Games to Play When Drunk: Because Sobriety is Overrated and Chaos is Underrated

When the night is young and the drinks are flowing, the last thing you want is to sit around doing nothing. Enter: drunk games. These are the activities that turn a regular gathering into a legendary night, where the rules are made up, the points don’t matter, and the memories (or lack thereof) last a lifetime. Whether you’re looking to test your coordination, your wit, or your ability to not fall over, there’s a drunk game for everyone. Let’s dive into the chaotic world of games to play when drunk, where logic is optional and laughter is mandatory.

1. Beer Pong: The Classic That Never Fails

Beer pong is the undisputed king of drunk games. It’s simple: throw a ping pong ball into cups of beer, and if you succeed, your opponent drinks. If you fail, well, you might still drink out of sheer frustration. The beauty of beer pong lies in its simplicity and its ability to escalate quickly. As the night progresses, the cups get harder to hit, the rules get blurrier, and the trash talk gets louder. Pro tip: if you’re playing with a competitive crowd, establish the “no elbows” rule early—unless you want to witness a heated debate about what constitutes a legal throw at 2 a.m.

2. Never Have I Ever: The Game of Revelations

Never Have I Ever is the perfect game for when you want to learn way too much about your friends. The rules are straightforward: someone says something they’ve never done, and if you have done it, you take a drink. This game is a double-edged sword—it’s hilarious until someone drops a bombshell that makes you question your entire friendship. But hey, that’s part of the fun, right? Just be prepared for the morning-after texts that start with, “So about last night…”

3. Kings Cup: The Game That Controls Your Fate

Kings Cup is like a choose-your-own-adventure book, but with more alcohol and less coherence. The game involves a deck of cards spread around a central cup (the “king’s cup”). Each card has a rule attached to it, like “take a drink,” “give a drink,” or “make a rule.” The unpredictability of Kings Cup is what makes it so entertaining—you never know when you’ll be forced to do something ridiculous, like speak in an accent for the rest of the game or chug your drink while standing on one leg. Just remember: whoever draws the last king has to drink the king’s cup, which is usually a horrifying concoction of every drink on the table. Cheers?

4. Flip Cup: The Team Sport of Drunk People

Flip Cup is the ultimate team-building exercise for drunk adults. The goal is to drink your cup of beer, place it on the edge of the table, and flip it until it lands upside down. Once you succeed, the next person on your team goes. The first team to finish wins, but let’s be real—everyone wins because you’re all drunk and having a great time. The best part about Flip Cup is that it’s impossible to play without laughing, especially when someone misses the table entirely and sends their cup flying across the room.

5. Drunk Jenga: The Tower of Doom

Take a classic game of Jenga, add alcohol, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster—in the best way possible. Drunk Jenga involves writing rules on each block, like “take two drinks” or “swap places with the person to your left.” As the tower gets wobblier, so do the players, making every move a nail-biting experience. The tension is palpable, and the inevitable collapse of the tower is always met with a mix of relief and laughter. Just make sure you’re playing on a sturdy table—no one wants to clean up a Jenga-and-beer explosion at 3 a.m.

6. Truth or Drink: The Game of No Escape

Truth or Drink is like Truth or Dare, but with fewer dares and more liquid courage. Players take turns asking each other questions, and if you don’t want to answer, you have to drink. The questions can range from mildly embarrassing to downright scandalous, so this game is not for the faint of heart. It’s a great way to break the ice—or shatter it completely, depending on how wild the questions get. Either way, you’re guaranteed to learn something new about your friends, whether you wanted to or not.

7. Drunk Charades: The Silent (But Loud) Game

Charades is already a hilarious game, but add alcohol, and it becomes a masterpiece of miscommunication. The rules are the same: act out a word or phrase without speaking, and your team has to guess what it is. The twist? The more drinks you’ve had, the harder it is to act coherently—or to guess what the heck your friend is trying to mime. Expect a lot of exaggerated gestures, confused faces, and uncontrollable laughter. Bonus points if someone accidentally knocks over a lamp while trying to act out “Titanic.”

8. Musical Chairs: The Drunk Edition

Remember playing musical chairs as a kid? Now imagine playing it as an adult, but with alcohol and way less coordination. The rules are simple: when the music stops, you have to find a chair to sit on. The catch? There’s one fewer chair than players, so someone gets eliminated each round. The drunker you get, the more chaotic the game becomes, with people tripping over chairs, falling into each other, and laughing too hard to care about winning. It’s a mess, but it’s a beautiful mess.

9. Drunk Drawing: The Picasso Challenge

Drunk Drawing is the perfect game for when you want to unleash your inner artist—or at least attempt to. Each player gets a piece of paper and a pen, and someone gives a prompt, like “draw a cat wearing a hat” or “draw your favorite memory from high school.” The catch? You have to draw it with your non-dominant hand, or with your eyes closed, or while balancing on one foot. The results are always hilariously bad, and the best part is trying to guess what each “masterpiece” is supposed to be.

10. The Floor is Lava: The Ultimate Test of Drunk Agility

The Floor is Lava is a childhood game that takes on a whole new level of difficulty when you’re drunk. The goal is to get from one side of the room to the other without touching the floor, using only furniture and your questionable balance skills. It’s a great way to test your creativity and your ability to not faceplant into the coffee table. Just make sure you clear the area of breakable objects before you start—this game has a tendency to get out of hand quickly.

FAQs

Q: What’s the best game to play with a large group?
A: Flip Cup or Kings Cup are great options for large groups because they’re easy to learn and involve everyone.

Q: Are there any drunk games that don’t involve alcohol?
A: Absolutely! You can substitute alcohol with non-alcoholic drinks or even silly challenges, like eating a spoonful of hot sauce.

Q: How do I make sure everyone stays safe while playing drunk games?
A: Always encourage moderation, provide plenty of water, and make sure no one feels pressured to drink more than they’re comfortable with.

Q: What’s the funniest drunk game you’ve ever played?
A: Drunk Charades always leads to some unforgettable moments, especially when someone tries to act out “invisible ladder” and ends up climbing the curtains.

So there you have it—a comprehensive guide to games that will make your next drunk night unforgettable. Whether you’re flipping cups, drawing masterpieces, or pretending the floor is lava, these games are guaranteed to bring laughter, chaos, and maybe a few regrets. Just remember: drink responsibly, play recklessly, and always have a designated sober person to document the madness. Cheers!