20 question games to help you get to know anyone better
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA
Looking to connect and have fun? These 20 question games for friends, partners, family, or even strangers can turn simple chats into meaningful, laughter-filled moments.
Few things are more challenging than truly connecting with someone. Whether you’re chatting with a coworker in an elevator, making small talk at the start of a first date, or stuck in traffic with your cousins, it can be tough to know exactly what to say.
If you feel pressure to fill the silence, try turning the spotlight on the other person. Many times, the right question is all you need to make someone laugh, spark a meaningful conversation, and deepen bonds.
And while it might feel a little awkward at first, remember that you’re not putting anyone on the spot. You’re just creating safe, playful spaces where curiosity leads and connection follows.
So whether you’re looking to liven up a meeting, connect more deeply with your partner, or just avoid awkwardness at the next family function, these question games can help.
With any luck, you’ll have some fun — and get a little closer to the people in your life.
For colleagues: 5 icebreaker question games
Workplace icebreaker games are usually awkward at best. However, when they’re done well, these games can remind us that we’re all just people who are doing our best.
Here are five fun question games perfect for the office — and best of all, you can adjust them for introverts and extroverts alike.
1. Two truths and a lie
Have each person share two true things and one lie about themselves, and then have the group guess which one is the lie. This can be fun, revealing, and even shocking in a good way — and best of all, nobody feels like they have to overshare.
2. “If I were a…”
This one is basically a personality test mixed with some silly improv. It also gives people a way to express themselves without the usual small-talk fatigue.
To play, go around the room and finish sentences like:
“If I were a dog, I’d be a…”
“If I were a snack, I’d be…”
“If I were a weather pattern, I’d be…”
3. Speed rounds
Go around the room and have every person answer five rapid-fire questions. Think: wine or beer? Lakehouse or beach house? Call or text? Elephants or giraffes? Sleep in or early riser?
Don’t think too hard. Just go off your instinct.
4. “What’s on your t-shirt?”
Ask everyone: “If your mood today were printed on a t-shirt, what would it say?” The responses tend to be a sneaky blend of humor and insight.
5. Office superlatives
You may have had senior superlatives in high school, so why not bring the tradition to your office? These make everyone feel good because don’t we all secretly want to win something?
Have everyone vote for things like:
Most likely to survive a zombie apocalypse
Best Zoom background
Most enviable lunches
Funniest out-of-office messages
For new friends: 5 get-to-know-you question games
When you’re just starting to get to know someone, it can help to have a few questions in your arsenal. After all, many people freeze up after, “So, what do you do?”
Here are five question games that can help you dive a little deeper into your interactions with new friends.
1. 21 questions
Take turns asking each other a question, any question, up to 21 total. Keep it playful (“Who’s your latest TV crush?”), get curious (“What’s something you believed as a kid that turned out to be so very wrong?”), or go deep (“How are you working on yourself?”).
2. Would you rather…
“Would you rather?” can be a revealing and fun way to show your personality in a low-pressure way. Some questions you could ask are:
Would you rather be able to speak every language or talk to animals?
Would you rather have a pause button or a rewind button for life?
Would you rather have dinner with your childhood hero or your future self?
3. “Hidden treasures”
This game can feel like digging through the junk drawer of someone’s life and finding amazing little pieces of gold. Go back and forth answering questions like:
What’s a moment you were unexpectedly proud of?
What’s a random memory that makes you laugh?
What’s something you pronounced wrong for way too long?
4. Reverse bucket list
Help people feel seen by playing Reverse Bucket List — a game where you talk about all the cool things you’ve already done. Here are some examples:
A random adventure you stumbled into
A moment where you felt totally alive
A goal you didn’t even know you had until you hit it
💙 Listen to Wishing You Were Someone Else with Jeff Warren to help you remember how great you are and just how much you’ve already accomplished.
5. “If you really knew me…”
This one can get personal. The prompt is, “If you really knew me, you’d know…” and you finish the sentence with something truthful.
It can be light like, “…you’d know I’m 50% cheese and 50% carbs,” or meaningful like, “…you’d know I’m still figuring out what makes me feel grounded”. Either way, this game can help invite intimacy without demanding it.
For family: 5 family-friendly question games
Family time is important for many people, but it can also feel like you’re just one awkward comment away from stepping on an emotional landmine. A question game could be just the thing you need to bring everyone together.
Here are five question games that are playful and family-friendly.
1. Highs, lows, and buffalo
This can be a quick and cozy way to hear about everyone’s day. It’s part check-in, part game, and a lot of fun.
To play, have everyone share a high, which is the best part of their day, a low, which is the toughest part of their day, and a buffalo — something totally random or unexpected.
Here’s an example, “My high was getting a great parking spot at the office. My low was stubbing my toe. My buffalo is that I think birds are following me.”
