Drunk Nerd

Category: Drinking Games

The best drinking games for movie nights, board game sessions, video games, and parties. Rules, variations, and tips for responsible fun.

  • The Ultimate Minecraft Drinking Game

    The Ultimate Minecraft Drinking Game

    For the Movie, the Game, or Both. May Your Liver Respawn.

    Whether you’re watching Jack Black craft his way through the Overworld in A Minecraft Movie (2025) or mining diamonds with your squad at 2 AM, we’ve got the drinking rules to make your blocky adventure even more legendary. This guide covers both the film AND the video game—because sometimes you need to do both in one glorious evening.

    ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Pace yourself. Unlike Minecraft, you only have one life. Drink water. Eat snacks. Don’t be a zombie.

    🎬 Part One: A Minecraft Movie (2025)

    The long-awaited adaptation has arrived, and it’s exactly the chaotic, cube-filled fever dream we deserved. Jason Momoa punches things. Jack Black is Steve. Jennifer Coolidge falls in love with a villager. This is not a drill. Grab your drink and let’s go.

    🍺 Take a Sip When…

    • Someone says “craft” or “crafting”
    • A recognizable Minecraft mob appears on screen (zombie, skeleton, creeper, spider, etc.)
    • Garrett (Jason Momoa) references his “Garbage Man” gaming past
    • Anyone breaks a block or places a block
    • You hear the iconic Minecraft sound effects (block breaking, item pickup, etc.)
    • Steve (Jack Black) does something chaotically wholesome
    • Henry (the high schooler) shows off his creativity
    • Dawn mentions her mobile petting zoo backstory
    • Someone looks confused by the cubic physics of the Overworld
    • A biome changes (forest to desert, plains to snow, etc.)
    • Anyone opens a chest
    • A portal is shown or mentioned

    🥃 Take a Shot When…

    • Jack Black sings (“I Feel Alive” counts as one shot, not per lyric—we’re not monsters)
    • A CREEPER EXPLODES (the sacred law)
    • The Nether appears on screen for the first time
    • Malgosha (Kate McKinnon’s piglin villain) does something unhinged
    • “Pigstep” plays during the Nether’s Got Talent sequence
    • Jennifer Coolidge’s Vice Principal Marlene has a romantic moment with the villager
    • You spot a Chicken Jockey
    • Steve’s wolf Dennis does something heroic
    • C418’s original Minecraft music plays (title track, “Dragon Fish,” etc.)

    🍻 Finish Your Drink When…

    • Someone dies and respawns
    • The heroes finally defeat Malgosha
    • The Orb of Dominance is used to open a portal
    • The gang makes it back to Idaho (or wherever home is)
    • Sequel bait appears (we all know it’s coming in 2027)

    🎮 Part Two: Minecraft (The Video Game)

    These rules work for solo survival sessions, multiplayer servers, or watching your friend lose everything in lava. Adjust difficulty based on your tolerance—and your world’s difficulty setting.

    🍺 Take a Sip When…

    • You mine coal or iron ore
    • You kill a zombie, skeleton, or spider
    • You eat any food item
    • You craft something at a crafting table
    • Night falls and the music changes
    • You open a chest (natural spawn or yours)
    • You hear the “oof” sound
    • You pick up a dropped item
    • You place a torch
    • You jump over a one-block gap (we all do it constantly)

    🥃 Take a Shot When…

    • A CREEPER EXPLODES (again, sacred law—this rule is universal)
    • You find diamonds
    • You die in lava and lose your stuff
    • An Enderman stares at you (MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT WHILE DRINKING)
    • You fall into a ravine or cave unexpectedly
    • You enter the Nether
    • You find a dungeon spawner
    • A Skeleton snipes you from somewhere you can’t see
    • You accidentally hit your pet dog or cat
    • You find an Ancient City (Deep Dark)

    🍻 Finish Your Drink When…

    • You die and can’t recover your items (they despawned or burned)
    • You defeat the Ender Dragon
    • You defeat the Wither
    • Your entire base burns down or explodes
    • You get the “How Did We Get Here?” achievement (all effects at once—good luck)

    👥 Multiplayer Bonus Rules

    Playing with friends? Add these chaos multipliers:

    • Friendly Fire Penalty: If you accidentally (or “accidentally”) kill another player, finish your drink.
    • The Bed Wars Rule: If someone destroys your bed, they drink. If you die without a bed, you drink.
    • Resource Thief: If someone steals from a shared chest, the group votes on whether they drink. Democracy in action.
    • The “STEVE!” Rule: First person to yell “STEVE!” when someone messes up doesn’t have to drink. Everyone else sips.
    • Build Battle: If someone builds something genuinely impressive, toast them. They get to assign a drink to someone.

    🎬🎮 The Ultimate Combo: Movie + Game Night

    For the truly ambitious: Watch the movie first, THEN play the game. Apply both rule sets. The movie rules end when the credits roll—then the game rules take over. We call this “The Overworld Experience.”

