216 Fun Name Your Favorite Game Night Conversation Starters. -

216 favorite things questions to break the ice, deepen a friendship, or turn any gathering into the best conversation you’ve had in months.

You know that moment at a party when the small talk runs dry? Someone asks how work’s going, you both nod politely about the weather, and then… silence. Everyone’s just standing there, holding a drink, waiting for someone else to say something interesting.

Here’s the fix: ask someone their favorite thing.

Not “how are you”, everyone says “good.” Ask “what’s your favorite smell in the entire world” and suddenly you’ve got a real answer, a laugh, a story, maybe even a memory neither of you expected to bring up. That’s the whole idea behind “Name Your Favorite…”, 216 favorite-things questions built to turn any group of people, from old friends to total strangers, into an actual conversation.

This isn’t your average list of icebreaker questions. It’s not “what’s your name and where are you from.” It’s specific, a little playful, and genuinely curious, the kind of questions that make people go “ooh, good question” before they answer. Whether you’re looking for get-to-know-you questions for a first date, party conversation starters for a game night, team-building questions for the office, or just something better to ask than “how’s it going,” this list has you covered.

Below are all 216 questions, laid out in the exact same order as the printable card deck, organized into 24 rounds, from childhood memories all the way to favorites about the people in the room with you right now. Catch up on previous and more conversation starters, game nights and journal prompts blog posts as well as printable cards in our digital products store.

Why “Favorite Things” Questions Work So Well

Here’s the secret: asking someone their favorite thing isn’t really about the thing. It’s about what they choose to share, and why.

Ask “what’s your favorite childhood memory” and you don’t just get a memory, you get a glimpse of what that person values, what made them feel safe, what still makes them smile. Ask “what’s your favorite piece of advice you’ve ever received” and you learn who shaped them. These are conversation starter questions that feel light on the surface but open doors underneath.

That’s what makes this list so versatile. You can keep it fun and breezy with the food and movie questions, or slow things down with the values and life-lessons rounds. Either way, you walk away knowing someone a little better than you did five minutes ago.

How To Use These Favorite Things Questions

First dates or new friendships: Start light — food, movies, music before working your way toward the deeper rounds.
Family dinners or reunions: The childhood, holiday, and home sections are perfect for triggering shared memories and good-natured debates.
Office team-building or icebreakers: Keep it to the fun, low-stakes rounds — hobbies, quirky favorites, and pop culture are safe, easy wins.
Long car rides or flights: Just start at question one and keep going down the list, there’s no wrong way to play.
Game nights or parties: Go around the group question by question, or let each person pick their favorite category to answer from.
Deepening an existing friendship: Jump straight to the values, dreams, and life-lessons sections for a conversation that goes further than usual.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in.

216 Fun Name Your Favorite Game Night Conversation Starters.

216 Favorite Things Questions To Get to Know Someone.

1. Childhood & Nostalgia

Every good conversation starts with a little nostalgia. This round is a warm, easy way to open things up — the kind of questions that get people smiling before they even answer.

Name your favorite childhood memory.
Name your favorite cartoon or show you grew up watching.
Name your favorite childhood snack.
Name your favorite game you played as a kid.
Name your favorite place you used to hang out growing up.
Name your favorite subject in school.
Name your favorite childhood toy.
Name your favorite family tradition from when you were young.
Name your favorite thing about being a kid that you miss the most.

2. Food & Drink

Nothing brings people together like talking about food. Ask a few of these get-to-know-you questions and you’ll suddenly know exactly what to order for someone’s birthday.

Name your favorite comfort food.
Name your favorite cuisine to order when you’re not cooking.
Name your favorite dessert of all time.
Name your favorite drink to order at a coffee shop.
Name your favorite meal a parent used to make for you.
Name your favorite restaurant you keep going back to.
Name your favorite snack for a late-night craving.
Name your favorite thing to cook when you actually feel like cooking.
Name your favorite food you’d never get tired of eating.

3. Movies & TV

Everyone has an opinion about their favorite movie, and everyone will defend it fiercely. This section is pure fun — expect some passionate answers.

Name your favorite movie of all time.
Name your favorite movie genre.
Name your favorite TV show to binge-watch.
Name your favorite fictional character you wish was real.
Name your favorite movie villain.
Name your favorite movie soundtrack or theme song.
Name your favorite actor or actress.
Name your favorite quote from a movie or show.
Name your favorite movie you could watch on repeat.

