Paranoia
Whisper a question, answer out loud with a name, and the person named drinks to find out what was asked. Full rules, question ideas, the coin flip version and tips.
4–12 players · easy
Paranoia is the drinking game that turns a quiet table into a room full of suspicious glances. One player whispers a question to the person next to them, that person answers out loud with the name of someone in the group, and nobody else knows what the question was. The person who has just been named has a choice: take a sip to find out what was asked, or live with not knowing. It needs no cards, cups or equipment, it works in a pub or a living room, and it is brilliant for getting a group of friends laughing (and occasionally squirming).
What You Need
A drink for each player, alcoholic or not
At least four players; six to ten is ideal
Players who know each other at least a little, so the answers mean something
Setup
Sit in a circle so everyone can whisper to the person on their left.
Agree the house rules before you start: how big a sip is, and any topics that are off-limits (more on that below).
Pick someone to start. The person who arrived last is a good shout.
How to Play
The first player whispers a question to the person on their left. The question must have a person at the table as its answer, for example “Who here would be the first to get lost on a night out?” or “Who has the worst taste in music?”
The person who was asked thinks about it, then says the answer out loud: just the name, nothing else. They can pick anyone except themselves (unless your group allows it).
The person who has been named now decides. If they want to know what the question was, they take a sip. The questioner then repeats the question out loud for everyone to hear.
If the named person does not drink, the question stays a secret, and everyone is left to wonder.
Play moves on: the person who answered now whispers a new question to the person on their left, and so on round the circle.
The Coin Flip Variation
Some groups prefer to leave it to chance. Instead of the named person choosing to drink, they flip a coin. Heads, the question is revealed. Tails, it stays secret. You can combine both: the named person drinks to earn a flip, which makes revealing a question a gamble rather than a guarantee, and keeps the sips small and spaced out.
Good Question Ideas
Who here would survive the longest on a desert island?
Who is most likely to cry at a film?
Who would be the worst flatmate?
Who would you call if you needed an alibi?
Who takes the longest to get ready?
Who is secretly the most competitive?
Who would be first to get kicked out of a pub quiz for arguing?
Who here would make the best politician?
Who is most likely to text their ex after a night out?
Who would you trust to pick a holiday for you?
Keep It Fun, Not Cruel
The magic of Paranoia is the playful mystery, not humiliating anyone. Questions work best when the answer could be a compliment or a joke either way. Before you start, agree that some areas are off-limits: things like bodies and weight, other people’s relationships, money, health or anything someone has told you in confidence. If a question would genuinely upset someone if it were revealed, do not ask it. And if somebody is not enjoying it, switch to something lighter, such as Would You Rather.
Tips and Strategy
Make it ambiguous: the best questions are ones where the name on its own could mean almost anything. Hearing “Sam” with a smirk is far more fun than a question everyone can guess.
Mix it up: alternate cheeky questions with flattering ones, so being named is never all bad news.
Watch the reactions: half the entertainment is the questioner trying not to laugh while everyone else studies their face.
Pace it: because a named person can choose not to drink, Paranoia is naturally a gentle game. Keep it that way with small sips.
Variations
Two names: the answerer must name two people, and both have to drink to reveal the question.
Group reveal: anyone at the table can drink to reveal the question, not only the person named. Expect a lot of curiosity.
Category rounds: set a theme for a round, such as holidays, school days or the office, to keep the questions fresh.
Pairs with: if your group enjoys this, try Most Likely To, where the votes are out in the open.
Drink Responsibly
Paranoia is about curiosity and laughter, not how much anyone drinks. Keep sips small, have water and soft drinks on the table, let anyone play with a non-alcoholic drink, and stop when people have had enough. Never drink and drive, and make sure everyone has a safe way home.