What are the Ring of Fire drinking game rules?

Whether you're having a housewarming or a Halloween party, a drinking game (or two) is an easy way to break the ice, avoid any awkward silences, and ensure you end the night as the official host with the most.

And, when it comes to organised fun, one of our gaming go-tos is Ring of Fire, which you might also know as King's Cup, Circle of Death (how wholesome!?) and Doughnut. If you're not familiar with any of these names, but you have stepped foot on a university campus, then there's at least a 99% chance that you have played this game before.

As well as being a guaranteed good time, what makes Ring of Fire our drinking game top choice is that there's literally no preparation needed. Simply grab a deck of cards, a large glass, and a group of willing participants et voilà. So, how do you actually play Ring of Fire?

While there's literally no prep needed to play Ring of Fire, you do need to brush up on the rules – because every card has a different meaning and you'll need to recall these throughout the game... a feat made all the more difficult as you work your way through the bevs.

Start by placing a tall glass in the middle of the table, and lay out a single pack of playing cards in a big circle (see picture above) face down. This becomes the 'ring of fire'. Players take it in turns to draw a card from the deck, taking care not to break the circle (eg. making sure every card touches at least one other that is left in the circle). If you break the circle, you have to drink. For every card you draw, there is a specific rule, which correlates to something you, or everyone else playing, needs to do.

• 2 - You, the player who drew the card picks someone to drink.
• 3 - Me, the player who drew the card drinks.
• 4 - All those who identify as female drink.
• 5 - Thumbmaster, the player who drew the card must put their thumb on the table at any chosen time (before the next five gets picked though, or they lose the right). The last person to put their thumb on the table must drink. Other variations involve the Thumbmaster choosing a forfeit for the last person to do it.
• 6 - All those who identify as male drink.
• 7 - Heaven, the player who drew the card must point to the sky (at any chosen time before the next 7 is drawn.) The last person who points to the sky must drink, or in other variations, do the forfeit chosen by the person who drew the 7.
• 8 - Mate, the player who drew the card picks a drinking mate, who must drink every time they drink. As a secondary rule, you can decide whether that means you always have to drink when they drink, too.
• 9 - Rhyme, the player who drew the card says a word, and you go around the circle rhyming with that word until someone messes up, and has to drink.
• 10 - Categories, the player who drew the card thinks of a category (e.g. names of chocolate bars, famous Daves, fashion brands), and you go around the circle naming words in that category until someone messes up, and has to drink.
• Jack - Make a rule. The player who drew the card makes a new rule (e.g. you can only drink with your right hand or you must call everyone by their middle name) and anyone who breaks the rule at any time throughout the rest of the game has to drink.
• Queen - Question master. You become the question master, and if anybody answers a question asked by you (the player who drew the card), they have to drink. This applies to ANY question.
• King - the player who drew the card must pour some of their drink into the cup in the middle. The person to draw the last King has to drink whatever is in the cup in the middle.
• Ace - waterfall. Starting with the player who drew the card, every player has to continually drink their drink. You can only stop when the person to their right has stopped drinking.

Ready to play? Whether you opt to play with or without alcohol, prepare for a very fun evening! For more drinking game ideas, check out our list of Never Have I Ever questions and Would You Rather ideas, and remember to drink responsibly.