21 questions game
In 21 questions, two people take turns asking each other questions until 21 have been asked, and every question must be answered honestly or passed. It is the classic way to get to know someone, a crush or a partner. Below are the rules and 130 questions for the 21 questions game, from easy openers to a spicy 18+ round.
Does anyone call you something other than your real name?
Playing with someone new? Start with Getting to know you and Funny. All 130 questions are also listed below.
Tap the card to draw a random question, or pick the groups that fit who you are playing with. It also works over text: draw a question here and send it.
- Players
- 2 or more
- Questions
- 130
- Time
- 15 to 40 min
How to play 21 questions
The 21 questions game has no board and no cards, just two people and a lot of curiosity. Agree on the rules below before the first question, especially how many passes you each get.
- Decide who startsFlip a coin, or let the person who suggested the game go first.
- Ask one questionAsk anything you want to know. Draw from this page if you get stuck.
- Answer honestlyThe other player has to answer truthfully. Each player gets two passes for the whole game, and a pass still counts as a question.
- Swap turnsTake turns until 21 questions have been asked in total. Some couples play 21 each, which makes a much longer game.
- Ask it backPopular house rule: after answering, you may ask the exact same question back, and it does not count toward the 21.
The guessing version
Some people know 21 questions as a guessing game, like 20 Questions with one extra try. One player thinks of a person, animal or thing. The others ask yes or no questions, and they have 21 questions to guess it. Guess right and you pick the next secret.
| Get to know you version | Guessing version | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 2, or a small group taking turns | 2 to 10 |
| Questions | Any question, honest answers | Only yes or no questions |
| Goal | Learn something new about each other | Guess the secret within 21 questions |
| Best for | Dates, crushes, couples, texting | Road trips, kids, waiting rooms |
| Questions on this page | All 130 | Not needed, just think of something |
130 questions for 21 questions
Getting to know you works for a first date or a new friend. For a crush is for when you want to find out if they like you back. Couples is for people who think they know everything already. Spicy is only for adults who have both said yes to it.
21 questions to get to know someone
25- Does anyone call you something other than your real name?
- Where did you grow up, and would you ever move back?
- What did you want to be when you were little?
- What does a perfect Sunday look like for you?
- What's the best trip you've ever taken?
- Which song have you played the most this year?
- What's your comfort food?
- Who in your family are you most like?
- What's something you're really good at?
- Which hobby would you do full time if money didn't matter?
- Which friend have you known the longest?
- What's the last thing that made you laugh out loud?
- Which app do you spend the most time on?
- Morning person or night person?
- Which show would you recommend to anyone?
- What's at the top of your bucket list?
- What's your usual order at your favorite restaurant?
- What's the best concert you've been to?
- Do you have siblings, and where are you in the lineup?
- What's your favorite season, and why?
- What's a small thing that instantly improves your mood?
- What's the best advice you've ever been given?
- If you could live in any city, which one?
- What's your hidden talent?
- What surprises people when they get to know you?
21 questions to ask your crush
25- What's the first thing you notice about someone?
- What's your idea of a perfect first date?
- Do you believe in love at first sight?
- Which cheesy pick up line would actually work on you?
- What's your love language?
- Who was your first celebrity crush?
- Are you a texter or a caller?
- What's a green flag that gets you every time?
- What's an instant dealbreaker?
- What's the most romantic thing someone has done for you?
- Would you rather ask someone out or be asked?
- Which song would you put on a playlist for someone you like?
- What's your type, honestly?
- Have you ever had a crush on a friend?
- What was your first impression of me?
- What's something you'd like us to do together one day?
- Do you get nervous around people you like?
- Have you ever waited to text back on purpose? How long?
- Fun date or fancy date?
- What's the most attractive thing about a person that has nothing to do with looks?
- What's a date idea you've always wanted to try?
- How long does it take you to know if you like someone?
- Do you think opposites attract?
- What's the best compliment you've ever gotten?
- How would you describe me in three words?
21 questions for couples
20- When did you first know you liked me?
- What was going through your head on our first date?
- What's your favorite memory of us so far?
- What's something small I do that you love?
- Which habit of mine drives you a little crazy?
- Where do you see us in five years?
- Where should our next trip be?
- What's a tradition you want us to start?
- Which song reminds you of us?
- What's something you've never told me?
- How do you like to be comforted when you're upset?
- What's one thing you want us to do more often?
- Which of my friends do you like the most?
- What did you think of me the very first time we met?
- When did you know this was serious?
- Which outfit of mine is your favorite?
