"What if..." questions are fascinating! Unique prompts that spark lively conversations
Haven’t we all wondered at least once, “What if…?” Just one imaginative question—like what if you won the lottery, could go back to the past, or could dive into the world of your favorite story—can make a conversation instantly livelier! In fact, these what-if questions aren’t just fun; they can also reveal someone’s values and unexpected sides of their personality.
In this article, we’ve gathered a wide range of “what-if questions” you can use at hangouts with friends, when chatting with someone you’re interested in, or just to kill a bit of time.
Be sure to check out these uniquely tempting prompts that you’ll find yourself eager to answer!
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“What if … ?” questions are fascinating! Unique prompts that liven up conversations (11–20)
What would you do if you were attacked by zombies?
A foolproof bit from panic-horror films! “What would you do if zombies attacked?” is a theme that gets people talking in almost any setting.
Would you run or fight? Try expanding the conversation.
As a spin-off topic, asking “What items would you grab from a hardware store to fight zombies?” can be really fun.
You’ll get a sense of people’s sensibilities and personalities.
If you’re asking someone who loves zombie movies, the conversation will really take off.
From there, it’s natural to segue into talking about favorite films, too.
If you could appear on a TV show, which one would you be on?
Variety shows packed with comedians, reality dating shows where real romance unfolds, music programs where artists perform their songs… Is there a TV program you’d like to appear on? The world beyond the square screen is practically a dreamland—wanting to step into that “world we admire” is only human! You might even get to meet your favorite celebrity—two birds with one stone! With video platforms booming, it might be very on-trend to ask, “Which YouTube channel would you want to be on?” too.
If you could have just one wish granted, what would you wish for?
Here’s a straightforward—no, “simple is best”—question: If you could have just one wish granted, what would it be? It’s a tough one even when you ask yourself, isn’t it? Landing your dream job, getting that thing that’s out of reach on your current salary, meeting that famous person—the imagination just doesn’t stop.
There are wishes that simply can’t come true in the real world, too.
And that’s exactly why this kind of question reveals who someone really is! You could even spice it up by asking, “What if you had three wishes—what would you do?” That could be fun as well.
If you were to buy a vacation home, where would you buy it?
Speaking of vacation homes, there are many popular areas like Karuizawa, Izu, and Hakone.
Where would you want to buy a vacation home? The word “vacation home” gives an elegant impression, so honestly, if I could have one, anywhere would do—but let’s deliberately make it a discussion topic and dig deeper.
By asking why they chose that place and what they’d like to do at their vacation home, you might get a glimpse of that person’s hobbies and how they value spending their time.
I also think it’s fun to talk purely based on imagination.
If you could become Japan’s prime minister, what would you like to do?
Becoming Prime Minister doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want, but it is still a position that moves Japan, so you can’t help wondering, “What would I do?” Let’s have everyone imagine themselves as Prime Minister! From people who propose policies they truly wish would come true, to those who blurt out, “You must never do that!”—it’s a lively discussion topic where reality and fantasy intersect, revealing how everyone wants to shape Japan.
If you could erase one event from history, what would you erase?
The present is built upon history, so it would be truly frightening if it were to disappear.
But as an imaginative exercise, it makes for a fun and lively discussion topic! A historical event you’d like to erase… what comes to your mind? History is vast, from ancient times to the modern era, so it’ll be exciting to see what people bring up.
If the scope feels too broad to answer, narrowing it down to Japanese history is a good idea.
It would also be interesting to talk about how the future might change if that piece of history were removed!
"What if..." questions are fascinating! Unique prompts that liven up conversations (21–30)
If you could become a famous person from history, who would you want to be?
Historical figures are, after all, the people who truly changed history, so many of them are really cool.
From military commanders and enlightened rulers to cultural icons who still influence us today, you’ve probably got at least one person you admire.
If you’re stuck for a conversation topic, bring this one up and let everyone talk about who they look up to! After you hear who your friends or peers want to be like, ask them why.
You’ll likely discover appealing qualities in great figures that you hadn’t noticed before, which is fun, and it can also be a good chance to glimpse someone’s inner world through the feelings of admiration they hold.