Candyland Drinking Game: A Sweet Twist on Sips and Shots

Candyland was a childhood favorite—a simple and colorful game that led players on a sugary adventure. But now, as adults, we can give this classic board game a new twist—by turning it into a drinking game. Whether you’re tired of playing TipsyLand or just looking for a fun way to relive your childhood with a buzz, the Candyland drinking game is easy to set up and guarantees a good time.

How to Turn Candyland Into a Drinking Game

Turning Candyland into a drinking game is surprisingly easy. The game already revolves around drawing cards and moving along a colorful board, which makes it perfect for assigning different drinking rules.

What You’ll Need:

• A Candyland board game (original or a DIY version)
• Alcohol (beer, cocktails, or liquor, depending on preference)
• Shot glasses or cups
• Friends who are ready for a good time

Basic Setup:

1. Gather your group and set up the board as usual.
2. Decide on the type of alcohol you’ll be using.
3. Assign drinking rules to each color and special spaces on the board.
4. Shuffle the deck, take turns drawing cards, and follow the drinking rules based on what you draw.

The Ultimate Candyland Drinking Game Rules

Each color card and special space corresponds to a different drinking action. These rules can be adjusted based on how intense you want the game to be.

Color Card Rules:

• Red: Take 1 sip.
• Yellow: Take 2 sips.
• Blue: Take 3 sips.
• Green: Take a shot.
• Orange: Choose another player to drink.
• Purple: Everyone drinks.

Special Spaces:

• Candy Cane Forest: The person who lands here picks a drinking buddy—both take a shot.
• Licorice Swamp: Skip a turn or take two shots.
• Ice Cream Slopes: Everyone takes a sip while cheering for the player who landed there.
• Rainbow Trail: Pick another player to swap drinks with for one round.

If a player draws a double-color card, they must take double the drinks.

Fun House Rules for More Excitement

For an extra challenge, try incorporating some of these variations:

1. Themed Drinks

Instead of generic drinks, match your drinks to the board colors. Red might be a cranberry vodka mix, green could be a Midori sour, and yellow could be a whiskey-based drink. You can even use jelly shots in different colors to match the board spaces.

2. Wildcard Challenges

Introduce special challenge cards that add extra drinking tasks. These could include:

• Candy King: The player must speak in a royal accent for the next three turns, or take a shot.
• Sticky Fingers: The player must keep one hand stuck to the table until their next turn or take a sip.
• Sugar Rush: Everyone must drink continuously until the next player finishes their turn.

3. Double Trouble Rule

If a player draws a double-color card, they take double the drinks. For an even wilder version, double-color cards can mean an immediate extra turn—resulting in even more drinks if they draw another.

Hilarious Candyland Drinking Game Rules & Variations

If you’re looking to spice up your Candyland drinking game, why settle for the basics? Let’s take this game to the next level with some wildly creative and hilarious rule variations.

1. The Sugar Rush Rule (Fast-Paced Chaos Mode)

Candyland is usually a slow-paced game, but not this time.

• If a player draws a double-color card, they must chug their drink until their next turn—but they get to move twice as fast on the board.
• Every five minutes, set a timer. When it goes off, the last player to take a turn has to finish their drink.
• If a player reaches a Candy Castle space, they must take three consecutive shots but get to teleport forward 10 spaces.

This mode turns Candyland into a game of speed and endurance. Who will be the last one standing?

2. Candy Overdose (Jelly Shot Challenge Mode)

What’s Candyland without actual candy? In this variation, players consume jelly shots instead of sips or regular drinks.

• Match the card colors to jelly shots. Red, blue, yellow, green, and purple shots should be prepped before the game starts.
• If you draw a double-color card, you must eat two jelly shots at once.
• Gumdrop Pass: If you land here, you have to take a shot and attempt to say “Gumdrop Pass” five times fast. If you fail, take another shot.
• Chocolate Swamp: If you land here, you have to drink a mystery cocktail chosen by another player.

This version gets progressively harder as the game continues, and players are bound to get competitive about dodging the wrong spaces.

3. Licorice Lockdown (The Sabotage Edition)

Candyland is supposed to be a happy place, but this version introduces some cutthroat tactics. Players can sabotage each other’s progress.

• Licorice Swamp Becomes a Trap: If a player lands here, they can’t move for two turns—unless they take three consecutive shots.
• Steal a Turn: If you land on the same space as another player, you can make them take a sip AND switch places with them.
• Candy King’s Decree: Once per game, the player in last place can declare a Candy King’s Rule, forcing any one player to take a full drink and lose a turn.

This version is ruthless, chaotic, and perfect for competitive groups.

4. Drunken Candyland Olympics

This variation turns Candyland into a drinking game + mini challenge competition.

• Lollipop Limbo: Before taking their turn, a player must attempt to limbo under a broomstick (or anything horizontal). If they fail, they drink.
• Gummy Bear Toss: At any time, players can attempt to throw a gummy bear into another player’s drink. If they succeed, that player has to finish their drink.
• Peppermint Relay: If a player draws a peppermint card, they must run a lap around the room before taking their turn—while balancing a cup of beer on their head.

Adding physical challenges ensures that everyone gets involved, and it’s guaranteed to bring out the competitive side in players.

5. The Candyland Tag Team Drinking Game (Team Battle Mode)

In this variation, players are split into teams, and partners take turns drinking.

