This or That: Complete Game Guide & Question Generator

The This or That game has become one of the most widely used icebreaker activities across corporate meetings, classroom settings, social gatherings, and virtual events worldwide. This streamlined preference game presents participants with two simple options—coffee or tea, mountains or beach, early bird or night owl—and asks them to choose one, instantly revealing personality traits, values, and commonalities. Unlike complex team building exercises requiring extensive preparation, This or That delivers immediate engagement with zero materials and minimal setup time. This comprehensive guide equips facilitators with everything needed for successful sessions: 100+ curated This or That questions organized by category, detailed facilitation strategies, creative variations for different contexts, and an interactive question generator tool that ensures your icebreaker activities consistently spark authentic connection and energize any gathering.

What is the This or That Game?

This or That is a rapid-fire preference game where participants choose between two options presented as either-or pairs. The game originated as a casual conversation starter but has evolved into one of the most efficient icebreaker activities for groups ranging from intimate teams to large conferences.

Core Format and Universal Appeal

The This or That game operates through simple binary choices that reveal personal preferences without requiring explanation or justification. A facilitator presents two options—"sunrise or sunset," "pizza or tacos," "books or movies"—and participants indicate their preference through verbal response, physical movement, or digital interaction. This straightforward format eliminates barriers to participation and creates an inclusive environment where every person's choice holds equal validity.

The game's power lies in its simplicity. Unlike complex icebreaker questions that require careful thought or clever responses, This or That questions allow instant reactions based on genuine preference. This low-stakes format reduces social anxiety common in traditional introduction activities while still generating meaningful data points about individual personalities and group dynamics.

Psychological Foundation and Connection Building

This or That questions work by revealing micro-insights into personality, values, and lifestyle without feeling invasive. When someone chooses "mountains over beach" or "coffee over tea," they share genuine information about themselves in a comfortable, non-threatening context. These accumulated preferences create a personality profile that helps group members find commonalities and appreciate differences.

The game leverages a psychological principle called similarity-attraction: people bond more quickly when they discover shared preferences. Each This or That question creates opportunities for participants to think "me too!" or "that's interesting, I'm the opposite," both of which facilitate connection. The rapid pace prevents overthinking while the binary structure ensures everyone can participate regardless of verbal fluency, cultural background, or professional experience.

Why This or That Works as an Icebreaker

The This or That game consistently outperforms traditional icebreaker activities because it addresses fundamental challenges facilitators face when bringing groups together: participation barriers, time constraints, and the need for authentic connection versus superficial interaction.

Zero Barrier to Entry

This or That questions require no special knowledge, physical ability, creative thinking, or preparation from participants. The binary choice format means everyone can answer immediately, eliminating the awkward silence that plagues icebreakers asking for stories, fun facts, or creative responses. This accessibility ensures equal participation regardless of personality type, language proficiency, or comfort with public speaking.

The game particularly benefits quieter participants who find traditional introductions intimidating. Instead of crafting original content under social pressure, they simply indicate a genuine preference. This lower cognitive and emotional load enables meaningful participation from individuals who might otherwise remain disengaged during standard icebreaker activities.

Efficiency and Adaptability

This or That delivers maximum engagement per minute invested. Facilitators can run effective sessions in as few as three minutes or extend activities to 20 minutes depending on available time and group size. This flexibility makes it ideal for quick meeting warm-ups, transition activities between agenda items, or substantial team building sessions exploring preferences in depth.

The game adapts seamlessly across formats, settings, and demographics. The same fundamental structure works for remote teams using chat responses, in-person groups using physical movement, hybrid meetings using digital polls, elementary classrooms, executive leadership retreats, and social gatherings. This versatility means facilitators can rely on This or That across diverse contexts without needing specialized variations.

Surface-Level Simplicity with Depth Potential

While This or That appears superficial—just quick preferences about common topics—the accumulated data reveals substantive insights into personality patterns, decision-making tendencies, and values. Someone who consistently chooses options like "staying in, reading, tea, mountains, and quiet" presents a clear personality profile different from someone selecting "going out, movies, coffee, beach, and energy." These patterns help team members understand working styles, communication preferences, and potential collaboration dynamics.

