free app handles night phase. Drinking: voted out = drink regardless of role. Werewolves win = village drinks. Village wins = wolves do shots.

Get it: The actual game or use the free app with regular cards.

47. Blood on the Clocktower Lite

How to play: Simplified version: Demon (evil), Minion (knows demon), Townsfolk (various abilities). Dead players become ghosts but get one final vote at the end. Drinking: deaths = drink. False accusations = drink. Winning team picks a punishment for losers.

48. Secret Hitler Halloween

How to play: Rename factions to Halloween themes (Vampires vs. Hunters, Monsters vs. Van Helsings). Standard rules apply. Each passed “policy” = opposing team drinks. Winning team = losers do shots.

49. Spooky Resistance

How to play: The Resistance but themed. Hunters try to go on successful missions, Monsters try to sabotage. Failed mission = resistance drinks. Successful mission = spies drink. 3 wins = losers finish drinks.

50. Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

How to play: One player is the forensic scientist with clues about a murder. Murderer is among the investigators. Scientist gives cryptic hints. Wrong accusations = drink. Correct = murderer and accomplice drink heavily.

51. The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31

How to play: Based on the movie. Some players are secretly infected. Complete missions while rooting out the infected. High paranoia game. Every failed mission = all humans drink. Game end: infected win = humans do shots. Humans win = infected do shots.

💀 Couples & Romantic Horror Games

Halloween couples’ costumes deserve couples’ games. These work for date nights or parties with lots of couples.

52. Couples Costume Competition

How to play: Categories: Most Coordinated, Most Creative, Best Pop Culture Reference, Funniest, Most Obscure (no one gets it). Judges = single people at the party. Winners give out drinks. Losers in each category drink together.

53. Horror Movie Couples Trivia

How to play: Questions about horror movie relationships. Who are the main couple in The Conjuring? (Ed and Lorraine Warren) What movie features a couple in a cabin who find an evil book? (Evil Dead) Wrong answer = couple drinks together.

54. Vampire’s Kiss

How to play: One partner is the “vampire” with red lipstick. Other partner must do challenges while vampire tries to kiss their neck. Complete challenge without getting “bitten” = vampire drinks. Get bitten = you drink.

Challenges: Stack cups, answer trivia, do tongue twisters.

55. Frankenstein’s Monster

How to play: One person is “the body” who can’t move. Partner must dress them in costume pieces while they stay limp. Time trial. Fastest couple wins. Mess up (body moves) = restart. Losing couples drink.

56. Scary Movie Compatibility

How to play: Couples answer horror movie preferences separately, then compare. Same answer = you’re safe. Different answer = both drink. Topics: Favorite horror movie, Scariest scene ever, Would you survive a horror movie, Favorite horror villain.

57. Two-Headed Monster

How to play: Couples stand side by side, inner arms around each other, outer arms free. They’re one “monster.” Complete challenges using only their two free hands. Challenges: tie a knot, pour a drink, wrap a mummy. Losing monster drinks.

🌙 Chill Halloween Vibes

Not every Halloween moment needs high energy. These games work for winding down, smaller groups, or when you just want spooky atmosphere without intensity.

58. Spooky Story Circle

How to play: Go around the circle, each person adding 2-3 sentences to a collaborative horror story. Take a sip when it’s your turn. If you break the narrative or can’t continue, drink more. Best additions get rewarded with giving out drinks.

59. Two Truths and a Lie: Scary Edition

How to play: Each person tells two true scary experiences and one made-up. Others guess the lie. Successful lie = everyone who guessed wrong drinks. Caught in the lie = storyteller drinks.

Related: Truth or Dare for Adults

60. Would You Rather: Horror Edition

How to play: Horror-themed would you rather questions. “Would you rather be chased by zombies or ghosts?” “Would you rather live in the Overlook Hotel or the Amityville house?” Minority choice drinks.

More: Would You Rather Drinking Game

61. Horror Movie Draft

How to play: Fantasy draft but for horror movies. Categories: Best Kill, Best Jump Scare, Best Final Girl, Best Villain, Best Twist. Draft movies, then watch clips to determine winners. Losing picks = drink.