    Bonus Combo Rules:

    • If you find something in-game that was in the movie (a biome, mob, item), take a bonus sip and say “THAT WAS IN THE MOVIE.”
    • First person to craft something Jack Black crafted in the movie gets to assign a shot.
    • If someone quotes the movie while playing, everyone else drinks.

    🍺 What to Drink

    Beer Picks:

    • Creeper Green: Any green-hued beer works. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, a matcha beer, or anything with hops so fresh it’s practically neon.
    • Nether Portal Sour: A dark, tart sour beer. Something that makes you question your decisions—just like entering the Nether.
    • Diamond Lager: A crisp, clean pilsner. Refreshing. Rare. You’ve earned it.

    Cocktail Ideas:

    • Potion of Swiftness: Energy drink + vodka + blue curaçao. Glows if you add tonic under blacklight.
    • Lava Bucket: Fireball whiskey + orange juice + grenadine (layered). Handle with care.
    • Golden Apple Cider: Hard apple cider with a splash of goldschläger and honey. Restorative.

    Non-Alcoholic Options:

    Use sparkling water, mocktails, or energy drinks. Same rules apply. Staying hydrated is basically a Regeneration potion.

    ⚙️ Difficulty Settings

    • Peaceful Mode: Skip the shot rules. Sips only. For beginners or those who have work tomorrow.
    • Normal Mode: All rules as written. The intended experience.
    • Hard Mode: Double all sips. Add house rules. No mercy.
    • Hardcore Mode: If you die in-game, you’re done drinking for the night. (Actually, this might be the responsible option.)

    Final Thoughts

    Minecraft is about creativity, exploration, and occasionally panicking when you hear a hissing sound behind you. This drinking game is the same—except the panic is about how full your bladder is. Play smart, drink responsibly, and remember: if you die in the game, you can always respawn. If you die from alcohol poisoning, that’s a different story.

    Now go forth. Mine. Craft. Drink. And may your inventory always have room for one more golden apple.

    🍻 Level up your drinking game. See you in the Overworld.

  • Escape from Tarkov Drinking Game: The “Head, Eyes” Protocol

    Escape from Tarkov Drinking Game: The “Head, Eyes” Protocol

    Quest Type: Drinking Game (Masochistic Difficulty)
    Mana Cost: $$$ (You’ll need quality vodka for this Russian experience)
    Difficulty Rating: END-GAME CONTENT (This Will Break You)
    Player Count: 1-5 (Playing solo is already self-harm, why not add alcohol?)
    Buffs: +5 Emotional Resilience, +10 Camaraderie Through Suffering
    Debuffs: -40 Will to Live, -60 Bank Account (Therapist bills), -100 Sobriety

    The Loading Screen (Welcome to Hell)

    Listen, if Arc Raiders is a “fun” extraction shooter, Escape from Tarkov is what happens when Russian game developers look at the concept of “fun” and say “нет” (that’s “no” for you non-Slavic speakers). This is the Dark Souls of looter shooters, except even Dark Souls lets you respawn without losing all your gear.

    Tarkov finally hit 1.0 on November 15, 2025, after EIGHT YEARS in beta. Eight. Years. That’s longer than some marriages. And you know what? The game is STILL brutally unfair, the learning curve is a vertical wall, and getting “Head, Eyes’d” by a scav you never saw is basically a rite of passage.

    The game just wiped on December 26, 2024, which means everyone’s broke, desperate, and running around with garbage-tier gear. It’s like The Hunger Games but with more Slav squatting and Adidas tracksuits. Perfect drinking game territory.

    Check it—Tarkov has this reputation where experienced players will literally hunt new players for sport, extract campers exist to ruin your day, and the AI scavs have better aim than most CS:GO pros. Adding alcohol to this equation is like adding gasoline to a dumpster fire, but hey, that’s why we’re here.

    Nerd Tip: Tarkov released the 1.0 version with a new Battle Pass system that DOESN’T wipe. So at least when you black out and lose your entire stash for the 47th time, your Battle Pass progress is safe. Small victories.

    The Lore (Why Tarkov Exists to Hurt You)

    In the Escape from Tarkov universe, a fictional Russian city called Tarkov has been sealed off after corporate warfare, political conspiracy, and general Slavic chaos turned it into a lawless hellscape. PMCs (Private Military Companies) are trapped inside, fighting over resources while trying to escape.

    The real lore is that Battlestate Games created Tarkov specifically to punish people who thought Call of Duty was “too easy.” The game has:

    • Realistic ballistics (bullets actually matter)
    • Complex medical system (15 different ways to bleed out)
    • Weight-based stamina (your thicc boy can’t sprint)
    • Weapon jamming (your gun WILL betray you at the worst moment)
    • Permadeath for gear (you lose EVERYTHING when you die)

    The drinking game’s lore is simpler: You’re already suffering. Might as well be drunk.

