What are the Best Two Player Drinking Games to Play?

While some people may frown on drinking games and culture, they’ve been a part of civilization for centuries. In fact, the concept of playing drinking games can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty in BC-771, when the Chinese Jiuling participated in a number of interactive and rudimentary pastimes.

Of course, we now live in an increasingly digital age, in which people are drinking significantly less and wagering their hard-earned cash through DFS sites rather than brick-and-mortar bookmakers. However, two player drinking games remain incredibly popular throughout the world, especially in developed and western nations.

• Exploring the Origins of Two Player Drinking Games
• Fun Drinking Games for Two People – The Best Examples
• The Last Word – How to Enjoy Drinking Games Responsibly

Exploring the Origins of Two Player Drinking Games

Thanks to the more playful nature of modern culture, we’ve recently witnessed the advent of fun drinking games for two people. However, the early game iterations in the 11th century Western Zhou Dynasty were designed to actively regulate people’s drinking habits, with a view to teaching discipline and restraint when consuming alcohol.

The very first such game involved taking turns to recite poetry while consuming wine. If a participant made a mistake during their recital or forget the next line, they’d be compelling to finish their beverage. Of course, as players drink more, they’re also increasingly likely to make further mistakes, creating a game that often wreaked havoc (even during formal gatherings).

This was perhaps the most sophisticated of the early two player drinking games. Subsequent games played by the Vikings were far more hedonistic and dangerous, with one in particular requiring participants to submerge their heads underwater while drunk. According to some historic findings, a number of Norsemen blacked out during the games and drowned.

The trend for crude two person drinking games continued into medieval times. Most games around this time involved fighting and hand-to-hand combat, including rudimentary examples of ‘thumb wars’ and ‘finger jousting’. It wasn’t until the more enlightened Renaissance era that drinking games became more sophisticated, including the Italian pastime ‘Battilarda’ (which involved drinking wine from a goblet and passing it around the room). Interestingly, this also involved poetry recitals and an element of competition.

During the era that occurred post-World War II, drinking games became more commonplace among younger players. This was particularly true on college campuses throughout the Western world, with the now infamous ‘Beer Pong’ originating at Dartmouth College during the 1950s. This game has blazed a trail for similar entities to follow in more recent times, with more drinking pastimes available now than ever before.

Fun Drinking Games for Two People – The Best Examples

OK, we hear you ask, but what are the best two person drinking games? In modern times, there are plenty of options to choose from, ranging from simple and iconic games to others that are a little zanier. Here’s our pick of the most enjoyable two player drinking games and a look at what sets them apart from alternative options.

Higher / Lower

We’ll start with the most straightforward drinking game, and one that requires just two players, alcohol and a deck of cards. One player starts by shuffling the card deck, before placing is face-down on a table. The first card is then flipped over, and each participant can take it in turns to guess whether the subsequent draw will be higher or lower.

The player who guesses wrong will have to take a drink, while this game is incredibly fast-paced and not designed to be played over extended periods of time. Interestingly, this game has spawned a spin-off pastime known as ‘Red / Black’, during which you’ll have to predict the colour of the next card.

Never Have I Ever

The game ‘Never Have I Ever’ is a cult classic, and one that has historically been played without alcohol as a key component. However, the introduction of alcohol has added a unique dimension to this iconic party game, creating an experience that’s akin to both ‘Truth or Dare’ and ‘Spin the Bottle’.

The drinking game version of ‘Never Have I Ever’ is identical to the original, although players must take a sip if they’ve done the thing that another has stated they’ve never done. Although this can be played by larger groups, it’s one of the more fun drinking games for two people, especially if the participants are close and share personal knowledge of one another.

Two Truths and a Lie

Another variation of the popular ‘Truth or Dare’ game, ‘Two Truths and a Lie’ is a game of bluff and interpretation. Players will take it in turns to make three statements about themselves, based on their life experience and achievements. Two of these statements will be true and the third will be a lie, and the two rival players will have to identify the latter.

If they’re successful, the player who made the statements will have to take a drink. Conversely, some versions require the opposing two players to drink if they’re unable to identify the false statement, creating a fun and high-octane game that has keen psychological and competitive components.

Flip Cup

Among the best 2 player drinking games, ‘Flip Cup’ is perhaps the most frenetic. To play this game, simply fill two plastic cups with beer, before starting to chug in unison. Your goal is to finish the drink and place the cup upside-down over the edge of the table, before you flick it upwards in an attempt to land it right-side up.