Facilitators can adjust depth by varying question types and encouraging optional explanation. Running This or That purely as rapid-fire responses creates energizing entertainment. Adding brief reasoning transforms the same game into meaningful team building that surfaces professional preferences around risk tolerance, planning versus spontaneity, collaboration versus independence, and innovation versus tradition.

How to Play This or That: Step-by-Step Instructions {#how-to-play}

Facilitating effective This or That sessions requires clear structure, appropriate pacing, and strategic question selection. Follow these proven instructions to create engaging experiences that achieve your specific goals.

Basic Game Setup and Structure

Step 1: Frame the Activity Begin with concise framing that establishes tone and purpose. For quick icebreakers, simply state: "We're going to play This or That—I'll give you two options and you quickly choose your preference. Ready?" For team building contexts, add: "We'll learn about each other's preferences and discover shared patterns." Keep framing under 30 seconds to maintain momentum.

Step 2: Establish Response Method Clarify how participants will indicate choices before starting. For in-person settings with smaller groups, designate physical actions: "Hold up your left hand for the first option, right hand for the second" or "Move to the left side of the room or the right side based on your choice." For larger groups or virtual meetings, specify: "Type your answer in chat" or "Use the poll feature." Test the response method with one practice question to ensure everyone understands the format.

Step 3: Set Pacing Expectations Establish rhythm by explaining: "I'll present the two options, give you a moment to think, then everyone responds simultaneously. We'll move through questions quickly." This simultaneous response prevents bandwagon effects and maintains energy through rapid pacing.

Running the Activity with Engagement

Step 4: Present This or That Questions Clearly State both options distinctly with a brief pause between: "Coffee...or tea?" or "Mountains...or beach?" This pacing helps participants process both choices before responding. For virtual settings, display questions visually via screen share or chat to support auditory information.

Step 5: Collect Responses Simultaneously Use a countdown to synchronize responses: "On three, show your choice. One, two, three!" This simultaneous disclosure creates dynamic energy as the group reveals a collective snapshot of preferences. For virtual settings, give 5-10 seconds for chat responses or poll completion before reviewing results.

Step 6: Acknowledge Patterns and Diversity Briefly comment on the distribution: "Interesting—we're almost evenly split" or "Wow, that's unanimous!" or "Looks like we have three coffee lovers and seven tea enthusiasts." These observations validate responses and create group awareness without requiring extensive discussion.

Step 7: Optional Explanation Phase Depending on time and goals, invite 1-3 quick explanations: "Any coffee lovers want to share why?" or "What makes mountains more appealing than beach?" Keep individual explanations to 10-20 seconds to maintain momentum. For rapid-fire sessions, skip explanations entirely and move directly to the next question.

Timing and Flow Management

Allocate 20-45 seconds per This or That question depending on whether you include explanations. For pure speed rounds, present one question every 15-20 seconds. For sessions incorporating brief discussion, extend to 60-90 seconds per question. A typical 10-minute This or That session covers 12-20 questions, creating substantial personality data without overwhelming participants.

Monitor group energy throughout the activity. If engagement dips, shift to more surprising or humorous questions. If a particular question sparks animated discussion, allow extra time rather than rigidly adhering to planned pacing. The game's flexibility enables responsive facilitation that prioritizes participant experience over predetermined structure.

100+ This or That Questions by Category

The right This or That questions transform routine icebreakers into memorable experiences that reveal authentic personality traits and create lasting connections. This curated collection organizes questions by category to help you match content to your audience, setting, and objectives.

Funny This or That Questions

These humorous questions work perfectly for social gatherings, team happy hours, and occasions where entertainment is the primary goal. They generate laughter while maintaining the light, accessible tone that makes This or That universally appealing.

