72 This or That Pairs That Tell You What to Buy Someone

These this or that gift questions turn small talk into a shopping shortcut. Ask them at a birthday dinner, a holiday party, or over coffee, and by the end of the last round you will have a clear picture of what the person actually wants. No wishlist required, no awkward direct asking, just a game that does the work for you.

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How to Play

Read each pair aloud and ask everyone to pick one option, no explaining, no hedging. Go around the table once per question, or play it as a one-on-one conversation with the person you are buying for. Six rounds of twelve pairs means the game runs about twenty minutes at a relaxed pace. Keep a running tally of each person’s answers on your phone, because Round Six will show you exactly how to use them.

Round One: Practical or Sentimental

This opening round sorts people into two broad camps fast, and knowing which camp someone falls into shapes every purchase that follows.

1. A tool that solves a daily problem or a keepsake that marks a memory?
2. A planner that keeps you organised or a journal where you write what you feel?
3. A gift card you can spend on anything or a hand-selected item chosen just for you?
4. A gadget that saves you time or a piece of art that makes you stop and look?
5. A replacement for something worn out or a first-of-its-kind thing you would never buy yourself?
6. Something that fixes an annoyance or something that captures a moment?
7. A subscription that keeps delivering or a one-off object with a story behind it?
8. Something new and efficient or something vintage and full of character?
9. A donation made in your name or a physical thing you can hold?
10. Matching luggage for future trips or a scrapbook of past ones?
11. A smart home device or a handmade craft?
12. Cash in an envelope or a thoughtfully wrapped surprise?

Round Two: Home Preferences

Home preferences reveal taste, lifestyle, and exactly what kind of object will feel at home in someone’s space rather than end up in a donation bag.

1. A cosy throw blanket or a set of crisp new bed linens?
2. A candle that scents the whole room or a diffuser with essential oils?
3. A cookbook propped on the counter or a piece of kitchen art on the wall?
4. New mugs for the cabinet or a proper tea or coffee tray set?
5. A plush bath mat or a set of heavyweight towels?
6. Indoor plants to tend or low-maintenance faux greenery that always looks good?
7. A matching set of storage baskets or a single statement decorative bowl?
8. Scented drawer liners or linen spray for the bedroom?
9. A new desk lamp or a set of ambient string lights?
10. A board game for the shelf or a jigsaw puzzle for a quiet evening?
11. A home office upgrade like a monitor stand or a living room upgrade like a side table tray?
12. A personalised doormat or a custom piece of wall lettering?

Round Three: Treats and Indulgence

Treats reveal how someone likes to reward themselves, which is the clearest possible guide to a gift they will actually use up and love.

1. A box of fine chocolates or a bag of specialty coffee or loose-leaf tea?
2. A spa treatment booked for a Saturday or a luxury bath set to use at home?
3. A meal at a restaurant they have never tried or a gourmet ingredient kit to cook at home?
4. A bottle of something celebratory or a curated non-alcoholic tasting set?
5. A scented body scrub or a rich overnight face mask?
6. A bakery-fresh treat delivered to the door or a make-your-own baking kit?
7. A cheese and charcuterie gift box or a sweet snack subscription?
8. A professional massage or a manicure and pedicure?
9. A new fiction novel for the weekend or an audiobook credit for the commute?
10. A streaming service gift card or a cinema gift card for a night out?
11. A fancy stationery set for writing letters or a beautiful notebook for personal use?
12. A personalised gift box curated by a friend or a surprise mystery box from a subscription brand?

Round Four: Hobbies

Hobbies are the most reliable gift territory there is: people always want better gear, more supplies, or a new experience in something they already love.

1. An upgrade to a tool you already own or a starter kit for something you have always wanted to try?
2. A class taught by an expert or a book that lets you learn at your own pace?
3. Something for a hobby you do alone or something for a hobby you do with others?
4. Outdoor adventure gear or indoor creative supplies?
5. A fitness-related gift or a creative arts-related gift?
6. A photography accessory or a drawing or painting supply?
7. A gardening kit or a cooking equipment upgrade?
8. A travel experience or a local day-trip voucher?
9. A music-related gift like headphones or sheet music or a reading-related gift like a bookmark set or reading light?
10. A craft supply bundle or a digital download of patterns and tutorials?
11. Something that pushes a current skill further or something that starts a completely new one?
12. A solo experience like a pottery class or a shared one like a cocktail-making evening for two?