    The Inventory (What You Need to Survive)

    Required:

    • Escape from Tarkov (Available on PC, coming to Steam post-1.0)
    • Vodka – For authenticity. This is a Russian game. Respect the culture.
    • Beer – Your “standard loadout” drink
    • Whiskey/Bourbon – Your “mid-tier” drink
    • Tequila/Shots – Your “oh god I lost everything” drink
    • Water – Hydration is your only friend in Tarkov
    • 1-5 PMCs – Squad recommended because misery loves company
    • Actual Tissues – You WILL cry

    Optional But Necessary:

    • A Stress Ball – For when you get exit camped
    • Backup Monitor – In case you punch the first one
    • Therapy Budget – Seriously, Tarkov is traumatic
    • A Friend Who Doesn’t Play – Someone needs to tell you it’s just a game

    The Walkthrough (The Rules of Engagement)

    CORE RULES: The Baseline Suffering

    1. The Deployment Drink
    Every time you deploy into a raid: Take 1 sip of beer
    Why: You’re entering the Thunderdome. Liquid courage mandatory.

    2. The Survival Sipulator
    Successfully extract with loot: Take 2 sips in celebration
    Why: You ACTUALLY survived Tarkov. That’s worth celebrating.

    3. The Death Tax (CRITICAL RULE)
    Die in raid and lose your gear: Finish your current drink
    Why: Pain. Suffering. The Tarkov way. Your gear is gone. Process it with alcohol.

    4. The Scav Salvation
    Successful scav run (extract with loot): Take 1 sip
    Why: Free gear, free booze. Low risk, low drink.

    DEATH CLASSIFICATIONS: How You Died Matters

    The WAY you die in Tarkov determines your punishment. Tarkov tracks this. So do we.

    5. “Head, Eyes”
    Instantly killed by a headshot you never saw coming: Take 3 sips + shot of vodka
    Why: This is the most Tarkov death possible. You didn’t even get to react. The game just said “you’re dead lol.”

    6. “Head, Jaws”
    Killed by face hitbox (usually through your visor): Take 3 sips
    Why: Your expensive faceshield did NOTHING. Classic Tarkov RNG.

    7. Killed by AI Scav
    AI scav kills you: Take 4 sips + apologize to your squad
    Why: An NPC killed you. Your PMC training is worthless. Shame drink.

    8. Killed by Scav Boss/Guards
    Boss or guards kill you: Take 2 sips (that’s respectable)
    Why: Those guys are BUILT DIFFERENT. Reshala doesn’t miss.

    9. Extract Camped
    Killed at extract by a rat hiding in a bush: Finish drink + take a shot + yell profanities
    Why: This is the most disrespectful way to die in Tarkov. You did all the work. They get all the loot. Rage fuel.

    10. Friendly Fire
    Killed by your own squad: The killer takes 5 sips. You take 2 sympathy sips.
    Why: Squad cohesion is important. Also, your buddy is an idiot.

    11. Bleed Out / Didn’t Heal
    Die to bleeding, hunger, or dehydration: Take 3 sips
    Why: You had 15 different medical items and still died to a light bleed. Skill issue.

    12. Grenade (Your Own)
    Kill yourself with your own grenade: Finish drink + take a shot + leave voice chat for 2 minutes in shame
    Why: You’re a danger to yourself. Everyone needs a break from you.

    GEAR LOSS TRAUMA: The Economic Pain

    Tarkov isn’t just about dying—it’s about WHAT you lose.

    13. Lost a Budget Loadout
    Die with gear worth under 100K rubles: Take 1 sip
    Why: It’s fine. You’re fine. It was cheap gear. Totally fine. (You’re not fine.)

    14. Lost a Mid-Tier Kit
    Die with gear worth 300K-600K rubles: Take 3 sips + shot
    Why: That actually hurt. That was GOOD gear.

    15. Lost a Chad Kit
    Die with gear worth 1M+ rubles (meta armor, meta gun, expensive mods): Finish drink + take 2 shots + sit in silence for 30 seconds
    Why: You just lost tens of thousands of real-world rubles worth of in-game items. Your Slick armor is gone. Your meta M4 is gone. Everything hurts.

    16. Lost a Quest Item
    Die while carrying a critical quest item: Take a shot + cry + take another shot
    Why: You have to do that entire run again. Jaeger laughs at your suffering.

    17. Killed with Found-In-Raid Required Quest Item
    Die carrying a FIR item needed for quests: Finish drink + shot + uninstall the game (then reinstall 10 minutes later)
    Why: You can’t just buy another one. You have to FIND IT AGAIN. The suffering is existential.

    PVP RULES: Player Interactions

    18. Win a PVP Fight
    Kill another PMC: Give out 2 sips to anyone
    Why: You’re a Chad. Share the glory.

    19. Squad Wipe Enemy Team
    Your squad wipes another squad: Everyone takes 1 celebratory sip
    Why: Teamwork makes the dream work. Also those guys are PISSED.

