Drinking games: the 15 best for a night with friends
Updated on October 2, 2026 · 4 min read
In short
The 15 drinking games that work best with friends, sorted by what you have at hand: nothing at all, a deck of cards, dice or a phone. Each game fits in a few lines, and every sip can be swapped for a soft drink.
- 2–12 players
- Nothing needed
- A deck of cards
- Dice
- Drinking game
Contents
A good drinking game is first of all a good game: simple rules, suspense and lots of laughs. The drink is just an excuse, and any sip can be replaced with a soft drink or a forfeit. Here are 15 games that work every time, sorted by what you have to hand: nothing at all, a deck of cards, dice or a phone.
Before you start
- Adults only. Drinking games are for people of legal drinking age.
- Nobody has to drink. Any sip can be replaced with a soft drink or a forfeit: the game stays the same.
- Small amounts. The rules talk about sips, not whole glasses. Keep water within reach.
- Nobody drives after drinking: plan a sober driver, a taxi or a bed for the night.
Games with no equipment
1Never have I ever
- 3–20 players
- 15–30 min
- Nothing needed
- Drinking game
A player names something they've never done; those who have done it take a sip. The perfect game to start the night and learn secrets. All our ideas are in 100 "never have I ever" questions.
2Truth or dare
- 3–12 players
- 20–40 min
- Nothing needed
- Drinking game
Each player chooses between answering a question and taking on a dare; refusing costs a sip. Find 100 questions and dares.
3Most likely to
- 4–20 players
- 15–30 min
- Nothing needed
- Drinking game
A player asks a question such as "Who's most likely to get lost in their own neighbourhood?". On the count of three, everyone points at someone; the person with the most fingers pointed at them takes a sip.
4Buzz
- 4–12 players
- 10–20 min
- Nothing needed
- Drinking game
Take turns counting out loud. On every multiple of 7 and every number containing a 7, you have to say "Buzz" instead. Whoever gets it wrong takes a sip and you start again from 1. Extra rule: "Buzz" reverses the direction.
5No yes, no no
- 2–10 players
- 10–15 min
- Nothing needed
- Drinking game
One player fires questions at another, who has to answer without ever saying "yes" or "no". One slip, one sip, and they become the one asking.
6Thumb master
- 4–12 players
- Nothing needed
- Drinking game
One player is the "thumb master" and can, at any moment, quietly put their thumb on the table. The others must copy as soon as they notice; the last one takes a sip.
Games with cards
7Pyramid
- 2–9 players
- 30–45 min
- A deck of cards
- Drinking game
Each player gets four cards by answering questions (red or black, higher or lower…), then a pyramid of 15 cards is turned over. Holding the turned card lets you make others drink… bluffing if needed. The full rules are in card drinking games.
8Horse race
- 2–12 players
- 10–20 min
- A deck of cards
- Drinking game
The four aces are horses. Everyone bets 1 to 5 sips on a horse, then the cards are turned over: the horse of the suit drawn moves forward. Those who backed the winner hand out their bet, those who backed the last horse drink it. See the Horse race rules.
9The river
- 1–10 players
- 15–30 min
- A deck of cards
- Drinking game
Each player must cross a "bridge" of five cards by guessing whether the next one will be higher or lower. With each mistake, they drink as many sips as the step number and start again. See the rules of The River.
10Red or black
- 2–10 players
- 10–15 min
- A deck of cards
- Drinking game
The simplest card game: before turning a card over, the player calls its colour. Wrong, they take a sip; right, they give it to someone.
11King's cup (the circle)
- 3–10 players
- 30–60 min
- A deck of cards
- Drinking game
The cards are spread in a circle around a glass. Each player draws a card in turn, and every value triggers a rule: 2, you give two sips; 5, everyone raises a hand; king, you make up a rule… The details are in card drinking games.
Games with dice
12Bizkit
- 2–10 players
- 20–40 min
- Dice
- Drinking game
Take turns rolling two dice. A total of 7 triggers "Bizkit": everyone puts a thumb on their forehead and the last one drinks. A 3 makes the roller the Prisoner, doubles hand out sips… All the rules are in Bizkit.
13Liar's dice
- 2–8 players
- 15–30 min
- Dice
- Drinking game
Each player rolls their dice under a cup and bids on how many dice of a value are on the table. The next player raises the bid or calls the bluff; whoever is wrong takes a sip.
Games on a phone
14Freestyle
- 2–20 players
- 20–60 min
- A phone
- Drinking game
An app draws random cards: votes, duels, dares, "never have I ever". No need to think of ideas, the phone picks the players. See Freestyle.
15The sip quiz
- 2–12 players
- 20–40 min
- A phone
- Drinking game
A general knowledge quiz where every wrong answer costs a sip. For ready-to-use questions, see our general knowledge quiz with answers.
How to choose the right game
- To start the night: never have I ever, most likely to. Everyone joins in and gets to know each other.
- For a big group: horse race or king's cup, which work for eight or more without waiting around.
- For a small group: pyramid, the river or Bizkit. See also our drinking games for two.
- For a quiet evening: a quiz or red or black, where you drink very little.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest drinking game to start with?
Never Have I Ever: no rules to explain, nothing needed, and everyone joins in from the first sentence. With a deck of cards, the easiest is red or black.
Can you play these games without alcohol?
Yes. Every sip can be replaced by a soft drink, a forfeit or a point: the rules and the suspense stay the same.
Which drinking game suits a big group?
Horse race and the circle work for eight or more with no waiting around: everyone bets at the same time or draws a card in turn. Freestyle, on a phone, handles up to twenty players.
Drinking games in the Partizo app
The Partizo app brings together five drinking games: Freestyle, Horse race, Pyramid, Bizkit and The River. The phone acts as the deck of cards and the dice, applies the rules and counts the sips. A responsible drinking message shows before the drinking games, and the app is for adults only.