| Players | 3 or more |
|---|---|
| Setup time | None |
| Playing time | Variable |
| Chance | Low |
| Skills | Creativity, embarrassment tolerance |
Truth or Dare? is a party game requiring at least three players. Players are given the choice between answering a question truthfully, or performing a "dare", both of which are set by the other players. The game is particularly popular among adolescents and children, and is sometimes used as a forfeit when gambling.
The game has existed for centuries, with at least one variant, Questions and Commands, being attested as early as 1712:
- A Christmas game, in which the commander bids his subjects to answer a question which is asked. If the subject refuses, or fails to satisfy the commander, he must pay a forfeit [follow a command] or have his face smutted [dirtied].
One player starts the game by asking another to choose "Truth or Dare?" If the player chooses "truth", then the first player asks a question, usually an embarrassing one, which the second player MUST answer truthfully. If the player instead chooses "dare", then the first player dares him/her to do something, often an embarrassing or dangerous dare, which the other player MUST do. After answering the question or performing the dare, that player asks "Truth or Dare?" to another player, and the game continues. The group often chooses how inappropriate it is. They can range from G rating to R or explicit. It can be played with just girls, just boys, or a mix of girls and boys.