Charades drinking game: rules, twists and a sober version
The charades drinking game takes the forehead game everyone knows and adds one rule: passing has a price. It is quick to explain, needs nothing but a phone and a drink, and works just as well with soda for anyone who is not drinking tonight.
Most drinking games are luck: a card flip, a dice roll. The charades drinking game is different, because you can actually get better at it, and the sip is a consequence of a choice. Pass early and you drink; keep trying and you might run out the clock. That small decision is what makes it more fun than another round of Kings Cup.
Charades drinking game rules
- Make two teams.Three to six players each. One phone per round is enough.
- The guesser holds the phone to their forehead.The team sees the word and acts or describes it. 60 seconds per turn.
- Correct guess: the guesser’s team scores a point.Tilt the phone down and keep going.
- Pass: the guesser takes a sip.Tilt up, sip, next word. That is the core rule.
- Say the word by accident: the clue-giver sips.Rule breaks cost the person who broke them.
- End of round: the team with fewer points sips once.Then the phone goes to the other team.
Play three to five rounds, then switch to something else. The full basics (what you may and may not do when giving clues) are on the charades rules page.
Six twists for the charades drinking game
- Category caller. Before each turn, the other team picks the topic. Expect a lot of MMA Fighters for the person who knows nothing about MMA.
- Thumbs war. The first teammate to guess correctly picks someone from the other team to sip.
- Silent round. Acting only, no sounds. Any sound from the team costs a sip.
- Accent round. Describing allowed, but only in a terrible accent chosen by the other team.
- Toast word. Agree on one word at the start. When it comes up, everyone drinks to it.
- Last ten seconds. Every pass in the final ten seconds counts double. Watch the panic.
Words for late rounds
Late in the night, concrete and funny beats clever. These words get laughs without getting anyone in trouble with the in-laws.
- bartender
- a hangover
- karaoke
- a bachelor party
- a bouncer
- last call
- opening a bottle of wine
- popping champagne
- mixing a cocktail
- a toast
- a walk of shame
- a taxi line at 2 a.m.
- beer pong
- a wine tasting
- dancing on a table
- texting your ex
- a drunk text
- ordering a kebab
- losing your keys
- a group selfie
- a hiccup attack
- singing in the shower
- a conga line
- the morning after
For more adult word lists, see charades for adults. For a bigger mix with no prep, the charades generator has 1,700+ words.
Sober version: the same game with points
Every sip becomes a minus point. That is it. A mixed room can play with both stakes: drinkers sip, non-drinkers lose a point, and the game itself is decided on points. Nobody’s glass becomes the topic of conversation, and the person on sparkling water can still win the night. In the Guessy app, every pass already costs 5 seconds, and Team mode keeps the score for you.
| Drinking rule | Sober swap |
|---|---|
| Sip on a pass | Minus one point |
| Losing team sips | Losing team picks the next category for the winners |
| Clue-giver sips on a rule break | Clue-giver acts the next word blindfolded |
| Toast word | Everyone stands up and cheers |
House rules that keep it fun
- A sip, never a glass. "Finish your drink" rules end a party in half an hour.
- Water and food on the table. Actually there, not "somewhere in the kitchen".
- Nobody gets pressured. Anyone can switch to points at any time, no explanation needed.
- Set an end time. Five rounds, then a different game. Our charades party games post has nine more twists.
Looking for classic drinking games without charades? Our sister site rounds up games to play with friends, including card and cup games.
One phone, a built-in timer and automatic scoring. Free on iPhone and Android, works offline at any party.
Download freeFrequently asked questions
How do you play the charades drinking game?
Play normal forehead charades in two teams, 60 seconds per turn. Every pass costs the guesser a sip, a rule break costs the clue-giver a sip, and the team with fewer points at the end of a round sips once.
Can you play the charades drinking game without alcohol?
Yes. Swap every sip for a minus point. Mixed groups can use both stakes at once, and the game is decided on points either way.
How many people do you need?
Four is the minimum for two teams. Six to ten is ideal; with more, split into three teams.
What words work best for a drinking game round?
Concrete, funny situations everyone recognizes: a hangover, karaoke, last call, popping champagne, a conga line. Avoid long movie titles late at night, they stall the round.