If you have no cards or don’t know how to play cards, there are a lot of games to complement your drinking parties. They promise just as much fun and blast- more, if not less. Let’s look at 25 drinking games without cards that require nothing but a simple drink in your hand. When I say drinking games, I don’t think it’s always about alcohol. Teetotallers can also play these games with their favorite drinks, including fruit juices. You can play these games with your family also.
Ensure to play with large groups. The more players there are in drinking games, the better the enjoyment and fun.
Top 25 Drinking Games Without Cards
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| S.No | Game Name | Type of Game |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheers to the Governor | Counting and rule-making game |
| 2 | 21 Dares | Counting with dares |
| 3 | Beer Pong | Tossing ping pong balls into cups |
| 4 | Flip Cup | Drinking and flipping cups |
| 5 | Rage Cage | Bouncing ping pong balls into cups |
| 6 | Beer Hockey | Spinning quarters and making goals |
| 7 | Titanic | Sinking a floating shot glass |
| 8 | Medusa | Eye contact and quick reactions |
| 9 | Drunk Jenga | Jenga with fun and challenging tasks |
| 10 | The Pizza Box Game | Flipping coins and creating rules |
| 11 | Drink While You Think | Naming celebrities while drinking |
| 12 | Vroom | Pretending to drive a car |
| 13 | Straight Face | Reading silly sentences without laughing |
| 14 | Iâm Going to the Bar | Memory game with drink names |
| 15 | Iâm Going on a Picnic | Memory game with picnic items |
| 16 | Never Have I Ever | Sharing experiences and drinking |
| 17 | Two Truths and a Lie | Guessing lies about others |
| 18 | Most Likely | Guessing who fits a description |
| 19 | Paranoia | Whispering questions and pointing |
| 20 | Shot Roulette | Spinning to pick a random drink |
| 21 | Whereâs the Water? | Guessing if someone drank water or alcohol |
| 22 | Drunken Artists | Drawing and guessing under time pressure |
| 23 | Would You Rather | Choosing between two options |
| 24 | Thumper | Acting and imitating animals |
| 25 | Taboo Drinking Game | Avoiding a forbidden word |
1. Cheers to the Governor
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Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: As long as desired
The game starts with everyone sitting in a circle with their favorite drink. A player goes around the circle counting numbers aloud. Each player says a number until 21 is reached. The player with a 21 count can put forward any rule, e.g., making animal noises. It is best to create rules based on a specific number, like making someone drink on eight or saying “frittata” on nine.
Once the new rule has been instituted, the count starts again. Once again, the person with 21 makes a new rule. However, the prior rule remains. The game continues until there’s a long list of rules. If a player forgets one of the rules and messes up, they shall take a drink. The count begins once again.
Read More: Best Drinking Card Games For Your Next House-Party
2. 21 Dares
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Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: As long as desired
A group of people are players. They take turns to count one, two, or three numbers in sequence from 1-21. The player who gets to say “21” loses the round. The losing player will be assigned a dare by the rest of the group. They can either perform the dare or take a drink. The game allows all types of dares, from those funny to outrageous.
3. Beer Pong
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Supplies: Ping pong balls, cups, drinks
Number of Players: 2+
Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour
The name explains that Beer Pong is one of those drinking games without cards. It is straightforward: you have to throw ping pong balls into beer cups. Each player tries to land their ball in the opposing team’s cup. If they succeed, they make the opposite team gulp a drink. It is a well-known drinking game on party nights. Couples can also use it among their drinking games without cards for two.
Beer pong is very popular among no cards drinking games. You can read this Reddit thread to know different situations:
4. Flip Cup
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Supplies: Plastic cups, drinks
Number of Players: 4+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
Flip cup is like a racing game, only that you race to drink from a plastic cup and flip the cup as soon as you empty it. There will be a series of cups arranged with drinks. Members from two teams come forward to start the action. The first team to complete the line of drinks and flip-cups wins! There’s cheer and laughter at the end of this classic drinking game.
5. Rage Cage
Supplies: Plastic cups, ping pong balls, drinks
Number of Players: 3-12
Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour
When there are large groups of people, Rage cage is indeed a rage. Arrange a circle of plastic cups in the middle of a table, depending on the number of players. Each cup should be filled with one-third of beer (or any beverage). There must be a cup in the middle, which should be full.