1. Cats or dogs?
2. Pizza or tacos?
3. Pineapple on pizza—yes or absolutely not?
4. Ketchup or mustard?
5. Sweet or salty snacks?
6. Hot weather or cold weather?
7. Morning shower or evening shower?
8. Sing in the shower or dance in the shower?
9. Pancakes or waffles?
10. Ice cream cone or ice cream cup?
11. Texting or calling?
12. Netflix or YouTube?
13. Comedy or horror movies?
14. Roller coaster or water slide?
15. Vampires or werewolves?
16. Superpower of flight or invisibility?
17. Time travel to past or future?
18. Be able to talk to animals or speak all languages?
19. Never do laundry again or never do dishes again?
20. Have hiccups forever or always feel like you need to sneeze?

Work and Professional This or That Questions

These professional preference questions suit corporate meetings, team building sessions, conferences, and workplace gatherings. They reveal working styles and professional values while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

21. Work from home or work in office?
22. Morning meetings or afternoon meetings?
23. Email or Slack/Teams messages?
24. Phone call or video call?
25. Work alone or work with team?
26. Coffee break or walk break?
27. Flexible schedule or structured schedule?
28. Multitasking or single-focus work?
29. Plan ahead or adapt as you go?
30. Creative projects or analytical projects?
31. Leading meetings or participating in meetings?
32. Presenting to large groups or small groups?
33. Written communication or verbal communication?
34. Office with door or open workspace?
35. Music while working or silence while working?
36. Early deadline or extended deadline?
37. Frequent feedback or autonomy?
38. Innovate or optimize?
39. Startup energy or corporate stability?
40. Recognition or financial reward?

Deep and Meaningful This or That Questions

These thoughtful questions work well for team retreats, leadership development sessions, classroom discussions, or intimate gatherings seeking to explore values and beliefs beyond surface-level preferences.

41. Adventure or comfort?
42. Passion or stability?
43. Fame or fortune?
44. Wisdom or happiness?
45. Love or career success?
46. Memories or photographs?
47. Books or experiences?
48. Change the past or see the future?
49. Be respected or be liked?
50. Knowledge or imagination?
51. Quality time or gifts?
52. Save money or save time?
53. Big city or small town?
54. Planned life or spontaneous life?
55. Many acquaintances or few close friends?
56. Leader or supporter?
57. Start something new or perfect something existing?
58. Challenge or certainty?
59. Independence or partnership?
60. Legacy or enjoyment?

Lifestyle This or That Questions

These everyday preference questions reveal practical personality traits and lifestyle patterns. They work universally across contexts because everyone relates to these common choices.

61. Coffee or tea?
62. Morning person or night owl?
63. Sunrise or sunset?
64. Beach or mountains?
65. City or countryside?
66. Summer or winter?
67. Spring or fall?
68. Pool or ocean?
69. Camping or hotel?
70. Road trip or airplane?
71. Read the book or watch the movie?
72. Cook at home or eat out?
73. Stay in or go out?
74. Plans or spontaneity?
75. Quiet night or party night?
76. Shower or bath?
77. Sneakers or dress shoes?
78. Jeans or sweatpants?
79. Minimalist or collector?
80. Tidy as you go or clean all at once?

Food This or That Questions

These food preference questions create immediate engagement because everyone has opinions about food. They work particularly well as warm-up questions or when facilitating diverse groups with varying comfort levels.

81. Breakfast or dinner?
82. Savory or sweet?
83. Chocolate or vanilla?
84. Cake or pie?
85. Cookies or brownies?
86. Chips or popcorn?
87. Sushi or burgers?
88. Italian or Mexican food?
89. Chinese food or Thai food?
90. BBQ or seafood?
91. Appetizers or desserts?
92. Wine or beer?
93. Smoothie or juice?
94. Cereal or oatmeal?
95. Eggs scrambled or fried?
96. Pasta or rice?
97. Soup or salad?
98. Spicy or mild?
99. Fresh vegetables or cooked vegetables?
100. Order same favorite or try something new?

