Let’s be real: Friendsgiving is just Thanksgiving without the awkward political debates with Uncle Gary. It’s all the best parts of the holiday—food, friends, festive vibes—with precisely none of the family drama. But if you really want to elevate your get-together from a “nice dinner party” to a “legendary event people beg to attend,” you need some epic Friendsgiving drinking games.
Whether you’re hosting a cozy gathering or an all-out bash, these seven games will have your crew laughing harder than they did at your failed attempt to deep-fry a turkey. So grab your favorite pumpkin ale, slip into those stretchy pants, and let’s turn this Friendsgiving into the stuff of legends.
Our Top Fun Friendsgiving Games for Adults
Here are a few icebreakers and group games designed to get the party started and keep it going long after the pumpkin pie has been demolished.
1. Turkey Pong: Beer Pong Gets a Thanksgiving Glow-Up
The Gobble-Worthy History
Beer pong has been a party staple since dinosaurs roamed college campuses (okay, since the 1950s), but let’s give it a much-needed autumn glow-up. This version is just as competitive but with more fall colors and less sticky fraternity house floor. This game exploded in popularity around 2015 when millennials decided that Friendsgiving needed to be just as extra as their regular Thanksgiving—and honestly? They were right.
How to Play Turkey Pong
What You’ll Need:
- 20 orange and brown plastic cups (fall colors are non-negotiable)
- White ping pong balls
- Thanksgiving-themed table runner (optional but totally Instagram-worthy)
- Your favorite fall beer (pumpkin ale, Oktoberfest, hard cider—you do you)
- A competitive spirit and questionable hand-eye coordination
The Rules:
- Set up two turkey formations (triangles of 10 cups each) at opposite ends of your table
- Fill cups about 1/3 full—we’re here for a good time, not alcohol poisoning
- Teams of two take turns attempting to sink balls into the opposing team’s cups
- When a ball lands in a cup, the other team drinks and removes that cup
- Friendsgiving Twist: Create a “gravy boat” centerpiece cup worth double—sink it and the other team drinks two cups!
- First team to eliminate all the other team’s cups wins
House Rules to Consider:
- Turkey Trot: If you miss three shots in a row, do a lap around the table while gobbling like a turkey
- Pie Rule: If you’re down to your last cup, you can call “pie” for a chance to make a comeback by sinking three in a row
- Wishbone Challenge: If both teams sink cups on the same turn, they face off in a sudden death round
Pro Tip: Use a marker to draw turkey faces on the cups before the party. Your drunk friends trying to aim at a judgmental turkey is comedy gold.
2. Thankful Shots: Gratitude Meets Tequila
The Heartwarming (and Liver-Warming) Background
This game is for when you want to get sappy but also want an excuse to drink. It’s like group therapy, but with significantly more tequila and fewer co-pays.
How to Get Grateful and Tipsy
Setup:
- Everyone sits in a circle (couches, floor, wherever—just make it cozy)
- Shot glasses for everyone
- Various liquor options (whiskey, vodka, tequila, flavored liqueurs)
- A timer or hourglass (for drama)
- Your most sentimental friends
The Gratitude Guidelines:
- Take turns going around the circle sharing what you’re thankful for
- Here’s the catch: you have to take a drink for every category of thankfulness:
- Thankful for a person: 1 sip
- Thankful for an experience: 1 sip
- Thankful for a material possession: 2 sips (we’re judging, but lovingly)
- Thankful for food: Everyone drinks (because same)
- Thankful for the friend group: Everyone takes a shot together
- Twist: If someone gets too sappy (crying, excessive hugging), they take a “feelings shot”
- If someone mentions their ex, everyone else drinks to cope with the awkwardness
Advanced Rules:
- No Repeat Rule: Can’t say something someone else already said—penalty shot if you do
- The Deep Dive: Pick a “gratitude guru” who can challenge players to elaborate on their answers
- Generic Alert: If your gratitude is too vague (“I’m thankful for everything”), everyone boos and you drink twice
The Best Part: This game somehow manages to be both hilarious and actually touching. You’ll laugh, you might cry, and you’ll definitely remember why you love these weirdos.
3. Stuffing Face Flip Cup: The Carb-Loading Championship
The Messy History
Flip cup has been the unofficial sport of house parties since the 1980s, but the Friendsgiving version adds the ultimate challenge: playing while full of carbs. It’s like regular flip cup, but your turkey coma works against you. Genius? Absolutely. Wise? Debatable.