    20. Get Killed by a Pistoling/Naked Runner
    Fully geared, killed by someone with a pistol or zero gear: Finish drink + take 2 shots + change your in-game name out of shame
    Why: You got outplayed by someone with a PACA and a dream. You deserve this.

    21. Survive a 1v3+ Clutch
    Win a 1v3 or greater disadvantage: Everyone else in your squad owes you a shot
    Why: You just pulled off a play that’ll be in your mental highlight reel forever.

    TARKOV-SPECIFIC MECHANICS: The Suffering is Systemic

    22. Gun Jam
    Your gun jams during a firefight: Take 2 sips while yelling at the screen
    Why: Your Tapco SKS betrayed you at the worst possible moment. This is why we can’t have nice things.

    23. Blacked Limb Sprint
    Have to sprint on blacked legs: Take 1 sip per blacked leg per 10 seconds you sprint
    Why: Your PMC is literally destroying his skeleton and you can HEAR IT. Drink through the pain.

    24. Run Out of Stamina Mid-Fight
    Completely drain stamina during PVP: Take 3 sips
    Why: Your heavy loadout + no endurance skill = you’re a sitting duck. Should’ve done more cardio.

    25. Heal Wrong Body Part
    Accidentally use expensive med on wrong limb: Take 1 sip
    Why: You just wasted a Grizzly on a light bleed. Economic illiteracy.

    26. Forgot to Insure Gear
    Die and realize you forgot to insure: Take a shot
    Why: That gear is GONE gone. No Prapor message. No second chances.

    MAP-SPECIFIC RULES: Geography is Pain

    27. Factory Speedrun
    Die within 2 minutes on Factory: Take 2 sips
    Why: You spawned, heard gunfire, died. That’s Factory, baby.

    28. Woods Sniper Death
    Die to sniper on Woods with no idea where they were: Take 3 sips + shot
    Why: Could’ve been anywhere. You’ll never know. The paranoia is the real damage.

    29. Interchange Extract Camp (Emercom/Railway)
    Die at Interchange extract: Finish drink + leave Discord in anger
    Why: Of COURSE there was a rat. There’s ALWAYS a rat at Emercom.

    30. Reserve D-2 Bunker Betrayal
    Die inside D-2 bunker: Take a shot
    Why: That’s just a murder hallway. What were you thinking?

    31. Labs Entry
    Die on Labs (the hardest map): Standard death rules apply BUT all drinks are doubled
    Why: You paid 200K+ rubles for a Labs keycard. The failure costs more.

    TRADER HUMILIATION: The Economic System

    32. Can’t Afford to Heal
    Can’t afford Therapist’s healing fee: Take 2 sips of shame
    Why: You’re SO broke you can’t even pay to un-break your legs. Rock bottom.

    33. Therapist Bill Over 100K
    Healing costs over 100K rubles: Take a shot
    Why: You got DESTROYED out there. Every limb was blacked. Your head was a sieve.

    34. Failed to Complete Jaeger Quest
    Fail a Jaeger quest objective: Take 1 sip per attempt
    Why: Jaeger’s quests are designed by someone who hates humanity. “Get 3 headshots while dehydrated from 80+ meters on a Tuesday during a full moon.”

    THE WIPE SPECIAL RULES

    35. First Raid of a New Wipe
    Your very first raid after wipe: Everyone takes a shot together before deploying
    Why: New wipe, new pain. Let’s start this fresh hell properly.

    36. Hit Level 15 (Flea Market)
    First person in squad to hit lvl 15: Everyone else owes them a shot
    Why: Flea market access is HUGE. They grinded for this.

    37. Max Traders
    First person to max a trader: They assign 5 drinks total to the squad
    Why: That’s dedication. They’ve suffered enough quests to earn this.

    The Pro-Strat (Nerd Tips for Drunk PMCs)

    🎮 Nerd Tip #1: The “Rat Run” Strategy
    When you’re 5 drinks deep, switch to pure rat gameplay. No PVP. Hide in bushes. Loot stashes. Extract immediately. Your drunk brain cannot handle PVP but it CAN handle being a sneaky loot goblin. This is called “adaptive gameplay” (cowardice).

    🎮 Nerd Tip #2: Scav Runs Are Your Safety Net
    Use your scav runs as “water breaks” where you only drink water. Free loadout + hydration break = you might actually survive the night. Plus, scav runs are lower stress. Your drunk PMC needs the break.

    🎮 Nerd Tip #3: The Insurance Scam Becomes Chaos
    When drunk, you WILL forget what you insured. Prapor’s messages the next day become like Christmas morning but all the presents are mediocre AKs and busted armor. It’s a surprise every time!

    🎮 Nerd Tip #4: Avoid Labs Entirely
    Do NOT run Labs while drunk during this drinking game. Labs is expensive, full of cheaters and sweaty players, and will absolutely bankrupt your drunk ass. Reserve that pain for sober you.

