Game of Thrones Drinking Game

Pick an episode and agree on the rules before you press play. Take a small sip whenever one of the show’s typical moments happens – a raven with news, a house banner on screen, a scheme at court. The rules work across every season and give nothing away about the plot.

You need a screen, the show and a drink each. Since an episode is nearly twice as long as a sitcom’s, one or two are enough for an evening.

One sip when …

• someone on screen drinks wine – drink with them.
• a raven delivers a message or is sent off.
• a house’s sigil or banner fills the screen.
• someone is announced with their long list of titles.
• someone talks about winter, the cold or the far North.
• Tyrion makes a dry remark.
• someone kneels or swears an oath of loyalty.
• a direwolf is on screen.
• someone leans over a map making plans.
• a conversation is secretly overheard.
• an old prophecy or legend is mentioned.
• someone is called a bastard.

Two sips when …

• a dragon appears.
• someone is betrayed.
• a battle begins.
• there’s a great feast.
• someone switches sides.

Finish your glass (or three sips) when …

• an important character dies.
• there’s a wedding.

Variations

• Light version: only use the two- and three-sip rules. Keep the wine rule, though – it belongs to the show.
• Alcohol-free version: play with grape juice instead of wine, iced tea or lemonade – or keep a tally. Whoever has the most marks at the end picks the next episode.
• Pick a house: everyone chooses a noble house and drinks whenever someone from that house loses something – a battle, an argument or an ally.
• Bets: before the episode, everyone guesses who gets the most screen time. Whoever is right hands out sips.

Tips

Battle episodes trigger lots of rules at once – drop the one-sip rules for those. If someone is watching for the first time, skip the bets so nobody accidentally gives anything away.