• If one teammate lands on a Candy Castle space, their partner must chug an entire drink.
• If one partner lands on Licorice Swamp, the other must take a shot to “rescue” them.
• The first team to reach the finish line wins, and the losing team has to perform a silly Candyland victory dance while taking a group shot.

This variation makes the game more interactive and team-based, encouraging players to strategize and mess with their opponents.

Themed Drink Recipes for a Candyland Drinking Game

What’s a Candyland drinking game without some sugary, colorful, and over-the-top drinks? A plain beer might work, but if you really want to commit to the Candyland theme, you’ll need some candy-infused drinks. 

Candyland Color-Themed Cocktails

Match your drinks to the game board colors for a more immersive experience. Each time a player lands on a color, they must take a sip of the corresponding drink.

• Red: “Licorice Lava” – Cranberry vodka mixed with grenadine and a licorice stick garnish.
• Yellow: “Lemon Drop Bliss” – Vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, served with a sugar rim.
• Blue: “Blue Frostine” – Blue curaçao, coconut rum, and pineapple juice for a tropical taste.
• Green: “Minty Meadow Mojito” – White rum, lime juice, mint leaves, and a splash of soda.
• Orange: “Candy Corn Crush” – Orange vodka, triple sec, and whipped cream for a sweet finish.
• Purple: “Grape Jelly Jolt” – Grape soda, vodka, and a hint of lime juice.

To make it even more fun, players must drink the matching cocktail when they land on a color space instead of just taking sips of their usual drink.

Candy-Infused Shot Ideas

If you prefer quick shots instead of cocktails, try these candy-inspired shooters:

• Jelly Shot Jamboree – Layered jelly shots in different Candyland colors.
• Cotton Candy Bomb – A shot of vodka poured over a piece of cotton candy.
• Gummy Bear Vodka – Soak gummy bears in vodka overnight and serve them as “boozy snacks.”
• Skittles Vodka Shots – Separate Skittles by color, dissolve them in vodka, and serve as a rainbow flight of shots.

Non-Alcoholic Candyland Mocktails

For players who don’t drink alcohol but still want to join in, here are some sweet alternatives:

• Bubblegum Lemonade – Lemonade mixed with bubblegum syrup and a rim dipped in crushed candy.
• Chocolate Milkshake Martini – A creamy, chocolatey drink served in a martini glass.
• Candyland Shirley Temple – Classic grenadine and Sprite with extra cherries and colorful straws.

These drinks make the Candyland drinking game more immersive and playful while adding a sugar rush to the mix.

Candyland Party Ideas (Make It a Full Party Experience!)

A Candyland drinking game is fun on its own, but if you really want to go all out, turn it into a themed party night. Think candy decorations, goofy costumes, and background music that makes the night even more ridiculous.

Candyland-Themed Decorations

Transform your space into a giant Candyland board by using:

• Colorful balloons arranged in Candyland’s signature colors.
• Bowls of candy on the table (that double as game props).
• Glow-in-the-dark neon cups to make drinks stand out.
• Edible drink stirrers like candy canes, rock candy sticks, or chocolate straws.

If you want to go all out, set up a DIY “Licorice Swamp” area where anyone who lands there must sit out (or drink a mystery cocktail).

Candyland Drinking Game Costumes

Encourage players to dress up as:

• King Kandy – The ruler of the board, with a crown and a royal drink.
• Queen Frostine – Dressed in white and drinking something icy and blue.
• Mr. Mint – Red-and-white peppermint-themed outfit with a matching drink.
• Gummy Bear Mascot – A full onesie for the ultimate dedication.

If a player arrives without a costume, they must start the game by taking three drinks as a penalty.

The Ultimate Candyland Party Playlist

The right music sets the vibe. Here’s a mix of nostalgic and upbeat songs perfect for a Candyland drinking night:

• “I Want Candy” – Bow Wow Wow
• “Lollipop” – Lil Wayne
• “Sugar, Sugar” – The Archies
• “Toxic” – Britney Spears (because too much candy is a bad idea)
• “Blueberry Faygo” – Lil Mosey
• “Candy Shop” – 50 Cent

Add Drinking Rules to Classic Childhood Board Games

Love the Candyland drinking game? Here are other childhood board games that can be turned into hilarious drinking challenges:

Monopoly Drinking Game

• Every time you pay rent, take a sip.
• If you go to jail, finish your drink.
• When you land on Free Parking, everyone drinks.

Uno Drinking Game

• If you play a Draw +2 or Draw +4, the next player takes that many sips.
• If someone forgets to say “Uno,” they take a shot.
• Reverse cards make the previous player drink.

Jenga Drinking Game

• Each block has a different drinking rule written on it.
• If you knock over the tower, you finish your drink.

Mario Kart Drinking Game

• Every time you get hit with a blue shell, take a shot.
• If you finish in last place, drink.
• Winning players assign drinks to others.

Chutes & Ladders Drinking Game

• Going up a ladder = Assign a drink to any player.
• Going down a chute = Take a full shot.
• If you land on the same space as another player, you both drink.

Life Drinking Game

• Every time you land on a payday, take a sip.
• Every baby you have, take two sips (because parenting is exhausting).
• If you retire first, pick a player to finish their drink.

Classic games get a boozy upgrade! Spice up game night with fun drinking twists—just play responsibly and keep the good vibes flowing. Grab a drink, shuffle up, and let the tipsy Candyland adventure begin!