62. Scary Movie Roulette

How to play: Write horror movies on slips of paper. Draw randomly. Whatever you draw, you watch. Add rules for the specific movie as you go. If anyone has seen it, they create the drinking rules.

63. Horror Pictionary

How to play: Draw horror movies, monsters, or scenes. Others guess. Correct guess = drawer gives drinks. Time runs out = drawer drinks. Extra drink if your drawing looks unintentionally hilarious.

64. Spooky 20 Questions

How to play: Think of a horror movie character, monster, or item. Others ask yes/no questions. Guess correctly in 20 or fewer = thinker drinks. Don’t guess it = everyone else drinks. Best for winding down.

65. Halloween Confessions

How to play: Share Halloween confessions. “I’ve never seen The Exorcist.” “I slept with the lights on after Paranormal Activity.” “I still flinch at jump scares.” Others who relate don’t drink. Those who can’t relate drink.

66. Never Have I Ever: Spooky Edition

How to play: Halloween-themed Never Have I Ever. “Never have I ever been to a haunted house,” “Never have I ever dressed as a sexy [X],” “Never have I ever been scared at a horror movie.” Standard rules—if you’ve done it, drink.

See also: Never Have I Ever for Adults

67. Most Likely To: Halloween Edition

How to play: Halloween questions. “Most likely to survive a horror movie,” “Most likely to be the killer,” “Most likely to investigate that strange noise,” “Most likely to trip while running.” Most votes drinks.

Related: Most Likely To Drinking Game

68. Tarot Card Drinking

How to play: Draw tarot cards. Each card has a drinking rule. Death = shot. The Fool = do something foolish or drink. The Lovers = pick someone to drink with. The Tower = everyone drinks. Create a guide based on your deck.

69. Ouija Board Drinking

How to play: Ask the board questions. Whatever letter it moves to first = anyone whose name starts with that letter drinks. Ask “Who should drink?” and follow the board’s “guidance.” Spooky but silly.

Note: Obviously for fun, not actual spirits. Unless… 👻

70. Horror Villain Superlatives

How to play: Vote on horror villain categories: Most Likely to Succeed, Best Dressed, Most Likely to Be Caught, Best Hair, Worst Motive. Discuss and drink throughout. No wrong answers, just opinions.

71. Nightmare Fuel Share

How to play: Everyone shares something that genuinely scared them as a kid (movie, show, book, real experience). Group votes on most reasonable fear vs. most irrational. Most irrational fear = extra drink.

72. Halloween Playlist Takeover

How to play: Everyone adds one song to the queue. If your song gets skipped, drink. If your song gets the best reaction, give out drinks. Build the ultimate spooky playlist collaboratively.

73. Costume Compliment Circle

How to play: Go around giving genuine costume compliments. But: you can’t repeat a compliment that’s been said. Repeat or can’t think of one = drink. Sweet way to appreciate everyone’s effort.

74. Horror Movie Pitch

How to play: Each person pitches a horror movie idea in 60 seconds. Group votes on which they’d actually watch. Worst pitch drinks. Best pitch gives out drinks.

75. The Final Scare

How to play: End of night game. Everyone shares their favorite moment of the party. Each share = sip. Person with the best story (voted) gets to assign the final shots of the night.

🦇 Halloween Party Safety Tips

• Costumes and drinking: Masks and heavy costumes can be dangerous when drunk. Have a place to store costume pieces as the night goes on.
• Candles and fire: Jack-o-lanterns with real candles + drunk people = bad combo. Use LED candles.
• Decorations: Fake cobwebs and trip hazards are everywhere. Keep pathways clear.
• Pace the horror movies: If doing a marathon, lighter drink rules for later movies when people are already feeling it.
• Have non-spooky snacks: Pizza, sliders, and regular food alongside the themed treats.
• Plan transportation: Halloween night has lots of DUI checkpoints for a reason. Arrange rides or crash spots.

More Party Game Guides

• The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Games
• Party Games for Large Groups
• Game Night Drinking Games
• Mardi Gras Party Games
• St. Patrick’s Day Party Games
• Christmas & New Year’s Party Games