Looking for a fun and engaging drinking game that will keep everyone entertained all night long? Ride the Bus is the perfect game to bring to your next party. It’s easy to learn, fast-paced, and guaranteed to create lots of laughs.
Whether you're playing with a small group or a larger crowd, Ride the Bus is designed to get everyone involved with its simple card-based challenges and quick decision-making. As players guess the cards’ colors, suits, and numbers, the stakes get higher, and the drinks flow faster.
But if you're looking to add even more variety to your game night, Pick Me Up is another fun option to keep the energy up. With its quick pace and easy-to-follow rules, it pairs well with Ride the Bus, making sure the fun never stops. So grab your drinks, shuffle the deck, and get ready for a night of wild guessing and laughter.
What You Need to Play Ride the Bus
Before you can start playing Ride the Bus, you'll need a few things to make the game run smoothly:
- A Standard 52-Card Deck: You’ll need a full deck of cards to play.
- Drinks: Decide on your drink of choice—beer, shots, cocktails, or whatever you prefer.
- A Group of Friends: The game is better with more players. Aim for 4-8 players for an exciting time.
Once you have everything in place, you're ready to get started.
Setup: Arranging the Cards
The game requires a specific card setup that forms a pyramid. Lay out the cards face down in the following pattern:
- First row: 5 cards
- Second row: 4 cards
- Third row: 3 cards
- Fourth row: 2 cards
- Fifth row: 1 card
This pyramid structure is central to the game. Players will start by guessing cards in the rows and will have to drink depending on whether their guesses are correct or not.
How to Play: The Game Flow
Ride the Bus is all about guessing the right cards. Here's how the game flows from start to finish:
Round 1: Guessing the Color of Cards
The first player guesses whether the next card is red or black. If they guess correctly, they choose another player to drink. If they guess incorrectly, they drink instead. This continues for the first row (5 cards).
Round 2: Higher or Lower?
Once the first row is finished, move to the second row (4 cards). Players now guess if the next card will be higher or lower than the previous one. Again, a wrong guess results in a drink, and a correct guess means assigning a drink to someone else.
Round 3: Guessing the Suit
In the third row (3 cards), players will need to guess the suit of the card. There are four suits to choose from: hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades. A correct guess means assigning a drink, but a wrong guess means the player drinks.
Round 4: Odd or Even?
The fourth row (2 cards) challenges players to guess whether the number on the next card will be odd or even. As with the other rounds, a wrong guess results in a drink.
Round 5: The Final Card
The fifth and final row (1 card) is the most important. Players must guess what the final card will be. If they guess wrong, they "ride the bus," which means they must continue making guesses until they get the card right.
Riding the Bus: What Does It Mean?
If a player is wrong during the final round and has to "ride the bus," they must continue guessing until they get it right. Each wrong guess results in another drink, making this part of the game both fun and challenging. The goal is to keep guessing without getting too carried away. This part of the game can go on for a while, so make sure you keep it light and fun.
Adding More Fun: Pick Me Up Drinking Game
If you want to keep the fun going after Ride the Bus, try adding another drinking game to the mix. Pick Me Up is an exciting game that you can play alongside Ride the Bus, keeping the energy high and adding variety to your game night.
In Pick Me Up, players guess the next card in a sequence, and if they guess incorrectly, they drink. The twist is that if they guess correctly, they can "pick themselves up" by assigning drinks to others. This game is fast-paced, simple, and a great way to switch things up during your party.
Tips for a Fun and Responsible Game
While Ride the Bus can get wild, it’s important to play responsibly. Here are some tips to keep the game fun without going overboard:
1. Keep Track of Drinks
Don’t overdo it. Make sure everyone is drinking at a pace that feels comfortable. It’s all about having fun, not overindulging.
2. Hydrate
In between rounds, have some water on hand to keep hydrated. It helps balance out the drinking and ensures everyone stays feeling good.
3. Set Limits
If you or anyone else feels like it’s getting too intense, take a break. The goal is to keep the atmosphere light and enjoyable for everyone.
Conclusion: Have Fun and Drink Responsibly
Ride the Bus is a classic drinking game that will add excitement and fun to any party. It’s easy to set up, simple to learn, and ensures that everyone gets involved in the action. If you want to mix things up, try adding Pick Me Up to your game night it’s the perfect addition to keep the fun rolling.
Remember, the key is to have fun, drink responsibly, and enjoy the time spent with friends.
