Two Truths and a Lie
Three statements. One is rubbish. Which?
- Players
- 2+ players
- Length
- 15–30 min
- Cost
- Free · no signup
- Long distance
- Works long distance
Ready?
Three statements. One is rubbish. Which?
- Players
- 2+ players
- Length
- 15–30 min
- Intensity
- Sweet
Free · No signup · Nothing you answer is saved
How do you play Two Truths and a Lie?
Two Truths and a Lie has one partner make three statements within a given category — two true, one invented — while the other asks up to two follow-up questions before naming the lie. A correct guess scores the guesser; a successful bluff scores the bluffer. Partners swap each round.
How to play
- Draw a category. One of you makes three statements — two true, one invented.
- Your partner asks up to two follow-up questions about any of them.
- They then name the lie.
- Correct guess scores the guesser. Wrong guess scores the bluffer.
- Swap every round.
Why couples love this game
The follow-up questions are what make this version work. Without them it is a coin flip; with them it becomes a genuine interrogation, and watching someone improvise supporting detail for a lie they invented eight seconds ago is the best part of the game.
Everyone knows the rules: say three things about yourself, two true and one invented, and let the other person work out which is which.
The problem playing it with a long-term partner is that you have run out of unknown facts. So this version supplies categories rather than leaving you to think of something — "a time you were embarrassed", "an opinion you hold", "something about your childhood" — which forces you into corners you have not already covered.
The best lies are boring and specific. Everyone tries to make the lie exciting, which is exactly how they get caught.
Example questions
- Three things about your childhood.
- Three things you have never told me.
- Three times you were embarrassed.
- Three opinions you hold.
- Three things about your family.
- Three things you have done that I would not expect.
The full game has 20 of these, shuffled every time you play.
Who this game is best for
- New couples with plenty of unknown material
- Long-term couples, using the harder categories
- Groups and double dates
- Video calls
Tips to make it better
- Make the lie boring. Exciting lies are transparent — a good lie is dull and specific.
- The two follow-up questions are compulsory. They are the entire game.
- Do not use the same category twice in one session.
- Long-term couples should skip the easy categories and go straight to "three things you have never told me".
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Two Truths and a Lie?
Make three statements about yourself, two true and one false. Your partner asks two follow-up questions, then names the lie. Correct guess and they score; fool them and you do.
What makes a good lie?
A boring one. Everyone makes their lie the most interesting statement, which is exactly how it gets spotted. A dull, specific, entirely plausible lie is almost impossible to catch.
Does this work for long-term couples?
Yes, if you use the harder categories. "Three things you have never told me" and "three things you have thought about me" work even after a decade.