Complete rules for the best drinking games. For adults 21 and over.
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Set expectations before you start. Not everyone drinks at the same speed or tolerance. Establish early whether "drink" means a sip or a full cup. The best drinking game sessions are fun for everyone, not a race to get wasted.
Have water and snacks available. Alternating between drinks and water slows things down and keeps everyone in better shape longer.
Know your exit. Have a plan for getting home safely. Designate a driver, arrange rideshares in advance, or play at someone's home where everyone can stay.
Beer Pong is the most widely played drinking game in the United States. Kings Cup and Flip Cup are close behind. All three are standard at college parties and tailgates.
Never Have I Ever and Two Truths and a Lie need literally nothing but drinks. Verbal drinking games (Would You Rather, Most Likely To) also need no props or setup.
Draw a card from a spread-out deck; each card has an assigned action. 2 = You (pick who drinks), 4 = Floor (last to touch floor drinks), Ace = Waterfall (everyone drinks in sequence). The four Kings cards fill a center cup; whoever draws the 4th King drinks it. See the full Kings Cup rules →
Two-person drinking games include: Quarters (bounce a coin into a cup), High Card / War (high card wins, low card drinks), and Flip Cup with just two cups works as a speed challenge. Beer Pong can technically be played 1v1.
See our full rankings: Best Drinking Games →