The best group drinking games keep most of the room involved instead of making eight people watch two people play. Some need cups and ping pong balls, some need cards, and a few need almost nothing.
Below are the best group drinking games already covered in the CollegeWares rules library, plus what each one is actually good for.
QUICK PICKS
- Best classic: Beer Pong
- Best team game: Flip Cup
- Best chaotic group game: Stack Cup
- Best card game: King's Cup
- Best strategy game: Presidents
- Best shared spectator game: Horse Race
Beer Pong
Beer Pong is the obvious starting point: two teams throw ping pong balls into opposing cup racks until one side is cleared. It works best with four players, but people can rotate in easily.
Flip Cup
Flip Cup is one of the best games for larger teams. Players race down a line, finishing their drink and flipping their cup before the next teammate can go.
Stack Cup
Stack Cup keeps two ping pong balls moving around the table at once. Make your bounce shot, pass the cup, and try to catch the player ahead of you before they make theirs.
King's Cup
King's Cup is ideal when you want everyone around one table. Every card triggers a different rule or mini-game, so the whole group stays involved.
Ride the Bus
Ride the Bus combines card guessing, a pyramid, and a final punishment round. It works especially well with four to eight players.
Presidents
Presidents is better for a group that wants an actual card game. Players race to dump their hands and carry rankings into the next round.
Civil War
Civil War is essentially faster, more aggressive Beer Pong with multiple players shooting at the same time. Good if normal Beer Pong suddenly feels too calm.
Horse Race
Horse Race lets the entire group bet on four Aces while one dealer runs the race. Nobody needs to sit out, and yelling at a card is encouraged.
Seven, Elevens, and Doubles
Seven, Elevens, and Doubles is a dice-based group game built around rolling specific combinations and choosing other players.
Three Man
Three Man is another classic dice game that works well around a table and gives one unlucky player a recurring role.
How Many People Do You Need?
For 3 players, try Presidents, Ride the Bus, Horse Race, or Three Man. For 4–6, Beer Pong, King's Cup, and Presidents are easy picks. Once you hit 6–10+, Flip Cup and Stack Cup start making a lot more sense.
Need something more specific? Check out drinking games for 3, party drinking games, or browse all drinking games.