Random and Creative This or That Questions

101. Read minds or predict future?
102. Always be 10 minutes late or 20 minutes early?
103. Lose phone or lose keys?
104. Give up music or give up TV?
105. Live without internet or live without air conditioning?
106. Be the funniest person or the smartest person?
107. Time freeze or time rewind?
108. Mansion in suburbs or apartment in city center?
109. Robot vacuum or self-driving car?
110. Unlimited travel or unlimited shopping?

This or That Variations for Different Settings

The basic This or That game adapts beautifully to specific contexts and objectives through strategic modifications that maintain the core preference format while adding elements that enhance particular outcomes.

Speed Round Format

Transform This or That into a high-energy activity by eliminating all discussion and explanations. Present 20-30 questions within 5-7 minutes, accepting only immediate responses without commentary. This rapid-fire variation works exceptionally well as a meeting warm-up, transition exercise between agenda items, or energizer when attention wanes.

The speed round format creates energy through momentum rather than depth. Participants experience the satisfaction of expressing numerous preferences quickly while the group discovers multiple commonalities in compressed time. This variation suits large groups, time-constrained settings, and contexts prioritizing activation over in-depth connection.

Team Building Deep Dive

Extend the basic game by adding structured reflection after each question or set of questions. After participants indicate preferences, ask follow-up prompts: "What does your choice reveal about your working style?" or "How might these preferences show up in our team projects?" This variation transforms entertainment into applied professional development.

Group participants by shared preference for 2-3 questions and have them discuss: "Why did we all choose this option? What does this tell us about our team?" Then bring the full group together to share insights. This structure creates meta-awareness about team patterns and individual differences that inform collaboration strategies.

Physical Movement Variation

For in-person sessions where participants need physical activation, designate opposite sides of the room for each option. Participants literally move to their chosen side with each question, creating kinesthetic engagement that combats physical stagnness during long meetings or conferences.

This movement variation naturally segments the group, allowing participants to briefly chat with others who share their preference before the next question calls them to move again. The physical activity increases energy while the social mixing strengthens connections as people discover commonalities with different subgroups throughout the activity.

Prediction Game Twist

Add strategic thinking by asking participants to predict which option will be more popular before revealing actual responses. Award points for accurate predictions, creating a meta-game layer that maintains engagement across many questions. This variation works particularly well for competitive groups or extended sessions where pure preference sharing might become repetitive.

The prediction element encourages participants to consider group dynamics and individual personalities more deliberately, transforming a simple preference activity into an exercise in social awareness and pattern recognition.

Storytelling This or That

Require participants to share brief narratives explaining their choice: "Tell us about a memorable experience related to your preference" or "Describe a moment when your choice was particularly important." This variation generates richer content and creates memorable stories that participants reference long after the session.

The storytelling format works best with smaller groups (8-15 people) where everyone can share within reasonable timeframes. Select 5-7 This or That questions and allocate 8-10 minutes total, ensuring stories remain concise while still adding meaningful personal context.

Preparation Checklist for This or That Sessions

Successful This or That facilitation requires minimal materials but thoughtful preparation. Use this comprehensive checklist to ensure smooth execution regardless of your setting, group size, or experience level.

Question Selection and Organization

Question Bank Development: Prepare 15-25 This or That questions in advance—roughly twice what you expect to use. Organize questions by category (funny, professional, deep, lifestyle, food) so you can adjust mid-session based on emerging group dynamics. For first-time facilitation, prioritize straightforward questions about universal topics like food, weather, and daily preferences that everyone can answer confidently.

Contextual Appropriateness: Review your question list considering organizational culture, participant demographics, recent events, and potential sensitivities. Remove or modify any questions that might create discomfort given your specific group. When uncertain about appropriateness, test questions with a trusted colleague before using them in sessions.

Strategic Sequencing: Order questions intentionally to create natural flow. Start with 2-3 simple, universally relatable questions that establish the format and build comfort. Progress to more revealing or thought-provoking questions once participants are engaged. End with a lighthearted question that creates positive energy as the activity concludes.

Materials and Technical Setup

Response Mechanism: For in-person settings, determine physical actions participants will use to indicate choices (hand signals, body positioning, verbal call-outs). For virtual meetings, confirm polling features work in your platform and all participants can access them. Test backup options like chat responses or reaction emojis in case primary methods fail.

