Drinking bingo: make a card, mark the night

How to play drinking bingo

1. Everyone gets a different card. Make one on your phone above, or print a stack.
2. Mark a square when it happens. Anyone can call it, but the table has to agree it counts.
3. Five in a row wins: across, down or diagonally, with the free square in the middle.
4. First line: everyone else takes a sip. Every line after that: hand out one sip. Full card: you pick the next game.

It works in the background of the whole night, which makes it a good fit for a big party where not everyone wants to sit at the table for a game.

House party bingo

For the host and the guests: everything that happens at every house party, eventually.

1. Someone asks for the Wi-Fi password
2. A drink gets knocked over
3. The music changes mid-song
4. Someone says "this is my song!"
5. Pizza gets ordered
6. Someone arrives over an hour late
7. A friend of a friend nobody knows
8. Someone tells the same story twice
9. A deep talk starts in the kitchen
10. Someone shows a video on their phone
11. The neighbours get mentioned
12. A group photo
13. Someone dances alone
14. Someone takes their shoes off
15. A pet steals the show
16. Someone goes outside for "fresh air"
17. One snack runs out
18. A plan for "next time" is made
19. Someone falls asleep on the sofa
20. A drinking game starts
21. Someone hugs the host
22. An ex gets mentioned
23. Someone loses their phone, then finds it
24. The same song plays twice
25. Someone brings a dip from the shop
26. Someone says "I'm not even tired"
27. A singalong breaks out
28. Someone ends up doing the dishes

Movie night bingo

Pick any film. Works best with action films, rom-coms and anything from the 90s.

1. A character says the film's title
2. An explosion
3. A car chase
4. Someone says "we need to talk"
5. "Let's split up"
6. A villain monologue
7. A training montage
8. A flashback
9. A slow-motion walk
10. A kiss in the rain
11. A phone rings at the worst moment
12. Someone survives the impossible
13. A countdown timer on screen
14. A dog in danger
15. Someone on screen cries
16. A cameo someone recognises
17. Someone in the room predicts the twist
18. Someone asks "who is that again?"
19. Someone checks their phone
20. Someone talks during a big scene
21. Snacks run out before the end
22. Someone says "I've seen this before"
23. Someone falls asleep
24. Somebody points out a plot hole
25. The film gets paused
26. A character looks into the camera

Night out bingo

Print one per person before the pregame and keep it in your pocket.

1. A queue to get in
2. Someone gets ID'd
3. Someone's phone dies
4. Someone loses the group
5. A stranger joins the group
6. A mirror selfie
7. Someone says "one more, then we go"
8. A song everyone screams along to
9. Someone requests a song
10. Someone wears sunglasses indoors
11. You bump into someone you know
12. A dance-off
13. Someone's feet hurt
14. Coat check drama
15. A birthday group nearby
16. Someone sends a voice note
17. Someone says "I love you guys"
18. Someone buys a round of water
19. A late-night food stop
20. The ride home takes forever
21. Someone leaves without saying bye
22. Someone calls their mum
23. A spilled drink
24. Breakfast plans for tomorrow
25. Someone says "I'm never drinking again"

Out at a bar? Print the cards before you leave and play the pregame games first.

Halloween bingo

For the costume party. Pairs well with the Halloween drinking games.

1. Two people in the same costume
2. A costume that needs explaining
3. Someone with no costume
4. A witch
5. A vampire
6. A cat costume
7. A couples' costume
8. A costume from a TV show
9. Someone dressed as a meme
10. Fake blood where it shouldn't be
11. A jump scare
12. Someone screams
13. "Thriller" or "Monster Mash" plays
14. A horror film on in the background
15. Someone tells a ghost story
16. Someone says the house is haunted
17. A mask comes off to drink
18. Face paint gets smudged
19. A costume prop breaks
20. Someone trips over their costume
21. Candy goes missing
22. Glow sticks
23. A carved pumpkin photo
24. A costume contest vote
25. Someone changes out of their costume

Throwing a costume party? There are more ideas in our Halloween drinking games.

Make your own card

Draw a 5×5 grid and write the middle square as Free. Fill the rest with things that are likely to happen tonight, but not in the first ten minutes. Good squares are about the room, not one person, and never need anyone to drink to come true. Make every card a different order, or everyone wins at once.

Want a game that runs itself?

Bingo is a background game. When everyone is ready to sit down and play, Wrecked takes over on one phone for 2 to 16 players: hot seat questions, votes, King’s Rules that stack and a mid-game event every five cards, with the app picking who drinks.

Mark squares, not drinks. Bingo is about watching the night happen, so keep it to sips, keep water around, and let anyone play without drinking. Our responsible drinking page has more. For more paper games, see printable drinking games.