How to Play Spin the Bottle

Last Updated: July 6, 2022

Is there any party game more symbolic of young teen romance than spin the bottle? In the classic form of this game, players spin a bottle (or a similar object) to determine who they'll have to kiss. However, there are lots of different versions of this game. Some of these are tamer and less serious, while some are even more racy! To learn how to play this easy and fun game and to find information on a few simple rule variants, read on! See Step 1 below to get started.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Playing Standard "Kissy" Spin the Bottle

1
Gather a group of friends. When it comes to playing spin the bottle, the very first thing you'll need is other people (unless you want to play by yourself, which would be a pretty sad sight). To begin, find a group of willing friends — the more the merrier! Try to get a group that contains people of both genders so that there are a range of many different combinations of people who can potentially kiss.
- Make sure your friends know what they are getting into before you start playing. Kissing is something that's usually reserved for people who really like each other, so forcing people to kiss who don't want to can be really embarrassing for everyone involved. Don't pressure anyone into playing with you who doesn't want to.
2
Sit in a circle. When everyone is ready (and willing) to play, arrange yourselves in a circle so that you're all facing inward. Traditionally, this is done on the floor, though there's no reason you can't also do it standing or sitting around a table. Regardless of exactly how you arrange your group in a circle, it's usually best to pick a spot with a tough, hard surface, like a section of hardwood floor. This ensures that the bottle you use can spin well without scuffing or damaging the floor.

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3
Spin the bottle! When you're all ready to play, pick one person to start the game. This person grabs a bottle (or, really, any similarly spin-able object, like a pen, glass, key, etc.) and spins it hard in the middle of the circle of players. After it starts spinning, no one may touch the bottle until it comes to a complete stop.
- If you're unsure of how to decide who should spin the bottle first, you may want to try letting the oldest or youngest play go first or having one person think of a random number and starting with the person who guesses closest to it.
4
Kiss the person the bottle points at. When the bottle comes to a stop, its "neck" (the end that opens) should be pointing at someone sitting in the circle. The person who spun the bottle has to kiss this person!
- If you're not using a bottle, designate one end of the object you're using as the pointing end. For instance, if you're using a pen, you might want to use the writing end of the pen as its "point".
- If you spin the bottle and it lands on you, spin again.
5
Proceed to the next player and spin again. That's really all there is to it! After one person has spun the bottle and given a kiss to the person the bottle ends up pointing at, the person next to him or her in the circle gives the bottle a spin and gives a kiss to the person his or her spin lands on. Play proceeds in one direction — either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
- Note that sometimes the bottle will end up pointing at the space between two people — in this case, you may want to make the spinner kiss the person that the bottle's point is closest to.
- Additionally, the bottle may end up pointing at someone that you're not comfortable kissing because of your romantic preferences (for instance, if you're attracted to boys and it lands on a girl). In this case, you may want to kiss the person of the appropriate gender who's closest to the bottle's point.
6
Enjoy! Congratulations! You've learned how to play spin the bottle. This fun and easy game is best enjoyed with a light-hearted attitude from all involved. Don't let things get too romantic or sexual — it's just a game, and one which can become pretty awkward pretty fast if it's taken too seriously.
- However, if you do feel that telltale "spark" with someone after playing the game, there's no reason why you shouldn't make a point to get to know him or her after the game! Spin the bottle is great for igniting new connections you might not otherwise have made.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Playing with Rules Variations

1
Try changing the "prize". Though the classic version of spin the bottle is usually associated with teenagers kissing in their parents' basements, there's no rule that says you have to kiss the person that the bottle lands on. To spice things up (or make things more tame), try changing the spinner's "prize" to something else. Below are just a few ideas, listed from tamest to most racy:
- Giving a compliment
- Holding hands
- Hugging
- Kissing on the cheek
- Kissing on the lips
- French kissing
- Making out
- Playing "Seven Minutes in Heaven"
- Removing an article of clothing (for adults only!)
2
Play with random stakes. If you'd like to play a version of spin the bottle with an added element of random chance, grab a six-sided die before you start playing. Designate a specific romantic action to each number 1-6. For instance, you might set 1 as kissing, 2 as hugging, 3 as making out, and so on. When you've assigned six actions, start play as you normally would. When the bottle lands on someone in the circle, the spinner rolls the die. The number that appears on the die determines which action the spinner has to perform on the person the bottle landed on.
3
Try using the back end of the bottle to select the kisser. One simple variation of spin the bottle changes who does the kissing each round. Players proceed around the circle, spinning the bottle as normal. However, when the bottle comes to rest, the person that the back of the bottle points to, rather than the spinner, has to kiss the person that the front end of the bottle points at. In this variant, if you spin the bottle and the back end of the bottle ends up pointing at you, you still have to give a kiss — don't spin again.
- Because this variant has the people sitting across from each other kissing each other exclusively, it's a smart idea to have everyone take new positions in the circle every few turns.
4
Try "Truth or Dare" spin the bottle. One common variant of basic spin the bottle combines the rules of the game with those of Truth or Dare, the classic pranking, secret-telling game played at sleepovers all over the world. To play spin the bottle with Truth or Dare rules, begin as you normally would by having someone spin the bottle in the center of your circle. When the bottle lands on someone, the spinner asks him or her an embarrassing personal question. If s/he decides not to answer, s/he has to perform the dare that the spinner chooses, which can include kissing someone.
- A second variant involves the person spinning the bottle announcing a dare to the group before spinning it. The person that the bottle lands on must perform the dare. This includes the person spinning, which adds a unique element of risk to the game.

Community Q&A

Question

What happens if they want more than a kiss?

Community Answer

Do only what you are comfortable with. No game gives any person the right to expect more from you than what you want.
Question

What do I do if someone kisses me while playing Spin the Bottle?

Community Answer

If you don't want to kiss them, then push them away and tell them to stop. If you are fine with it, then go for it and pucker up!
Question

Is there anything special done if you spin the same person twice in a row?

Community Answer

Often it depends on how you play. Some people will make it a longer kiss the second time, and longer and longer each time after. Others keep it as it is. It's a good idea to discuss the rules before playing, so that things like this can be agreed upon by all players ahead of the action.

Warnings

If you like the person you wind up kissing, don't expect to get a call or anything from them. After all, it is just a game.

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Don't feel like you need to do anything you don't want to do. Don't let peer pressure get to you! Also, don't force anybody into doing something they don't want to do either.

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Make sure no one is sick! This is a very important step. You don't want to catch any illness from kissing people. It is not fun.

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If you have a boyfriend or girlfriend do not play unless you have their consent.

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If your parents really don't want you playing, don't play. You might end up getting grounded or punished.

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