- What's something you want us to learn together?
- How would you describe our relationship to a stranger?
- What's the best gift I've ever given you?
- What's one thing you'd change about how we argue?
Funny 21 questions
20- What's the most embarrassing song on your playlist?
- What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?
- If you were a cartoon character, which one?
- What's the dumbest way you've ever hurt yourself?
- What was your worst fashion phase?
- If you could be any animal for a day, which one?
- What's your most irrational fear?
- What's the strangest thing you do when nobody is watching?
- What's the worst gift you've ever received?
- What would your rapper name be?
- What's the most embarrassing thing your parents did in front of your friends?
- Which actor would play you in a movie about your life?
- What's the most useless thing you know a lot about?
- What's the worst haircut you've ever had?
- If you could only eat one food forever, what would it be?
- What were you way too confident about as a kid?
- What's the weirdest dream you remember?
- What's your guilty pleasure TV show?
- Have you ever waved back at someone who wasn't waving at you?
- What's the funniest thing you've seen happen in public?
Deep 21 questions
20- What are you most proud of?
- What's something you're still trying to forgive yourself for?
- What does a happy life look like to you?
- Who has shaped who you are the most?
- What's a belief you've changed your mind about?
- What scares you about the future?
- When do you feel most like yourself?
- What's the hardest thing you've been through?
- What do you wish more people knew about you?
- What's a lesson you learned the hard way?
- What would you tell your younger self?
- What do you value most in a friend?
- What makes you feel loved?
- What's a dream you've quietly given up on?
- How do you act when you're angry?
- What's something you've never said out loud?
- Do you think people can really change?
- What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?
- Which memory would you live again if you could?
- What do you hope people say about you when you're not in the room?
Spicy 21 questions (18+)
20Only for adults who have both agreed to a spicy round. Passing is always allowed.
- What's your biggest turn on?
- Where's the most adventurous place you've kissed someone?
- What's a fantasy you've never told anyone?
- What's the most attractive thing someone can wear?
- Have you ever sent a flirty text to the wrong person?
- Where's your favorite place to be kissed?
- What's the boldest move you've ever made on someone?
- Have you ever had a dream about someone you know?
- What instantly kills the mood for you?
- Lights on or lights off?
- What's the best kiss you've ever had, and what made it good?
- Have you ever had a friends with benefits?
- What's the most romantic setting you can imagine for a first night together?
- What's your most embarrassing bedroom moment?
- Would you ever go skinny dipping?
- Which compliment would make you blush?
- Have you ever been caught making out?
- What's one thing you'd love to try with a partner?
- What's the flirtiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
- On a scale from 1 to 10, how good a kisser are you?
Turn the questions into a party game
Dronk's Truth or Dare has 75 truths and 75 dares in three packs, so the whole group gets to answer, not just two people. Pass the phone, pick truth or dare, and read what comes up.
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How to ask good 21 questions
Twenty one questions sounds like a lot, but they go fast. A few habits make the difference between small talk and a conversation you remember.
- Ask open questions. "What's the best trip you've ever taken?" gets a story. "Do you like travel?" gets a yes.
- Follow the answer. If an answer is interesting, your next question can build on it. The best games feel like one long conversation.
- Match the level. If the other person keeps answering short, stay light. If they open up, you can go deeper.
- Over text, one at a time. Send a single question and wait for the answer. Sending five in a row turns it into a form.
Questions people ask
What are good questions for 21 questions?
Good questions are open and get a story, like "What's the best trip you've ever taken?" or "What surprises people when they get to know you?" This page has 130 questions in six groups.
How do you play the 21 questions game?
Two players take turns asking each other questions until 21 have been asked. Every question must be answered honestly, and each player can pass twice. In the guessing version, one player thinks of something and the others get 21 yes or no questions to guess it.
Can you play 21 questions over text?
Yes, it is one of the most popular ways to play. Send one question at a time, wait for the answer, then it is their turn to ask.
What are good 21 questions to ask a crush?
Keep it playful and curious: "What's your idea of a perfect first date?", "What's a green flag that gets you every time?" or "What was your first impression of me?"
What are spicy 21 questions?
Spicy questions are flirty questions for adults who have both agreed to them, like "Lights on or lights off?" or "What's the best kiss you've ever had?" Either player can always pass.
Is 21 questions the same as the 50 Cent song?
They share a name and an idea. "21 Questions" by 50 Cent featuring Nate Dogg came out in 2003 and is built around asking a partner one question after another. This page is about the game you play yourselves.
Keep the night going
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