This or That is the fastest question game there is: someone offers two options (“coffee or tea?”), and everyone picks one on the spot. No explaining, no “both,” three seconds per answer. It needs no looking, so the driver plays, and a round of 20 questions takes about five minutes.
That speed is the point. It’s the game for the first hour of a drive, before anyone is ready for deeper conversation, and the one to play with a 4-year-old who can’t handle anything longer.
The rules
- The asker says “This or that?” and two options.
- Everyone answers at once on the count of three.
- No “both,” no “neither,” no explanation. You can explain after the round ends, if anyone asks.
- After ten questions, the asker job moves to the next player.
The matching game for couples
With two players, This or That becomes a test of how well you know each other:
- One partner reads a pair.
- The other partner predicts out loud which one the reader will choose.
- The reader answers.
- Correct prediction: a point. Twenty questions per round, then swap roles.
Scoring 15 or more out of 20 is a strong round. The misses tend to come on questions you assumed you’d never disagree about, like the right time to leave for a trip.
50 This or That questions
Road trip (for everyone) Window seat or aisle · sunrise or sunset · beach or mountains · road trip or flight · camping or hotel · gas station snacks or packed lunch · map or GPS · early start or late start · music or podcasts · front seat or back seat
Food Pizza or tacos · pancakes or waffles · sweet or salty · ketchup or mustard · fries or onion rings · ice cream or cookies · breakfast or dinner · spicy or mild · cake or pie · burgers or hot dogs
For kids Cats or dogs · superpowers or magic · dinosaurs or sharks · summer or winter · slide or swing · drawing or building · cartoons or movies · pool or ocean · rain or snow · jumping or spinning
For couples Plan everything or wing it · night in or night out · text or call · big party or dinner for two · first to say sorry or first to forget · city break or cabin · early bird or night owl · save or splurge · mountains in winter or beach in summer · old house or new house
For friends and teens Phone call or voice note · famous or rich · past or future · group trip or solo trip · reality shows or documentaries · concerts or festivals · invisibility or flight · big city or small town · movies at home or in a theater · sneakers or boots
Versions by age
Ages 4–6
Concrete things they can picture: animals, foods, colors. Let them answer with a sound or a point. Five questions at a time.
Ages 7–12
Let them be the asker, and let them invent the pairs. Kids tend to ask the questions they most want to answer themselves.
Adults
Mix in trip-planning pairs (“drive through the night or stop at a motel?”) and settle a real decision along the way.
Tips for long drives
- Keep a running tally of the car’s votes. At the end of the trip, whoever agreed with the majority most often wins.
- Swap askers every ten questions so one person doesn’t set the whole tone.
- Use it to break a silence after a long stretch. Two options is an easy way back into talking.
When it stalls
If answers get predictable, make both options better: “free dessert for a year or free gas for a year.” If the car wants to talk more, switch to Would You Rather, where every choice comes with a reason. If you want the confessions and stories that This or That skips, try Never Have I Ever.
