# Ranking game

> “Ranking” explained: one person secretly ranks the group, then the truth comes out. Rules in 4 steps, an example round, 40 topics and drinking rules.

Updated: 2026-10-11 · KnirtGames · https://knirtgames.de/en/blog/ranking-drinking-game/
By KnirtGames, makers of the Knirt drinking game app (Android).

## In short

In “Ranking”, one person gets a topic, for example unread emails. They secretly rank the whole group by it, themselves included, from fewest to most. Then they say the topic out loud and everyone lines up in the real order. Every spot that matches their guess is a point. As a drinking game, every wrong spot costs a sip.

- Players: 3 or more, best with 4 to 7
- You need: a phone for the notes
- Length: 2 to 3 minutes per round
- Explained in: under a minute

## How do you play Ranking?

1. **Pick a topic**: One person goes first. They pick a topic from the list below, for example “alarms set on your phone”, and keep it to themselves for now.
2. **Rank in secret**: They rank the whole group by that topic, themselves included: from fewest to most, or from earliest to latest for times. They type the order into the notes on their phone and put it face down. Alarms on your phone: 1. Anna, 2. Knirt, 3. Cem, 4. Ben.
3. **Line up**: Now they say the topic out loud. Everyone lines up from fewest to most, including the person who ranked. If there is a real number, check your phones. For matters of taste, the group decides.
4. **Compare and score**: Compare the line with the guess on the phone, spot by spot. Every spot that matches is a point for the person who ranked. Then they rearrange everyone the way they guessed. Now you can argue about it. Once everyone has ranked, whoever has the most points wins. As a drinking game: Every wrong spot is 1 sip for the person who ranked, 5 at most. If everything matches, they hand out 3 sips.

## An example round

Knirt ranks. The topic: alarms set on your phone, from fewest to most. Four people are playing.

| Spot | Knirt’s guess | Real | Right? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Anna | Anna (0 alarms) | Yes |
| 2 | Knirt | Cem (2) | No |
| 3 | Cem | Knirt (3) | No |
| 4 | Ben | Ben (11) | Yes |

Two spots right, so Knirt scores 2 points. He had underestimated himself: his three alarms are set for 6:00, 6:05 and 6:10.

## Which topics work?

The easiest topics have a real number you can check at the table, ideally with a quick look at your phone. Matters of taste work too: then the group decides how the line should stand. Rank from fewest to most, or from earliest to latest for times.

Screen time makes a great topic. In a Bitkom survey, smartphone users in Germany aged 16 and over put their own daily use at 180 minutes, and 16 to 29-year-olds at 216 minutes. At the table, the phone shows the real number. ([Bitkom, survey on smartphone use, 5 March 2026, in German](https://www.bitkom.org/Presse/Presseinformation/Nutzung-Smartphone-180-Minuten-pro-Tag))

### All about your phone

- Alarms set
- Unread emails
- Photos in your gallery
- Apps on your phone
- Screen time yesterday
- Contacts
- Group chats
- Unread chats
- Age of your phone
- Instagram followers

### Now, today, yesterday

- Battery right now
- Steps today
- Went to bed last night
- Got up today
- Coffees and energy drinks today
- Last photo taken
- Last workout
- Cash on you
- Notifications on your lock screen
- How far from here you live

### Life in general

- Age
- Height
- Shoe size
- Siblings
- Countries visited
- Times you moved house
- Languages you speak
- Birthday in the year
- Concerts and festivals this year
- Letters in your first name

### Matter of taste

- Most likely to be late
- Cooking skills
- Loudest laugh
- Effort on the dance floor
- Time in the bathroom
- Sense of direction
- Who talks the most
- Who gets tired first
- Who lies best
- Who scares most easily

## What variants are there?

- **Everyone ranks at once**: Everyone writes down their order for the same topic. Whoever has the fewest mistakes scores 3 points. As a drinking game: Whoever has the fewest mistakes hands out 3 sips. Whoever has the most drinks 3.
- **Big group**: From 8 players, only the first and last spot count. Each of the two that is right is worth 2 points. As a drinking game: Each of the two spots that is wrong costs 2 sips.

## Tips for good rounds

- **Number or taste**: Topics with a real number can be checked right away. For matters of taste, the group agrees while lining up. That makes for the best arguments.
- **Too personal? Next topic**: Nobody has to share anything they do not want to. Just take another topic, no penalty.
- **Ties**: If two people have the same number, either order counts as correct.

## How do you play Ranking as a drinking game?

Instead of scoring points, the person who ranked drinks for their mistakes. The rules are under the last step and the variants, ready to expand. Always sips, never whole glasses.

> “For physical health, it is best not to drink alcohol at all.”
>
> [German Centre for Addiction Issues (DHS), recommendations on alcohol, 10 October 2023, translated from German](https://www.dhs.de/service/aktuelles/meldung/neue-dhs-empfehlungen-zum-umgang-mit-alkohol/)

According to the DHS there is no safe amount. Anyone who does not want to drink just keeps playing for points.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many people do you need for Ranking?

At least 3. It works best with four to seven. From 8 players it gets hard, and the variant where only the first and last spot count helps.

### Do you need an app for Ranking?

No. The person who ranks types their order into the notes on their phone or writes it on paper. The app just does the counting for you.

### How do you count the points?

Spot by spot. If the guess has the same person in spot 2 as the real order, that is a point. Swapping two people means two spots wrong.

### Can you play Ranking as a drinking game?

Yes. Then every wrong spot is a sip for the person who ranked, 5 at most. All correct: they hand out 3.

### What if a topic is too personal?

Skip it. There are plenty of others, and nobody has to share anything.

## Ranking in the Knirt app

“Ranking” is already built into the app. Only the person ranking sees the topic. They tap the names in order, then the group taps in the real order. The app counts the wrong spots for you. There are 14 extra topics for spicier rounds. In the free Knirt game, Ranking keeps popping up as a mini-game.

[More about the app](https://knirtgames.de/en/)