What is Two Truths and a Lie: Guilty Pleasures Edition?
Two Truths and a Lie: Guilty Pleasures Edition keeps the classic format — three statements, one invented — and narrows every truth to something you're a little embarrassed to admit you love. A guilty pleasure, a lie shaped like one, and a group trying to catch the tell.
It works because guilty pleasures are pre-apologized for: nobody needs convincing you actually watch that show, so the lie has to work harder to sound believable. That extra effort is what makes people study each other's statements instead of just waiting for their turn.
It's built for a room that already laughs easily together — a team past the awkward-silence stage, not one meeting for the first time. If the group skews formal, or you're not sure everyone's comfortable naming a real indulgence out loud, run the base Two Truths and a Lie instead and save this edition for later.
The rules
- Each player writes two truths and one lie — all about a guilty pleasure.
- Statements are read in any order, without hinting which one's false.
- The group discusses briefly, then each person privately decides which one's the lie.
- The player reveals the lie once the guesses are in.
- Scoring is optional: a point for a correct guess, but it's not the point of the round.
- Keep it workplace-appropriate — the host sets that boundary, not the group.
Before you start
- Group size: 3–20 participants. Works for a small team or a full workshop. For bigger groups, bring a projector or whiteboard so the room can see each statement as it's read.
- A circle for small groups, a stage for large ones. Seat smaller groups in a circle so everyone can watch faces. For bigger gatherings, switch to a presentation style so the room can see and hear each speaker.
- Give the theme in advance. Tell people ahead of time that their two truths and one lie need to be guilty pleasures — an embarrassing favorite song, a secret hobby — so they arrive with real material instead of stalling.
- Set the tone before anyone writes. Say upfront that statements should stay appropriate for the room. It's easier to set the boundary once than to police it mid-round.
How to run it
- Set the theme and the rules 1 min
Tell the group they'll each share two truths and one lie about a guilty pleasure, and that everyone else's job is to catch the fake. Say it in one breath — the whole game explains itself in a sentence.
- Give thinking time 3–5 min
Let people write their two truths and one lie before anyone shares. Push for something specific — an embarrassing favorite song, a secret hobby — over a generic, forgettable pick.
- Go first, then rotate 1 min each
Share your own three statements first, poker face on, to set the tone. Then invite the group through in a circle or presentation style, depending on the room's size.
- Discuss, vote, reveal 1–2 min each
Give the group a moment to discuss, then have each person privately decide which statement is the lie. Once the votes are in, the player reveals it — and the story behind it, if there is one.
- Debrief 1 min
After the last reveal, spend a minute on what people noticed or learned. That's what turns the guessing round into an actual team-building exercise.
← the guilty part's the whole point.
Facilitator tips
Why it works
Reflection questions
Five questions for a team that wants the debrief — a couple of minutes here turns the guessing round into something people actually reflect on.
- What did you enjoy most about sharing your guilty pleasures with the group?Helps people name what worked, and makes them more likely to keep sharing next time.
- Did any of your fellow team members' guilty pleasures surprise or resonate with you? If so, how?Surfaces overlaps or connections the round itself moved too fast to notice.
- How did it feel to guess your colleagues' lies and truths based on their guilty pleasures? Did this exercise change any of your perceptions about them?Gets at whether the guessing changed how anyone sees a teammate, not just who won.
- Do you think revealing guilty pleasures in this manner could help create a more understanding work environment? Why or why not?Moves the conversation from "that was fun" to whether the openness is worth repeating.
- After learning more about your colleagues' guilty pleasures, do you feel more connected to them? Why or why not?The real measure of whether the round did its job — connection, not just laughs.