The Newlywed Game started as a TV show in 1966, hosted by Bob Eubanks. Partners answered questions about each other in secret, then compared answers on air for everyone to see.
The mismatches were always the funniest part. Somebody was sure their spouse loved spicy food, and the card said the exact opposite.
The home version needs no stage and no other couples. It is just the two of you, some paper, and a good set of newlywed game questions.
Below you will find the simple rules and 40 questions in four rounds. If you are building a full night of couple games to play at home, this one is the easiest place to start.
What You Need
Everything on this list is probably already sitting in a drawer at home.
- Paper and pens, or two small whiteboards with markers
- The four question lists below, printed or open on a phone
- One sheet of paper for a scorecard, split into two columns
- Snacks, which are optional but strongly encouraged
How to Play the Newlywed Game at Home
One round takes about ten minutes. Here is how a round works.
- Pick your questions. Choose 10 questions for the round. The four rounds below are ready to use just as they are.
- Read one out loud. One of you reads a question to the room. Just one question at a time.
- Write two answers. Each of you writes your own answer, plus your best guess of your partner’s answer. No peeking, and no changing answers later.
- Reveal together. Show all the answers at the same time. This is where the laughing starts.
- Score the matches. Every match earns 1 point. Both of you can score on the same question, so a perfect question is worth 2 points in total.
- Swap the reader. After 10 questions, trade jobs and let the other partner read the next round.
- Play three rounds and crown a winner. The highest score wins. The loser makes dessert, or the winner picks the movie for the night.
Round 1: Favorite Things (Newlywed Game Questions 1 to 10)
Start with the easy stuff: ten questions about favorites that are harder to match than they look.
- What is your partner’s all-time favorite meal, the one they would pick for a birthday dinner?
- Which movie could your partner watch three times in a row and still enjoy?
- What song does your partner always turn up when it comes on?
- What dessert would your partner order if calories did not count at all?
- If your partner got a free Saturday with no plans, how would they spend it?
- What is your partner’s favorite holiday of the year?
- What color does your partner wear most often?
- If you walked into your partner’s favorite restaurant, what would they order without looking at the menu?
- What snack disappears fastest when your partner is around?
- If your partner could take one dream trip anywhere, where would they go?
Round 2: Daily Life and Habits (Questions 11 to 20)
Living together teaches you the small things, and this round finds out how much of it actually stuck.
- Who wakes up first on a normal weekday, and how many alarms does it take?
- Who steals more of the blankets at night?
- If the thermostat could sit at one temperature all year, what would your partner pick?
- What is the first app your partner opens on their phone in the morning?
- Which household chore does your partner always put off the longest?
- Who is the better driver, according to your partner?
- Which side of the bed does your partner sleep on?
- How does your partner squeeze the toothpaste tube, from the bottom or from the middle?
- How long does your partner take to get ready for a night out?
- What is your partner most likely to eat straight from the fridge at midnight?
Round 3: Us and Our Story (Questions 21 to 30)
This round is built from your own story, and it doubles as a set of conversation starters you will want to keep talking about after the newlywed game ends.
- Where did you go on your very first date?
- Who leaned in for the first kiss?
- Who said “I love you” first, and where were you at the time?
- What was your partner’s first impression of you, in their own words?
- What is your partner’s favorite memory of the two of you together?
- Where did you go on your first trip as a couple?
- Which song would your partner call “our song”?
- What was the first meal you ever cooked together, and how did it turn out?
- What was the first gift your partner ever gave you?
- When did your partner know this relationship was the real thing?
Round 4: Funny and What-If (Questions 31 to 40)
Save this round for when you are both warmed up, because there are no right answers here, only funny ones.
- If your partner came with a warning label, what would it say?
- If your partner were an animal at the zoo, which one would they be?
- If your partner won a small lottery prize tomorrow, what is the first thing they would buy?
- Stranded on an island, what one item would your partner refuse to leave behind?
- If your partner could pick one superpower, which one would they choose?
- What song would your partner sing at karaoke after a little encouragement?
- If your partner could only use one emoji for the rest of their life, which one would it be?
- Who is more likely to get lost with the GPS running the whole time?
- What is the most ridiculous opinion your partner will defend to the end?
- In a zombie movie, who would last longer, you or your partner, and why?
How to Print and Prep the Newlywed Game Questions
The four rounds above are the full printable set. Print this page, or copy the questions onto index cards if you want to draw them at random.
Keep a blank scorecard with two columns, one for each name. Write the date at the top before you start.
Store the old scorecards in a drawer instead of throwing them away. Playing the same questions on an anniversary and comparing scores is half the fun.
Ways to Change Up the Newlywed Game
- Double date version. Invite another couple over and let them read the questions and call the matches. Then swap roles and host their game.
- No-paper version. For any “who is more likely” question, skip the writing. Count to three and point at the person you pick, you or your partner.
- Speed round. Set a timer and give each question five seconds. Fast answers are honest answers, and the wrong ones are the funniest of the night.
- Rematch rule. The loser of the night gets to pick the questions for the next game. It keeps the rivalry alive until next week.
Conclusion
You do not need a TV stage, a studio audience, or even another couple. Two people, some paper, and honest guesses are the whole game.
Print a round of newlywed game questions tonight and see how well you really know each other. The score matters far less than the stories that come out along the way.
Want to keep the questions going after the game ends? These questions to ask your boyfriend are a good place to wander next.
FAQs
Do you have to be newlyweds to play?
No. Newlywed game questions work for any couple, and pairs who have been together for years are often the funniest to watch. The longer you have known each other, the more confident the wrong answers get.
How many questions do you need for one game?
Ten questions make one round, and three rounds fill a good newlywed game night. With the reveal and the stories after each answer, expect about ten minutes per round.
What if our answers do not match?
Then the newlywed game is working. A mismatch is a story waiting to be told, so ask your partner why they answered that way. The only real rule is no arguing about points. Laugh first, debate never.
Can you play the Newlywed Game long distance?
Yes. Get on a video call, read the questions out loud, and write your answers on paper. Hold your answers up to the camera at the same time for the reveal.
What should the winner get?
Keep it small and fun. The loser makes dessert, does the dishes, or gives up control of the remote for one night. Bragging rights until the rematch are included for free.