How to Play Would You Rather: Rules, Scoring and Ways to Play

The basic rules

1. 1Read the card

   Read out both options. You have to pick one: no “both”, no “neither”.

2. 2Pick a side

   On three, everyone points left or right at the same time.

3. 3Talk about it

   Share why you picked it and ask the others about theirs. Then swipe to the next card.

Players: 2 or more. Time: as long as you like. Needs: questions.

1. Pick an asker. Go clockwise or let the last answerer ask next.
2. Read the dilemma. “Would you rather always be 10 minutes late or always be 20 minutes early?”
3. Everyone picks. Answer at once with a count-in, so nobody copies. You can raise a hand for A or B.
4. Defend it. Each person gives a one-sentence reason, and the group can push back.
5. Move on. The next person asks.

That is the full game. The fun is in a good question and a good argument.

What makes a good question

• Both options should be tempting or both awful. “Would you rather be rich or poor” has no tension.
• Add a catch. “Fly, but only 1 metre off the ground” is better than “fly”.
• Make it personal to the room. Use names, jobs, or shared memories.

Optional scoring

Pure Would You Rather has no score, but three formats add competition:

1. Majority wins. Guess which option most of the group will choose. Correct guessers score a point.
2. Read my mind. One player is the target. Everyone else guesses what they will pick. Correct guesses score.
3. Stand-off. The group votes. The minority has to convince one person to switch. Switching wins them a point.

3 ways to play

1. Buy a card game

You can find Would You Rather card and board games from several publishers, with prewritten dilemmas for families or adults. There is no single official game, so look at the age rating and sample cards. They are useful as a gift, but the format is simple enough that most groups do not need one.

2. Make it yourself

Write 20 dilemmas on slips of paper and draw from a bowl. Or make a “build your own” round: each player writes two terrible options, and you shuffle and read them out. Use our lists: funny questions, for couples and for kids. A spin the wheel tool can pick who answers first, and the random order generator can set the sequence.

3. Play on Duoo

The Duoo app has Would You Rather with 7 categories and 350 questions. It shows one dilemma at a time on one phone, so you can pass it around without reading from a list. It works offline, and you can try it free in a browser first.

Variations

With 2 people. Guess before you answer. Each person writes down what they think the other will pick. Compare, and score a point per correct guess. It turns a chat into a game and tells you how well you know each other.

With 3 people. Odd numbers are useful: there is always a majority. Play “majority wins” and add a point for being in it.

In teams. Teams write dilemmas for each other. The opposing team has to agree unanimously. If they split, the writing team scores.

Adults and party. Use risky topics like dating, money and work. Add a rule that the minority takes a sip.

Kids. Keep it silly. Animals, food and superpowers work. Let children explain with drawings.

Video call. Use thumbs up and down on camera, or vote with the chat, then unmute to defend.

Reverse. “Would you rather” becomes “who would rather”: ask which player in the room would pick which.

More to read

Try Never Have I Ever next, or see this or that questions and games to play on a date.