Rules of the
Showdown
Take turns, draw cards, and do what they say. That's it. The game handles itself.
The basics
2–20 players
Works best with 4+. More players, more fun.
One phone each
Everyone joins on their own device. No app, no signup.
36-card deck
Shuffled fresh every game. Reshuffles automatically when it runs out.
Play until you can't
No winner. No end condition. Play until you decide to stop.
How a turn works
1 Draw
The active player taps to draw a card from the deck.
2 Read
The card is revealed to everyone. Read it out loud.
3 Do it
Follow the card. Some trigger live events across all phones.
4 Pass
End the turn. Play moves clockwise to the next player.
Card types
36 cards across 10 types. Every deck is shuffled fresh.
- Caught Lacking If you checked your phone in the last 5 minutes, take 2 sips. If not, pick someone who did.
- Photo Evidence If you have posted a story tonight, take 2 sips. If not, give 1 sip to someone who has.
- Bad Timing If you were the last person to arrive, take 2 sips. If not, give 2 to them.
- Vendetta Give 3 sips to someone who has personally wronged you tonight.
- Receipt Check Give 2 sips to the person with the most suspicious recent search history.
- Group Debt Give 1 sip to someone who owes you a favor.
- Main Character Give 2 sips to whoever has talked the most since the game started.
- Silent Treatment Give 2 sips to the quietest player.
- Drinking Buddy Pick a player. They drink whenever you drink for the rest of the game.
- Bad Investment Pick a player. For the next 3 turns, when they receive sips, you take 1 and they take the rest.
- Toilet Tax Anyone who has gone to the bathroom since the game started drinks 1 sip.
- Table Read Everyone points at the person most likely to start drama by accident. They drink 2 sips.
- Check-In Everyone drinks 1 sip. Anyone who says "I'm fine" drinks 1 more.
- Bathroom Pass Until your next turn, anyone who leaves the room takes 2 sips when they return.
- No Names Until your next turn, anyone who says another player's name drinks 1 sip.
- Left Hand Until your next turn, everyone must drink with their non-dominant hand. Mess up: 1 sip.
- Truth or Drink Who here would you least trust with your phone unlocked? Answer or drink 2 sips.
- Private Tab What is one thing in your search history you would rather not explain? Answer or drink 2 sips.
- Soft Spot Who here could probably talk you into a bad decision? Answer or drink 2 sips.
- Last Lie What is the most recent lie you told? Answer or drink 2 sips.
- Bad Taste What is something you like that this group would judge you for? Answer or drink 2 sips.
- Do It Let the group choose your next profile picture pose. Do the pose or drink 3 sips.
- Public Statement Give a 10-second apology for something you are not sorry for, or drink 3 sips.
- Voice Note Send a harmless voice note to someone chosen by the group, or drink 3 sips.
- Compliment Trap Give the player on your left a very specific compliment, or drink 2 sips.
- Most Likely To Vote: who would be the worst person to get stuck in an elevator with? Most votes drinks 2 sips. You have 30 seconds.
- Group Chat Risk Vote: who would be the biggest liability in a shared group chat? Most votes drinks 2 sips. You have 30 seconds.
- Money Problem Vote: who would be the worst person to lend money to? Most votes drinks 2 sips. You have 30 seconds.
- Hot Take Say a hot take about food, music, dating, or fashion. Majority down: drink 2 sips. You have 20 seconds.
- Explain Yourself Make a claim about yourself. If the group does not believe you, drink 2 sips. You have 20 seconds.
- Dice Off Roll the dice. Odd: you drink that many sips. Even: give them out.
- High Roll Everyone rolls. Lowest roll drinks 3 sips.
- Lucky Number Pick a number from 1 to 6, then roll. Hit it and give 3 sips. Miss it and take 1 sip.
- Slow Fingers A button appears on every phone. Last one to tap takes 3 sips. 8 seconds.
- Dead Zone Same deal, shorter fuse. Last tap takes 4 sips. 6 seconds.
- Panic Button A button appears on every phone. Last one to tap takes 2 sips. 5 seconds.
Interactive events
Some cards trigger live events that happen simultaneously on everyone's phone.
Tap events
A big tap button appears on every player's screen at the same time. The last person to tap loses and drinks.
Vote events
A prompt appears on everyone's phone. For Most Likely To, players vote for a person — most votes drinks. For Hot Take, players vote yes or no — majority rules.
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone need their own phone? +
Yes — each player joins on their own device. That's what makes tap events and voting work across the group simultaneously.
What happens when the deck runs out? +
It reshuffles automatically and keeps going. The game only ends when you decide it does.
Can you play without alcohol? +
Absolutely. A sip is whatever your group agrees it is. Water, soda, juice — it works either way.
Can the host play too? +
Yes. The host is a regular player who also has the ability to start the game and skip stuck turns.