# This or That Game: How to Play, Rules and Game Ideas Source: https://thisorthatquestion.com/this-or-that-game Updated: 2026-11-11 Read two options aloud and every player picks one. No equipment, 2 to 40 players, about 10 minutes for 20 questions. ## Quick facts - The this or that game needs no cards, board or app. One person reads pairs aloud and everyone else picks a side. - A round of 20 questions takes about 10 minutes with a group of 10, if you allow one short explanation per question. - Most groups play one of three rule sets: no scoring, points for matching the majority, or elimination where the minority sits out. - In the room version, players walk to the left wall for the first option and the right wall for the second. - Games like this or that include Would You Rather, Four Corners, Two Truths and a Lie, and Most Likely To. ## What is this or that game? This or that is a question game. The leader reads a pair, players choose this or that, and the group compares answers. Some people call it the this or that question game or the either-or game. There are no right answers, so new players can join in on the first question. Teachers use it as a warm-up, team leads use it to open meetings, and families play it in the car. You can play this or that with 2 people or with a full class. ## How to play this or that game 1. Pick a leader. The leader holds the list of this or that game questions. 2. Choose how players answer: say it out loud, hold up one or two fingers, or move to one side of the room. 3. Read the first pair as "A or B?" and count down from three. 4. Everyone answers at the same time, so nobody copies a friend. 5. Ask one or two players to explain their pick in a sentence. 6. Read the next pair. Stop after 15 to 20 questions or when energy drops. ## This or that game rules and scoring The basic game has one rule: you must pick one side. "Both" and "Neither" are not allowed. Add a scoring rule if your group likes to compete. - No scoring: play for conversation. This version suits icebreakers and first days of school. - Majority points: players who pick the more popular side get one point. First to 10 points wins. - Minority points: players on the smaller side get the point. This rewards unusual taste. - Elimination: players on the smaller side sit down. The last one or two standing win. - Guess the leader: players score a point for predicting the leader's answer before it is revealed. - Partner match: pairs of players answer separately and score a point each time they match. ## This or that game questions to start with These game this or that questions split most groups close to evenly. Use them for your first round. 1. Podcast or Audiobook? 2. Window shopping or Online shopping? 3. Library card or Bookstore gift card? 4. Rainbow sprinkles or Chocolate shell? 5. Sweet popcorn or Salty popcorn? 6. Sunrise hike or Sunset paddle? 7. Bumper cars or Carousel? 8. Haunted house or Hall of mirrors? 9. Card night or Trivia night? 10. Laser tag or Go-karts? 11. Pirate or Astronaut? 12. Knight or Dragon rider? 13. Thunderstorm or Heat wave? 14. Canoe or Kayak? 15. Sandwich or Wrap? 16. Handwritten letter or Voice message? ## This or that picture game A this or that game with pictures shows two photos side by side instead of reading words. It helps young kids, English learners and big rooms where people can't hear. Build it in Google Slides, PowerPoint or Canva. Put one photo on each half of a 16:9 slide and label each photo with one or two words. These pairs are easy to find photos for. 1. Clock tower or Stone bridge? 2. Castle or Treehouse? 3. Zeppelin or Steam train? 4. Sand dunes or Waterfall? 5. Full moon or Rainbow? 6. Sports car or Vintage truck? 7. Bamboo forest or Tulip field? 8. Cabin in the snow or Hut on the beach? 9. Hedgehog or Bunny? 10. Skateboard or Scooter? 11. Volcano or Glacier? 12. Macarons or Cinnamon roll? ## This or that activity for classrooms and kids For a moving this or that activity, label one wall "This" and the other "That". Kids walk to the side they choose. Moving this or that activities work in a gym, a classroom or a backyard. 1. Monkey bars or Merry-go-round? 2. Finger paint or Glitter glue? 3. Playdough or Slime? 4. Recess or Art class? 5. Dinosaurs or Sharks? 6. Superhero cape or Princess crown? 7. Field trip to a farm or Field trip to a museum? 8. Puzzles or Building blocks? 9. Tag or Hide and seek? 10. Bubbles or Sidewalk chalk? 11. Bike or Scooter ride in the park? 12. Bedtime story or Bedtime song? ## This or that game questions for adults Adult rounds work best with life choices that have no easy answer. Ask for a one-sentence reason after each pair. 1. Own a boat or Own a cabin? 2. Retire at 50 or Do work you love until 70? 3. Big birthday party or Quiet birthday dinner? 4. Cook every night or Takeout every night? 5. Rent downtown or Own in the suburbs? 6. Read the book first or Watch the movie first? 7. Four-day workweek or Six weeks of vacation? 8. Live next to family or Live near best friends? 9. Plan every detail of a trip or Book a flight and wing it? 10. Dinner party host or Dinner party guest? 11. Learn a language or Learn an instrument? 