Never Have I Ever Drinking Game Rules & Best Questions

Never Have I Ever Drinking Game Rules & Best Questions

Complete guide to Never Have I Ever drinking game rules, setup, variations, and 50+ of the best questions. Learn how to play responsibly and make your party unforgettable.

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Of all the drinking games out there, Never Have I Ever is the one that requires zero equipment, takes seconds to explain, and somehow manages to reveal secrets people have kept for years. All you need is a group of friends, drinks, and a willingness to be honest.

This guide covers the drinking game rules, the best variations to keep things interesting, 50+ tried-and-tested questions, and some important tips on keeping the night fun for everyone.

Table of Contents

What You Need

  • 3 or more players (the sweet spot is 5 to 8)
  • Drinks for everyone (beer, wine, cocktails, or non-alcoholic alternatives)
  • Comfortable seating arranged so everyone can see each other
  • A good list of questions (or just use this page)

That is it. No cards, no board, no app required, though our online version can provide endless questions if you run out.

Basic Drinking Game Rules

The Never Have I Ever drinking game is beautifully simple:

  1. Players sit in a circle with their drinks.
  2. One player starts by saying "Never have I ever..." followed by something they have genuinely never done. Example: "Never have I ever been kicked out of a bar."
  3. Anyone who HAS done it takes a sip of their drink.
  4. Anyone who has NOT done it does nothing.
  5. The turn passes to the next player clockwise.
  6. Keep playing until the group decides to stop, switch games, or run out of questions.

There is no official way to "win" or "lose." The person who drinks the most has done the most, and the person who drinks the least has led the most sheltered life. Both outcomes make for great teasing.

The Waterfall Rule

When someone makes a statement and everyone in the group has done it, the whole group finishes their drink. This adds high stakes to universal experiences.

Story Time

After someone takes a drink, any other player can shout "Story time!" and the drinker has to briefly explain what happened. This is where the real entertainment comes from. Limit it to 30 seconds so the game keeps moving.

Double Trouble

If you have done the thing more than five times, you take two sips instead of one. This punishes repeat offenders and leads to a lot of laughter.

The Hot Seat

Instead of going around in a circle, one player sits in the "hot seat" for 5 questions. Everyone else asks questions specifically trying to make that player drink. Then the next person takes the hot seat. This version is more intense and works well with close friends.

The Lie Detector

If someone does NOT drink and the group suspects they are lying, they can call a vote. If the majority thinks the person is lying, that person has to take two sips. Use this rule sparingly or it turns into chaos (fun chaos, but chaos).

Shot Clock

Each player has only 5 seconds to come up with their statement. If they take too long, they drink. This keeps the pace fast and the energy high.

50+ Best Drinking Game Questions

These questions are sorted from lighter to spicier so you can ease into the night naturally.

Warm-Up Round

  1. Never have I ever been so hungover I swore I would never drink again
  2. Never have I ever forgotten someone's name right after they told me
  3. Never have I ever pretended to laugh at a joke I did not understand
  4. Never have I ever eaten an entire pizza by myself in one sitting
  5. Never have I ever gone an entire day without looking at my phone
  6. Never have I ever sent a text to the wrong person
  7. Never have I ever tripped in public and pretended nothing happened
  8. Never have I ever binge-watched an entire TV series in one weekend
  9. Never have I ever fallen asleep during a movie at the cinema
  10. Never have I ever regifted a present someone gave me

Getting Interesting

  1. Never have I ever lied on my dating profile
  2. Never have I ever pretended to be sick to skip plans
  3. Never have I ever cried during a commercial
  4. Never have I ever danced on a table or bar
  5. Never have I ever left a restaurant without paying (intentionally or not)
  6. Never have I ever been escorted out of a venue
  7. Never have I ever kissed someone within an hour of meeting them
  8. Never have I ever had a one-night stand
  9. Never have I ever regretted a tattoo
  10. Never have I ever woken up and had no idea where I was

The Juicy Stuff

  1. Never have I ever been caught in a lie by someone standing right there
  2. Never have I ever snooped through a partner's phone
  3. Never have I ever had a crush on a friend's significant other
  4. Never have I ever pretended to be someone else at a bar
  5. Never have I ever skinny dipped
  6. Never have I ever been dared to do something embarrassing and actually done it
  7. Never have I ever had a secret social media account
  8. Never have I ever ghosted someone I was dating
  9. Never have I ever been on a date so bad I made an excuse to leave early
  10. Never have I ever accidentally liked an old photo while stalking someone online

