Would You Rather – Rules and Guide

What is Would You Rather?

Would You Rather is a game variant where one player reads out a dilemma with two options, and everyone else chooses the option they prefer – or the one they would choose in the situation. The drinking rule is tied to what the majority chooses: those in the minority drink.

The game has drinking rules adapted to pre-drink settings. There are no right or wrong answers – only interesting and often revealing choices that can start the best discussions of the evening.

What makes Would You Rather a fantastic party game is the combination of a low entry barrier and high entertainment potential. Everyone understands the rules immediately, and the questions can range from completely harmless to deeply philosophical or embarrassingly personal. You set the tone yourselves.

The game is especially good for groups who have just met, since it opens up conversations and reveals preferences and values in a safe and fun way. But it is just as good for the friend group you know well – because you will always be surprised by each other's choices.

The basic rules

1. One player is the "question asker". This person reads out a would-you-rather question. In the app this happens automatically, but you can also make up your own questions.
2. Everyone chooses simultaneously. To avoid people copying each other, everyone chooses at the same time. Methods: raise your hand for option A/B, say it aloud on "1-2-3", or use A/B cards.
3. Count up. See who chose what. The option the fewest players chose is the "losing side".
4. The minority drinks. Everyone on the losing side takes one sip. If it was tied (equal numbers on each option), everyone drinks one sip.
5. Discussion time is optional but recommended. After everyone has chosen, those who want can briefly explain why they chose as they did. This is often the most fun part of the round.
6. Rotate the question asker role. The next player takes over and reads a new question. Or use the app for automatic rotation.

Rule of thumb: The minority drinks. A tie means everyone drinks. The better the question, the more even the split – and the more fun the debate afterwards.

The best Would You Rather questions

Here are 20 dilemma questions that always create reactions, debate and laughter:

1. Would you rather never eat your favourite food again, or never watch your favourite TV show again?
2. Would you rather always know what everyone around you is thinking, or never know what anyone is thinking?
3. Would you rather lose internet access forever, or lose the ability to travel abroad forever?
4. Would you rather always smell slightly sweaty, or always have a little food on your face?
5. Would you rather have the ability to fly, or have the ability to become invisible?
6. Would you rather spend a year alone on an island, or a year in a room with 20 people you do not know?
7. Would you rather never use social media again, or never watch a film or TV series again?
8. Would you rather know exactly when you will die, or never know?
9. Would you rather always tell the truth, or always lie – no middle ground?
10. Would you rather work your dream job for minimum wage, or work a job you hate for double the pay?
11. Would you rather go back in time and change one thing, or see the future once?
12. Would you rather never sleep (but always have full energy), or sleep 12 hours every day regardless?
13. Would you rather always have bad weather wherever you are, or always have sunshine but 40 degrees heat?
14. Would you rather lose all memories from childhood, or lose the last five years of your memories?
15. Would you rather always hear your favourite song, but never be able to hear any other music, or never hear your favourite song again?
16. Would you rather have the ability to speak all languages fluently, or have the ability to play all instruments perfectly?
17. Would you rather live with a terrible secret that no one knows about, or have all your secrets revealed to everyone you know?
18. Would you rather always be late for everything, or always arrive two hours early?
19. Would you rather only be able to eat one meal for the rest of your life, or never be able to eat your favourite food again?
20. Would you rather have a life with lots of money but few friends, or a life with little money but many close friends?

House rules

Majority vote with justification

After everyone has chosen, everyone on the losing side MUST give a brief justification for their choice before they drink. The more convincing the justification, the more likely it is that the majority drinks instead – by acclamation. This adds a debate layer that makes the game even more fun.

Secret vote

Instead of choosing openly, everyone writes their answer on a piece of paper. The answers are revealed simultaneously. This format makes it impossible to copy each other and often gives far more honest and surprising answers. The minority drinks as usual.

Debate mode

Choose one round where everyone who chose option A debates against everyone who chose option B. The group that manages to convince the most people from the other side to switch opinion wins the round – and the losing team takes three sips. Debate mode works best with questions where there are actually possible arguments on both sides.

Double dilemma

A player reads out two questions in a row, and the chosen player (the one who drank last) must choose and answer both without pausing. If they manage it without hesitating, they avoid drinking this round. If they hesitate more than three seconds on one of the questions, they take two sips.

Tips for good Would You Rather questions

Not all questions are equally good. Here is what separates good from bad dilemmas:

• Both options must have something impractical or negative about them. If one option is obviously better than the other, it is not a dilemma – it is just a question. The tension arises when both choices are difficult.
• Avoid overly dark themes. Questions about illness, death and tragedies can quickly kill the atmosphere. Stick to lifestyle, preferences and hypothetical situations.
• Specific scenarios are better than general ones. "Would you rather always arrive late for everything, or always come two hours early" is much better than "Would you rather be lazy or stressed".
• Test the question yourself first. If you cannot immediately see arguments for both sides, the question is probably too easy or too one-sided.
• Mix categories. Vary between lifestyle questions, values questions, hypothetical superpowers and social situations. Variety keeps the energy up.

The best Would You Rather question is one where the group is roughly evenly split. Then half drink and the debate afterwards is always intense.