This or That Game: How to Play, Rules and Game Ideas

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. PodcastorAudiobook?
2. Window shoppingorOnline shopping?
3. Library cardorBookstore gift card?
4. Rainbow sprinklesorChocolate shell?
5. Sweet popcornorSalty popcorn?
6. Sunrise hikeorSunset paddle?
7. Bumper carsorCarousel?
8. Haunted houseorHall of mirrors?
9. Card nightorTrivia night?
10. Laser tagorGo-karts?
11. PirateorAstronaut?
12. KnightorDragon rider?
13. ThunderstormorHeat wave?
14. CanoeorKayak?
15. SandwichorWrap?
16. Handwritten letterorVoice 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.

17. Clock towerorStone bridge?
18. CastleorTreehouse?
19. ZeppelinorSteam train?
20. Sand dunesorWaterfall?
21. Full moonorRainbow?
22. Sports carorVintage truck?
23. Bamboo forestorTulip field?
24. Cabin in the snoworHut on the beach?
25. HedgehogorBunny?
26. SkateboardorScooter?
27. VolcanoorGlacier?
28. MacaronsorCinnamon 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.

29. Monkey barsorMerry-go-round?
30. Finger paintorGlitter glue?
31. PlaydoughorSlime?
32. RecessorArt class?
33. DinosaursorSharks?
34. Superhero capeorPrincess crown?
35. Field trip to a farmorField trip to a museum?
36. PuzzlesorBuilding blocks?
37. TagorHide and seek?
38. BubblesorSidewalk chalk?
39. BikeorScooter ride in the park?
40. Bedtime storyorBedtime 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.

41. Own a boatorOwn a cabin?
42. Retire at 50orDo work you love until 70?
43. Big birthday partyorQuiet birthday dinner?
44. Cook every nightorTakeout every night?
45. Rent downtownorOwn in the suburbs?
46. Read the book firstorWatch the movie first?
47. Four-day workweekorSix weeks of vacation?
48. Live next to familyorLive near best friends?
49. Plan every detail of a triporBook a flight and wing it?
50. Dinner party hostorDinner party guest?
51. Learn a languageorLearn an instrument?
52. Clean house, no timeorFree 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.

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.