Visual Display: For groups larger than 15 or virtual settings, prepare slides or digital display showing each question's two options. Visual reinforcement ensures everyone understands choices and supports participants with hearing difficulties or language barriers.

Timing Device: Keep a timer or clock visible to maintain appropriate pacing. For rapid-fire formats, set timers for 20-second intervals. For sessions incorporating discussion, establish 60-90 second blocks per question.

Facilitation Preparation

Opening Statement: Prepare a concise introduction establishing activity purpose and creating psychological safety: "We're going to play This or That to learn about each other's preferences. There are no right answers—just share your genuine choice and you can pass on any question."

Transition Phrases: Plan smooth language for moving between questions and managing discussion: "Interesting split—let's hear from one person on each side before moving on" or "That's revealing—let's try another one."

Backup Plan: Prepare 5-7 universally safe, engaging questions you can deploy if a planned question falls flat, generates unexpected discomfort, or if you need to extend the activity beyond your original time allocation.

Virtual This or That Adaptations for Remote Teams

The This or That game translates exceptionally well to virtual environments when facilitators leverage digital tools appropriately and compensate for distance limitations through intentional adaptations.

Platform-Specific Implementation

Zoom Strategies: Use polling features to collect binary choices quickly and display results in real-time percentages. Enable reactions so participants can use emojis to respond to others' preferences. For smaller teams, ask participants to use physical gestures visible on camera—leaning left or right, thumbs up or down, holding up designated objects. Screen share questions for visual clarity.

Microsoft Teams Approaches: Create Forms polls in advance for structured tracking across multiple sessions. Use Together Mode for larger groups to create shared presence feeling. Employ hand-raise feature when inviting volunteers to explain reasoning. Post questions in chat so participants can reference them throughout discussion.

Slack Asynchronous Version: Post daily or weekly This or That questions in designated channels where team members respond when convenient. Use poll functionality or ask for emoji reactions. This asynchronous approach builds ongoing connection for distributed teams across time zones without requiring synchronous meeting time.

Hybrid Meeting Considerations: For settings combining in-person and remote participants, assign a co-facilitator to monitor virtual participants and ensure their responses receive equal visibility. Display results from both groups combined to create unified experience rather than separate in-person and virtual tracking.

Maintaining Engagement in Virtual Settings

Combat Video Fatigue: Vary response formats throughout the session. Alternate between polls, chat responses, verbal sharing, physical gestures, and reaction emojis. This variety maintains attention and accommodates different comfort levels with various communication methods.

Create Visual Interest: Ask participants to show relevant objects during camera time—hold up their coffee mug when choosing coffee over tea, point to windows showing their current weather, or share quick glimpses of their workspace when discussing environment preferences. These visual elements add personality and memorable moments.

Encourage Camera Usage: For This or That sessions, invite participants to enable cameras if comfortable, as seeing others' reactions and expressions enhances connection. Frame this as optional while noting that visual presence strengthens the experience for everyone.

Building Connection Despite Distance

Document Shared Discoveries: Designate someone to capture interesting patterns or surprising preferences in shared notes. Highlight unexpected unanimity or perfect splits. Share this recap after the session to reinforce connections and create reference points for future conversations.

Schedule Regular This or That Check-ins: For remote teams struggling with connection, implement brief This or That questions as standing meeting openers. Five questions taking 2-3 minutes create consistent touchpoints that combat isolation and maintain relationship continuity.

Extend Beyond Meetings: Create a team channel or document where people share This or That questions throughout the week. This ambient connection maintains engagement beyond formal meetings and allows personality expression in low-pressure asynchronous format.

Built-in This or That Question Generator Tool {#game-tool}

Access our interactive This or That question generator below to instantly create customized questions for your specific context. This lightweight tool provides curated content organized by category, setting, and tone to ensure your icebreaker sessions consistently deliver engagement.

