How to Play Two Truths and a Lie

Setup

Objective

Two Truths and a Lie is one of the most popular icebreakers around due to its fun-filled ability to help groups learn more about new friends and old pals. The objective of Two Truths and a Lie is to correctly guess which fun facts about your friends might be false and which are true. Meanwhile, you’ll also be attempting to trick the group into believing the lies you brainstorm. Get ready for some surprises!

Gameplay

Firstly, make sure the group is aware of how to play Two Truths and a Lie and gather in a circle so that everyone can see each other. Begin by having each player brainstorm two facts about themselves that are true and one false fact. Give everyone time to noodle some ideas to guarantee the lie isn’t too obviously guessed. 

Choose a player to go first by selecting either the youngest or oldest player in the group. Next, the first player to go will share with the group their three fun facts, concealing the lie within the list. Make sure to declare each fact with confidence to avoid players instantly realizing which fact might be a bit far-fetched. 

For example: A player’s turn might be,  “I have been to Disney World over twenty times. My hair used to be dyed pink. I was nominated for ‘Class Clown’ in High School.” For this example, let’s assume the lie is the pink hair.

Once a player has shared their three facts, they will remain silent as the group has an open discussion about which of the three facts they believe to be a lie. 

Some guessing players might think going to Disney that often is outlandish, but in reality, the player could have an annual pass to the parks. “Class Clown” could easily have been swapped with “Most Likely to Succeed,” causing some confusion for players despite it being the truth. Some players might not remember the player ever having pink hair because they never did- they actually dyed their hair purple back in the day. But will players be able to guess that?

Once the group is satisfied with their answers, they will individually vote on which fact they believe is a lie. The player who shared the facts will finally reveal which of their three factoids was false. (e.g. “My hair was never pink!”) If the player who was lying fooled the rest of the players, they get a point. If one of the players guessed the lie, they receive a point. If multiple players guessed the lie, they all receive one point each. 

Prepare for some bamboozlement: Two Truths and a Lie is a game centered around vulnerability and deception. When trying to guess other players’ lies, pay attention to their tone of voice, the order in which they lay out the facts, and the context of what they’re sharing. The devil is in the little details in this icebreaker.

After the player has completed their turn, the player sitting counter-clockwise in the circle will declare their two truths and lie, and so forth. As players take turns sharing their three mostly honest facts, the group will learn more about one another, forge stronger bonds with friends, and potentially set the record straight on some humorous lies.  

Endgame

The game ends once every player in the game has shared their two truths and lies. Alternatively, players could brainstorm another set of bona fide “truths” and play as many rounds as they’d like, keeping score as they prefer.

Two Truths and a Lie Examples

The most difficult part of Two Truths and a Lie is brainstorming what you’d like to share with the group. We advise choosing three short and simple statements to avoid forgetting one of them and accidentally spoiling the lie prematurely. The more elaborate the lie, the more likely someone will correctly guess you’re lying. The things players might share are infinite, with each game there is something different to discover about the group based on who is playing. 

Some popular examples of facts shared in Two Truths and a Lie include but are by no means limited to:

• • I was voted X in High School
  • I’ve never left the country
  • I am obsessed with Kung Fu films
  • I hate cucumbers
  • I’ve been on a hot air balloon ride
  • I’ve met X celebrity
  • I’m terrified of E.T. 
  • I was homeschooled for a year
  • I have a hidden tattoo
  • My favorite food is fish and chips
  • I can play X instrument
  • I’ve traveled to X location X times
  • I can speak X languages
  • I’ve gone skydiving
  • I grew up with a dog named X
  • Etc.

FAQs

What is the maximum number of people that can play Two Truths and a Lie?

Two Truths and a Lie is best played with larger groups of 4-10 people, with more players it can become challenging to stay involved and get a chance to connect with fellow players.