17 Birthday Party Games Ideas For Adults Drinking
Ready to level up your adult birthday celebration? Forget those stale party games from your childhood; it’s time for some grown-up fun! This guide is packed with 17 exhilarating drinking games guaranteed to get the laughter flowing, the conversations buzzing, and the birthday person feeling extra special. From competitive challenges to revealing icebreakers, prepare for a night of unforgettable memories and spirited camaraderie. Get your favorite beverages ready, because the ultimate birthday bash starts now!
Never Have I Ever: Spill the Sips
This classic icebreaker gets a boozy twist, perfect for uncovering hilarious secrets among friends. Players take turns stating “Never have I ever…” followed by something they’ve never done. Anyone who *has* done it takes a sip of their drink. It’s a fantastic way to learn surprising facts about your guests, spark memorable conversations, and loosen everyone up at the start of the celebration.
Drunk Jenga: Stacking Challenges
Transform the classic tower game into a hilarious drinking challenge! Write various commands or ‘truth or dare’ prompts on each Jenga block before stacking. When a player pulls a block, they must complete the task written on it before placing it on top. If the tower collapses, the player who caused it takes a penalty shot or finishes their drink. This game adds an exciting layer of suspense and personalized fun to your party.
Kings Cup: The Royal Drinking Game
Also known as Ring of Fire, Kings Cup is a dynamic card game where each card draw corresponds to a different rule or drinking action. Players take turns drawing cards from a deck arranged around a central ‘King’s Cup.’ Rules can range from ‘social’ (everyone drinks) to ‘categories’ or ‘waterfall.’ The game culminates when the fourth King is drawn, and that player must drink the contents of the King’s Cup. It’s an unpredictable and highly interactive party starter.
Flip Cup: Team Speed Challenge
A classic for a reason, Flip Cup is a high-energy team relay race that guarantees excitement. Players line up on opposite sides of a table, each with a partially filled cup. After finishing their drink, they must flip the cup from the edge of the table, landing it upside down. Only then can the next teammate go. The first team to successfully flip all their cups wins, often with a celebratory drink for the victors!
Most Likely To…: Revealing Ranks
This game is perfect for groups who know each other well and aren’t afraid to share some laughs. Someone asks a “Most Likely To…” question (e.g., “Most likely to get arrested on vacation?”). On the count of three, everyone points to the person they think best fits the description. Anyone who has fingers pointing at them takes a sip. It’s a fantastic way to share inside jokes and see how your friends truly perceive each other.
Shot Roulette: A Twist of Fate
Add an element of chance and daring to your birthday bash with Shot Roulette. Use a small spinning roulette wheel (or a digital app) with numbers corresponding to different shot glasses. Some glasses can contain water, others various spirits, and some might even be empty. Whatever number the ball lands on, that’s the shot the player takes. It’s a game of pure luck that brings suspense and excited reactions.
Tipsy Trivia: Brains and Booze
Test your guests’ knowledge and their ability to think clearly after a few drinks! Prepare a list of trivia questions covering various categories. Divide into teams, and for every incorrect answer, the team has to take a collective sip or assign a shot to one of their members. You can even include birthday-person-themed questions for an extra personal touch. It’s a stimulating and competitive way to party.
Drunk Uno: Wild Card Wasted
Give the classic card game Uno an adult upgrade! Assign drinking rules to certain cards – for instance, draw two cards, take two sips; reverse, everyone takes a sip; skip, current player takes a shot. The ‘Wild’ card could require the player to create a new rule for everyone. It quickly turns a friendly game into a hilariously unpredictable challenge, leading to plenty of unexpected sips and laughter.
Sip, Sip, Shot (Adult Duck, Duck, Goose)
Revisit your childhood favorite with a grown-up twist! Everyone sits in a circle. One person walks around, lightly tapping heads and saying “Sip” for most people, who then take a small sip of their drink. When they choose someone and say “Shot!”, that person must quickly get up and chase the ‘tapper’ around the circle. If caught, they take a shot. If not, the ‘tapper’ sits in their spot, and the ‘shot’ person becomes the new tapper. It’s a playful and energetic game!