How to Use the Question Generator

The tool offers intuitive controls for filtering and generating questions matched to your needs:

Category Selection: Choose from funny, professional, deep, lifestyle, food, or random question categories. Select multiple categories to create varied sessions that maintain interest through diversity. The tool weights selections to ensure balanced distribution across chosen categories.

Setting Filter: Indicate whether your session is in-person, virtual, or hybrid to receive questions optimized for that format. Virtual-specific questions account for digital platform constraints and opportunities.

Tone Adjustment: Set tone from lighthearted entertainment to meaningful team building. The tool adjusts question complexity and subject matter to match your desired atmosphere and depth.

Generate and Save: Click generate to receive a random This or That question matching your criteria. Save favorites to a session playlist or continue generating until you have sufficient questions. The tool prevents repetition within each session to ensure fresh content.

Tool Features and Technical Details

Keyboard Navigation: Full keyboard support enables users who cannot use a mouse to access all functionality. Tab through controls, use arrow keys for selections, and press Enter to generate questions.

Accessibility Standards: All interactive elements include appropriate ARIA labels and color contrast meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Screen readers receive clear announcements when new questions generate.

Export Functionality: Save generated questions as text files or copy to clipboard for easy integration into facilitation documents. This feature supports advance preparation and seamless execution during live sessions.

Responsive Design: The tool functions fully on mobile devices, tablets, and desktop computers, allowing facilitators to generate and display questions from any device without compromising functionality.

Facilitation Tips for Engaging This or That Sessions

Master facilitators elevate the This or That game from simple entertainment to transformative group experiences through strategic choices and responsive adjustments. Implement these proven techniques to maximize engagement and achieve your session goals.

Creating Inclusive Participation

Begin every This or That session by explicitly normalizing all preferences: "Every choice is valid—there are no right answers. The interesting part is discovering our diversity and commonalities." This framing creates psychological safety that encourages authentic responses rather than strategic answers aimed at social approval.

Monitor participation patterns continuously. If certain individuals consistently appear disengaged or uncomfortable, privately check in: "Feel free to just observe if you prefer—you can jump in whenever you're ready." This explicit permission removes pressure while keeping doors open for later participation.

Watch for participants who respond slowly or appear uncertain. Rather than rushing them, build in adequate processing time: "Take a moment to think about your genuine preference before responding." This accommodation supports different cognitive processing speeds and reduces anxiety.

Strategic Question Sequencing

Begin with universally accessible questions requiring minimal thought: food preferences, weather, or daily routines. These low-stakes openers establish format and build confidence. Progress to questions revealing personality traits or values once participants are comfortable with the rhythm.

Mix question types throughout sessions. Alternate between lighthearted and meaningful, concrete and abstract, personal and universal. This variety maintains attention and ensures diverse appeal across different personality types and preferences.

Save one especially surprising or humorous question for moments when energy dips. These strategic energizer questions reset engagement and prevent momentum loss during longer sessions.

Balancing Speed and Depth

For quick icebreakers prioritizing activation over depth, maintain rapid pacing without discussion. Present one question every 15-20 seconds, acknowledge the split, and immediately move forward. This speed creates energy through momentum.

For team building contexts seeking insight, slow pacing to allow 1-3 brief explanations per question. Ask: "What made you choose that?" or "How does your preference show up in your work?" These prompts connect surface preferences to deeper patterns without requiring extended discussion.

Read the room continuously. If a particular question generates animated conversation, allow extra time rather than rigidly moving forward. If engagement lags, accelerate pacing or pivot to more engaging questions.

Extracting Insights and Creating Meaning

For professional contexts, explicitly connect preferences to workplace implications: "Interesting—we have people who prefer plans and people who prefer spontaneity. That diversity shows up in how we approach projects." These observations transform entertainment into applied learning about team dynamics.

Highlight patterns as they emerge: "I'm noticing several of you consistently choose the more adventurous option" or "We're seeing a pattern of preference for structure and predictability." This meta-commentary helps participants recognize personality traits they may not consciously acknowledge.

