20 Questions Game: Rules and 215 Things to Guess

20 questions is a guessing game: one player thinks of something, and everyone else gets 20 yes-or-no questions to work out what it is. Here are 215 things to guess sorted by category, a picker that deals one at random and counts the questions for you, and the full rules. Playing in the car? The road trip version adds scoring for long drives.

Updated By the Carful editorial team

On this page: 13 sections

Think of this…

Dog

Picker: read it, keep a straight face, then tap start. It hides while the others ask.

20 Questions Categories

Naming a category up front saves the first few questions. The lists below use six: animals, things around the house, places, characters and jobs, food and nature and space.

With kids under 7, stick to one category and say it out loud: "I'm thinking of an animal." Older players can use the classic split of person, place or thing. For a hard round, leave the category out completely and let the guessers find it.

Good Questions to Ask in 20 Questions

Start broad, then narrow it down. These 25 openers work for almost any answer, roughly in the order to ask them.

  • Is it alive?
  • Is it an animal?
  • Is it a person?
  • Is it a place?
  • Is it made by people?
  • Is it something you can eat?
  • Is it bigger than a bread box?
  • Is it bigger than this car?
  • Would it fit in a backpack?
  • Can you hold it in one hand?
  • Is it usually found indoors?
  • Can you find it in this car?
  • Is there one in our house?
  • Does it use electricity?
  • Can it move on its own?
  • Does it have wheels?
  • Can it fly?
  • Is it found in or near water?
  • Does it have legs?
  • Does it make a sound?
  • Is it soft?
  • Is it mostly one color?
  • Would you find it in a kitchen?
  • Is it something kids play with?
  • Have we seen one on this trip?

20 Questions Ideas: Animals

Pets, farm animals and wild ones. The best first category for kids, because everyone knows a few facts about each.

  1. Dog
  2. Cat
  3. Goldfish
  4. Hamster
  5. Rabbit
  6. Horse
  7. Cow
  8. Pig
  9. Sheep
  10. Chicken
  11. Duck
  12. Elephant
  13. Giraffe
  14. Lion
  15. Zebra
  16. Kangaroo
  17. Monkey
  18. Panda
  19. Polar bear
  20. Penguin
  21. Dolphin
  22. Whale
  23. Octopus
  24. Sea turtle
  25. Starfish
  1. Seahorse
  2. Owl
  3. Flamingo
  4. Parrot
  5. Woodpecker
  6. Butterfly
  7. Ladybug
  8. Honeybee
  9. Frog
  10. Squirrel
  11. Skunk
  12. Beaver
  13. Sloth
  14. Camel
  15. Llama
Pick one of these at random

20 Questions Ideas: Things Around the House

Everyday objects from the kitchen to the backyard. Harder than they look: a toaster and a microwave answer most questions the same way.

  1. Refrigerator
  2. Toaster
  3. Microwave
  4. Frying pan
  5. Spatula
  6. Blender
  7. Dishwasher
  8. Kitchen sink
  9. Oven mitt
  10. Cookie jar
  11. Can opener
  12. Toothbrush
  13. Bathtub
  14. Rubber duck
  15. Hair dryer
  16. Bath towel
  17. Pillow
  18. Alarm clock
  19. Bunk bed
  20. Teddy bear
  21. Piggy bank
  22. Lamp
  23. Couch
  24. Remote control
  25. Bookshelf
  1. Vacuum cleaner
  2. Washing machine
  3. Broom
  4. Laundry basket
  5. Lawn mower
  6. Ladder
  7. Toolbox
  8. Flashlight
  9. Garden hose
  10. Wheelbarrow
  11. Swing set
  12. Trampoline
  13. Mailbox
  14. Doorbell
  15. Barbecue grill
Pick one of these at random

20 Questions Ideas: Places

Kinds of places, plus a few famous landmarks kids learn about in school. Tell younger players which kind you picked.

  1. Library
  2. Bowling alley
  3. Airport
  4. Zoo
  5. Beach
  6. Farm
  7. Playground
  8. Fire station
  9. Grocery store
  10. Movie theater
  11. Museum
  12. Aquarium
  13. Campground
  14. Amusement park
  15. Bakery
  16. Train station
  17. Ice rink
  18. Castle
  19. Lighthouse
  20. Island
  21. Cave
  22. Volcano
  23. Post office
  24. Grand Canyon
  25. Niagara Falls
  1. Paris
  2. Statue of Liberty
  3. Great Wall of China
  4. Mount Everest
  5. North Pole
  6. Hawaii
  7. New York City
  8. Antarctica
  9. Pyramids of Egypt
  10. Sahara Desert
Pick one of these at random

20 Questions Ideas: Characters and Jobs

Jobs, storybook types and family members. No names from shows or movies, so everyone at the table has a fair chance.