2. Silly superlatives
Create playful “awards” for your family members, which can turn everyday life into something worth celebrating. These might include:
“Most likely to win a staring contest with the dog”
“Best whistler in the morning”
“Fastest with the remote control”
3. Gratitude countdown
Have everyone name 10 things they’re grateful for. Their list can be heartfelt, goofy, or completely random. This is a mood booster that can shift the energy if things are tense.
Start from 10 and count down like:
10 = “my warm socks”
9 = “the smell of garlic sizzling in the pan”
8 = “the three jokes Grandpa always makes”
…and so on.
💙 The Gratitude Game from Jay Shetty explores how gratitude can be transformative.
4. Alphabet questions
Go around the group answering questions that start with each letter of the alphabet, like:
A = “What animal would you be?”
B = “Best book you’ve ever read?”
C = “Corniest joke you can think of?”
You don’t have to go in order, but it can be a fun challenge.
5. Story relay
If you’re at a dinner table, on a long car ride, or waiting for your takeout to arrive, this game can be a fun way to connect. Have one person start a story with a single sentence, and each person adds a new sentence to build it out.
You could also make it extra fun by adding a rule. Maybe each sentence must include a question, like:
“Once upon a time, there was a leopard named Kevin. Why did he wear sunglasses? No one knew. Could it be because he was secretly a leopard DJ?”
For couples: 5 romantic question games
Even if you’re in a healthy and loving relationship, keeping the connection alive takes work. After all, it can be really easy to fall into a default pattern of “How was work?” as you both settle into watching a TV show on the couch and then quickly head to bed.
To break out of autopilot, here are five romantic question games you can play with your partner that can help you feel more connected.
1. The intimacy deck
Create a conversation deck with questions that spark a deeper connection. Fill them with questions that aren’t about fixing or analyzing each other. You might ask each other:
“What’s something small I do that you love?”
“When did I make you laugh the hardest?”
“Where do you see us in five years?”
2. “A silent wish”
Have your partner make a silent wish. Then imagine what you think it was, and tell them. After you say it, ask them what they actually wished for. This can be a great learning game — and maybe you’ll melt in the process.
3. Future flash-forward
Pick a year, five, 10, even 30 years from now. Then ask each other:
“What does our life look like then?”
“What do you think our routines are?”
“Where do we live?”
This can be a dreamy exercise that lets you see what kind of life you’re imagining.
4. Relationship “ask me anything”
Set a 5-10 minute timer and take turns being the asker and the answerer. No question is off-limits, but passing is allowed. This can be raw and powerful.
You could ask:
“What’s something you’ve wanted to ask but didn’t know how?”
“What’s something I do that you don’t totally understand?”
5. Never have I ever
Take the classic game and give it a romantic twist. If you want, you could even sip a drink as you play and get a little spicy.
“Never have I ever brushed my teeth with your toothbrush.”
“Never have I ever thought about what my wedding vows would be.”
“Never have I ever imagined what our kids would look like.”
Question games FAQs
What’s the best question game for a first date?
First dates can feel like a high-stakes improv show where neither of you knows the script. A question game can help make it a bit easier and more playful.
A simple one is “Would You Rather?” It’s fun, and you can tailor it to the vibe. “21 Questions” is another good one, as long as it doesn’t start to feel a little too much like a job interview. Also, as a good rule of thumb, be curious and don’t think about “winning.”
Are there good question games for introverts?
Introverts can thrive in a question game if the energy is calm and they have time to think before they speak. Games like “If You Really Knew Me…” or “Reverse Bucket List” are two good options because they allow for meaningful connection without too much pressure to perform.
Consider easing into these question games. This way, no one feels ambushed or forced into being vulnerable.
What are good kid-friendly question games?
The best games for kids are simple, playful, and adaptable. “Highs, Lows, and Buffalo” can be a great way to check in every day. Also, “Alphabet Questions” can be a nice distraction with an easy built-in structure.
Story relays are also fun for kids. These can be pure chaos, but in the best way.
What if someone doesn’t want to answer a question?
If someone doesn’t want to answer a question, respect that decision. A good rule to implement into your gameplay is that everyone’s allowed to “pass” if they choose to.
Connection should never feel like pressure. If someone opts out, honor it and move on. That moment of safety and understanding can be very connecting. Also, the right questions will still land when the time’s right.
How can I have fun with a group of people using questions?
An easy way to have fun with a group of people using questions is to match the vibe. If you’re at a high-energy hang, lean into more fast-paced games like “Would You Rather” or “Two Truths and a Lie.”
If your crew is lower energy and everyone’s in the mood for something deeper, try going around with prompts like “What’s one thing you’re proud of this week?” or “What would be your dream job if money weren’t an issue?”
Aim to keep it playful, inclusive, and optional. When people feel like they can show up as their full, complicated selves, that’s when the real fun kicks in.
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