The first player to complete the process will win, and the losing player must take an additional drink. You can play the game over multiple rounds too, while this is another pastime that can be enjoyed by a large group. You can also introduce an additional challenge by lining up competing rows of cups that need to be downed and flipped before one or more opponents. However, this makes it much harder to drink responsibly.

Speed Facts

Speed facts is a unique two-player drinking game, which requires you to demonstrate knowledge about your opponent. In this fast-paced game, you’ll pour out six shots and hand three to your opponent, before taking it in turns to recount facts that you know to be true about one another.

There’s typically a time limit in which you’ll have to come up with a fact about your opponent (between three and five seconds). If you fail to come up with a fact in this time (or subsequently say something that isn’t true), you’ll lose the round and have to take a shot. The first player to sink all three of their drinks is the loser, and presumably a little drunk!

Beer Duel

‘Beer Duel’ is a wild-west-inspired drinking game, and one that borrows heavily from a classic cowboy duel. To begin with, you and your opponent simultaneously place a beer (or beverage of your choice) in your pockets. Then you turn and take three steps forward, and as you face off against one another, there’s a dramatic count of three before your draw.

Each player will then unfurl their drink and chug it as quickly as possible. To complete the game, they must throw their empty cans at one another, and the first to strike their opponent is the victor. We’d recommend opting for a gentle throw having consumed an entire beer, as a rapid pitch could well end in tears!

Mind Meld

If you’re going to play mind meld, it’s best to do so with a close friend. After all, the game is a significant test of friendship, while it also encompasses engaging word play and produces some genuinely hilarious outcomes. To start, two players will both shout out a random word at the count of three.

There’s a subsequent count of three, at which point both players must guess another random word that can help to connect the first two. If the two participants utter the same word, neither player drinks. However, if their second words don’t match, the round will be lost and the contenders will have to take a shot.

Drunk Bullshit

Of all 2 player drinking card games, the hilariously named ‘Drunk Bullshit’ is the best. This is essentially a game of bluff, as you’ll have to offload cards from a pre-dealt hand while identifying the precise cards you’re laying down. The object is to get rid of all your cards, but an opponent can call ‘bullshit’ if they believe you’re lying about the cards. To provide some context, this may happen if you say you’re laying down two Kings but they hold three Kings themselves.

If your opponent calls bullshit and they’re right, you’ll have to drink. However, they’ll have to down a shot if they call incorrectly. As we’ve touched on, the game ends when one player has gotten rid of all their cards, at which point the loser must have an additional drink. Introducing alcohol undoubtedly makes this game of bluff better, while it shares a number of elements with poker.

I’m Going on a Picnic

Unusually, this game combines drinking with memorisation, which hardly makes for a marriage made in heaven. The game starts with one player saying “I am going on a picnic and I am bringing…”, before they add a food item at the end (such as sandwiches). Your opponent will then repeat the exact same phrase before adding their own food item, and the cycle will continue with new delicacies introduced each time.

As the list grows, the task of memorising it becomes significantly greater, and every time a player makes an error or fails to remember an item, they’ll have to take a drink. At this stage, a new round can commence, while you can also change the starting sentence to create greater fun and diversity.

Quarters

Last, but not least, we come to the popular multiplayer drinking game ‘Quarters’. This can involve quarters or coins of any denomination, which must be bounced off a table or hard surface into a shot glass. This can be tricky, of course, but every time you’re able to land a coin in the glass, your opponent will have to drink.

This is another fast-paced game, and one that can see players make a number of attempts in a relatively short period of time. You can also place the glass in different places to increase or decrease the distance as you wish, depending on precisely how much you want to drink during the game!

The Last Word – How to Enjoy Drinking Games Responsibly

Not only is there a long and rich history of drinking games, but there are a number of options available to players in the modern age. These games include different elements and levels of difficulty, while some will create a scenario where you consume significantly more alcohol over time.

So, it’s crucial that you play and enjoy drinking games responsibly, and there are several ways in which you can practice this. Firstly, set time limits in which games should be played, to ensure that players don’t consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Secondly, make sure that players understand the rules of the game before they participate, so that they can drink responsibly on an individual level.

The same rule applies when engaging in drinking games with more than two players, which can quickly escalate out of control without a responsible mindset. Also, you should be of age before participating in any drinking game, which means being aged 21 or older in all US states.