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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- [Ultimate Either-Or] A great conversation starter and a chance to get to know each other!
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- [Talk Theme] Liven up the drinking party! A roundup of funny questions
- [Conversation Skills] Get the Crowd Going! A Collection of Talk Theme Ideas
- [Punishment Game] A collection of romance-themed prompts. Punishment games that get men and women excited
- A collection of questions to liven up phone calls with someone you like or are interested in
- Fun two-player games recommended that you can play using conversation only
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- [Punishment Game] Embarrassing Lines: A Collection of Material That Will Make You Blush
- [Personality Test] Fun and Entertaining! Carefully Selected Tests That Everyone Can Enjoy Together
“What if…?” questions are fascinating! Unique prompts that spark lively conversations (1–10)
If you could use magic, what kind of magic would you want?
Have you ever thought how nice it would be if you could use magic—like flying through the sky, teleporting, or shooting flames or water from your hands? Asking “If you could use magic, what kind would you want?” is a surefire conversation starter! It’s fun to draw ideas from games, anime, or movies that feature magic.
You might even catch a glimpse of the person’s inner desires.
A similar topic is “Which of Doraemon’s secret gadgets would you like to use?” I bet the Anywhere Door would be the most popular, right?
If you could go to a two-dimensional world, which work would you go into?
Do you have any favorite manga or anime? Some of you might even have a series you’re so into that you feel like you’ve devoted your life to it.
So, how about this: which two-dimensional world would you want to visit? Maybe you want to become a pirate and explore the world, get reincarnated in another world and be overpowered at something, or simply meet your favorite character.
Even with a little thought, all kinds of scenarios come to mind.
You might even say, “I love it so much that I actually wouldn’t want to go there.” I bet there are quite a few people who feel that way.
If you could get one of Doraemon’s gadgets, which one would you want?
There are so many fascinating secret gadgets in Doraemon.
The Small Light, the Anywhere Door, and the Take-copter are prime examples.
Which secret gadget would you like to have? Since Doraemon is a popular series that almost everyone has seen, it makes for a conversation topic you can enjoy with anyone.
If you know some unexpected gadgets, the conversation might expand with questions like, “What kind of gadget is that?” You could also ask what they’d like to use that gadget for!
If you could bring only one thing to a deserted island, what would it be?
From one day to a week, or even a year… If you had to spend time on an uninhabited island, what would you bring? You can imagine all sorts of things—food, survival gear, ways to pass the time.
The conditions matter quite a bit, though.
As I mentioned at the start, your answer would likely change depending on how long you’ll be there and what kinds of creatures live on the island.
If you search on YouTube, you’ll find quite a few videos like “I tried spending 3 days and 2 nights on a deserted island,” so watching those might be helpful.
What would you like to be if you were reborn?
Include a classic theme.
“If you were reborn, what would you want to be?” is a question you can ask in gatherings of almost any age group, isn’t it? You might hear all kinds of answers: wanting to be born in that city or country next time, becoming a favorite animal, or living the same life all over again.
The idea of “rebirth” could also steer the conversation toward philosophical topics.
For those with a partner, it might become a question that helps reaffirm the trust in their relationship.
If you could be someone else, who would you want to be?
Who is someone you admire? The question “If you could be anyone, who would you be?” feels pretty deep—it can reveal a glimpse of a person’s true character.
Lots of ideas might come up, like wanting to be an idol or a great figure from the past.
It could also be someone close you respect, like a friend, teacher, or family member.
On the other hand, some might say, “I’m fine as myself; I don’t want to be anyone else.” It’s a question that can be a starting point for understanding someone’s personality.
How would you spend it if you won the lottery?
When in doubt, this might be the go-to topic! “What if you won the lottery?” It’s a conversation full of dreams, isn’t it? If you suddenly came into a large sum of money, what would you spend it on? A house, a car, delicious food—you’ll probably find images of all the things you want popping into your head.
Some people might take a more practical approach, like saving or investing.
How much you ‘win’ is also a key point.
If it’s 100 million yen, it turns into a real fantasy; if it’s a more realistic amount like 1 million yen, the conversation will probably get more concrete.