How to Flip Your Way to Glory
What You’ll Need:
- Plastic cups in fall colors
- A long table (your dining table works perfectly)
- Teams of 4-6 people
- Beer, hard cider, or wine (rosé is acceptable for Friendsgiving)
- The Special Ingredient: Small portions of Friendsgiving sides on plates
The Rules That’ll Ruin Your Diet:
- Teams line up on opposite sides of the table
- Each player has a cup filled 1/4 with their drink AND a small plate of Friendsgiving food
- Here’s the Friendsgiving chaos: Before you can drink, you must take a bite of food
- Take a bite, drink your beverage, then flip your cup
- Once your cup successfully lands upside down, tap the table and the next player goes
- First team to flip all cups wins
Food Suggestions (Keep portions small!):
- Mini dinner rolls
- A spoonful of stuffing
- Cranberry sauce on a cracker
- A forkful of mashed potatoes
- Green bean (singular, we’re not monsters)
- A small piece of pie (for the finals!)
Variations:
- Easy Mode: Just the drink, no food required
- Hard Mode: Players must state what they’re eating before taking their bite
- Chaos Mode: Foods are randomly assigned so you don’t know what you’re getting
Warning: This game is messy. Have napkins ready and maybe don’t wear your nicest sweater. Cranberry sauce stains are real and they’re relentless.
4. Pilgrim’s Progress: A Thanksgiving Obstacle Course
The Historical Hilarity
This game is a relatively new addition to the Friendsgiving canon, inspired by those ridiculous obstacle course shows on TV. Someone had the brilliant idea: what if we made drunk people navigate challenges while carrying drinks? The result is chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly competitive.
How to Embark on Your Journey
Setup:
- Create 5-7 stations around your party space
- Each station has a challenge and a drink penalty
- Orange Solo cups or fall-themed cups
- A timer
- Your most creative (and tipsy) friends to design challenges
Sample Obstacle Stations:
Station 1: The Mayflower Balance
- Walk across a line of tape while balancing a cup on your head
- Spill it? Drink and restart
Station 2: Corn Maze Confusion
- Navigate around chairs blindfolded while teammates shout directions
- Hit a chair? Everyone drinks
Station 3: Turkey Toss
- Toss small plush turkeys into a bucket from 6 feet away
- Must make it in 3 tries or drink
Station 4: Cranberry Relay
- Transfer cranberries from one bowl to another using only a spoon in your mouth
- Drop one? You know what to do
Station 5: Pie Eating Contest (Mini Version)
- Eat a mini pie or large cupcake without hands
- Last to finish drinks
Station 6: Thankful Trivia
- Answer a Thanksgiving trivia question
- Wrong answer = drink
Station 7: The Finish Line Toast
- Everyone who completed the course toasts together
Scoring Options:
- Time-based: Fastest person wins
- Point-based: Earn points for completing challenges without penalties
- Team relay: Pass off to the next player at each station
Pro Tip: Adjust difficulty based on how drunk everyone is. The drunker the crowd, the easier the challenges should be. Physics gets harder after drink three.
5. Gravy Train: The Card Game That Derails Friendships
The Backstory of Betrayal
Card drinking games have existed since someone invented both cards and alcohol (we’re guessing somewhere around 800 AD in China, but the drinking part came later). The Gravy Train version adds Thanksgiving-themed chaos to the classic format, with rules that’ll have your friends plotting revenge before dessert.
How to Ride the Gravy Train
What You’ll Need:
- Standard deck of playing cards
- Drinks for everyone
- A “gravy boat” (central drinking vessel—an actual gravy boat is hilarious)
- Friendship that can survive betrayal
The Conductor’s Rules:
Card Values:
- Ace: “Abundance” – Pick someone to drink
- 2: “Two Turkeys” – You and a person of your choice drink
- 3: “Three Sides” – Make a rule (examples: “no pointing,” “can’t say ‘drink,'” “speak in accent”)
- 4: “Four Seasons” – All girls drink (or guys, rotate each round)
- 5: “Five Kernels” – Person to your left drinks
- 6: “Six Geese” – Person to your right drinks
- 7: “Seventh Heaven” – Everyone reaches for the sky, last person drinks
- 8: “Plate Mate” – Pick a drinking buddy who drinks every time you do
- 9: “Nine Lives” – Make up a rhyme, go around circle, first to fail drinks
- 10: “Ten Commandments” – Categories (types of pie, Thanksgiving foods, etc.)
