In two truths and a lie, each player says three things about themselves. Two are true, one is made up, and everyone else guesses the lie. The 50 statements above are ideas to adapt: keep the ones that are true for you, and twist one into a believable lie.
How to play
You need three or more players. Paper is optional.
- Give everyone a minute to think of three statements: two true, one false.
- The first player says all three, in any order.
- Everyone else votes at once by holding up one, two or three fingers for the statement they think is the lie.
- The player reveals the lie. If they like, they tell the story behind one of the truths.
- The next player takes a turn.
If you want points, each player who spots the lie gets one, and the teller gets one for every player they fooled.
Two example rounds
Both of these are made up, to show how a turn sounds.
A grown-up’s turn. “I once missed a flight because I went to the wrong airport. I’ve ridden in a hot air balloon. I can whistle with my fingers.” Most of the table votes for the balloon. The lie is the whistling. The airport story turns out to be the best part of the evening.
A child’s turn. “I had an imaginary friend called Biscuit. I was in a school play. I’ve seen a moose up close.” Everyone votes for the moose, because it sounds the least likely. It’s true: the family saw one on a camping trip. The lie is the school play.
Notice what made both rounds work: the lie sounded as ordinary as the truths.
Where it works well
Two truths and a lie suits groups where people half know each other: a new team, a club’s first meeting, cousins who see each other once a year. At a family gathering, ask older relatives to use statements from their own childhood. It’s an easy way to hear about the years before you were born. The family reunion storytelling guide has more games for mixed ages.
Nobody has to explain a truth. If someone says “that’s a story for another day”, take them at their word.
For more quick party games, try most likely to or this or that questions.