Best Drinking Games Without Cards
“FAIR WARNING: Due to the nature of this article, this content may not be suitable for all ages. Please read with maturity and respect.”
There are times when all you want to do is surround yourself with your favorite buddies and a few tasty cocktails or bottles of beer. Maybe you’re traveling and don’t want to bulk up your case with games and cards, or it is just an evening of spontaneity.
Either way, if you all have the same objective in mind then you’ll be impressed by this superb list of the best drinking games without cards that require little more than happy faces, dutch courage, and a fair amount of liquor.
🏆 Our Top Picks for Best Drinking Games Without Cards
In a hurry? Take a quick peek before you go.
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I’m going to the Bar
Players: 2+
Playing time: 10-20 mins
You might know this one as “I went to the supermarket and I bought..” or another sentence-building challenge. One player begins with the first phrase, for example: “I’m going to the bar with my dog and will order a gin and tonic”, and the next player has to continue the story, remembering to include the previous player’s sentence.
As the game continues around the circle, it gets more difficult to remember all the details and phrases — especially after a few mind-altering beverages! The player that forgets any sentences or takes too long to continue, has to take a drink.
What we liked:
The game is pretty flexible because you could play in the future, past, or present tense so you can create your own versions. It’s great for a medium-sized group and shines best at around 6-8 players.
What Could be better:
There isn’t really a way to end the game and there is no ‘winner’. However, you could always develop a points system where if you don’t ever hesitate or lose your flow you get a prize at the end. It will likely be in the shape of a wine or beer glass, so good luck trying to stay cognitive!
The Name Game
Players: 2+
Playing time: 15-30 mins
A firm favorite across all demographics! The Name Game is focused on celebrity names, and the principal rule is that the first player says the name of a well-known celebrity, then the next player has to say another name that begins with the first letter of the previous celebrity’s last name.
For example, if one player declares “Orlando Bloom” the next player will have to say a celebrity whose name starts with ‘B’. Any hesitation results in that player taking a drink, and all other players are encouraged to say ‘drink while you think’ to ensure no rules are broken. If you say a celeb who bears a name with the same first initial as their surname it reverses the direction of the circle. No repetition!
What we liked:
You can have fun with the double initial rule. If you say ‘Marilyn Manson’ it can bounce back to ‘Marilyn Monroe’ which can bounce back to ‘Mickey Mouse’ and this can create a bit of a face-off.
What Could be better:
It is best to play this game if you’re all from familiar countries with the same celebrities otherwise it can cause a ruckus if someone is adamant about a person being ‘famous’ and your opponents are reluctant. This can kind of ruin the flow of the game. Unless you’re all sporty types we would suggest that you ban sports players’ names too.
Beer Pong
Players: 2+
Playing time: 30 mins
Beer Pong is especially popular in North America and is usually played in teams. You start with a pyramid of cups (preferably red, as tradition) and fill them with various drinks. Players from your opposing team take turns throwing a ping pong ball into a cup on your side.
When they are successful, you must drink that cup! And so it continues both ways. You can use only beer if you prefer, but it can be interesting to use different drinks and even create potent mixtures if you’re feeling daring.
What we liked:
The rules are simple and you don’t need many things other than cups, ping pong balls, alcohol, and a table. When the round is over, play can still continue if you’re happy to fill up again.
What Could be better:
It’s not the most hygienic game, the ball is touching everyone’s hands which is going into the cups. It’s a messy one undoubtedly, so it is best played in a place where you don’t mind cleaning up after.
Two Truths and a Lie
Players: 2-6
Playing time: 30 mins
Two Truths and a Lie can be enjoyable even without the presence of beverages, but this drinking version definitely spices things up. Each player must say out loud 2 true facts about themselves and 1 lie, without revealing which one is the lie. The task of your opponents is to guess which is the lie.
Any player who guesses wrong has to take a gulp of their drink. A more extreme version is to play with shots and that potent liquor becomes the poison if you slip up. If everyone guesses your lie correctly, you’re the one who is required to take one for the team and have a drink.
What we liked:
This game can be endless fun, the more you all drink, the wilder the statements will be, but be careful not to reveal any deep and dark secrets in honor of being the most extravagant. It can be great as an icebreaker with new companions.
What Could be better:
The only downside is if you’re playing with people you’re super close to, you might struggle to think of truly outrageous statements about yourself. Let’s face it, if you are with drinking buddies, the chances are they will already know the truth!
Never Have I Ever
Players: 2+
Playing time: 20-40 mins
This is a cracking game for a party and also for getting to know your peers and their dark pasts a bit better. All players create a list of some “Never Have I Ever” questions, they can be as innocent as pie, or as dirty and devious as you please but the point is that you read out your question and whoever has committed the act must drink.
Naturally, the dare-devils within the group will not only ask some sordid questions but it inevitably will usually be the same folk who are obliged to take a sip.
