This or That Birthday Ideas, Questions and Party Game

Use the first list to plan the party and the rest as party games.

Random this or that picker

Birthday and party
Layer cakeorIce cream cake
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Guests can also guess what the birthday person would pick.

Jump to a section (9)
  1. This or that birthday ideas for planning the party
  2. This or that birthday edition: questions about the birthday person
  3. Birthday this or that for kids' parties
  4. This or that graduation game
  5. This or that party game pairs for any party
  6. How to play the this or that birthday game
  7. How to make birthday this or that cards
  8. Tips for a birthday this or that party game
  9. Frequently asked questions

This or that birthday ideas for planning the party

Send these to the birthday person a few weeks ahead. Their picks become the party plan.

  1. Layer cakeorIce cream cake?
  2. Surprise partyorHelp plan your own party?
  3. Restaurant dinnerorBackyard party?
  4. CandlesorSparklers?
  5. Birthday pancakesorBirthday brunch?
  6. Theme partyorNo theme?
  7. Big partyorSmall group?
  8. Wrapped giftsorGift cards?
  9. Balloon archorStreamers?
  10. Sing loudlyorSkip the song?
  11. Celebrate all weekorJust the day?
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This or that birthday edition: questions about the birthday person

Use these this or that birthday questions for the guessing game. The birthday person answers first in secret, then guests guess.

  1. Feel olderorFeel younger?
  2. Count down for weeksorForget it is your birthday?
  3. Weekday birthdayorWeekend birthday?
  4. Summer birthdayorWinter birthday?
  5. Open gifts in front of guestsorOpen gifts later?
  6. Birthday textsorBirthday calls?
  7. Stay 21 foreverorStay 30 forever?
  8. Say your wish aloudorKeep it secret?
  9. Birthday crownorBirthday sash?
  10. Baby photo slideshoworNo slideshow?
  11. Day off workorParty at work?

Birthday this or that for kids' parties

These pairs fit ages 5 to 10. Read each one aloud and let kids run to one side of the room.

  1. Bounce houseorSplash pad?
  2. MagicianorFace painter?
  3. Pizza partyorHot dog party?
  4. Goody bagsorParty crowns?
  5. Trampoline parkorLaser tag?
  6. Superhero partyorDinosaur party?
  7. Musical chairsorFreeze dance?
  8. Cake with frosting rosesorCake shaped like a dinosaur?
  9. Treasure huntorCraft table?
  10. Sleepover partyorDaytime party?
  11. PiñataorWater balloons?

This or that graduation game

Use these at a grad party or the last week of school. Ask the graduate to answer first, then let classmates guess.

  1. Cap tossorTassel turn?
  2. Gap yearorStart right away?
  3. Grad party at homeorGrad party at a park?
  4. Give a speechorMake a slideshow?
  5. Big city joborHometown job?
  6. Dorm roommateorLive alone?
  7. CashorSomething personal?
  8. Decorated caporPlain cap?
  9. Yearbook signingorGroup photo?
  10. Grad trip with friendsorGrad trip with family?
  11. Keep in touch with everyoneorFresh start?

This or that party game pairs for any party

These work at any birthday or house party, no matter the age of the guest of honor.

  1. CharadesorPictionary?
  2. Dance floororLounge area?
  3. MocktailsorPunch bowl?
  4. Costume requiredorCome as you are?
  5. Throwback playlistorCurrent hits?
  6. Afternoon partyorLate-night party?
  7. Posed group photoorCandid photos?
  8. Sweets tableorSnack board?
  9. Leave earlyorStay till the end?
  10. Party favorsorThank-you notes?
  11. Pin the tailorPass the parcel?

How to play the this or that birthday game

  1. Choose 15 pairs from the sections above, or pull them from the random picker at /this-or-that-generator.
  2. Ask the birthday person to write their answers on a sheet and keep it hidden.
  3. Give each guest a pen and a printed list. Use your browser's Print button for a clean copy.
  4. Read each pair aloud. Guests circle the answer they think the birthday person picked.
  5. The birthday person reads the real answers. Guests score one point per match.
  6. The top scorer gets the first slice of cake.

How to make birthday this or that cards

This site does not sell or host card files, but you can make this or that cards for birthday parties in a few minutes.

  1. Buy a pack of 3x5 index cards, or cut cardstock into 4x6 rectangles.
  2. Write one pair per card in large letters, for example "Candles or Sparklers?"
  3. For a styled set, lay out the pairs in Canva on a 4x6 card design and print at home.
  4. Punch a hole in the corner and keep the deck on a ring, or put the cards in a jar for guests to draw.

Tips for a birthday this or that party game

  • Keep pairs about the birthday person kind. Nobody wants a round about their age or an ex.
  • Use the standing version for kids under 8. Paper scoring frustrates younger guests.
  • Mix 5 easy pairs with 10 harder ones so close friends and new friends can both score.
  • Play the game before cake. Guests drift away once dessert is served.
  • Save the score sheets. They make a good keepsake or a page in a birthday scrapbook.

Frequently asked questions

What are this or that birthday ideas?

This or that birthday ideas are two-option questions you use to plan a birthday or to play a game at the party, such as Layer cake or Ice cream cake. Guests pick a side, or guess which side the birthday person would pick. The same format works at graduation parties. A round of 15 pairs takes about 10 minutes.

Good this or that birthday ideas include Layer cake or Ice cream cake, Surprise party or Help plan your own party, and Birthday crown or Birthday sash. Use planning pairs to choose the party style, and personal pairs for a guessing game during the party.

The birthday person secretly answers 15 pairs. Guests guess each answer on a printed list, then the birthday person reveals the real picks. One point per correct guess, and the top scorer wins a small prize or the first slice of cake.

Pick pairs about party things kids love: Bounce house or Splash pad, Magician or Face painter, Musical chairs or Freeze dance. Have kids move to one side of the room to answer. Ten pairs is enough for ages 5 to 7.

This site does not offer card downloads. Write each pair on an index card by hand, or design a 4x6 card in Canva and print it at home. You can also print the pairs on this page with your browser's Print or Save as PDF option and cut them into strips.

The graduate answers pairs such as Gap year or Start right away, and guests guess each answer. It works at a grad party or in a classroom during the last week of school. Fifteen pairs take about 10 minutes.

Yes. The this or that party game needs no setup and works with 4 to 40 guests. Adults enjoy the guessing version at milestone birthdays, such as a 30th or 50th, because old friends compete to prove they know the guest of honor best.

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