A MESSY TIMES DICE GAME · SIX RULES
How to play Sieve Head
Pass the die around, roll and follow the matching instruction. Roll a six and you become the Sieve Head, drinking whenever anybody else drinks until another six moves the sieve to somebody new.
Sieve Head is a Messy Times game. No traditional history or separate established ruleset is claimed. For adults aged 18+; alcohol is optional.
What is Sieve Head?
Sieve Head is a turn-based dice drinking game in Messy Times. Each face assigns a simple consequence to the roller, a neighbour, a chosen player or the whole group. The sixth face creates a persistent role: its roller wears a sieve and joins future drinking consequences until somebody else rolls six.
The objective is social rather than competitive. There are no points, lives, questions to remember or final winner.
YOU NEED
• Messy Times on one or more phones
• At least two players for Multiplayer
• A sieve, colander or harmless substitute
• Optional drinks or alcohol-free forfeits
The six Sieve Head dice rules
1
LEFT
The person to the current player’s left drinks.
2
RIGHT
The person to the current player’s right drinks.
3
ME
The current player drinks.
4
YOU
The current player chooses somebody else in the group to drink.
5
EVERYONE
Everybody drinks.
6
WEAR THE SIEVE
The current player wears the sieve and drinks whenever anybody else drinks. They keep it until another player rolls a 6 and takes it.
The sieve or colander consequence is always additional to the rolled rule. If the wearer is already the target, they drink twice: once for the normal result and once for wearing it. On a five, the wearer drinks once with everybody and then takes their additional drink.
How a game works
1
Start with the first roller
On One Device, the group starts and passes the phone clockwise. In Multiplayer, the first room participant begins.
2
Roll and follow the rule
The die produces a number from 1 to 6 and Messy Times displays its consequence. A four pauses while the roller chooses another player.
3
Track the sieve
The first six gives somebody the sieve. It stays with them across later turns until the next six transfers it to that roller.
4
Pass the turn
Move clockwise or use Next Player in the room, then roll again. Continue until the group decides to stop.
Example: the sieve changes the next roll
Alex rolls a six and puts on the sieve. Bea then rolls a one, so the person to Bea’s left drinks and Alex takes an additional drink for wearing the sieve. If Alex is also the person to Bea’s left, Alex drinks twice. Later, Chris rolls another six, takes the sieve from Alex and becomes the new Sieve Head.
PLAY THROUGH MESSY TIMES
Ready to play Sieve Head?
Messy Times rolls the die, displays each rule and keeps the current sieve holder visible. Pass one phone around or create a private room so everybody can follow the same turn.
One Device and Multiplayer
ONE DEVICE
Pass the phone clockwise
One Device does not collect player names or enforce a group size. Each person rolls, follows the displayed rule and passes the phone. The app records only that somebody is wearing the sieve, so the group must remember who it is. This mode works completely offline and has no automatic end.
MULTIPLAYER ROOM
A shared, named game
Create or join a private room with a six-character code. A game starts with 2–12 players. The server chooses each roll, every device sees the same result and the room identifies the current player, consequence target and sieve holder.
Only the current player rolls, chooses the target after a four and advances the turn. Reactions are available and the host can end the game. Players who join after it starts can watch but do not join the active turn order. Multiplayer requires an internet connection.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Sieve Head?
Rolling a six makes that player wear a sieve on their head and copy other players’ drinking consequences. The name describes that role in the Messy Times game.
Do you need an actual sieve?
No. A colander is the closest alternative, while a clean bowl, box or similarly harmless substitute also works. Choose something light and safe to wear, or track the role without an object.
Is Sieve Head a memory game?
No. Players roll a die and follow its displayed instruction. There are no sequences, prompts or facts to remember beyond knowing who currently holds the sieve.
How do you win?
There is no score or fixed winner. The group plays for as long as it wants, and the multiplayer host can end the shared game.
Can you play without alcohol?
Yes. Replace each drink with a sip of a soft drink, a point or a quick harmless forfeit. The dice and sieve-holder mechanic still works.
Keep the sieve sensible
Use a clean, light object that does not obstruct breathing or vision. Alcohol is optional, and every drinking instruction can be replaced. Keep quantities small and do not let the sieve rule create rapid or excessive consumption. Messy Times is for adults aged 18+ who are of legal drinking age in their country or region.
READ THE RESPONSIBLE PLAY GUIDE →