Conclude sessions with brief reflection: "What surprised you about your own choices or the group's patterns?" or "What did you learn that might be useful to remember about your teammates?" These closing prompts consolidate learning and create memorable takeaways.

Frequently Asked Questions About This or That

How long should a This or That session last?

A This or That session can effectively run anywhere from three minutes to 20 minutes depending on your goals and available time. For quick meeting warm-ups or transition activities, allocate 3-5 minutes covering 8-12 questions in rapid succession without discussion. For icebreaker activities where connection is the primary goal, plan 10-15 minutes with 10-15 questions and optional brief explanations. For team building sessions seeking deeper insight into personality patterns and working styles, extend to 15-20 minutes with 12-18 questions and structured discussion or reflection. The game's flexibility allows you to expand or contract based on participant engagement—if the group is particularly animated, allow extra time; if energy lags, wrap up earlier than planned.

What's the difference between This or That and Would You Rather?

This or That and Would You Rather are related preference games with distinct formats and purposes. This or That presents simple binary choices between real-world options (coffee or tea, mountains or beach) that reveal existing preferences and personality traits. Would You Rather presents hypothetical scenarios often involving difficult trade-offs or imaginative situations (would you rather have flight or invisibility, give up music or movies) that explore values and decision-making through fictional dilemmas. This or That typically moves faster with shorter questions requiring less cognitive processing, making it ideal for quick icebreakers. Would You Rather questions often generate longer discussions as participants analyze complex trade-offs. Both games work well for icebreaker purposes, but This or That excels at speed and accessibility while Would You Rather provides more depth and discussion potential.

How do I choose appropriate This or That questions for professional settings?

Select This or That questions for professional settings by prioritizing preferences related to working styles, communication, daily routines, and universal experiences while avoiding personal topics like relationships, finances, politics, or potentially sensitive subjects. Safe professional questions include work environment preferences (office or remote, morning or afternoon meetings), communication styles (email or phone calls, written or verbal), thinking approaches (big picture or details, planning or adapting), and neutral lifestyle choices (coffee or tea, early bird or night owl). Avoid questions about appearance, body image, alcohol, romantic scenarios, or anything that could be interpreted as discriminatory. When uncertain, test questions with a trusted colleague before using them with groups. The safest approach focuses on work-related preferences and universally accessible topics like food, weather, seasons, and travel that don't touch on identity-based sensitivities.

Can This or That work for team building or is it just entertainment?

This or That functions effectively as both entertainment and meaningful team building depending on question selection and facilitation approach. For team building purposes, choose questions revealing working styles, communication preferences, decision-making approaches, or professional values rather than purely random preferences. After collecting responses, facilitate brief discussion connecting preferences to workplace dynamics: "How might these different preferences show up in how we approach projects?" or "What does our pattern of choices suggest about our team culture?" Include reflection prompts that consolidate learning: "What did you notice about your preferences?" or "What surprised you about others' choices?" This intentional facilitation transforms a simple preference game into applied professional development that surfaces insights about collaboration, communication, and team composition while maintaining the engaging format that makes This or That universally accessible.

How many questions should I prepare?

Prepare approximately 1.5 to 2 times as many This or That questions as you expect to use during your session. For a 10-minute session where you anticipate covering 12-15 questions, prepare 20-25 questions organized by category. This buffer allows you to skip questions that fall flat, adjust to emerging group dynamics, extend the activity if it's going particularly well, or replace questions that feel inappropriate once you understand the specific participants and context. Having excess questions prevents the awkward situation of running out of content with time remaining. Organize your question list by category (funny, professional, deep, lifestyle) rather than strict sequence, enabling responsive selection based on real-time group energy and engagement patterns rather than rigid adherence to a predetermined order.

What if participants can't decide between the two options?

When participants struggle to choose between two This or That options, acknowledge the difficulty while maintaining the game's structure: "I know it's tough—go with your gut instinct or which one you'd choose if you absolutely had to pick." The binary format is intentional because it forces micro-decisions that reveal priorities even when preferences are slight. For participants who consistently refuse to choose, offer the role of observer for specific questions: "You can pass on this one and jump back in on the next." Avoid allowing frequent "both" or "neither" responses, as this undermines the game's core mechanic and slows momentum. If many participants struggle with a particular question, the options may be too similar or poorly defined—acknowledge the unclear question and move to a clearer one. The goal is maintaining flow while respecting genuine difficulty without destroying the choice-forcing structure that makes the game effective.