    🎮 Nerd Tip #5: Communication is Key (Until It Isn’t)
    Tarkov’s audio is legendarily broken. When drunk, your callouts will devolve from “Enemy, two-story green building, 30 meters northwest” to “HE’S THERE! THE PLACE! SHOOT THE THING!” This is fine. Your squad knows what you mean. Probably.

    🎮 Nerd Tip #6: The Tarkov Drinking Game Paradox
    The drunker you get, the worse you play. The worse you play, the more you drink. The more you drink, the worse you play. This is an infinite loop. The only winning move is to not play (but you’ll play anyway because Tarkov is digital heroin).

    🎮 Nerd Tip #7: Pre-Healing is For Cowards (But Do It Anyway)
    Before a raid, heal all your limbs with Therapist. When you’re drunk and in a firefight, you will NOT remember which limb is which or what med to use. Pre-healing is the difference between success and bleeding out while clicking your Cheese in confusion.

    🎮 Nerd Tip #8: Use Heavy Rocks Glasses
    Like I said with Arc Raiders—heavy-bottomed rocks glasses. When you get Head, Eyes’d for the 8th time and slam your glass down in rage, it won’t shatter. Trust me. I’ve done the field research (read: destroyed glassware).

    Special Game Modes (For the Masochists)

    “Hardcore Mode” (Actually Hardcore)

    If you’re playing during one of Tarkov’s “Hardcore Wipe” events (like the July 2025 one):

    • All drink quantities DOUBLE
    • No flea market = More suffering = More drinks
    • Level 1 traders only = Every death hurts more = More drinks
    • You cannot use scav runs as water breaks
    • Playing this mode is a cry for help

    “Pistol Run Drinking Game”

    • You can ONLY use pistols
    • Every kill: Give out 3 sips
    • Every death: Take only 1 sip (you expected to die)
    • Extract with over 500K in loot: Everyone takes a shot in your honor

    “Factory Speed Dating”

    • Queue only Factory
    • Goal is to survive AND extract 3 times in a row
    • Each failure: Take a shot
    • Success: Everyone else takes a shot
    • This mode lasts 45 minutes maximum or until someone rage quits

    “The Punisher” (Quest Line Drinking)

    • Attempt any of Prapor’s “Punisher” quest line
    • Every failed attempt: Take 2 sips
    • Successful quest turn-in: Give out 5 sips
    • Give up on the quest: Take a shot and acknowledge Prapor has broken you

    The Reality Check (Safety & Sanity)

    Listen, I need to be real with you for a second:

    Tarkov is ALREADY one of the most stressful games ever made. The developers basically designed it to spike your cortisol. Your heart rate WILL increase. You WILL get jump-scared. Adding alcohol to this is like adding a modifier that says “and now you also can’t aim or make good decisions.”

    Real Talk:

    • Modify these rules. If 3 sips feels like too much, make it 1. If shots are too intense, skip them entirely.
    • Hydrate constantly. Tarkov raids can last 40+ minutes. That’s a long time between water breaks.
    • Know when to stop. If you’re too drunk to play, you’re too drunk to drink more. Switch to water, keep playing if you want, but the alcohol part is DONE.
    • Don’t mix drinking with actual anger. Tarkov makes people genuinely mad. If you’re raging, drinking makes it worse. Take a break.
    • This is supposed to be fun. If it stops being fun, change the rules or stop playing.

    Why This Works (The Meta-Analysis)

    Escape from Tarkov is a game about risk, loss, and perseverance. You WILL lose gear. You WILL die to things you couldn’t prevent. You WILL question why you’re playing.

    But here’s the thing—adding a drinking game framework makes all that suffering communal. When your buddy loses his first Slick armor to a head, eyes death, and you’re all taking shots together, it becomes a shared experience instead of isolated pain.

    Tarkov is a game where the stories of your failures are often better than your successes. “Remember when Dave got exit-camped THREE TIMES IN A ROW and just started crying?” becomes legendary squad lore.

    The drinking game doesn’t make Tarkov easier. It makes the inevitable losses more bearable. And honestly, that’s the most Russian thing about this whole experience—confronting suffering with vodka and camaraderie.

    Final Thoughts: Cheeki Breeki

    Escape from Tarkov hit 1.0 after 8 years. The game is FINISHED (sort of). It’s polished (relatively). It’s balanced (debatable). But it’s still the most punishing, unforgiving, brutal extraction shooter on the market.

    Adding alcohol doesn’t fix any of Tarkov’s problems. But it does make you care about them less, which is honestly the closest thing to “fixing” you’re gonna get from Battlestate Games.

    So grab your squad, grab your drinks, and get ready to lose everything you’ve ever loved to a scav named “Bogomolov” who headshots you through a bush with a TOZ.

    This is Tarkov. This is suffering. This is home.

