Transform your next darts night with a drinking game based on score darts, where missed throws, low scores, or unlucky bounces lead to hilarious penalties for the players. This article explores several exciting and engaging dart-based drinking games, complete with rules and variations to keep the fun flowing all night long. You’ll learn how to adapt classic dart games into spirited drinking games and discover essential tips for playing safely and responsibly.
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Elevate Your Game Night: The Fun of a Drinking Game Based on Score Darts
A drinking game based on score darts is the perfect way to inject some extra excitement and laughter into your next gathering. Forget the serious dart leagues; this is about friendly competition, good times, and maybe a slightly wobbly throw or two. The key is to find games that are easy to understand, quick to play, and readily adaptable to drinking rules. We’ll delve into some of the best options, ensuring your next darts night is a memorable one.

What Makes a Good Darts Drinking Game?
Before diving into specific games, it’s important to understand what elements contribute to a successful darts drinking game. Here are a few key considerations:
- Simplicity: The rules should be easy to grasp, even after a few drinks. Complex rules can slow down the game and lead to confusion.
- Engagement: Everyone should be involved, even when they’re not throwing. Games with built-in consequences and shared moments are ideal.
- Scalability: The game should work well with a small group of friends or a larger party. Adaptability is key.
- Balance: Aim for a balance between skill and luck. This keeps things interesting and prevents any one player from dominating.
When considering the rules, think about how often someone will be required to drink. You want to ensure a fun atmosphere, but also ensure playing darts drinking games responsibly.
Classic Darts Games Reimagined as Drinking Games
Many classic darts games can easily be transformed into entertaining drinking games with a few simple tweaks. This section will cover some popular options and how to incorporate drinking rules into them.
301 (or 501) Drinking Game
301 (or 501) is a standard darts game where players start with a score of 301 (or 501) and must reduce it to zero. To make it a drinking game, add these rules:
- Bust Penalty: If a player goes below zero, their score resets to what it was at the start of that turn, and they must take a drink.
- Missed Dart Penalty: If a player misses the board entirely with all three darts in a turn, they drink.
- Double Trouble: If a player hits a double without intending to (e.g., to finish the game), they can assign drinks to another player.
- Finishing Touch: The loser(s) of the game finishes their drink.
This version adds a layer of risk and reward to each throw, making it much more exciting than the traditional game. Remember to always apply Safety tips darts drinking games when playing.
Around the Clock Drinking Game
Around the Clock, also known as “Around the World,” involves hitting each number on the dartboard in sequence, from 1 to 20. Here’s how to turn it into a drinking game based on score darts:
- Missed Number: If a player fails to hit the required number on their turn, they drink.
- Multiple Misses: For each dart thrown that doesn’t hit the required number, the player drinks again.
- Opponent Choice: When a player reaches a certain number (e.g., 10 or 15), they can assign a drink to another player.
- Winner’s Privilege: The winner gets to assign a drink to each of the losing players.
This game can get intense quickly, especially if players are having a hard time hitting specific numbers. The constant drinking will increase the difficulty as it goes on!

Cricket Drinking Game
Cricket is a strategic darts game that involves “closing out” numbers before your opponent. To make it a drinking game based on score darts, use these rules:
- Unmarked Numbers: If a player hits a number that their opponent hasn’t yet marked (hit three times), the opponent drinks. The amount of the drink corresponds to the numerical value hit (e.g., hitting 20 results in 20 sips for the opponent).
- Closing Out: If a player closes out a number, they can assign drinks to another player. The amount of drinks assigned can depend on how many marks they had on that number beyond the required three.
- Losing Marks: If a player doesn’t close out a number before their opponent, they must drink the point difference.
Cricket can be a lengthy game, so adjust the drinking penalties accordingly to avoid overdoing it.
Creative and Unique Darts Drinking Game Ideas
Beyond adapting classic games, you can create entirely new drinking game based on score darts with unique rules and challenges. Here are some ideas to get you started:
“Loser Buys” Game
This is a simple but effective way to ensure everyone stays engaged. Play any darts game you like, and the loser has to buy the next round of drinks for everyone. This creates a fun incentive to avoid losing and adds a competitive edge to even casual games.
Target Practice Challenge
Set up specific target zones on the dartboard (e.g., bullseye, triples, doubles). Assign a drink penalty for each missed target. For example:
- Missed Bullseye: Take one drink.
- Missed Triple: Take two drinks.
- Missed Double: Assign one drink to another player.
This game is great for practicing your aim while adding a fun, boozy twist. Remember to always have a designated thrower (and designated drinker) for maximum enjoyment and minimal accidents.

