How the game works
Each player says three things about themselves. Two are true, one is invented. Everyone else votes on which one is the lie, and the player reveals the answer. One point for each person you fool, or one point for each lie you catch — pick a scoring rule before you start so nobody argues about it later.
Funny two truths and a lie ideas
Funny statements work best when they're specific. "I once ate something weird" is boring; "I once ate a whole jar of pickles on a dare and threw up in a Wendy's parking lot" is a story.
- I've been kicked out of a library.
- I once got my head stuck in a stair railing.
- I've fallen asleep during a concert.
- I've accidentally called a teacher "Mom."
- I once wore two different shoes to a job interview.
- I've been chased by a goose and lost.
Clever lies that actually fool people
The best lie is a slightly smaller version of a true story. If you really hiked part of a famous trail, say you hiked all of it. Nobody detects the seam, because your delivery is honest — you're remembering something real.
The other reliable trick is to make one of your truths sound absurd. Players almost always vote for the wildest statement, so if your wildest statement is true, your ordinary-sounding lie sails through.
- I speak three languages.
- I've met someone famous in an airport.
- I have a scar from a bike accident I don't remember.
- I was born in a different state than everyone thinks.
- I've never broken a bone.
- I once won money on a scratch ticket.
Ideas for work and icebreakers
For work, keep it PG and skip anything about pay, politics or exes. Travel, food, childhood jobs, hidden skills and minor injuries are the safe categories that still surprise people.
- My first job was at a fast food drive-through.
- I've lived in four different cities.
- I can solve a Rubik's cube.
- I've run a half marathon.
- I hate coffee.
- I've never seen Star Wars.
How to spot the lie
Liars over-explain. A true statement usually gets a short, flat delivery, while an invented one comes with dates, names and justification nobody asked for. Ask one follow-up question about each statement — the fake one runs out of detail first.
Play it in the car
It's a perfect car game: no props, no screens for anyone but the scorekeeper, and it works with two people or eight. Our free version handles the turn order and scoring so you can just think up statements.