Conversation games used to mean Trivial Pursuit and awkward icebreakers at corporate retreats. Not anymore. A whole category of games and tools has emerged for adults who want real conversations — the kind that go somewhere, with people they actually care about.
Whether you’re looking for something for date night, a dinner party, a road trip, or just a Tuesday night on the couch with a friend 3,000 miles away, here’s our honest guide to the best options out there.
What makes a conversation game good?
Before the list, some criteria. A good conversation game should:
Lower the barrier. It should make starting a real conversation easier, not harder. If the setup takes longer than the conversation, something’s wrong.
Scale in depth. It should work for light moments and serious ones. Not every evening needs to end in tears — but the option should be there.
Feel natural. The best conversation games don’t feel like games. They feel like the start of a conversation you were already halfway through in your head.
Work for your actual life. Most adults don’t have everyone in the same room at the same time. A format that works across distance and time zones matters.
Physical card games
We’re Not Really Strangers
The game that started the modern conversation card movement. Three levels of escalating questions plus a final card. Beautiful design, strong brand. Best for: date nights, new relationships, one-on-one settings.
Strengths: Gorgeous packaging, well-crafted questions, clear structure with escalating levels.
Limitations: Requires both people in the same room with the cards. Limited to one deck (expansion packs cost extra). Not designed for groups or async play.
Table Topics
A simple cube of conversation starters. Various editions available. Less structured than WNRS but more versatile. Best for: dinner parties, family gatherings.
Strengths: Easy to use, no rules to learn, wide range of editions.
Limitations: Questions are fairly generic. No depth scaling. Physical cards only.
Vertellis
Reflection-focused cards designed for couples, families, and friends. Strong emphasis on gratitude and connection. Best for: couples, family dinners.
Strengths: Thoughtful questions, nice design, multiple editions.
Limitations: Skews wholesome — limited range for friends who want bold or spicy questions. Physical only.
Digital conversation tools
Ohh
Full disclosure: this is our app. But here’s the honest case for it. Ohh is a conversation card app with 58 decks, over 3,000 questions, and a mechanic where you answer first before sending. It works entirely async, includes Circles for group play (3–8 people with blind answers and group reveals), and has three visual themes.
Strengths: Massive question library, async by design (works across time zones), answer-first mechanic that drives genuine vulnerability, Circles for groups with blind answering, depth scaling from light to intense, free tier to start.
Limitations: iOS only at launch. Full library requires Pro subscription. No physical component.
Best for: long-distance friendships, busy adults, friend groups who want something deeper than the group chat, anyone who wants to go first.
Other apps in the space
There are several other conversation and question apps available. Most focus on couples or dating rather than friendships, and most use a simpler prompt format without the answer-first or blind-answer mechanics. If your primary use case is date night, explore the options. If your primary use case is friendships — especially long-distance or group friendships — the feature set matters more.
DIY options
36 Questions to Fall in Love
Based on Arthur Aron’s famous study. 36 escalating questions designed to create closeness between two people. Free, widely available online. Best for: two people who want a structured deep conversation.
Strengths: Backed by actual research. Effective escalation structure. Completely free.
Limitations: Only 36 questions (one session’s worth). Designed for strangers, not existing friends. No group format.
Question lists from blogs and social media
Plenty of great question lists exist online (including our own 50 Questions to Ask Your Best Friend). They’re free, flexible, and easy to use.
Strengths: Free, abundant, easy to screenshot and share.
Limitations: No structure, no escalation, no mechanic to ensure vulnerability. Easy to read but hard to actually use in conversation.
How to choose
The best conversation game is the one you’ll actually use. Physical cards are great if everyone’s in the same room. Apps are better for the reality of modern friendships — different cities, different schedules, different time zones.
The key variable is the mechanic. A list of questions is a starting point. A game that structures vulnerability — that makes someone go first, that ensures honest answers, that creates a reveal moment — is a fundamentally different experience.
Our recommendation: Try several. Use physical cards when you’re together. Use Ohh when you’re apart. The goal isn’t brand loyalty — it’s deeper conversations, however you get there.
Whatever you choose, the most important thing is starting. Pick a question tonight. Answer it yourself. Send it to someone. The tool matters less than the willingness.