“Bad Luck” Darts
This game is all about embracing the unexpected. Whenever a player experiences a stroke of bad luck (e.g., a dart falls out of the board, a dart bounces off another dart), they have to drink. You can also add specific rules for particularly unlucky events, such as:
- Dart Falls Out: Finish your drink.
- Dart Hits Another Dart: Assign two drinks to another player.
- Dart Lands in the Wrong Section: Drink for the numerical value of the section it landed in.
This game rewards (or punishes) randomness and keeps everyone on their toes.
Adapting Games for Different Skill Levels
Not everyone is a darts pro, and it’s important to adjust the drinking game based on score darts to accommodate varying skill levels. Here are some tips:
- Handicaps: Give less experienced players a head start in games like 301 or Around the Clock.
- Easier Targets: For target practice games, make the target zones larger or allow players to aim for easier sections of the board.
- Team Play: Pair up more experienced players with less experienced ones to create balanced teams.
The goal is to make the game enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their skill level. Creating a level playing field ensures that no one feels discouraged and that everyone has a chance to participate and have fun. Consider looking into Darts Variants Fun Games for easier versions of darts.
Essential Safety and Responsibility Tips
While drinking games based on score darts can be a lot of fun, it’s crucial to prioritize safety and responsibility. Here are some important guidelines to follow:
- Designated Thrower: Always have a designated thrower to prevent accidental injuries. The designated thrower should be the only person standing near the dartboard when darts are being thrown.
- Clear Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries around the dartboard to keep spectators at a safe distance.
- Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Encourage moderate drinking and provide plenty of non-alcoholic beverages. It’s crucial to keep hydrated throughout the games, and it will also help reduce the consumption of alcohol.
- Know Your Limits: Be aware of your own alcohol tolerance and don’t feel pressured to drink more than you’re comfortable with.
- Never Drink and Throw: If you feel like you’ve had too much to drink, don’t throw darts! Sit out a round or two and let someone else take your place.
- First Aid Kit: Keep a first aid kit nearby in case of minor injuries.

Remember that the primary goal is to have fun and create a positive social experience. By prioritizing safety and responsibility, you can ensure that everyone has a great time without putting themselves or others at risk.
Examples of Popular Drinking Game Based on Score Darts
Here are a few additional examples to add to your repertoire of fun darts drinking game ideas:
Shanghai Drinking Game
The objective of Shanghai is to score as many points as possible on each number from 1 to 7, in order. A single, double, or triple all count as points. The twist:
- Missed Number: Take a drink.
- Matching Score: If your score equals the previous player’s score, they can force you to drink.
- Instant Win: Hit a single, double and triple of the same number in one turn (Shanghai) to win instantly; losers finish their drinks.
Killer Drinking Game
In the Killer darts drinking game, each player selects a number on the board. To become a “killer”, you must hit your number 3 times. Then, you can “kill” other players by hitting their number. Last person standing (alive) wins. Drinking rules include:
- Not hitting your number (3 darts): Take a drink
- Being killed: Finish your drink.
- Killer gets to allocate 3 drinks to anyone after killing another player

Conclusion: Level Up Your Darts Night
A drinking game based on score darts offers a fantastic way to add laughter, competition, and a bit of playful chaos to your next gathering. By adapting classic games, creating unique challenges, and prioritizing safety and responsibility, you can ensure a memorable and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. So grab your darts, gather your friends, and get ready to level up your darts night with these exciting drinking game ideas. Now that you have a few examples, why not create your own set of rules. You can adapt these to suit any occasion and play level.
Ready to get started? Check out some Popular pub darts drinking games to get inspiration for your next game night!
Hi, I’m Dieter, and I created Dartcounter (Dartcounterapp.com). My motivation wasn’t being a darts expert – quite the opposite! When I first started playing, I loved the game but found keeping accurate scores and tracking stats difficult and distracting.
I figured I couldn’t be the only one struggling with this. So, I decided to build a solution: an easy-to-use application that everyone, no matter their experience level, could use to manage scoring effortlessly.
My goal for Dartcounter was simple: let the app handle the numbers – the scoring, the averages, the stats, even checkout suggestions – so players could focus purely on their throw and enjoying the game. It began as a way to solve my own beginner’s problem, and I’m thrilled it has grown into a helpful tool for the wider darts community.