The game starts with two players standing on the opposite side of the table. They must drink the contents of one cup from the middle and try to bounce a ball into that. If the ball goes in, the cup and ball are passed on to other players. If not, they have to drink another cup. The game ends when all the cups have been drunk.
6. Beer Hockey
Supplies: Quarter, drinks
Number of Players: 4+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
Each player takes turns to spin a quarter. He/she shouts the name of a player, who becomes the shooter. The rest of the players then form a goal with their pinky and index finger in front of their drink. While the quarter spins, the shooter must flick the spinner to try and achieve a goal and hit a drink. If they make the goal, the rest of the players shall pick up the drinks. The shooter spins the quarter. The person scored on drinks until the quarter stopped spinning naturally or when the shooter decided to stop it.
7. Titanic
Supplies: Glass of beer, shot glass, drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
As one of the no-cards drinking games, Titanic is outrageous. It requires you to take a glass full of beer. Place the glass in the middle of a table surrounded by players. Now, suspend a shot glass in the beer glass so it floats. Everyone from the group pours some of their favorite drink into the shot glass. The person who makes it sink shall be made to drink the whole glass of beer (or any non-alcoholic beverage).
Also Read: Drinking Board Games Ideas For Adults
8. Medusa
Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 4+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
Medusa makes for a perfect game for drinking. All the players sit around a table in a way that everyone can see each other. Each player must keep their head down. Everyone shall raise their head and look directly at someone on the count of three. If you lock eyes with someone, yell Medusa. The last person to say “Medusa” picks a drink. You’re in the clear if your eyes don’t get locked with anyone else.
9. Drunk Jenga
Supplies: Jenga blocks, sharpies, drinks
Number of Players: 2+
Duration: Until the tower falls
Drunk Jenga is a classic game among the drinking games without cards. To set up, write prompts in the Jenga blocks. To play, write fun or challenging tasks on Jenga blocks, like “plank for 1 minute” or “give someone a shot.” Play Jenga like usual, but do what the block says before stacking it. The game ends when the tower falls! Are you partners looking for 2 player drinking games without cards? Try Jenga!
10. The Pizza Box Game
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Supplies: Cardboard (e.g., pizza box), coin, drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour
You play with a piece of cardboard, like a pizza box. Everyone writes their name on it and draws a circle around their name.
The first player flips a coin onto the box. If the coin lands on someoneâs name, that person drinks, and itâs the next playerâs turn.
If the coin lands on a blank spot, the player makes up a rule, writes it there, and draws a circle around it. The rule could be something funny, like “sing a song” or “dance for 10 seconds.” If a coin lands in a rule circle later, the player has to follow that rule.
Each person flips the coin once per turn, and the game continues until the box is full of fun rules!
We played this on an actual pizza box at a friendâs house. But it was no occasion. We just ordered pizzas and decided to give it a try.
Someone wrote the first blank space rule: “Everyone has to speak in rhyme for one round.” Another was “Sing a line from a song when itâs your turn.”
By the end of the game, the box was covered in ridiculous rules like “No using the word ‘and'” or “Pretend youâre a cat.” Rest, you can imagine the blast and laughter we had…
11. Drink While You Think
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Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: As long as desired
If you’re searching for a challenge among the drinking games without cards, there you go! In the Drink While You Think, you must recall the celebrity names you know. The first player says a celebrity name. The second person must say another celebrity name that starts with the same letter as the last name someone just said. The third player must follow the first letter of the name uttered by the second, and so on. Hold on! You must keep drinking while you think of a name.
12. Vroom
Supplies: None
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
Vroom is a simple game where everyone pretends to drive a car. Everyone sits in a circle with their hands on an imaginary steering wheel. One person starts by saying “Vroom” and turning their pretend wheel to the right or left. If they turn right, the game moves to the right; if they turn left, it moves to the left.
The next player has two choices: they can say “Vroom” and keep the game going in the same direction or say “Screech” and turn the wheel the other way, reversing the direction. If the direction is reversed, the previous player has to pick it back up by saying “Vroom” to keep it going or “Screech” to switch directions again.