- Jack: “Jack-o’-Lantern” – (Wrong holiday, everyone drinks for the confusion)
- Queen: “Questions” – Ask someone a question, they must respond with a question, first to fail drinks
- King: “King’s Gravy” – Pour some of your drink into the gravy boat. Last king drinks the whole thing!
House Rules:
- Broken Rule: If you break a rule that’s been made, drink
- Wrong Card Name: If you forget what a card means, drink while someone explains
- The Wishbone: If you draw the same card as the previous player, initiate a thumb war—loser drinks
Strategy Tips:
- Save your hardest drinks for the gravy boat potential
- Make rules that you know your friends will struggle with
- The “plate mate” card is either a blessing or a curse depending on who you pick
6. Baste the Turkey: Thanksgiving Bingo Meets Chaos
The Origins of Organized Mayhem
Drinking bingo has been a party staple since someone realized that adding alcohol to literally any game makes it better. The Friendsgiving version incorporates all those predictable moments that happen at every gathering, turning your party’s clichés into drinking opportunities.
How to Play and Win (Mostly Just Drink)
Setup:
- Create bingo cards with Friendsgiving scenarios (template below)
- Bingo daubers or markers
- Drinks for everyone
- A keen eye for your friends’ predictable behavior
Sample Bingo Scenarios:
| Someone burns something | Politics mentioned (everyone groans) | “This isn’t as good as my mom’s” | Someone takes a food pic | Someone mentions diet starting Monday | | Debate about best pie | Someone drunk texts an ex | Arguments about Black Friday | “I’m so full” (still eating) | Discussion of previous Friendsgiving | | Someone falls asleep | Heated game argument | Someone spills a drink | Couples fight | Pet steals food | | Nostalgic story about college | Someone orders pizza at midnight | FREE SPACE (everyone drinks) | “Remember when…” | Someone cries (happy or sad) | | Leftover negotiation | Someone breaks something | Thanksgiving movie debate | Group photo demanded | “Next year we should…” |
The Bingo Rules:
- When a scenario happens, mark your card and take a drink
- First to get BINGO (full row, column, or diagonal) chooses someone to finish their drink
- First to get “blackout” (full card) wins and can assign “truth or drink” to anyone
- If something happens that’s not on the card but should be, everyone votes—if approved, everyone drinks
Advanced Play:
- Double or Nothing: If two scenarios happen simultaneously, everyone drinks twice
- Combo Bonus: If three scenarios from your card happen within 5 minutes, you can make a rule
- Near Miss: If you’re one space away from bingo and that scenario happens, give out two drinks
Creating Custom Cards:
- Personalize based on your friend group’s quirks
- Include inside jokes (the more specific, the funnier)
- Print multiple versions so everyone has different cards
7. Mashed or Smashed: The Taste Test Challenge
The Tipsy Tradition
Blind taste tests have been around forever, but adding alcohol and competitive Friendsgiving spirit takes this classic to new levels. This game emerged from those “guess what’s in the dish” moments that happen at every potluck, except now there are stakes. Delicious, boozy stakes.
How to Test Your Taste Buds (and Tolerance)
What You’ll Need:
- Blindfolds or scarves
- Small portions of various Friendsgiving foods
- Shot glasses
- Different drinks for penalties
- Plates, forks, and your competitive spirit
Round 1: Food Roulette
- Blindfold a player
- Feed them a small bite of a Friendsgiving dish
- They have 10 seconds to guess what it is
- Wrong guess = take a drink
- Correct guess = assign a drink to someone else
- Completely wild guess = everyone drinks from secondhand embarrassment
Sample Foods:
- Regular mashed potatoes vs. sweet potato
- Different pie fillings (pumpkin, pecan, apple)
- Various cranberry preparations
- Different bread types
- Mystery casseroles (everyone brought one, right?)
Round 2: Drink Detective
- Same blindfold situation
- Taste three different alcoholic beverages
- Must guess what they’re drinking (beer, wine, cider, etc.)
- Wrong guess = finish the drink
- Right guess = you’re safe!
Round 3: The Combo Challenge
- Taste a food AND a drink
- Guess both correctly or drink
- Bonus: Guess if they pair well together
Variations:
- Team Mode: Teams consult before guessing
- Speed Round: 5-second timer for chaos
- Host’s Choice: The host picks the most challenging items
- Leftover Mystery: Use actual leftovers from the meal (cold stuffing hits different)
Safety Notes:
- Know everyone’s allergies before this game!