  1. Firefighter
  2. Lifeguard
  3. Astronaut
  4. Mail carrier
  5. Zookeeper
  6. Teacher
  7. Chef
  8. Farmer
  9. Pilot
  10. Veterinarian
  11. Dentist
  12. Librarian
  13. Bus driver
  14. Construction worker
  15. Scientist
  16. Magician
  17. Detective
  18. Referee
  19. Police officer
  20. Nurse
  21. Artist
  22. Pirate
  23. Knight
  24. Wizard
  25. Mermaid
  1. Superhero
  2. Robot
  3. Scarecrow
  4. Princess
  5. King
  6. Fairy
  7. Cowboy
  8. Snowman
  9. Grandma
  10. Baby
Pick one of these at random

20 Questions Ideas: Food

Snacks, fruit and dinner favorites. Save this list for the hour before a meal stop.

  1. Pizza
  2. Pancake
  3. Banana
  4. Watermelon
  5. Popcorn
  6. Spaghetti
  7. Hot dog
  8. Taco
  9. Ice cream cone
  10. Strawberry
  11. Carrot
  12. Broccoli
  13. Corn on the cob
  14. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
  15. Cupcake
  16. Pretzel
  17. Donut
  18. French fries
  19. Pickle
  20. Cheese
  21. Waffle
  22. Pineapple
  23. Lemon
  24. Chicken nugget
  25. Birthday cake
  26. Bagel
  27. Cotton candy
  28. Avocado
  29. Grilled cheese sandwich
  30. Apple
Pick one of these at random

20 Questions Ideas: Nature and Space

Weather, plants and things in the sky. The trickiest list here, because most of these are neither alive nor made by anyone.

  1. Rainbow
  2. Moon
  3. Sun
  4. Earth
  5. Saturn
  6. Comet
  7. Waterfall
  8. Snowflake
  9. Cactus
  10. Cloud
  11. Puddle
  12. Mountain
  13. River
  14. Sunflower
  15. Pinecone
  16. Acorn
  17. Icicle
  18. Seashell
  19. Dandelion
  20. Palm tree
Pick one of these at random

20 Questions Ideas for a Road Trip

Things you see from the car or use on the way. Pick one you passed an hour ago and find out who was paying attention.

  1. Toll booth
  2. Rest stop
  3. Road map
  4. Gas pump
  5. Billboard
  6. Cooler
  7. Motel pool
  8. Tunnel
  9. Steering wheel
  10. License plate
  11. Windshield wipers
  12. Car wash
  13. Stop sign
  14. Picnic table
  15. Camper van
Pick one of these at random20 Questions in the car: rules and scoringMore road trip games

20 Questions Game Rules

One player thinks of something, and everyone else gets 20 yes-or-no questions to guess it.

  1. The picker thinks of a person, place or thing and says which of the three it is.
  2. The others take turns asking questions that can be answered yes or no. The picker answers honestly, and "sometimes" is allowed.
  3. Every question counts, and so does every guess. Someone keeps the count out loud, or taps the counter at the top of this page.
  4. Guess it within 20 questions and you win the round and pick the next thing.
  5. If question 20 goes by without a right guess, the picker reveals the answer and wins.

20 Questions Game Variations

  • Animal, vegetable or mineral. The traditional first question. Animal is anything alive or made from an animal, vegetable is plants and anything made from them, and mineral is everything else.
  • 10 questions. Half the questions, for players who know the game. It rewards broad questions and punishes wild guesses.
  • Reverse 20 questions. The group picks the thing together and one player has to find it out. A good way for one kid to take on all the grown-ups.
  • Teams. Two teams take turns asking. A wrong guess costs the team its next question.
  • Memory lane. Only things the players share: a teacher, a family trip, a pet, a favorite diner. The best version for couples and old friends.

Printable 20 Questions Game (Free PDF)

All 215 things to guess from this page, by category, on letter or A4 paper. Cut them into slips and draw one from a hat. Free, made in your browser, no email.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play the 20 questions game?

One player thinks of a person, place or thing. The others ask up to 20 questions that can be answered yes or no, and guesses count as questions. Guess it in time and you pick next; if nobody does, the picker wins the round.

What are good things to think of in 20 questions?

Pick something specific that everyone playing knows: a penguin, a lighthouse, a rubber duck. Avoid things only you would know. The lists on this page have 215 ideas by category, and the picker above deals one at random.

What are good questions to ask in 20 questions?

Start broad: is it alive, is it made by people, is it bigger than a bread box. Each answer should cut the possibilities roughly in half. Save specific guesses for the last few questions.

What does "animal, vegetable or mineral" mean?

It's the classic opening question. Animal covers living creatures and things made from them, vegetable covers plants and plant products like paper or wood, and mineral covers everything else, like metal, stone and plastic.

How many players do you need for 20 questions?

Two is enough: one picks, one asks. It works just as well with a full car or a classroom, where the guessers take turns asking.

Can young kids play 20 questions?

From about age 5, with help. Keep to one category, like animals, let them ask without counting at first, and teach one good question per game, such as "Does it live in water?"