Two Truths & a Lie
Write two truths and one lie about yourself. Can your friends spot the deception?
How to Play
Strategy Tips
- Make your lie believable: The best lies are specific and sound like real stories.
- Make your truths surprising: Unusual truths make people second-guess themselves.
- Watch reactions: Body language can give away who's lying!
- Mix it up: Don't always put the lie in the same position.
How to play Two Truths & a Lie
Two Truths and a Lie is the icebreaker that actually works. Each player writes three statements about themselves — two true, one invented — and everyone else guesses which is the lie. It needs no equipment, scales from 3 to 12 players, and tends to produce the stories people remember long after the game ends.
Everyone writes three statements
Two must be true and one must be false. Write them in the same tone and length: a lie that is noticeably shorter or vaguer than the truths gives itself away immediately. In pass-and-play the screen is hidden between turns so nobody sees what you are writing.
Read them out in a random order
The three statements are shuffled before they are shown, so the lie is not always in the same position. Players may ask one follow-up question each — this is where the game gets good.
Everyone guesses the lie
Each other player privately picks the statement they believe is false. Guesses are locked in before anything is revealed, so nobody can follow the crowd.
Reveal and score
Score 100 points for each lie you correctly identify, and 50 points for every player your own lie fooled. That second rule matters: it rewards a believable lie over an outrageous one.
Tips and strategy
- The best lie is a small, boring one. "I have been to Italy" is far harder to catch than "I once met a celebrity".
- Build your lie from something almost true. Change a detail in a real story and you can answer follow-up questions without hesitating.
- Watch for over-explaining. People add detail to shore up a lie and strip it from a truth they find unremarkable.
- A surprising truth is your best weapon: it draws every guess toward it and lets your actual lie pass unnoticed.
- If you are guessing, ask about the statement you find least interesting. Nobody rehearses the boring one.
Frequently asked questions
- What are good Two Truths and a Lie ideas?
- The strongest statements are specific but ordinary: places you have lived, jobs you have had, minor injuries, foods you refuse to eat, instruments you half-learned. Avoid anything so dramatic that it is obviously the lie, and avoid anything your close friends can immediately disprove.
- How many players do you need?
- Three at minimum, and it works well up to about 12. With larger groups each round is quicker because more people are guessing, so a full game still finishes in roughly 10-20 minutes.
- How is Two Truths and a Lie scored?
- In this version you get 100 points for spotting a lie and 50 for each player your own lie deceived. That balance rewards writing a convincing lie as much as reading other people well.
- Is it a good icebreaker for work or class?
- It is one of the best, because it needs no preparation and gives people a reason to share something real without being asked to perform. Set the expectation that statements stay light and everyone can play comfortably.
- Can you play Two Truths and a Lie online?
- Yes. Play free in the browser here — pass one device around, or open a private room so remote players can join from their own phones.