- Have water available for palate cleansing
- Start with easy items and get harder as the night goes on
- No mystery hot sauces unless you hate your friends
Pro Tip: The drunker everyone gets, the funnier their guesses become. “Is this… childhood dreams and regret?” No, Sarah, it’s sweet potato casserole.
Essential Friendsgiving Drinking Game Supplies Shopping List
Make your prep easy with this comprehensive supply checklist:
Basic Necessities:
- Variety pack of plastic cups (orange, brown, clear)
- Shot glasses set
- Ping pong balls
- Playing cards
- Markers for labeling cups
Drinks:
- Fall beer variety pack
- Hard cider selection
- Wine for fall
- Liquor for shots
Decorations & Atmosphere:
- Thanksgiving table runner
- LED candles (safer when drunk)
- Fall garland
- String lights
Game Supplies:
- Timer or hourglass
- Bingo cards and daubers
- Blindfolds
- Small prize decorations
Safety & Comfort:
- Large pack of napkins
- Electrolyte drink mix
- Snack variety pack
- Water bottles
Pro Tips for Friendsgiving Drinking Game Success
Safety First, Turkey Second
- Arrange rideshares or designated drivers BEFORE the party starts
- Keep water stations set up throughout your space
- Have actual food available at all times (not just drinking game portions)
- Create a “chill zone” for anyone who needs a break from the games
- Know your friends’ limits and watch out for each other
- Keep pain reliever and antacids on hand
Setting the Perfect Friendsgiving Vibe
- Create a Friendsgiving playlist (mix of autumn jams and throwbacks)
- Dim the overhead lights—everyone looks better in string light glow
- Set up a photo backdrop area (drunk photo booth = tomorrow’s entertainment)
- Have board games available as backup activities
- Prep a “drunk food” station for later (pizza rolls, anyone?)
Making Your Games More Inclusive
- Offer non-alcoholic versions of every game
- Have sparkling cider, mocktails, and fancy sodas for non-drinkers
- Never pressure anyone to drink more than they’re comfortable with
- Include games that don’t require drinking for people to participate
- Remember: a good host makes EVERYONE feel welcome
Avoiding Friendsgiving Disasters
- Set house rules about topics to avoid (if politics killed Thanksgiving, don’t bring it to Friendsgiving)
- Have a “cut-off time” for drinking games so everyone can sober up
- Prep food the day before so you’re not stressed hosting
- Invite at least one responsible friend (every group has one)
- Take pictures throughout the night—future you will want memories (or blackmail material)
The Ultimate Friendsgiving Timeline
- 6:00 PM: Guests arrive, light drinking and mingling
- 7:00 PM: Dinner served (real food is crucial)
- 8:00 PM: Start with lighter games (Thankful Shots, Bingo)
- 9:00 PM: Ramp up to active games (Turkey Pong, Flip Cup)
- 10:00 PM: Mellow out with card games and taste tests
- 11:00 PM: Transition to chill hangout mode
- Midnight: Pizza/late-night snacks appear
- 1:00 AM: Rideshares deployed
Wrapping Up Your Epic Friendsgiving
These seven Friendsgiving drinking games are guaranteed to transform your gathering from a simple dinner party into an annual tradition your friends will beg to attend. Whether you’re sinking shots in Turkey Pong, sharing gratitude between sips, or blindly guessing what mystery casserole Linda brought, these games create the perfect blend of competition, laughter, and genuine connection.
The beauty of Friendsgiving is that it’s YOUR holiday—no family obligations, no guilt about seconds (or thirds), and definitely no judgment about playing drinking games before, during, and after dinner. It’s about celebrating the family you chose, the friends who’ve become your people, and the fact that you survived another year without killing each other.
So this November, skip the stress and embrace the mess. Set up your Turkey Pong table, prep your bingo cards, fill your gravy boat, and get ready for a night of unforgettable moments. Just maybe have some aspirin and Gatorade ready for tomorrow—because the only thing better than Friendsgiving is Friendsgiving leftovers, even if you have to eat them through a slight hangover.
Happy Friendsgiving, and may your cups be full and your hearts be fuller!
Remember to always drink responsibly. Arrange safe transportation for all guests, ensure everyone has access to water and food, and never pressure anyone to drink. The only thing that should be roasted at Friendsgiving is the turkey.