    Cheeki Breeki, you beautiful degenerates. 🍺🔫

    Community Challenge: If your squad completes 5 successful PMC extractions in a row while following all drinking rules, you’re legally allowed to call yourselves “functional alcoholics with good comms.” That’s canon now. I don’t make the rules (I literally just made the rules).

    P.S. – If you’re playing during a wipe and actually manage to hit Kappa container (complete all collector quests) while doing this drinking game, you need to seek professional help. But also, respect. Absolute respect.

  • Arc Raiders Drinking Game: The Speranza Sippin’ Protocol

    Arc Raiders Drinking Game: The Speranza Sippin’ Protocol

    Quest Type: Drinking Game
    Mana Cost: $$ (Beer + Liquor recommended)
    Difficulty Rating: Mid-Game Boss
    Player Count: 1-6 (Solo drinking is valid, squads preferred)
    Buffs: +15 Chaos, +10 Teamwork, -20 Coordination After Hour 2
    Debuffs: -30 Extraction Success Rate, -50 Memory of What Happened

    The Loading Screen (Introduction)

    Listen, Arc Raiders is what happens when Tarkov and The Division had a baby and that baby was raised by the developers who made The Finals. It’s a PvPvE extraction shooter where killer robots have absolutely wrecked Earth and you’re living in an underground city called Speranza (which means “hope” in Italian, and brother, you’ll need that hope after your third wipe).

    The game loop is simple: Go topside. Avoid death by murder-drones. Maybe avoid death by other humans (or don’t, you psycho). Loot everything that isn’t bolted down. Extract before a massive explosion turns you into space dust. Rinse, repeat, get absolutely hammered in the process.

    I’m tellin’ you, this game is PERFECT for a drinking game because matches are exactly 30 minutes, which is the perfect window between “pleasantly buzzed” and “why did I challenge The Queen while wearing a free loadout?”

    Nerd Tip: Arc Raiders has a pet rooster named Scrappy who passively collects materials for you. Name your drinks after him. Every time you take a sip, say “Thanks, Scrappy.” Your squadmates will either love it or mute you. No in between.

    The Lore (Why We’re Getting Drunk in a Post-Apocalypse)

    In the year 2180, mysterious hostile machines called “ARC” (named after their arc-shaped radar signatures because scientists are REAL creative when robots are actively murdering them) descended from space and went full Skynet on humanity. Now we’re all living underground in Speranza like a bunch of mole people with NASA-Punk fashion sense.

    The drinking game’s lore is simpler: You’re Raiders. Raiders need to stay loose. Loose means lubricated. You’re basically doing what your character would do between runs anyway. This is called “method gaming” and I just invented that term.

    Perfect! Arc Raiders just came out and it’s FIRE. Let me write you the ultimate drinking game guide for this Game Awards winner. Gimme a sec to channel my inner tipsy raider…

    Arc Raiders Drinking Game: The Speranza Sippin’ Protocol

    Quest Type: Drinking Game
    Mana Cost: $$ (Beer + Liquor recommended)
    Difficulty Rating: Mid-Game Boss
    Player Count: 1-6 (Solo drinking is valid, squads preferred)
    Buffs: +15 Chaos, +10 Teamwork, -20 Coordination After Hour 2
    Debuffs: -30 Extraction Success Rate, -50 Memory of What Happened

    The Loading Screen (Introduction)

    Listen, Arc Raiders is what happens when Tarkov and The Division had a baby and that baby was raised by the developers who made The Finals. It’s a PvPvE extraction shooter where killer robots have absolutely wrecked Earth and you’re living in an underground city called Speranza (which means “hope” in Italian, and brother, you’ll need that hope after your third wipe).

    The game loop is simple: Go topside. Avoid death by murder-drones. Maybe avoid death by other humans (or don’t, you psycho). Loot everything that isn’t bolted down. Extract before a massive explosion turns you into space dust. Rinse, repeat, get absolutely hammered in the process.

    I’m tellin’ you, this game is PERFECT for a drinking game because matches are exactly 30 minutes, which is the perfect window between “pleasantly buzzed” and “why did I challenge The Queen while wearing a free loadout?”

    Nerd Tip: Arc Raiders has a pet rooster named Scrappy who passively collects materials for you. Name your drinks after him. Every time you take a sip, say “Thanks, Scrappy.” Your squadmates will either love it or mute you. No in-between.

    The Lore (Why We’re Getting Drunk in a Post-Apocalypse)

    In the year 2180, mysterious hostile machines called “ARC” (named after their arc-shaped radar signatures because scientists are REAL creative when robots are actively murdering them) descended from space and went full Skynet on humanity. Now we’re all living underground in Speranza like a bunch of mole people with NASA-Punk fashion sense.

    The drinking game’s lore is simpler: You’re Raiders. Raiders need to stay loose. Loose means lubricated. You’re basically doing what your character would do between runs anyway. This is called “method gaming” and I just invented that term.