4. Music

Music says a lot about a person, and this round is where you’ll start noticing patterns — who’s the nostalgic one, who’s chasing whatever’s new, and who still knows every word to a song from ten years ago.

Name your favorite song right now.
Name your favorite artist or band of all time.
Name your favorite song to sing in the car.
Name your favorite concert you’ve ever been to.
Name your favorite genre of music.
Name your favorite album you can listen to start to finish.
Name your favorite song from your childhood.
Name your favorite lyric that’s ever stuck with you.
Name your favorite instrument, even if you can’t play it.

5. Books & Words

Whether someone’s a bookworm or hasn’t cracked a spine since high school, this section still finds something worth talking about — a favorite story, a word they love, a world they’d love to disappear into.

Name your favorite book you’ve ever read.
Name your favorite genre to read.
Name your favorite author.
Name your favorite quote from a book.
Name your favorite word in the English language.
Name your favorite story someone has ever told you.
Name your favorite childhood book.
Name your favorite thing to read when you want to relax.
Name your favorite fictional world you’d want to live in.

6. Travel & Adventure

This is where the daydreaming starts. Ask these favorite things questions and watch people light up talking about places they’ve been and places they’re still hoping to go.

Name your favorite place you’ve ever traveled to.
Name your favorite place you still want to visit.
Name your favorite way to travel: road trip, plane, or train.
Name your favorite vacation memory.
Name your favorite city you’ve ever visited.
Name your favorite type of getaway: beach, mountains, or city.
Name your favorite souvenir you’ve ever brought home.
Name your favorite thing about exploring somewhere new.
Name your favorite trip you’ve taken with someone you love.

7. Hobbies & Free Time

How someone spends their free time says a lot about who they are. This round is a great way to discover a hidden hobby or a shared interest you didn’t know you had.

Name your favorite way to spend a lazy Sunday.
Name your favorite hobby you picked up as an adult.
Name your favorite way to unwind after a long day.
Name your favorite thing to do when you have the house to yourself.
Name your favorite skill you’ve taught yourself.
Name your favorite way to spend a rainy day.
Name your favorite thing to do outdoors.
Name your favorite creative outlet.
Name your favorite way to spend a day off with absolutely no plans.

8. Seasons & Weather

Some people live for summer, others count down to the first snowfall. This section is a simple, cozy way to learn someone’s rhythm through the year.

Name your favorite season of the year.
Name your favorite thing about summer.
Name your favorite thing about winter.
Name your favorite kind of weather.
Name your favorite holiday that falls in your favorite season.
Name your favorite outfit for cold weather.
Name your favorite thing to do on the first snow day.
Name your favorite smell that reminds you of a certain season.
Name your favorite sound: rain, ocean waves, or wind.

9. Holidays & Traditions

Holidays carry so many memories, and this round taps right into them. It’s a great one for family gatherings, since everyone usually has a story ready to go.

Name your favorite holiday of the year.
Name your favorite holiday tradition from your family.
Name your favorite holiday food.
Name your favorite gift you’ve ever received.
Name your favorite gift you’ve ever given someone.
Name your favorite way to celebrate your birthday.
Name your favorite holiday movie.
Name your favorite holiday memory growing up.
Name your favorite way to spend New Year’s Eve.

10. Home & Comfort

This section slows things down a little, focusing on the small, quiet things that make a house feel like home.

Name your favorite room in your home.
Name your favorite thing about your morning routine.
Name your favorite way to relax at the end of the day.
Name your favorite candle scent or smell in your home.
Name your favorite blanket, pillow, or cozy item you own.
Name your favorite spot in your house to just sit and think.
Name your favorite meal to eat on the couch.
Name your favorite thing about where you currently live.
Name your favorite sound of your home when everything is quiet.

11. Style & Fashion

A little fun, a little revealing — this round gets people talking about how they like to look and feel, without it ever turning into a fashion lecture.

Name your favorite outfit you own.
Name your favorite color to wear.
Name your favorite piece of jewelry or accessory.
Name your favorite pair of shoes you’ve ever owned.
Name your favorite era of fashion.
Name your favorite thing to wear when you want to feel confident.
Name your favorite scent of perfume or cologne.
Name your favorite item of clothing you refuse to throw away.
Name your favorite way to dress up for a night out.

12. Sports & Games

Whether someone’s a die-hard fan or hasn’t picked up a controller since college, this section always finds a favorite worth sharing.

