Drinking Games for 2: 7 Games That Actually Work With Two Players
Most drinking games need a crowd. These seven don’t. Whether it’s a date night, a pregame for two or a roommate who refuses to go out, here are the games that actually work with two players, and the house rules that keep them fun one-on-one.
Drinking games for 2 at a glance
| Game | Players | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| 1v1 beer pong | 2 | A table, 12–20 cups, 2 balls |
| Quarters | 2+ | A quarter, a glass |
| Ride the Bus | 2+ | A deck of cards |
| Higher or Lower | 2+ | A deck of cards |
| F the Dealer | 2+ | A deck of cards |
| Power Hour | Any | A playlist, shot glasses |
| Never Have I Ever | 2+ | Nothing |
Table games
- 1v1 beer pong: the classic, scaled down. You shoot both balls every turn, get one re-rack, and earn balls back by making both of your own shots. Short on time? Play 6 cup.
- Quarters: bounce a quarter off the table into a glass. Make it and your opponent drinks; make three in a row and you get to make a rule for the rest of the game. Perfect for a kitchen table.
Card games for two
- Ride the Bus: the four guessing questions work great head-to-head. With two players, skip the pyramid and whoever missed more questions rides the bus.
Higher or Lower
Flip one card face up. The next player guesses whether the next card will be higher or lower, and the dealer flips it on top. Right, and you guess again or pass to the next player. Wrong, and you drink one sip for every card in the pile, then the pile starts over. Ties count as wrong, and aces are high. It’s the simplest card drinking game there is, and it works with two players.
F the Dealer (Screw the Dealer)
The dealer holds the deck. The player on their left guesses the rank of the top card. Get it right on the first guess and the dealer drinks 4 sips. Miss, and the dealer says “higher” or “lower”; get it on the second guess and the dealer drinks 2. Miss again and you drink the difference between your guess and the real card (cap it at 5). Lay each card face up in rank order so everyone can count what’s left. When three players in a row miss, the deal passes left.
With two players, F the Dealer works as a straight duel: switch dealer every three misses.
No-equipment games
- Never Have I Ever: with two people it turns into a getting-to-know-you game, which is either great or dangerous.
- Power Hour: one small sip every minute for an hour, with a song change each time. Two people is plenty. Use small pours or play the water version.
Tips for two-player games
- Pour smaller than you would at a party. With two players, every drink in the game lands on one of you.
- Agree on rules up front. There’s no third person to break a tie, so argue now, not later.
- Keep water on the table. Every game here works with seltzer or soda too.
FAQ
What’s the best drinking game for 2 people?
1v1 beer pong if you have a table. If you don’t, Ride the Bus or Higher or Lower with a deck of cards.
Can you play beer pong with 2 people?
Yes. Play one-on-one: each player shoots both balls every turn and gets one re-rack per game. See our 1v1 beer pong rules.
What card games can 2 people play?
Ride the Bus, Higher or Lower and F the Dealer all work with two. Circle of Death and Pyramid need at least three.
Find another game by crowd: big-group games, card games, dice games. Or browse every game on our party games page, and settle the arguments before they start with the house rules builder.