    The Inventory (What You Need)

    Required:

    • Arc Raiders (duh) – Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
    • Beer – Your “standard loadout” drink (Low risk, always available)
    • Shots/Mixed Drinks – Your “legendary loot” drinks (High risk, high reward)
    • Water – Your healing item (seriously, stay hydrated)
    • 1-6 Players – Solo works but squads are more chaotic

    Optional But Recommended:

    • A Backup Controller – You WILL rage quit at least once
    • Snacks – The real loot is the Doritos you found along the way
    • A Designated Sober Friend – Every raid team needs a medic

    The Walkthrough (The Rules)

    Core Rules: The Baseline Buzz

    These happen every match, no exceptions:

    1. The Drop-In Drink
    Every time you spawn into a new raid: Take 1 sip of beer
    Why: You’re entering the danger zone. Liquid courage is mandatory.

    2. The Scrappy Salute
    Whenever your pet rooster Scrappy collects materials: Take 1 sip
    Why: That bird is working HARD. Show some respect.

    3. The Extraction Celebration
    Successfully extract with loot: Take 2 sips to celebrate
    Why: You earned it, Raider. Celebrate not dying.

    4. The Wipe Tax
    Die and lose your loadout: Finish your current drink
    Why: Pain. Suffering. Character development.

    ARC Encounters: The Robot Roulette

    The machines want you dead. The drinks keep you brave.

    5. Downed by a Standard Drone
    Get killed by a basic drone: Take 2 sips
    Why: That’s embarrassing. Those things are like the Goombas of Arc Raiders.

    6. Snitched On
    A Snitch drone spots you and calls reinforcements: Take 1 sip + warn your squad to drink
    Why: You f*cked up and now everyone’s in danger. Shared consequences.

    7. Rocketeer Rumble
    Successfully destroy a Rocketeer: Give out 2 sips to anyone
    Why: You’re a legend. Share the wealth.

    8. The Queen Fight (BOSS MODE)
    If your squad attempts The Queen boss fight:

    • Start: Everyone takes a shot
    • Victory: Everyone takes a celebratory shot
    • Defeat: Everyone takes a sadness shot
      Why: The Queen is Arc Raiders’ endgame content and you need to be properly intoxicated to think fighting her is a good idea.

    PvP Rules: Trust No One (Except Your Drinking Buddies)

    Other players are unpredictable. So are drunk decisions.

    9. Betrayed by Another Raider
    Get killed by another player: Take 3 sips
    Why: The sting of betrayal tastes like cheap beer and poor life choices.

    10. You Betray Another Raider First
    Murder someone who wasn’t hostile: Take 3 sips
    Why: You’re a monster, but at least you’re honest about it.

    11. Friendly Encounter
    Successfully team up with random Raiders peacefully: Everyone involved takes 1 sip of celebration
    Why: Wholesome content in a PvP game deserves recognition.

    12. Standoff at Extraction
    Mexican standoff at the elevator: Everyone drinks until someone makes a move
    Why: TENSION. DRAMA. POOR DECISION MAKING.

    Extraction Drama: The Final Countdown

    The last 5 minutes are chaos incarnate.

    13. Called the Elevator
    Successfully call an extraction elevator: Take 1 sip (nervous anticipation)

    14. Elevator Escape
    Make it onto the elevator and doors close: Take 2 sips (relief)

    15. Die at Extraction
    Die while waiting for the elevator: Finish your drink + take a shot
    Why: Maximum emotional damage. The game giveth, the game taketh away.

    16. The Explosion (Time Ran Out)
    Fail to extract before the 30-minute timer: Everyone still on the surface takes a shot
    Why: You got greedy. The universe corrected you. Violently.

    Special Condition Rules

    17. Free Loadout Run
    Using a free loadout (no risk): Drink water only this round
    Why: You’re playing it safe. Hydrate.

    18. Lost All Your Good Gear
    Lose a fully kitted legendary loadout: Take a shot + your choice of anyone else taking a sympathy sip
    Why: That’s devastating and you need emotional support.

    19. Raider Hatch Key Extraction
    Successfully escape via a Raider Hatch: Give out 3 sips
    Why: You’re basically a ninja. You earned bragging rights.

    20. Cold Snap Frostbite (New Winter Update)
    Take frostbite damage from the new Cold Snap weather conditions: Take 1 sip
    Why: You’re literally too cold. Alcohol warms you up (not medically accurate but we’re not doctors).