If someone messes up the order or says the wrong word, they take a drink and restart the game. Itâs one of the simplest no cards drinking games, but it gets trickier the longer you play!
I suggested Vroom during a weekend cabin trip with our friends. We all sat in a circle around the fireplace, pretending to drive invisible cars. It started simple. Everyone said “Vroom” in turn, but when someone shouted “Screech!” to change directions, the confusion began.
My turn came, and I completely forgot what to say. I just blurted out, “Zoom!” Everyone burst into laughter. I had to take a drink. It became a running joke for the rest of the night. I had even invented a new word for the game.
13. Straight Face
Supplies: Paper, pens, drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
Everyone in a group of players writes sentences on a small piece of paper. It could be anything. Ridiculous or inappropriate: sentences that are awkward or uncomfortable to read with a straight face. Now, on their turn, each player must pick a piece of paper and read what’s in that without giggling or a smile. If they fail, they must gulp a drink. You can adapt this game if you’re looking for 2 player drinking games without cards.
14. Iâm Going to the Bar
Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
If you’ve ever played I’m Going On a Picnic, this game doesn’t need an introduction. Only drinks are replaced. The first person begins by saying, “I’m going to the bar, and I need to get a cocktail” (or any non-alcoholic beverage). The remaining players shall repeat the drink their previous player said and add another drink to the list.
Here’s an example a few rounds in: “I’m going to the bar, and I need to get a margarita, a whiskey sour, a vodka soda, and a piña colada.” The game continues until someone messes up and takes a shot.
15. Iâm Going on a Picnic
Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
This game is called “Iâm going on a picnic.” One person starts by saying, âIâm going on a picnic, and Iâm bringing sandwichesâ (or anything they think is good for a picnic). The next person has to say, âIâm going on a picnic, and Iâm bringing sandwiches and [something new they add, like lemonade].â
Each person takes a turn, repeating everything that was said before and adding something new. If someone forgets or messes up the list, they lose that round and take a drink. If the group thinks the new item doesnât belong at a picnic (like “a car tire”), that person also takes a drink. You can change the theme to something else, like âIâm going to the zooâ or âIâm going on a space mission,â and make it just as fun!
16. Never Have I Ever
Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: As long as desired
Never Have I Ever is one of the most popular drinking games without cards. The game begins with someone saying something they’ve never done. Like, “Never have I ever…”. Anybody in the group who has done that “thing” has to take a drink. If nobody takes the drink, then the person who made the statement must take the drink. Only one person remains with alcohol in the cup to win!
Never Have I is also popular with couples, making it one of the best 2-player drinking games without cards. Along with forming new connections, the game has an element of thrill and suspense.
17. Two Truths and a Lie
Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
Two Truths and a Lie is yet another best drinking game for impromptu gatherings. The first person should say three statements about themselves- two truths and one lie. The player to the left must guess that one lie among the three; if they can find it out, the person who made the lie must drink. In the event of a wrong guess, the player who made the guess takes the drink. If you’re looking for no-cards drinking games, this game doesn’t even need a piece of paper.
18. Most Likely
Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 4+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
One person asks the group a question like, “Who is most likely to eat a whole pizza by themselves?” or “Who is most likely to stay up all night watching movies?” Then, everyone counts to three and points to the person they think fits the question. If you’re the one being pointed at, you take a drink for each finger pointing at you (like four sips if four people point at you).
19. Paranoia
Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
Paranoia is a fun and daring game for adults with drinks. One person whispers a question about the group, like “Who has the silliest laugh?” or “Who would forget their own birthday?” to the person next to them. That person then points to someone in the group. The person who gets pointed at decides if they want to know the question.
If they do, they take a drink to find out what it was. If not, they don’t drink. The person who answered and pointed can either say the question out loud or take a drink to keep it a secret. Then, itâs the next person’s turn to whisper a new question to their neighbor, and the game moves on!
20. Shot Roulette
Supplies: Wheel or ball, shot glasses, drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
Shot Roulette is a game where you spin a wheel or use a ball to pick a random shotglass to drink from. Each glass has a different drink, so you never know what youâll get! Now, wonder if it’s one of the drinking games without cards.
