What you need
Nothing but a group of people sitting in a circle and a drink each. Four or more players; it works with a large group too, although turns come round more slowly. The game is also known as “I’ve Never” or “Ten Fingers”.
This page covers the drinking version, for adults only. Play it only with people of legal drinking age (21 in the United States), never pressure anyone to drink or to answer, keep every drink to a small sip, have water on the table between rounds, and never drive afterwards. The ten-fingers version below needs no alcohol at all and is just as fun.
Setup
Everyone sits in a circle with their drink, and in the fingers version, holds up both hands with all ten fingers raised. Pick a first player any way you like: the youngest, the person who arrived last, a spin of a bottle.
How to play
- The first player says a true statement that begins with “Never have I ever…”, naming something they have not done: “Never have I ever been on a cruise.”
- Every player who has done it takes a sip (or puts down one finger).
- Play passes to the left, and the next player makes a statement.
Good statements are things that some, but not all, of the group have done. A statement nobody drinks to is wasted; one only one person has done is a fun way to start a story.
Common house rules
- Nobody drinks, you drink. If no one has done the thing, the player who said it takes the sip. This stops dull or obviously safe statements.
- Tell the story. If only one person drinks, they explain why.
- Honesty. The game only works if people answer truthfully, so agree that anyone can pass on a topic they do not want to discuss.
Scoring and winning
In the drinking version there is no winner; the game ends when the group moves on. In the ten fingers version (some groups use five), you put a finger down each time you have done the thing, and you are out when all your fingers are down. The last player with a finger raised wins.
Common variants
- Ten fingers, no alcohol. Fingers replace drinks entirely. This is the version usually played by people under 21.
- Five fingers. A shorter game.
- Inside Kings Cup. Some groups play a round of Never Have I Ever when a jack is drawn in Kings Cup.
- Statement cards. Commercial decks and websites offer ready-written statements if the group runs out of ideas.
Tips for first games
- Agree on the tone before you start. The game can quickly turn personal or sexual; with colleagues or new friends, keep it to travel, food, school and silly habits.
- Let anyone pass without explaining. The game is for laughing, not for putting someone on the spot.
- Use fingers instead of sips once the group has had a drink or two. The game keeps going and nobody needs to drink more.
Statement ideas to start
- Never have I ever broken a bone.
- Never have I ever sung karaoke.
- Never have I ever been to another continent.
- Never have I ever fallen asleep in a movie theater.
- Never have I ever forgotten a friend’s birthday.
Frequently asked questions
Do you drink if you have done it or if you haven’t? If you have done it. The person speaking names something they have never done.
What if nobody has done it? Under the common house rule, the person who made the statement drinks.
How do you play Never Have I Ever without alcohol? Each player holds up ten fingers and puts one down for each thing they have done. The last person with a finger up wins.
How many people do you need? Four or more is best. With fewer, there are not enough answers to make statements interesting.
