A hot take is an opinion built to start an argument. This page has 72 ready-to-use hot takes in six categories, a short set of rules for playing the game with friends, family or colleagues, and a way to run it live so that everyone votes at once and the loudest person does not win by default.
Pick a category, read a take aloud, and let the group respond. The takes are deliberately about everyday things that most people have opinions on, such as food, films, pets and brands. Nothing here needs special knowledge, and none of it is meant to be taken seriously.
What is a hot take?
The dictionary meaning is a little less friendly than the game. Dictionary.com defines a hot take as a hastily written piece of commentary that presents opinions as facts, and Wikipedia describes it as a piece of deliberately provocative commentary written quickly in response to the news. In a game, the idea is the same, but the stakes are zero: a bold, slightly exaggerated opinion on a familiar subject, offered to see who agrees and who does not.
A good hot take for a game has four things in common:
- It is about something nearly everyone has met: a food, a film, an animal, a brand.
- It is exaggerated enough to provoke a reaction, but not cruel.
- It has a grain of truth, so people can argue either side.
- It picks on things, never on people. Nobody's identity, health or beliefs are the target.
Avoid niche takes that only a few people will understand. The more familiar the subject, the more people join in.
Quick facts
QuestionAnswerHow many hot takes are on this page?72, in six categories of 12How many players do I need?Two or more. Four to eight is a good size for one conversationHow long does a game take?About 30 to 60 minutes for five to ten takes with a small groupCan I play it live with a big group?Yes, use polls so everyone votes at the same time. The free AhaSlides plan allows 50 participants and 3 poll slides per presentation
Brand hot takes
- Apple products are overpriced for what most people use them for.
- Teslas are great to look at and awkward to live with.
- Starbucks coffee is mostly milk and syrup, with a hint of coffee.
- Netflix has more shows than anyone can finish and fewer great ones than it used to.
- Online shopping is worse than going into a real shop.
- Nike trainers are about the logo, not the shoe.
- A car's boot space matters more than its badge.
- Putting a logo on everything has made luxury look cheap.
- McDonald's fries are better than Burger King's.
- Uber is better than a regular taxi.
- Google Search was better ten years ago.
- Every brand's loyalty app is just a way to send you more emails.
Animal hot takes
- Dogs are better pets than cats, and it is not close.
- Cats are the better pet because they look after themselves.
- Pandas are overrated: a bear that eats bamboo all day is not that interesting.
- Koalas would be more popular if they were less sleepy.
- Snakes make great pets and people are far too scared of them.
- Rats make fantastic pets.
- Dolphins are not as friendly as their reputation suggests.
- Horses are more work than they are worth.
- Elephants are the most impressive animal on Earth.
- Mosquitoes are the one animal we should all agree to get rid of.
- Chimpanzees are more fascinating than gorillas.
- Parrots make terrible pets because they are too loud.
Entertainment hot takes
- Superhero films are all the same film.
- Game of Thrones is better than Breaking Bad.
- Friends is not as funny as people remember.
- The Lord of the Rings films are too long.
- Reality TV is a guilty pleasure that should stop being guilty.
- The Beatles are overrated.
- Social media has made art shallower.
- The book is always better than the film.
- Most anime is better than most Western cartoons.
- Overwatch is better than World of Warcraft.
- Awards shows are meaningless.
- Nobody needs a sequel to a perfect film.
Food hot takes
- Margherita is the best pizza, and everything else is a topping problem.
- Sushi is overhyped.
- Vanilla ice cream is better than chocolate ice cream.
- Bacon is the most overrated food.
- Waffle fries beat French fries.
- Avocado toast is not worth the price.
- Kale is just rabbit food.
- Durian smells and tastes bad.
- Nutella is just sugary hazelnut spread.
- Hot dogs beat burgers any day.
- Pineapple belongs on pizza.
- Cereal is a perfectly good dinner.
