Spread the cards face down in a circle with all the cards touching. Typically, a canned drink is placed in the center of the circle.
Kings is often played as a drinking game. Each card has an associated action; players take turns drawing cards from the center, and must follow the action dictated by the card.
A : waterfall - the player who drew the A begins drinking; the next player clockwise must start when the previous player starts, but can only stop after the previous player stops.
2 : you, 3 : me, 5 : guys, 6 : chicks - the specified party takes a drink.
4 : floor, 7 : heaven - last player to touch the floor or point up takes a drink.
8 : mate - The player chooses someone to be their mate; any time one of the two drinks, the other does as well. These can be chained.
9 : rhyme - The player starts by saying a word, the next player must say a word that rhymes without repeating any of the previously spoken words.
10 : categories - The player states a category (such as colors), each player must say a member of the category without repeating any of the previously spoken words.
J : never have I ever - The player states something they have never done (such as broken a bone). Any players who have done that thing lose a "life". If no players have done that thing, the initial player loses a "life". Typically played with 3 lives indicated by raised fingers on each player's hand; players take turns stating things.
Q : question master - The player becomes the question master. Any player who answers a question asked by the question master must take a drink.
K : rule maker - The player makes a new rule that all players must follow.
Variations are available to subsitute the actions for cards.
J can be played as "drive" rather than never have I ever. The player who drew the card starts by choosing a direction and making a turning motion with their hands in that direction, as though they were turning a steering wheel. Subsequent players may either continue in the same direction by making the same motion and saying "drive", or may reverse the direction by making the motion in the opposite direction and saying "skrrr".
Q can be played as hot seat. The player who drew Q must answer any question asked to them truthfully within a 1-minute timer.