Name your favorite sport to watch.
Name your favorite sport to play.
Name your favorite board game.
Name your favorite video game of all time.
Name your favorite childhood playground game.
Name your favorite team you’ve ever cheered for.
Name your favorite card game.
Name your favorite way to be competitive without it getting too serious.
Name your favorite game night memory.

13. Nature & Outdoors

This round is a nice reset — a chance to slow down and talk about the outdoors, the little things in nature people notice and love.

Name your favorite animal.
Name your favorite flower or plant.
Name your favorite outdoor spot to clear your head.
Name your favorite time of day to be outside.
Name your favorite view you’ve ever seen in nature.
Name your favorite thing about the ocean or the mountains.
Name your favorite tree or type of plant.
Name your favorite star or constellation, real or made up.
Name your favorite outdoor activity.

14. People & Relationships

This is where the conversation starts to mean a little more. These questions gently turn the spotlight toward the people who matter most.

Name your favorite quality in a friend.
Name your favorite memory with your best friend.
Name your favorite thing about your family.
Name your favorite person to call when something exciting happens.
Name your favorite trait you admire in someone you love.
Name your favorite person who has influenced who you are today.
Name your favorite thing someone has ever said to you.
Name your favorite way someone has ever shown you they cared.
Name your favorite person to laugh with.

15. Values & Beliefs

A slightly deeper round for when the conversation is ready for it — these questions get people reflecting on who they are and who they’re becoming.

Name your favorite value you try to live by.
Name your favorite piece of advice you’ve ever received.
Name your favorite lesson life has taught you.
Name your favorite thing about your own personality.
Name your favorite way you’ve grown in the last few years.
Name your favorite quality you hope people remember you for.
Name your favorite thing you believe strongly in.
Name your favorite way you like to help others.
Name your favorite thing about the person you’re becoming.

16. Dreams & Goals

This section is all about what’s ahead. It’s a great way to encourage someone and learn what they’re really working toward.

Name your favorite dream you still hope comes true.
Name your favorite goal you’re currently working toward.
Name your favorite thing you’d do if money wasn’t a factor.
Name your favorite skill you’d love to master.
Name your favorite place you dream of living someday.
Name your favorite version of your future self.
Name your favorite thing you hope to accomplish this year.
Name your favorite risk you’re glad you took.
Name your favorite thing you’re most proud of so far.

17. Quirky & Fun

Time to lighten things back up. This round is for the silly, the weird, and the slightly embarrassing favorites everyone secretly loves sharing.

Name your favorite useless talent you have.
Name your favorite weird food combination you actually enjoy.
Name your favorite thing to do when no one’s watching.
Name your favorite silly habit you have.
Name your favorite way to make someone laugh.
Name your favorite wild fact you love bringing up in conversation.
Name your favorite thing to do that you’re a little embarrassed to admit.
Name your favorite impression you can do.
Name your favorite way to be a little ridiculous.

18. The Senses

These questions ask people to slow down and notice the small sensory details of life — a smell, a sound, a feeling — that often go unspoken.

Name your favorite smell in the entire world.
Name your favorite sound you never get tired of hearing.
Name your favorite texture to touch.
Name your favorite taste you crave the most.
Name your favorite thing to look at when you want to feel calm.
Name your favorite feeling, physical or emotional.
Name your favorite sound in nature.
Name your favorite smell that instantly makes you feel at home.
Name your favorite thing that makes you feel most alive.

19. Celebrations & Memories

Everyone has a moment they love revisiting. This round is a chance to relive some of the best ones together.

Name your favorite celebration you’ve ever been part of.
Name your favorite memory from this past year.
Name your favorite surprise you’ve ever received.
Name your favorite party you’ve ever thrown or attended.
Name your favorite toast or speech you’ve ever heard.
Name your favorite way to celebrate a big win.
Name your favorite memory that still makes you smile.
Name your favorite tradition you want to start.
Name your favorite moment you wish you could relive.

20. Animals & Pets

Pet people, this section is for you. Even the non-pet-people usually have an animal story worth telling.

Name your favorite pet you’ve ever had.
Name your favorite type of dog or cat breed.
Name your favorite animal at the zoo.
Name your favorite fictional animal character.
Name your favorite thing about animals in general.
Name your favorite animal you’d want as a pet if you could have anything.
Name your favorite memory with a pet.
Name your favorite animal sound.
Name your favorite wild animal you’d want to see in person.

