🤷 Would You Rather?
Two impossible options, one choice, and then a lively debate about why. Would You Rather needs no equipment, works with any group size, and gets even quiet kids talking.
What you need
Equipment: Nothing (printable question cards help). Pick a set of questions from the cards below or write 20 of your own, where both options are equally great or equally awful. Sit everyone in a circle.
How to play Would You Rather?
- The host reads a question aloud: 'Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?'
- Everyone gets 10 seconds to think in silence.
- On the count of three, everyone votes at once: right hand up for the first option, left hand up for the second.
- Count the hands and announce which side has the majority.
- The host picks one player from each side to explain their choice in 20 seconds.
- Persuasion round: anyone who has been convinced may switch sides.
- No 'both' and no 'neither'. Everyone has to choose.
- Move on to the next question.
Scoring and wrapping up
Scoring: Being in the majority = 1 point. Convincing someone to switch sides = 3 points. Being the only one on your side and not giving in = 2 points.
To finish: After 12 to 15 questions, add up the points. For the grand finale, the group invents a Would You Rather about the birthday child, and they have to choose.
By age
- Ages 7-9: silly questions about sweets, pets and superpowers.
- Ages 10-12: real dilemmas, like 'one best friend or ten good friends'.
- Teens and adults: questions about future jobs, money and life choices.
Variations
- Big group: vote with a show of hands, then invite two volunteers up front for a mini debate.
- Capy twist: once per round, Capy calls 'Switch!' and everyone has to defend the side they did NOT pick.
Tips for the adult in charge
- The best questions have no right answer. If the whole group lands on one side, the question was too easy, so swap it.
- Keep the explanations short so the pace stays fast.
🖨️ Printable Would You Rather cards
Cut out the cards, shuffle them and read one per round.
- Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?
- Would you rather have a pet dragon or a pet unicorn?
- Would you rather eat only pizza or only ice cream for a week?
- Would you rather talk to animals or speak every language?
- Would you rather live in a treehouse or an underwater house?
- Would you rather never have homework or never have to tidy your room?
- Would you rather be the fastest runner or the strongest kid in the world?
- Would you rather have a robot friend or a talking dog?
- Would you rather visit the past or the future?
- Would you rather be a famous singer or a famous inventor?
- Would you rather always be too hot or always be too cold?
- Would you rather have hiccups for a day or sneeze every 10 minutes?
- Would you rather live on the moon or at the bottom of the sea?
- Would you rather have one best friend or ten good friends?
- Would you rather be able to read minds or see the future?
- Would you rather have a giant slide in your house or a swimming pool in your bedroom?
- Would you rather be a superhero or a wizard?
- Would you rather never eat chocolate again or never eat chips again?
- Would you rather shrink to the size of an ant or grow as tall as a house?
- Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button for your life?
Questions and answers
What are good Would You Rather questions for kids?
Questions with two fun or two funny options work best, like flying versus invisibility or a dragon versus a unicorn as a pet. Avoid anything gross or scary for younger children.
How do you make Would You Rather more fun?
Make players explain their choice and let others switch sides if they are convinced. The debate is where the laughter happens.
Can you play Would You Rather in the classroom?
Yes. It is a great warm-up or brain break, and it practices giving reasons and persuasive speaking.