Would You Rather: Boozy Dilemmas
This game encourages hilarious and often revealing discussions. Players take turns asking “Would you rather…” questions with two equally absurd or challenging options (e.g., “Would you rather always have to whisper or always have to shout?”). After everyone reveals their choice, anyone who picked the less popular or more ‘unusual’ option might take a sip, or you can have a drink rule for both options. It’s a great conversation starter and icebreaker.
Beer Pong: Classic Competitive Fun
No adult party is complete without a classic game of Beer Pong! Set up two triangles of cups at opposite ends of a long table, filled with beer or a mixed drink. Teams take turns trying to bounce or throw a ping pong ball into the opponent’s cups. If a ball lands in a cup, the opposing team drinks its contents. It’s a timeless game that fuels friendly competition and lively cheers.
Pictionary/Charades with Drinking Rules
Elevate these beloved party games with a drinking twist. For Pictionary, if your team fails to guess the drawing, everyone on that team takes a sip. For Charades, if the acting is too difficult or the guess is wrong, the actor might take a shot. You can also introduce penalties for going over time or giving hints. These additions add a fun, low-stakes consequence that keeps everyone engaged and laughing.
Power Hour / Minute to Win It Challenges
Combine the ‘power hour’ concept with quick, fun ‘minute to win it’ style challenges. Prepare a list of simple, silly tasks that can be completed in under a minute (e.g., stack 10 solo cups, unravel a toilet paper roll with one hand). For every challenge completed within the minute, the person can assign a sip to someone else. If they fail, they take a shot. It’s fast-paced, goofy, and highly entertaining.
Musical Shots: High-Stakes Seating
A grown-up, high-stakes version of musical chairs! Arrange chairs in a circle, one less than the number of players, with a shot glass (or small drink) on each chair. Play music, and when it stops, everyone scrambles for a seat. The person left standing must take a shot. Remove a chair (and a shot) each round, increasing the tension and the fun. It’s a simple, energetic game that guarantees laughter and a few gulps.
Scavenger Hunt: Boozy Birthday Quest
Create a personalized scavenger hunt with clues hidden around your party space or even a wider area if you’re out. Each clue can lead to a small drink prize, or a bottle opener, or even a pre-made cocktail station. The final clue could lead to a special birthday toast or a hidden ‘treasure’ like a bottle of premium liquor. It’s an engaging and interactive way to explore and celebrate.
Drink If…: A Party Confessional
Similar to ‘Never Have I Ever,’ but with a slightly different prompt. One person reads a statement starting with ‘Drink if…’ (e.g., ‘Drink if you’ve ever ghosted someone,’ or ‘Drink if you’re wearing mismatched socks’). Anyone to whom the statement applies takes a sip. This game is fantastic for discovering shared experiences, breaking the ice, and sparking impromptu storytelling among your guests.
Birthday Person Bingo: Personalize Your Sips
Create Bingo cards with squares featuring facts or quirks about the birthday person (e.g., ‘Has traveled to Europe,’ ‘Hates cilantro,’ ‘Can do a backflip’). As the birthday person casually mentions these things throughout the night, or you explicitly call them out, players mark their squares. The first to get Bingo wins a prize, and anyone who marks a certain number of squares might take a drink. It’s a fun, personalized way to celebrate the guest of honor.
With these 17 exciting drinking games, your adult birthday party is guaranteed to be a roaring success! Remember to encourage responsible drinking and ensure everyone has a safe way to get home. These games are designed not just to add a splash of spirits, but to create unforgettable moments, endless laughter, and stronger bonds among friends. So, raise a glass to the birthday star, dive into the fun, and make this celebration truly epic!
