Icebreaker Game

Would You Rather?

Question 1 of 10

Would you rather...

Pose a dilemma with two options and let the group argue for their side. It reliably produces conversation with groups that are otherwise quiet, because there is no wrong answer to be embarrassed about.

The good dilemmas are the ones where both options are genuinely defensible. If most of the group picks the same side immediately, the question has failed.

How to run it

  1. Present the dilemma to the group.
  2. Have everyone pick a side, by hand or verbally.
  3. Ask a few people from each side to explain their reasoning.
  4. Move on before the discussion runs out of energy.

Getting good discussion from it

  • Choose genuinely balanced options. A lopsided question produces agreement rather than conversation.
  • Ask why rather than just what. The reasoning is the interesting part and the answer alone is not.
  • Require a choice. Allowing both or neither removes the tension the format depends on.
  • Mix light questions with more thoughtful ones, so the activity does not stay entirely superficial.
  • Keep it moving. Two or three dilemmas is usually the right length before it becomes repetitive.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a good Would You Rather question?
Two options that are genuinely balanced, so that reasonable people split roughly evenly. If everyone picks the same side, there is nothing to discuss.
How many questions should I use?
Two or three is usually enough. The format loses novelty quickly, so it works better as a short opener than as an extended activity.
Does it work with large groups?
Yes, better than most icebreakers. People can vote by show of hands and only a few need to explain their reasoning, so it scales well.