Dice Drinking Games: 7 That Need Nothing But a Roll

Cards get soggy, cups go missing, and somebody always forgets the rules. Dice are different. Two dice fit in a pocket, and a roll is the only randomizer a lot of great party games ever needed.

This is a list of seven dice drinking games that run on a roll and almost nothing else. Some need real dice, one rolls them for you on a phone, and a couple can even be played with a single free dice app.

Dice games have been the backbone of drinking games for generations because the rules stay short and the outcome is always someone else's fault. Pull up a chair, pour a round, and pick one.

1. NightDare (the dice game that rolls for you)

NightDare is the dice game on this list that you do not need dice to play. Everyone joins from their own phone with a code, you tap to roll, and the game moves your totem down a snake-shaped track. Land on a pentagram and the Dare Master deals a dare or a minigame.

No dice to find, no score to track, no one stuck running the game. It is free, and you can start a game in about a minute. Best for: anyone whose dice are currently lost in a couch cushion.

2. Three Man

Roll two dice to pick the first "Three Man." From there, a 7 means the player to the left drinks, an 11 means the player to the right drinks, and any roll with a 3 means the Three Man drinks. Doubles let you hand out sips to other players.

You need two dice and drinks. Three Man is one of the oldest dice party games out there, and you can see why it has stuck around on the list of classic dice games. Best for: a table of four or more who want a steady, chatty pace.

3. Seven-Eleven-Doubles

The roller shakes two dice in a cup and slams it down. A sum of 7, a sum of 11, or any doubles means the roller picks someone to drink. That person then races the roller, chugging while the roller sets up for another roll, and stops only when the roller misses.

You need two dice, a cup to shake them in, and a strong sense of pace. It is loud and fast, the kind of game that takes over a room. Best for: a high-energy group that likes chaos.

4. Ship, Captain, and Crew

Each player rolls five dice and gets up to three rolls to set a 6 (the ship), a 5 (the captain), and a 4 (the crew). Once you have all three, the remaining two dice are your score. Highest score wins the round, and the lowest score drinks.

You need five dice. It has a little poker-style strategy, which makes it a nice change of pace from pure-luck games. Best for: a group that likes a bit of thinking between rounds.

5. LCR (drinking edition)

Left Center Right is usually played for chips or quarters, but the drinking version swaps in sips. Roll three dice marked L, C, and R. An L passes a drink left, an R passes it right, a C sends one to the center pot, and a dot keeps it.

You need three LCR dice, which you can buy cheap or make with stickers on regular dice. The elimination drama at the end is the whole point. Best for: a group that loves watching someone slowly run out of luck.

6. Beer Die

Beer Die turns the dice into projectiles. Two teams stand at opposite ends of a table and take turns tossing a die high in an arc, trying to either sink it in the other team's cup or land it on their half. Sinks and plinks both cost drinks.

You need one die, four cups, a long table, and a willingness to retrieve a die from the floor a hundred times. Best for: a competitive four with a table and some space.

7. Sixes

Assign every player a number from one to six. Take turns rolling a single die. Whoever's number comes up drinks. If you have fewer than six people, double up numbers or roll two dice and call out both.

You need one die. It is the simplest game on this list and a great warmup while you decide what to play next. Best for: the gap between arriving and getting a real game going.

No dice? No problem

If your place is dice-free tonight, a free dice-roller app on someone's phone covers every game on this list except Beer Die (which needs the physical toss). Or skip the dice entirely and let a game roll for you: NightDare handles the dice and the dares so you just tap and react.

For a wider net when you are stocking the night, our roundup of free drinking games on your phone mixes dice, cards, and no-equipment options. And if it is just two of you rolling, the two-player picks in drinking games for 2 people scale down perfectly.

A quick word on playing smart

Dice games can pour fast, especially Seven-Eleven-Doubles and LCR, where one bad roll stacks several drinks on a single person. Agree on sip sizes before you start, keep water on the table, and let anyone sit out a round. The NIAAA's college drinking guide is a solid, straightforward reference if you want the basics on pacing.

The bottom line

Two dice and a table is enough to run a whole night, and a phone is enough to skip even that. Pick a game, roll, and play. If you want the dice handled for you while you and your friends race, dare, and laugh, NightDare rolls the bones so you do not have to.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best dice drinking game?

For a no-equipment night, NightDare rolls the dice on your phone and runs dares between turns. For a classic table game, Three Man and Seven-Eleven-Doubles are the two most-played dice drinking games for groups.

Can you play dice drinking games without real dice?

Yes. A free dice-roller app works for Three Man, Seven-Eleven-Doubles, Ship Captain and Crew, LCR, and Sixes. NightDare rolls for you in the game itself, so you never need dice or an app.

How many dice do you need for a drinking game?

It depends on the game. Sixes and Three Man need one to two dice, Ship Captain and Crew needs five, LCR needs three special dice, and Beer Die needs one die plus four cups. NightDare needs zero, since the phone does the rolling.

Are dice drinking games free?

The rules are free and a set of dice costs a couple of dollars, or nothing if you use a free app. NightDare is free to play, with an optional supporter tip that helps fund the physical board game.