Buzz
'Would You Rather' stands as an enjoyable ice-breaker activity suitable for any gathering. All it takes is two players and a dash of creativity to concoct engaging scenarios and questions. Discover how to partake in this simple yet entertaining game at social events.
Steps
Preparing for the Game
Start with a minimum of two players. Select at least one additional participant to initiate gameplay.
- For a more dynamic experience, involve more players to introduce diverse questions and spark debates over each other's choices.
- In larger gatherings, consider forming teams where members collaborate to agree on their answers.
Decide who starts the game. Choose the initial player responsible for selecting a “Would you rather…?” question and proposing two scenarios for others to choose from.
- Get imaginative with selecting the first player. You could roll a die, opt for the youngest participant, draw straws, or employ any other method.
- The “Would you rather” inquiry can juxtapose any two amusing, serious, bizarre, or thought-provoking situations, such as “Would you rather have hands for feet or feet for hands?”
- The designated first player presents their “Would you rather” query to a chosen player, who then responds to the query.
Select a single response to each question. Decide on one of the two scenarios you’d prefer from the query posed by the current player. There are numerous reasons you might favor one option over the other, but the decision lies with you!
- Participants might opt for an answer simply because it’s the marginally more bearable option among two undesirable ones, like “be hairy all over” or “be completely bald all over.”
- Others might choose something they genuinely enjoy based on their preferences, or something that sparks a moral or humorous debate with fellow players.
- No player questioned in a “Would you rather” scenario can reply with “both” or “neither.” A choice between the two options presented is mandatory.
Keep the questions and answers flowing. The individual questioned by the starting player becomes the subsequent player, selecting someone new to pose a query to.
- Alternatively, players can direct questions to the person adjacent to them or the entire group. The latter option may be more suitable for smaller game sessions.
- Gameplay persists until participants exhaust their question ideas, someone struggles to pick a response, or for as long as desired.
Posing Queries
Present a dilemma of two comparable choices. Formulate a query that juxtaposes two scenarios, prompting the player to select one they would hypothetically prefer to do.
- For instance, a query could be “Would you rather meet an extraterrestrial visitor or voyage into outer space?” or “Would you rather live one lifespan lasting 1,000 years or ten lifetimes each lasting 100 years?”
- The objective is to craft questions that are challenging to answer, either because a player struggles to decide between two desirable options or because both choices are unfavorable or uncomfortable.
Present two favorable options. Pose questions that juxtapose two distinct scenarios typically viewed as desirable.
- For instance, you could inquire about superpowers or unique abilities, like, “Would you rather possess the power of flight or the ability to become invisible?” or “Would you prefer to fluently speak every language in the world or excel in a skill of your choice?”
- You may also introduce ethical dilemmas, such as, “Would you rather eradicate hunger or eliminate hatred?” or “Would you opt to gain recognition for saving a life or winning a Nobel Prize?”
Present two unfavorable options. Inject humor into the game by crafting questions that present two different scenarios, both in some way undesirable.
- Create scenarios that are physically uncomfortable and absurd, like “Would you rather wear a snowsuit in the desert or be naked in Antarctica?” or “Would you rather lack elbows or lack knees?”
- Pose questions that could lead to embarrassment, such as “Would you rather be caught singing in front of a mirror or caught spying on your crush?” or “Would you prefer to take your parent or your 12-year-old sibling to senior prom?”
Exploring Alternatives
Pose a question to the entire group. Instead of directing a question to an individual, opt to present it to the entire group.
- You can also adopt a different turn-taking approach, such as consistently directing questions to the person on your left to maintain a circular flow of play instead of randomly selecting new participants.
- Engage the entire group if you seek diverse opinions or wish to compare responses. Additionally, the player posing the question can choose to answer it themselves!
Impose a time constraint. Introduce a time limit for answering each question to accelerate gameplay and foster quick decision-making.
- Utilize a timer or a gaming hourglass to monitor the duration. Shorter time frames exert greater pressure on players to provide answers, even when they're uncertain.
- Consider imposing penalties for players who fail to respond within the allotted time, if desired. They could be deemed “out” for the remainder of the game or required to answer three additional questions in rapid succession.
Explore the board game edition. Dive into the board game adaptation of this activity, where players draw pre-written questions from cards and navigate through spaces on a game board.
- In the board game version, the objective may involve reaching a designated endpoint on the board or accomplishing another specified goal.
- If you don't have the physical board game, try this variation: after posing a question, the asking player must guess the majority answer among all players before anyone responds, or have all players predict one individual's choice.
Find inspiration for questions online. Generate fresh question ideas by perusing various websites offering sample “Would you rather” queries. These resources can be invaluable if you're struggling to devise your own questions or need suitable prompts tailored to your audience.
- Explore family-friendly question compilations if you're playing with children. Consider printing out kid-friendly questions for extended car rides or similar occasions.
- Seek out question collections geared towards adults if your group consists of mature players.
Pointers
Cautions
- While this game can evoke harmless amusement when players struggle to answer questions, always respect participants' comfort levels. If someone feels genuinely uncomfortable or simply prefers not to join in, allow them to opt out of the game without applying further pressure.
