Virus Rules
Will you survive the outbreak or become the superspreader?
Game Details
How Do You Play the Virus Drinking Game?
The Virus drinking game is a completely new party game where players get infected with viruses and must take sips as a result. The rules for this drinking game are actually very simple. The more viruses you have, the more you must drink at the start of each turn. The first player to reach the limit of 35 sips loses the game. The game is originally designed to be played via our custom app, where everything is automated. However, we also explain all the rules here so you can play it at your party with a standard deck of cards. The game is played in rounds, with each player taking turns. A turn goes as follows:
Step 1. Drink
At the start of your turn, you drink a number of sips equal to your current number of viruses (sometimes influenced by extra effects).
Step 2. Draw a Card
Draw a card and perform the corresponding action. This could mean getting more viruses, healing, or activating a special effect.
Step 3. Execute Card
Some cards ask you to choose another player, or give you a temporary status (e.g., immunity or quarantine).
Step 4. End of Turn
Special effects (such as “virus buddy” or “drinking buddy”) count down their rounds. After this, your turn ends.
The game continues until a player reaches the maximum number of sips (set to 35 by default in the app). The loser takes an additional five penalty sips.
Virus Card Rules
If you prefer to play the game with a normal deck of playing cards, check out the card effects below. We explain what each card’s effect does. To play the Virus drinking game with traditional cards, you will need a pen and paper to note down the number of sips for each player, and tokens to keep track of the number of viruses.
Hearts (♥) 2 / Diamonds (♦) 2
Medicine: Heal 2 viruses on yourself.
Hearts (♥) 3 / Diamonds (♦) 3
Medication: Heal 2 viruses on someone else.
Hearts (♥) 4 / Diamonds (♦) 4
Takeover: Take over 2 viruses from another player.
Hearts (♥) 5 / Diamonds (♦) 5
Balance Cure: Heal up to 3 viruses on yourself, but drink the exact same number of sips.
Hearts (♥) 6 / Diamonds (♦) 6
Research: All players heal 1 virus.
Hearts (♥) 7 / Diamonds (♦) 7
Neighborly Help: The players immediately to your left and right both heal 1 virus.
Hearts (♥) 8 / Diamonds (♦) 8
Health Boost: For every 5 sips you have already drunk, you may heal 1 virus.
Hearts (♥) 9 / Diamonds (♦) 9
Antidote: Remove all your viruses, but drink the exact same number of sips.
Hearts (♥) 10 / Diamonds (♦) 10
Super Medicine: Heal 3 viruses on yourself.
Hearts (♥) J / Diamonds (♦) J
Immunization: Make one player immune for 1 round.
Hearts (♥) Q / Diamonds (♦) Q
Group Therapy: All players with an odd number of viruses heal 1.
Hearts (♥) K / Diamonds (♦) K
Dilemma: Choose: drink 2 sips OR take +1 virus.
Hearts (♥) A / Diamonds (♦) A
Pathological Chance: Dice effect (roll a die for a random effect).
Clubs (♣) 2 / Spades (♠) 2
Infection: You are infected and get +1 virus.
Clubs (♣) 3 / Spades (♠) 3
Contagious Touch: Give 1 virus to another player.
Clubs (♣) 4 / Spades (♠) 4
Major Infection: You are infected and get +2 viruses.
Clubs (♣) 5 / Spades (♠) 5
Severe Infection: You are infected and get +3 viruses.
Clubs (♣) 6 / Spades (♠) 6
Virus Magnet: You take 1 virus from every player.
Clubs (♣) 7 / Spades (♠) 7
Mass Infection: All other players get +1 virus.
Clubs (♣) 8 / Spades (♠) 8
Shared Infection: Choose another player; you both get +1 virus.
Clubs (♣) 9 / Spades (♠) 9
Epidemic Wave: Players with an even number of viruses get +1 virus.
Clubs (♣) 10 / Spades (♠) 10
Epidemic: Choose whether all players pass their viruses to the player on their left or right.
Clubs (♣) J / Spades (♠) J
Mutation: Double the viruses of one player.
Clubs (♣) Q / Spades (♠) Q
Wave of Infection: For every 2 viruses you have, you may infect a player.
Clubs (♣) K / Spades (♠) K
Virus War: Players with fewer viruses take +2 sips on their next turn.
Clubs (♣) A / Spades (♠) A
Drinking Buddy: Choose a player. For three rounds, you both have to drink every time one of you has to drink.
Playing Virus with a Larger Group
You can choose to slightly adjust the Virus rules by playing with multiple decks of cards, so each card appears more often. This allows you to play the Virus drinking game with a larger group of players. Alternatively, you can use this method to make a longer game for a smaller group. Don’t have a second or third deck of cards? You can simply shuffle the used discard pile back into the draw pile halfway through the game.
Frequently Asked Questions about Virus
How many players can you play Virus with?
According to the official rules, you play the game with 3 to 10 players. Playing with more is possible, but this drastically increases the playtime and creates a large imbalance between players’ tasks.
How do you lose the Virus drinking game?
Before the game starts, you agree on a sip limit (default is 35). When the first player reaches that limit, they lose the game and must take five extra penalty sips.
Does a Healing card have an effect if you have no viruses?
No, nothing happens. If you have no viruses, your virus count remains at zero, even if you draw a healing card (like a Hearts 2). You cannot have a negative number of viruses.
Virus Drinking Game Variants
Are you familiar with the standard Virus rules and looking for ways to mix things up? These new variants and rules offer a way to increase the chaos or speed up the game. Adjust them to your liking!
Number of Sips
Adjust the intensity by changing the total amount of ‘damage’ players must take to lose. Make it easier (25 sips) or harder (50 sips).
Drink Limit per Round
Players drink a maximum number of sips equal to the current round number. Any remaining sips are saved up and carried over to the following round(s).
Virus Strategy
Virus is only 35% luck (which cards you draw). The remaining 65% is skill (40% tactics, 25% psychology). The key lies in tactically managing your virus count, timing, and player analysis.
Manage your viruses
The simple strategy in Virus that many players overlook is not to aim for the fewest viruses, but to stay right in the middle. This is due to two important factors. First, if you constantly sit at zero viruses or always have the fewest, other players will quickly start targeting you by aiming all their viruses and sips your way. Second, there are various cards and world events specifically designed to hit players with zero or the fewest viruses. For example, you could be safe at zero for rounds, but then the player with the most viruses suddenly plays a swap card, leaving you unexpectedly stuck with the most viruses.
| Number of Viruses | Sips per Turn | Danger | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 viruses | 0 sips | ⬤ | High |
| 1-2 viruses | 1-2 sips | ⬤ | Normal |
| 3-4 viruses | 3-4 sips | ⬤ | Normal |
| 5-6 viruses | 5-6 sips | ⬤ | Low |
| 7+ viruses | 7+ sips | ⬤ | Low |
The “Invisible Man” Strategy: Consistently maintain 1-2 viruses, never attack the same person twice, and stay under the radar.