If you’ve been to a college party or a casual hangout with friends, you’ve probably heard of Kings Cup. It’s the drinking game everyone loves, mostly because it’s a great way to hang out, chat, and get a little tipsy without even realizing it.
The game involves cards, cups, and some wild (and sometimes weird) rules. Trust me, if you’ve got a group of friends and a few drinks, this game is about to get chaotic in the best way possible.
The Basic Setup for Kings Cup
First thing’s first: gather your crew, get a deck of cards, and make sure everyone’s got a drink in hand. The beauty of Kings Cup is that it’s a pretty simple setup, but the rules (and the amount of alcohol you consume) can escalate quickly.
The Setup: Place an empty cup (the “Kings Cup”) in the center of the table. Spread a deck of cards face down in a circle around the cup. Everyone sits around the circle with their own drink ready to go.
The Goal: The goal is to not end up having to drink from the Kings Cup, which sounds simple until you realize the cards determine who drinks, how much they drink, and sometimes, what kind of shenanigans they get into.
The Turn: Players take turns picking up cards from the circle, and each card has its own rule that must be followed. The rules are where things get interesting.
Kings Cup Card Game Rules
Each card in the Kings Cup deck comes with a unique rule that players have to follow when they draw it. It’s simple: the player who draws the card must perform the action tied to that card, and these actions can really add some chaos to your night.
Here are a few examples of some classic and hilarious Kings Cup rules:
- 2: Give 2 – Pick a player to take two sips, or split the love and give one sip to two players.
- 3: Take 1 – A sip for you. That’s it. Easy, right?
- 4: Give 2, Take 2 – Pick a player and share the love. You both take two sips!
- 5: For the Men – All the guys take a sip together.
- 6: For the Ladies – Yep, all the ladies drink.
- 7: Thumb Master – As soon as the player who drew the 7 puts their thumb on the table, everyone else must do the same. The last person to do it takes a drink.
- 8: Drinking Mate – Choose a drinking buddy. Whenever you drink, they do too. If another 8 card is drawn, the mates can tag in someone else!
- 9: Rhyme – Say a word, and everyone has to rhyme with it. The first person who can’t think of one has to drink.
- 10: Social – Everybody drinks. Cheers!
- Jack: Make a Rule – You get to make a rule for the game. If anyone breaks it, they drink!
- Queen: Question Master – Ask any player a question. If they answer, they drink. Keep them on their toes with tricky, fun, or embarrassing questions!
- King: King’s Cup – Pour a little of your drink into the King’s Cup in the center. When the last King is drawn, that unlucky person has to drink whatever’s in the cup! It might get nasty…
Kings Cup Rules Dirty
If you want to make things a little spicier, throw in some Kings Cup rules dirty. These rules will definitely add a more risqué vibe to the game, making everyone laugh, cringe, or maybe even shout in surprise.
Ace: Waterfall with a Twist.
Everyone starts drinking at the same time, but you can’t stop until the person to your left stops. The catch? The person who draws the Ace can stop at any time and point at someone, forcing them to keep drinking until they stop. Power move.
2: Compliment Me.
Pick a player, and they have to give you a compliment. If it’s not good enough (or if it’s a cop-out), they drink. If it’s juicy enough, you drink. You’ll see how much flattery your friends can dish out after a few rounds.
5: Strip Down.
All the men or women at the table (depending on who draws) have to remove one item of clothing. Don’t worry – nothing too crazy, but it’s bound to get awkward quickly.
8: Dare Me.
Pick someone and give them a dare, but they must do it. If they refuse, they take a drink. Dare wisely – the more embarrassing, the better!
Want to know more Kings Cup rules dirty? You can find a full list of Kings Cup rules dirty here.
Kings Cup Extreme
Now, if you’re looking for a more intense challenge, you can always amp up the action with Kings Cup Extreme. This version of the game is perfect for people who want to take the party to a whole new level.
7: All-In.
This one’s for the brave – everyone at the table must place their entire drink into the King’s Cup. Whoever draws the 7 must drink from the King’s Cup (and remember, it’s a mix of everyone’s drink!).
8: Pass the Bottle.
Pick a player to drink from a bottle that everyone has shared. They get to choose what happens next – they can keep drinking, pass it to someone else, or pour it into another drink and pass it along. The rule here? If you touch the bottle, you drink. It’s like a game of drinking hot potato.
9: The Wheel of Misfortune.
The person who draws the 9 has to spin a “Wheel of Misfortune,” which could be a physical wheel or just a list of horrible challenges. Each section of the wheel has a wild task, like kissing a random person, doing a shot of something disgusting, or getting pied in the face. Whatever it lands on, they must do.
10: The Ultimate Shot.
Everyone at the table must pour a shot of their drink (any type, any combination) into the King’s Cup. When someone draws a 10, they must drink the entire contents of the King’s Cup, no matter how gross it looks. Prepare for a serious hangover
Want more? Check out the full list of Kings Cup Extreme rules here.
Whether you’re sticking with the classic Kings Cup or you’re ready to test your limits with Kings Cup Extreme, this game is all about letting loose, having fun, and sharing a ton of laughs. Just remember to play responsibly, and don’t forget to have a blast!