Round Five: Style

Style questions cut through the guesswork around wearable and carry-everything gifts, which are notoriously hard to buy without inside information.

1. A classic piece in a neutral colour or a bold piece in a statement shade?
2. A leather accessory or a canvas or fabric one?
3. Jewellery in gold tones or jewellery in silver tones?
4. A structured bag or a soft, slouchy tote?
5. A silk scarf or a cosy knit beanie?
6. Minimalist jewellery with one clean line or layered pieces you stack together?
7. A monogrammed item or a plain unbranded one?
8. Cosy loungewear for home or polished separates for going out?
9. A fragrance that is fresh and light or one that is warm and deep?
10. A wallet that fits in a pocket or one with room for everything?
11. Sunglasses with a classic frame or ones with a fashion-forward shape?
12. A gift that matches what someone already owns or one that is entirely new to their wardrobe?

Round Six: What the Answers Actually Tell You

This round reframes the game as a gift decoder: read back the pattern of answers and match it to a category below, because the combinations do the thinking for you.

1. Mostly practical answers in Round One plus home preferences: look at quality kitchen tools, organisational systems, or a useful tech upgrade for the home.
2. Mostly sentimental answers in Round One plus home preferences: look at personalised home objects, custom prints, photo books, or engraved pieces.
3. Spa and in-home treats in Round Three: build a luxury self-care hamper with bath, skin and scent products.
4. Dining and food treats in Round Three: book a restaurant experience, order a gourmet delivery box, or find a cooking class in their area.
5. Solo hobbies in Round Four: buy a course, a book, a supply upgrade, or a piece of equipment that serves what they already do.
6. Shared hobbies in Round Four: book a two-person experience, a couples class, or a gift that works best with a friend along.
7. Classic and neutral in Round Five: safe bets are quality leather goods, simple gold or silver jewellery, and well-made basics in black, tan or white.
8. Bold and statement in Round Five: go for colour, pattern, a standout accessory, or a fragrance with real personality.
9. Practical plus treats plus solo hobby: a subscription box that combines all three, a monthly coffee club, a craft supply delivery, or a book box.
10. Sentimental plus style plus shared hobby: a personalised piece of jewellery, a custom illustration, or a shared experience followed by a memento.
11. Practical plus solo hobby plus classic style: a high-quality everyday carry item, a leather notebook, a sleek water bottle, or a well-designed tool for their craft.
12. Sentimental plus home plus treats: a personalised gift hamper with a custom label, a scented candle in their favourite style, and a handwritten card explaining every choice.

How to Keep It Moving and When to Stop

Keep the pace brisk by giving people three seconds to answer and moving on. If someone says they cannot choose, make them pick anyway: the hesitation itself usually tells you something useful.

Stop after Round Five if the gift picture is already clear. Round Six is a reference tool, not a required round. You can read it later, alone, after the game is over, and use it to decode the tally on your phone.

Play all six rounds if you are buying for someone you genuinely do not know well, a new colleague, a partner’s parent, or a group gift where five people need to agree on one thing. The fuller picture is worth the extra ten minutes.

For more game inspiration that doubles as a way to get to know someone better, the full this or that questions list has 120 pairs ready to go, and if you are shopping for a new dad specifically, the first Father’s Day gift ideas guide translates answers like these into concrete, experience-first picks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people do you need to play this or that gift questions?

Two is plenty. The game works brilliantly as a one-on-one conversation between the gift buyer and the person they are buying for, and it also runs well around a dinner table of six to eight. Above ten, break into smaller groups and compare notes afterwards.

Can you play this remotely, for example over a video call?

Yes. Read the pairs aloud, ask everyone to hold up a hand for their choice, or use a poll in the chat. The tally method works exactly the same way whether you are in the same room or not.

Do you have to play all six rounds?

No. Stop whenever the pattern is clear. Rounds One through Three often give enough information for a confident purchase. Round Six is a reference decoder you can use afterwards, not a round that requires the whole group.

How do you print the card sheets?

Download and print on white cardstock at home, then cut along the dashed lines. Laminating the sheets before cutting makes the cards last much longer and adds a satisfying, professional feel. A binder ring through a corner hole keeps each round’s deck together.

Are these questions appropriate for work gift exchanges?

Rounds One, Two, Four and Five work perfectly in a professional setting. Skip any question that feels too personal for the relationship and the game still gives you more than enough to go on.

What age group is this game designed for?

Adults and older teens. The questions are general enough for almost anyone over sixteen, and nothing in any round is off-limits in a mixed company setting.