21. Whereâs the Water?
Supplies: Cups, water, clear drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
In “Where’s the Water?” you set up a bunch of cups that all look the same. Some are filled with water, and some have a clear drink like juice (but for grown-ups, it’s alcohol). The first person picks a random cup, takes a sip, and pretends itâs just water, no matter whatâs really in it. They have to keep a straight face so no one can tell if theyâre pretending.
The rest of the group guesses if the cup had water or not. If they guess right, the person who drank has to take another drink. If they guess wrong, everyone else takes a drink. Itâs all about fooling your friends and having fun!
22. Drunken Artists
Supplies: Paper, pens, timer, drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
One person keeps track of time with a clock or phone, while another is the “artist.” The timekeeper whispers a word to the artist, and they draw it while everyone else tries to guess what it is. When someone guesses correctly, the timer stops. The artist takes one drink for every 20 seconds it took for the group to guess the word. Itâs like Pictionary but with drinks for the grown-ups! You can use either alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks.
Do you know? Drinking games for couples have all the elements to strengthen the chemistry between two people!
23. Would You Rather
Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: 15-30 minutes
Would You Rather is one of the drinking games without cards where players take turns posing two equally ridiculous or challenging situations? The rest of the players must choose which situation they prefer. Those in the minority take a drink.
24. Thumper
Source: AJR_photo /shutterstock
Number of Players: 4+
Supplies: None
Duration: 15-30 minutes
In Thumper, everyone pretends to be an animal. Each person picks an animal, makes its sound, and acts like it. Then, the next person does their own animal and copies the one before them. The game keeps going, with each person adding their animal and the ones before them. If someone forgets or pauses too long, they take a drink. It’s a funny game where everyone gets loud and silly, pretending to be animals!
25. Taboo Drinking Game
Source: Jacob Lund /shutterstock
Supplies: Drinks
Number of Players: 3+
Duration: As long as desired
Taboo Drinking Game is one of the best drinking games without cards, especially for party nights. The rules are simple: a word is chosen that no player can say throughout the party. Ensure that the word is easy and common. The more common the word is, the more likely people will fail. For example, You, Me, What, When, Why, Drink, Glass, Beer, etc. No player should say the chosen word. If they do, they must grab a drink.
My favorite taboo word in this game is “Drink.” It is literally a trap that no one can escape, especially people who are drunk!
We played the game at a New Yearâs Eve party with this forbidden word. Almost everyone kept slipping up: “I need a drink,” “Whoâs drinking next?” and so on. The penalties were small sips, but the frequent mistakes had everyone laughing and being extra cautious with their words.
Taboo Words can also be one of the best drinking games without cards for two partners, newlywed or otherwise.
Read More: Fun Ideas for Drinking Games for Adults!
Conclusion
When you’re playing drinking games without cards, there’s no restriction on the type of drinks. It could be alcoholic or non-alcoholic unless a game specially demands it. So, teetotallers can also use these games to have fun and make endless memories. When you want to go with alcoholic drinks, ensure responsible consumption. Set the limits before the games start, if possible.
Try not to force others if they’re uncomfortable beyond a point. After all, we all want wonderful moments spent with friends, family, and loved ones. As mentioned, play these with large groups unless you’re looking for drinking games without cards for two players.
FAQs
Is there a drinking game that requires nothing?
Yes, “Cheers to the Governor” is a simple drinking game requiring only a drink and the ability to count to 21. Players take turns counting; mistakes mean drinking. At 21, everyone shouts, “Cheers to the Governor!” and drinks.
What is bored drinking?
Bored drinking occurs when people consume alcohol out of boredom, using it to fill idle time. A 2022 Sunnyside survey found boredom was a drinking trigger for 5% of participants.
What is a finger drink?
A finger drink is a measure of distilled spirits, such as whiskey. It is based on one finger’s width at the bottom of a glass, roughly equivalent to nearly an inch.
Is alcohol mandatory for drinking games without cards?
No. Alcohol is not mandatory to play drinking games without cards. You can play them with your favorite drinks if you’re health conscious. Soft drinks, fruit juices, etc.