21. Technology & Gadgets

A fun, modern round that reveals a lot about how someone spends their day — from their most-used app to the one gadget they can’t live without.

Name your favorite app on your phone.
Name your favorite piece of technology you couldn’t live without.
Name your favorite show or movie you discovered through a recommendation.
Name your favorite way to spend time online.
Name your favorite gadget you own.
Name your favorite podcast or channel you follow.
Name your favorite thing about the internet.
Name your favorite old piece of technology you kind of miss.
Name your favorite way technology has made your life easier.

22. Guilty Pleasures & Indulgences

This is the round where people finally admit the things they usually keep to themselves. Expect some laughs and a few surprising confessions.

Name your favorite guilty pleasure show.
Name your favorite way to treat yourself.
Name your favorite thing to splurge on.
Name your favorite way to be lazy.
Name your favorite unhealthy snack you can’t resist.
Name your favorite reality show you’d never admit to loving.
Name your favorite way to spoil yourself after a hard week.
Name your favorite indulgent dessert.
Name your favorite thing you do purely because it feels good.

23. Life Lessons & Wisdom

A more reflective round to close things out — the kind of questions that turn a fun game into a genuinely meaningful conversation.

Name your favorite lesson you learned the hard way.
Name your favorite piece of wisdom from someone older than you.
Name your favorite mistake that taught you something valuable.
Name your favorite thing you know now that you wish you knew earlier.
Name your favorite way you’ve learned to handle hard days.
Name your favorite thing about getting older.
Name your favorite reminder you give yourself when things get tough.
Name your favorite way someone has shown you grace.
Name your favorite truth you’ve come to believe about life.

24. Favorites About Us

The perfect way to end the game — turning the questions toward the people actually in the room and the moments you’re building together.

Name your favorite thing about the person sitting next to you right now.
Name your favorite memory you’ve made with this group.
Name your favorite inside joke you have with someone here.
Name your favorite thing about tonight so far.
Name your favorite thing you’ve learned about someone in this conversation.
Name your favorite thing you hope we do together again soon.
Name your favorite way this group makes you feel.
Name your favorite thing about getting to know people through questions like these.
Name your favorite memory we haven’t made yet, but you hope we will.

Tips For Getting The Best Answers Out Of These Questions

Answer first. If you want someone to open up, go first. Share your own favorite before you ask theirs — it makes the question feel like a conversation, not an interview.
Follow up with “why.” The favorite thing itself is only half the answer. The story behind it is where the real conversation lives.
Don’t rush through the list. You don’t need to ask all 216 questions in one sitting. Pick a category that fits the mood and let the conversation breathe.
Mix light and deep. Balance a few quirky, fun questions with one or two from the values or life-lessons sections to keep the conversation from feeling one-note.
Let people pass. Not every question will land for every person, and that’s okay. The goal is connection, not interrogation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are “Name Your Favorite” questions? They’re a style of get-to-know-you question that asks people to name a specific favorite — a food, a memory, a value, a place — rather than answering a generic prompt. Because the questions are so specific, they tend to spark stories instead of one-word answers.

How many questions are in this list? This list includes 216 questions, organized into 24 themed rounds of 9 questions each, moving from light and playful topics like food and movies to more reflective ones like values, dreams, and life lessons.

Who are these questions good for? Friends, families, couples, coworkers, and new acquaintances alike. They work well for first dates, game nights, road trips, office icebreakers, and family gatherings — anywhere small talk needs an upgrade.

Do these questions work for people who just met? Yes. Start with the lighter categories — food, movies, music, hobbies — before moving into more personal territory like values or life lessons, once the conversation has some momentum.

Can I get these as a printable card deck? Yes! This exact set of questions is also available as a printable “Name Your Favorite…” card deck, laid out nine questions per page in the same order as this post — perfect for printing, cutting into cards, and keeping on hand for your next hangout.

Ready To Ask Better Questions?

That’s all 216 of them from childhood snacks to favorite memories you haven’t made yet. Print this list, save it on your phone, or grab the printable card deck version and bring it to your next dinner, road trip, or first date.

Because the best conversations rarely start with “how are you.” They start with a good question and someone willing to actually answer it.

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216 Fun Name Your Favorite Game Night Conversation Starters.

Table of Contents

Why “Favorite Things” Questions Work So Well

How To Use These Favorite Things Questions