12. Clean house, no time or Free time, messy house? ## This or that game ideas and variations The same pairs work in many formats. Pick one of these ideas for this or that game nights when the basic version gets old. ### This or that card game Make a this or that card game from index cards. Write one pair per card, about 50 cards in total. Players take turns drawing a card, reading it aloud and guessing how the person on their left will answer. A correct guess keeps the card. Most cards at the end wins. ### This or that board game Turn it into a this or that board game with a sheet of paper. Draw a path of 30 squares and use coins as tokens. Each turn, read a pair. Everyone who picks the majority answer moves one square forward. The first token to reach the end wins. ### This or that online game To play the this or that game online, start a video call and share your screen. Open the random question picker at /this-or-that-generator and click for a new pair each round. Players answer in the chat or hold up one or two fingers on camera. On Slack or Microsoft Teams, post one pair each morning as a this or that daily game. Ask people to react with one of two emojis. Post the winner the next day. ### Elimination round questions For elimination, the smaller side sits down after each pair. These pairs keep the split close so the game lasts. 1. Breakfast in bed or Breakfast at a diner? 2. Hoodie weather or T-shirt weather? 3. Matinee or Midnight showing? 4. Fireworks or Bonfire? 5. Stadium concert or Comedy club? 6. Puzzle game or Racing game? 7. Slushie or Frozen yogurt? 8. Horror movie or Romantic comedy? 9. Backpack or Tote bag? 10. Sunglasses or Baseball cap? 11. Sleeping bag or Hammock? 12. Hopscotch or Jump rope? 13. Crossword or Sudoku? 14. Train or Bus? 15. Lava lamp or Disco ball? 16. Drive-in movie or Movie theater? 17. Pickleball or Tennis? 18. Karaoke mic or Air guitar? ## Games like this or that - Would You Rather: the same idea with longer, stranger scenarios, such as "Would you rather fly or be invisible?" - Four Corners: post four options in four corners of the room. Players walk to their pick. - Two Truths and a Lie: each player says three statements and the group guesses the lie. - Most Likely To: the group points at the player most likely to do something, such as "forget their own birthday". - Hot Seat: one player answers rapid questions from the whole group for 60 seconds. - Never Have I Ever: players hold up five fingers and lower one for each thing they have done. ## Tips for running the game - Keep pairs short. Two to four words per side lets players decide in three seconds. - Avoid pairs with an obvious winner. If 90% of the room picks one side, the question did no work. - Plan 30 seconds per question with explanations, or 10 seconds per question for a speed round. - Let players take turns as leader. Kids especially like reading the next pair. - End on a funny pair so the group leaves laughing. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the game this or that? This or that is a choice game where a leader reads two options and every player picks one. The group then compares answers and explains their picks. It needs no materials, takes 5 to 15 minutes, and works for kids, students, coworkers and adults. ### How do you play this or that? You play this or that by reading a pair such as Canoe or Kayak, counting down from three, and having everyone answer at once. Players answer out loud, with fingers, or by moving to one side of the room. Ask one or two people why, then read the next pair. ### How do you play the this or that game with pictures? Put two photos side by side on a slide in Google Slides, PowerPoint or Canva, one option per half. Label each photo, project it, and have players point or walk to their side. The picture version works well for kids who cannot read yet. ### Is there a free this or that game online? Yes. Every list on this site is free to read, and the random picker at /this-or-that-generator gives you a new pair with each click. For a this or that game online free with friends, share your screen on a video call and have players answer in the chat. ### What are good questions for this or that game nights? Good questions for this or that game nights split the group evenly, such as Laser tag or Go-karts, Stadium concert or Comedy club, and Slushie or Frozen yogurt. Start with easy pairs, then move to harder life choices like Retire at 50 or Do work you love until 70. ### How do I play pick this or that game as a classroom activity? Label one wall This and the other That. Read a pair and have students walk to their side. Call on one student per side to explain. Ten pairs take about five minutes and work as a warm-up or brain break. ### What is the choose this or that game on social media? The choose this or that game on social media is a post with several pairs that people copy, mark with their picks and share. Instagram Stories and TikTok users post them often. You can make one by listing 10 pairs in a text post or story. ### Is the this or that questions game the same as Would You Rather? No. Either this or that game questions use short, everyday options like Canoe or Kayak. Would You Rather uses longer scenarios that are often impossible. Both games ask players to pick one side, so you can mix them in the same round. ### Where can I find this or that game latest question sets? This page lists 70 pairs and was last updated in November 2026. For more ideas for this or that game rounds, browse the topic pages linked below, or use the random picker to pull fresh pairs during play. ### Can I play this or that games online with a remote team? Yes. Run this or that games online in the first five minutes of a video meeting, or post one pair a day in Slack or Teams as a daily game. Ask people to react with one of two emojis and share the result the next morning.