Bussen drinking game rules
Bussen is the Dutch name many groups use for Ride the Bus. The game usually has guessing rounds, a pyramid round, and a final bus round for the player who loses the setup.
How do you start Bussen?
Deal cards to each player through a set of simple guesses. Common prompts are red or black, higher or lower, inside or outside, and suit. A wrong guess usually means the player drinks, while a correct guess moves them forward.
What are the four opening guesses?
A common Bussen opening gives each player four cards through four guesses:
- Red or black: guess the color of the first card.
- Higher or lower: guess whether the second card is higher or lower than the first.
- Inside or outside: guess whether the third card falls between the first two card values or outside them.
- Suit: guess the suit of the fourth card.
Wrong guesses usually carry a small penalty. Correct guesses let the player keep moving. The exact penalty should be agreed before dealing.
How does the pyramid work?
Lay cards face down in a pyramid. Flip one card at a time. Players who have matching cards can give out drinks, usually with higher rows worth more. Groups often decide their own values before the pyramid starts.
A simple pyramid uses five cards on the bottom row, then four, three, two, and one at the top. The bottom row is worth one, and each higher row is worth more. Players can play matching cards from their hand when a pyramid card of the same rank appears.
What does riding the bus mean?
The losing player enters a final sequence of card guesses. If they guess wrong, they drink and may need to restart part of the bus. Keep this part short enough that it stays funny rather than repetitive.
How do you choose who rides the bus?
Common versions send the player with the most cards left, the most penalties, or the worst pyramid result to the bus. If there is a tie, draw high card, ask tied players one final guess, or let the group vote.
How does Party Cards compare?
Bussen is fun when everyone wants a card-rule game. Party Cards is better when you want faster prompts, names, votes, and challenges without dealing cards. Swipes teach the intelligent game engine what the group plays and skips.
Play responsibly
Bussen can create repeated penalties, so agree on limits before starting. If alcohol is involved, follow local laws and make it normal to stop, skip, or switch to water.
Try a no-deck party game
Party Cards gives you fast group prompts from your phone, with an adaptive engine that reacts to the room.
