Waterfall Drinking Game
Waterfall is the rule where everyone drinks at the same time, and you cannot stop until the person before you stops. It is best known as the Ace card in Kings Cup, but plenty of groups play it as a card game of its own.
Below you will find how a waterfall works, then a full Waterfall card game you can play with nothing but a deck of cards and a drink for each player.
- Players
- 3-10
- You need
- A deck of cards, Drinks for everyone
How to Play Waterfall
How a waterfall works: One player starts drinking. The player to their left starts next, then the next player, all the way around the circle. Nobody can stop drinking until the person who started before them stops. The starter can stop whenever they like, so the last person in the chain drinks the longest.
The Waterfall card game:
Setup: Shuffle the deck and spread it face-down in a circle or a loose pile in the middle of the table. Players take turns drawing one card.
- Ace: Waterfall. You start, and the chain runs around the circle.
- 2 to 5: Take that many sips.
- 6 to 10: Hand out that many sips, split however you like.
- Jack: Everyone to your left takes a sip.
- Queen: Everyone to your right takes a sip.
- King: Make a rule that lasts until the next King is drawn. Break it and you drink.
Play until the deck runs out, then shuffle and go again if you want another round.
Tips
- Agree on the direction before the first Ace so nobody argues mid-chain.
- Starters, keep it short. A long waterfall is only funny for the first player.
- Use a light drink. Waterfalls stack up when Aces come out close together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Waterfall mean in a drinking game?
Everyone drinks at once in a chain. You start when the person before you starts, and you cannot stop until they stop. The player who started the waterfall decides when it ends.
Is Waterfall the same as Kings Cup?
Waterfall is one rule inside Kings Cup, tied to the Ace. Many groups also play Waterfall as its own card game, like the version above, where more cards trigger drinks.
Can you play Waterfall without alcohol?
Yes. Soda, juice, or water work just as well. The fun is in the chain, not the drink.