How do I adapt This or That for very large groups?

This or That adapts effectively to groups of hundreds when you implement strategic modifications for scale. Use digital polling technology to collect responses and display results as percentages or visual distributions rather than tracking individual choices. Focus on aggregate patterns rather than individual explanations—identify interesting splits (50-50, 90-10, etc.) and invite 1-2 volunteers from each side to briefly share their reasoning representing larger subgroups. Leverage physical space in large in-person settings by designating clear areas for each option and asking people to move, creating visual representation of the split. For very large virtual audiences, use chat responses or reaction features, then comment on patterns you observe scrolling through. The key modification for large groups is shifting from individual response collection to pattern observation with selective representative perspectives that illuminate the broader group's preferences without attempting comprehensive individual acknowledgment.

Getting Started with This or That Today

The This or That game delivers immediate value regardless of your facilitation experience. Whether you're planning your first icebreaker or seeking to enhance existing team building practices, these concrete next steps will help you implement the strategies outlined in this guide.

Quick Start for First-Time Facilitators

Select 10-12 questions from this guide's curated collection that match your group's context and comfort level. For your first session, prioritize universally accessible questions about food, weather, daily routines, or work preferences—these topics reduce facilitation complexity while you build confidence with the basic format. Write questions on your phone notes or print them on a small card for easy reference during facilitation.

Frame your first This or That session with simple language: "We're going to play a quick game called This or That. I'll give you two options, you pick one. No right or wrong answers—just share your genuine preference." Then immediately present your first question without extended explanation. The format becomes self-evident through participation.

Start with rapid-fire pacing for your first facilitation. Present questions quickly, acknowledge the split, and move forward without discussion. This approach requires less facilitation skill than managing discussion while still delivering engagement and connection benefits. As you gain confidence, gradually incorporate optional explanations and reflection.

Building Your Question Repository

After your initial sessions, create a personal question database organized by category, audience type, and setting. Note which questions generated strongest engagement and which fell flat. This personalized resource becomes increasingly valuable as you facilitate across different contexts and groups.

Develop custom This or That questions specific to your organization, industry, or community. Context-specific questions feel more relevant and demonstrate thoughtful preparation. Teachers might create classroom-focused preferences, software developers might design technology-related choices, healthcare workers might develop medical field options. These tailored questions often generate deeper engagement than generic scenarios.

Solicit question suggestions from participants after sessions. Some of the best This or That questions come from group members who understand their peers' interests and culture. This crowdsourcing reduces your preparation burden while building investment in future activities.

Measuring Success and Iterating

Evaluate This or That sessions against clear criteria aligned with your goals. For quick icebreakers, success metrics include participation rate, energy level, and whether the activity achieved its warm-up purpose. For team building contexts, measure whether insights surface in later discussions and whether participants reference shared discoveries from the session.

Gather simple feedback through post-session questions: "How did that feel?" and "Would you want to do this again?" This direct input helps you refine question selection, pacing, and facilitation techniques based on actual participant experience rather than assumptions.

Experiment with variations from this guide systematically rather than changing everything simultaneously. Try one new element per session—different question categories, altered response formats, or added discussion prompts. This incremental approach helps you identify which enhancements serve your specific contexts and which don't align with your facilitation style or group characteristics.

The This or That game rewards both preparation and flexibility. The comprehensive framework in this guide provides structure for confident facilitation, while the game's inherent simplicity allows you to adapt responsively to emerging needs. Start with these proven strategies, then develop your personal approach that leverages your unique strengths and serves your specific community. Access the interactive question generator tool above to begin building your first session now, and join the thousands of facilitators who rely on This or That to create instant connection, spark authentic conversation, and energize groups across every imaginable setting and context.