# This or That Birthday Ideas, Questions and Party Game Source: https://thisorthatquestion.com/birthday-this-or-that Updated: 2026-11-11 Use the first list to plan the party and the rest as party games. Guests can also guess what the birthday person would pick. ## Quick facts - A this or that birthday game for 10 to 15 guests takes about 10 minutes with 15 pairs. - In the guessing version, guests predict the birthday person's answer and score one point for each match. - Kids from about age 5 can play the standing version: stand for the first option and sit for the second. - Birthday this or that cards are index cards or folded cardstock with one pair per card. You can make 20 in about 15 minutes by hand. - The this or that graduation game uses the same rules, with pairs about school memories and plans after graduation. ## 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 cake or Ice cream cake? 2. Surprise party or Help plan your own party? 3. Restaurant dinner or Backyard party? 4. Candles or Sparklers? 5. Birthday pancakes or Birthday brunch? 6. Theme party or No theme? 7. Big party or Small group? 8. Wrapped gifts or Gift cards? 9. Balloon arch or Streamers? 10. Sing loudly or Skip the song? 11. Celebrate all week or Just the day? ## 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 older or Feel younger? 2. Count down for weeks or Forget it is your birthday? 3. Weekday birthday or Weekend birthday? 4. Summer birthday or Winter birthday? 5. Open gifts in front of guests or Open gifts later? 6. Birthday texts or Birthday calls? 7. Stay 21 forever or Stay 30 forever? 8. Say your wish aloud or Keep it secret? 9. Birthday crown or Birthday sash? 10. Baby photo slideshow or No slideshow? 11. Day off work or Party 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 house or Splash pad? 2. Magician or Face painter? 3. Pizza party or Hot dog party? 4. Goody bags or Party crowns? 5. Trampoline park or Laser tag? 6. Superhero party or Dinosaur party? 7. Musical chairs or Freeze dance? 8. Cake with frosting roses or Cake shaped like a dinosaur? 9. Treasure hunt or Craft table? 10. Sleepover party or Daytime party? 11. Piñata or Water 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 toss or Tassel turn? 2. Gap year or Start right away? 3. Grad party at home or Grad party at a park? 4. Give a speech or Make a slideshow? 5. Big city job or Hometown job? 6. Dorm roommate or Live alone? 7. Cash or Something personal? 8. Decorated cap or Plain cap? 9. Yearbook signing or Group photo? 10. Grad trip with friends or Grad trip with family? 11. Keep in touch with everyone or Fresh 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. Charades or Pictionary? 2. Dance floor or Lounge area? 3. Mocktails or Punch bowl? 4. Costume required or Come as you are? 5. Throwback playlist or Current hits? 6. Afternoon party or Late-night party? 7. Posed group photo or Candid photos? 8. Sweets table or Snack board? 9. Leave early or Stay till the end? 10. Party favors or Thank-you notes? 11. Pin the tail or Pass 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. ### What are good this or that birthday ideas? 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. ### How do you play the this or that birthday game? 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. ### What are this or that birthday questions for kids? 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. ### Where can I get birthday this or that cards? 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. ### How does the this or that graduation game work? 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. ### Is this or that a good party game for adults? 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.