    The Pro-Strat (Advanced Mode: “Legendary Raider” Rules)

    Check it, once you and your squad are comfortable with the base rules, enable these for maximum chaos:

    21. Loot Goblin Protocol
    Whoever has the most valuable loot in their inventory at extraction: Doesn’t drink for the next round
    Whoever has the LEAST valuable loot: Doubles all their drinks next round

    22. The Voice Line Drinking Game
    Every time the AI voice lines say something particularly awkward (looking at you, Embark Studios and your controversial AI voices): Take a sip and complain about it

    23. Scrappy Shenanigans
    If someone in your squad says “Thanks, Scrappy” every single time he collects materials for an entire match: They get to assign 5 sips total throughout the next game

    Nerd Tips & Tricks (The Experience Enhancer)

    🎮 Nerd Tip #1: The Setup Matters
    Use heavy-bottomed rocks glasses for your drinks. Why? Because when you panic and slam your glass down after getting jumped by a Rocketeer, you won’t shatter your glassware. Also, they fit perfectly in controller holders. I’ve done the math.

    🎮 Nerd Tip #2: Pace Yourself, Raider
    Arc Raiders matches are 30 minutes. That’s 2-3 matches per hour. Do the math: if you’re taking 15-20 sips per match, that’s 30-60 sips per hour. Mix in water rounds or you’ll be face-down in Speranza before the night is over.

    🎮 Nerd Tip #3: The Free Loadout is Your Friend
    When you’re 4 drinks deep and your hand-eye coordination is shot (pun intended), use free loadouts. You’ll die anyway, but at least you won’t lose your crafted Legendary railgun to a level 3 drone because you zigzagged into a wall.

    🎮 Nerd Tip #4: Assign Roles Like a Real Raid Team

    • Designated Shot-Caller: Makes tactical decisions, drinks the least
    • Loot Goblin: Collects everything, drinks the most when they die with full pockets
    • PvP Maniac: Engages other players, drinks when betrayals go wrong
    • The Medic: Keeps everyone alive AND hydrated, gets a drink pass once per night

    🎮 Nerd Tip #5: The Queen is Not Worth It (But Do It Anyway)
    Fighting The Queen after 5 drinks is like attempting a Dark Souls no-hit run while your controller is buttered. It’s a terrible idea. But when your drunk squad decides “we got this,” and you miraculously win? That’s the story you’ll tell for YEARS. Also you’ll all be hammered because of Rules #8.

    🎮 Nerd Tip #6: Crossplay Means Cross-Drinking
    Arc Raiders has full crossplay between PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. This means you can drink with your friends regardless of platform. Technology is beautiful.

    Variants & Modifications (Custom Game Modes)

    “Hardcore Extraction” Mode

    • Every rule is doubled
    • Water is not allowed
    • You must extract 3 times in a row or reset the count
    • This mode is for people who hate their liver

    “Pacifist Run”

    • You cannot kill other Raiders (only ARC)
    • Every peaceful encounter: Give out 2 sips
    • Every time you’re forced to kill another player in self-defense: Take 3 sips (guilt drinking)

    “Speedrun Sips”

    • Set a timer for 15 minutes
    • Extract before timer ends: Don’t drink
    • Fail: Take a shot for every minute over the limit

    “Cold Snap Survival Challenge” (New!)

    • Play only during Cold Snap weather conditions
    • Every frostbite tick: Take a sip
    • Freeze to death: Finish your drink
    • Successfully stay warm the entire match: Give out 5 sips

    Safety Disclaimer (Because I’m Technically Responsible)

    Look, I’m not your dad, but I’m also not trying to send anyone to the ER:

    • Drink responsibly. You’re playing a game where you can respawn. Real life doesn’t work that way.
    • Hydrate. For every 2 alcoholic drinks, have 1 water. Scrappy would want you to.
    • Know your limits. If you’re feeling too drunk, switch to water-only mode and still play.
    • Don’t drive. Seriously. Call an Uber. The Extraction helicopter doesn’t work IRL.
    • Modify rules as needed. If the game is too intense, reduce sip counts. If it’s too easy, add shots. Find your balance.

    Final Thoughts: Why This Slaps

    Arc Raiders is already one of 2025’s best multiplayer games (literally won at The Game Awards), and adding alcohol to the extraction shooter formula is like adding a chaos modifier to an already unpredictable experience. You’re going to die. You’re going to laugh. You’re going to lose gear you spent 3 matches crafting. And you’re going to have the time of your life doing it.

    The beauty of this game as a drinking game is that the 30-minute match timer naturally paces you, the mix of PvE and PvP keeps things fresh, and the extraction mechanic creates these PERFECT narrative moments where you’re either celebrating victory or drinking away the pain of loss.

    Plus, with crossplay, you can rope in your friends from any platform and ruin everyone’s evening equally. That’s true friendship.

    Now get out there, Raider. Speranza needs you.
    And by “needs you,” I mean “wants you to get moderately drunk and yell about robots.”

    Community Challenge: If your squad successfully defeats The Queen while following all drinking rules, clip it and send it to me. That’s legendary status right there. You’re basically the Doom Slayer of Arc Raiders at that point.

    May your loot be legendary and your extractions be clean. Cheers, you beautiful disaster. 🍺🤖

    Remember: The best loadout is the one you craft while sober but use while drunk. That’s the real endgame meta.