What we liked:
It’s a fun game that can be a perfect icebreaker and is successful in breaking down boundaries. It seems to work better without any argumentative couples who prefer to keep some secrets about their past.
What Could be better:
By the law of averages, the longer you have been on this earth, the more likely you are to have done a lot of the things mentioned. So more.. ahem.. mature players could be at a disadvantage compared to innocent 21-year-olds.
Most likely to…
Players: 3+
Playing time: 10-15 mins
From the well-known game “Who is most likely to…”, this fun, light-hearted challenge uses the same rules, only the player who is pointed to the most each round takes a drink.
Best played in a circle, someone will say, for example, “Who is most likely to take a tumble tonight?” and everyone is required to point towards someone, even themselves. You must count up how many pointers are on each participant and the one with the most takes a drink or a shot. And so it continues.
What we liked:
Nothing is needed other than your drinks and your index fingers. It is good as a filler game and best played with good friends or those who aren’t overly sensitive as things can get raucous once the booze really starts flowing.
What Could be better:
The game is really pretty short as each round takes only a matter of seconds.
A fair bit of imagination may be required and possibly some previously prepared ideas could be useful so as to not have ridiculous statements dragged up out of desperation.
Shot Roulette
Players: 3+
Playing time: 20 mins
Roulette is always a winner, it’s easy and simple to play. You set up by filling up shot glasses with water for each of your googly-eyed friends. The catch is that one of these glasses will have vodka in it (or anything else alcoholic and clear).
When you each take a shot, the objective is to maintain your poker face and not let your peers know you were the unlucky one. If you manage this successfully without the squinty repulsion, you can nominate another player to take a shot.
What we liked:
If you’re a seasoned (drinking) gamer, this one rates highly compared to other games, as you actually are obliged to rehydrate in most rounds. Not much is needed in terms of equipment, and you can agree on a different spirit for each round if that floats your boat.
What Could be better:
It’s best played as a filler or for pre-gaming. Ultimately, it’s too short and fast and will become repetitive after a few rounds, but it is always a good and easy one to go back to later.
Spin the Bottle
Players: 3+
Playing time: 20-30 mins
Taking you back to your teenage years when you may have played this for a different reason. This version of spin the bottle bases itself on the classic Truth or Dare.
Players sit in a circle and if the bottle is spun and lands on you, you will be asked “truth or dare?”. If when given a question or mission and you feel that both options seem impossible to accomplish, then your mission is simply to take a drink.
What we liked:
It’s actually better than Truth or Dare because if the question or task is too far-fetched then the option to take a swig feels like you dodged a bullet. It’s a good idea to think up some funny dares and questions beforehand to reap the full benefits.
What Could be better:
Of course, some brash drunkards could take this game too far, and that is usually when it’s time to ditch the bottle and play something different. But it has a good shelf life if played with a respectful and fun bunch.
Waterfall
Players: 6-12
Playing time: 5 mins
Taken from the game Kings or Ring of Fire, Waterfall is the perfect filler or warmer if your mission is to just get tipsy and prepare for a night on the dancefloor or play other games. Boasting a simple structure, you just need to make sure you all have your drinks filled to the brim and that you won’t run out of liquid.
All players should stand in a circle and begin drinking at the same time. There should be one person who is nominated as the master and the person to the left of them (going clockwise) can not stop drinking until the master has done so. Then the next person will then decide when to stop and so on.
It’s a good idea to sit down when you’ve finished drinking so all players can clearly see what is going on. Obviously, the last person will be the merriest.
What we liked:
It’s not really competitive, and a fun way to start an evening without having to play a full game of Ring of Fire. You can tweak rules to decide who starts as master, as that player is always at an advantage. There are no winners or losers, and it is a fairly cooperative drinking challenge.
What Could be better:
It’s short and snappy but there is little depth or strategy involved. There is no interaction between players as everyone has a drink in their mouth so not the most sociable.
Roxanne
Players: 2+
Playing time: 10 mins
There are many versions of Roxanne but this old-school classic deserves a nod of encouragement. You can take any song, movie, or TV show and devise your own version, but the premise is that there are repetitive words or phrases played throughout.
In this version of Roxanne, you play as two teams (or just 2 players) and one team must take a drink every time they hear “Roxanne” while the other team takes a drink when hearing “put on the red light”.
What we liked:
As much as it requires some concentration, in reality, you and your buddies will probably end up in deep chats and miss the lines here and there. As an extra rule, you could have penalty shots lined up for this inevitability.
What Could be better:
It’s not very long but it does the trick. Once you’re in the swing of things, you could try different songs or use classic movies where you’re confident of the lines.
More Fun Drinking Games Without Cards
Flip Cup
Jenga (Tumbling Tower)
Drop Cup
Drinking Dice
Hook and Ring Toss
Wrap-Up
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best drinking games without cards! Have you tried any of the games on this list? Did we miss any of your favorites? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think! We’d love to hear from you.