Party Mode

  1. Never have I ever done a keg stand
  2. Never have I ever played beer pong and lost every game
  3. Never have I ever showed up to the wrong party and stayed anyway
  4. Never have I ever been the last person standing at a party
  5. Never have I ever woken up with a stranger's phone number in my pocket
  6. Never have I ever convinced a bouncer to let me skip the line
  7. Never have I ever started a conga line
  8. Never have I ever been carried home by friends after a night out
  9. Never have I ever mixed drinks I absolutely should not have mixed
  10. Never have I ever been so loud at a bar that the bartender told me to keep it down

Spicy Round

  1. Never have I ever had a wardrobe malfunction in public
  2. Never have I ever been caught doing something I should not have been doing
  3. Never have I ever lied about my age to get into somewhere
  4. Never have I ever had a secret relationship
  5. Never have I ever flirted my way out of a speeding ticket
  6. Never have I ever pretended not to see someone I know in public
  7. Never have I ever sent a risky text and immediately regretted it
  8. Never have I ever made up an elaborate excuse to cancel plans
  9. Never have I ever been the subject of a wild rumor that was actually true
  10. Never have I ever done something embarrassing that ended up on social media
  11. Never have I ever been caught talking to myself
  12. Never have I ever accidentally called someone by the wrong name during an intimate moment

Want even more questions? Check out our massive list of 200+ Never Have I Ever questions organized by category, or browse the drinking game landing page for a curated experience.

How to Keep the Game Fun and Safe

The best party nights are the ones everyone remembers fondly the next day. Here is how to keep it that way:

Set Ground Rules Early

Before the first round, agree on a few things:

  • Anyone can pass on a question without penalty
  • No targeting one person with repeated questions
  • "Story time" requests are optional, not mandatory

Pace the Drinks

  • Use beer or low-ABV drinks instead of spirits
  • Keep water on the table and encourage people to hydrate between rounds
  • Nobody should feel pressured to keep drinking if they want to stop

Know When to Switch It Up

If someone is clearly drinking way more than everyone else, pivot to a different game or take a break. The point is fun, not finishing a bottle.

Have Non-Alcoholic Options Ready

Not everyone drinks, and that is perfectly fine. The game works just as well with soda, juice, or water. You can also switch to the finger version where players put fingers down instead.

Eat Before and During

Never play drinking games on an empty stomach. Have snacks on the table. It makes the evening last longer and keeps everyone in better shape.

Playing Online

If your group is scattered across different cities (or just too lazy to leave the house), you can play the Never Have I Ever drinking game online:

  1. Everyone hops on a video call with their drink of choice
  2. Open our online game room and create a room
  3. Share the link with everyone on the call
  4. The game provides questions automatically - everyone drinks when they have done the thing
  5. Use the built-in chat or your video call to share stories

It works surprisingly well. Some people say the online version is actually better because people are more honest from the comfort of their own couch.

Ready to Get the Party Started?

You have the rules, the questions, and the tips. All you need now is the people. Round up your friends, pour your drinks, and let the confessions begin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Never Have I Ever and regular drinking games?

Most drinking games rely on chance (like card draws or dice rolls). Never Have I Ever is driven by personal experiences, which makes it social and conversation-starting rather than just an excuse to drink. The game itself is the entertainment, not just the drinking.

How long does a typical game last?

A good round lasts about 20 to 40 minutes, depending on group size and how many stories people share. Most groups play 2 to 3 rounds in an evening, with breaks in between.

What if someone does not drink alcohol?

They can drink anything, from soda to water to juice. The game is about the confessions, not the alcohol. Many people play it completely sober and have just as much fun.

Can I play Never Have I Ever as a drinking game with just 2 people?

Yes, and it can actually be really fun as a date night activity. With just two people, you learn a lot about each other quickly. Check out our couples version for questions designed for pairs.

What do you do if someone keeps targeting one person?

Address it directly but lightly. Say something like "Alright, let us spread the love around" and redirect. If it continues, switch up the game format to the hot seat variation so everyone gets equal treatment.