Fashion and style hot takes
- Baggy jeans beat skinny jeans for comfort every time.
- Tattoos have become the new way of fitting in.
- Designer handbags are a waste of money: a $20 bag does the same job.
- H&M is the best fast-fashion brand.
- Crocs are comfortable and everyone should own a pair.
- Trendy haircuts, such as the wolf cut, look dated within a year.
- No style is truly original any more. It is all recycled.
- Socks with sandals are fine.
- Oversized clothes look better than clothes that fit.
- White trainers go with everything, so nothing else is needed.
- Ties are pointless and should be retired.
- Vintage decor makes a home look cluttered.
Everyday life hot takes
- Self-care culture often turns into self-indulgence.
- 'Unpopular opinion' is the most overused phrase online.
- Pretty privilege is real.
- Voice notes are rude. Just type it.
- Group chats are where good ideas go to die.
- Tipping culture has gone too far.
- Birthday parties are overrated.
- Morning people are secretly smug.
- Working from home beats working in an office.
- Open-plan offices should be banned.
- Podcasts are just radio with better marketing.
- The best holidays are the ones where you do nothing.
How to play the hot takes game
You can play it in about 30 to 60 minutes with a small group, and no preparation beyond picking a category.
- Gather your group. Four to eight people makes for a lively conversation, but the game works with two.
- Choose a category. Food, entertainment and animals are the safest openers. Everyday life is the spiciest.
- Read a take aloud. One person reads, or reads and then adds their own twist.
- Everyone responds. Players argue against it, offer a counterexample or share a related take of their own.
- The reader defends. The person who read the take gets a short chance to stand by it before the turn passes on.
- Repeat. Keep going until the group has covered five to ten takes.
For a scoring option, give a point to the take that causes the most disagreement, then a bonus point if the room was split roughly evenly.
Ground rules that keep it friendly
- Argue with the take, never with the person.
- No takes about anyone's identity, health, religion or politics. If a take gets personal, skip it.
- Anyone may pass on a take without giving a reason.
- Keep each take to a few minutes of debate, then move on.
Play hot takes live with polls
Reading takes aloud is fine for a handful of friends, but a larger group, a team meeting or a classroom needs a way for everyone to take part at once. A live poll does that, and it removes the usual problem where the loudest voice sets the mood.
With AhaSlides, a simple format works well:
- Post the take as a poll. Give three answers: Agree, Disagree and It depends. Players vote on their phones and the bar chart updates as the votes arrive.
- Collect one-word reactions. A word cloud slide shows the room's reactions in real time. The most common words grow the largest.
- Spin to pick a defender. Put the names on the spinner wheel so that chance, not volume, decides who defends the next take.
The free plan supports 50 participants and up to 3 poll slides per presentation, so for the free version, save the polls for your three spiciest takes and read the rest aloud. Paid plans start at $7.95 a month (Essential, billed annually) if you want a poll for every take. Build one with the online poll maker.
Want more party game ideas? Try would you rather questions, never have I ever, two truths and a lie or our list of fun games for parties.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a hot take?
A hot take is a deliberately bold or exaggerated opinion that goes against the popular view of a familiar topic. A good one has a grain of truth, so people can disagree with it and still see the point. It aims to start a conversation, not to win an argument.
How many people can play the hot takes game?
Anything from two upwards works.
- Small groups (4 to 6 people): Everyone can share several takes, and there is time to debate each one properly.
- Medium groups (6 to 10 people): Each person gets one or two takes, and the debate moves faster.
- Large groups (10 or more): Use live polls so everyone can vote on every take, and keep the debate to one or two voices per take.
How long does the hot takes game take?
Plan on 30 to 60 minutes for five to ten takes with a small group. In a meeting or classroom, polls on three or four takes fit into about 10 minutes.
Is the hot takes game suitable for work?
Yes, with care. Stick to the food, entertainment, animal and brand categories, skip anything about colleagues, and use the ground rules above. A poll helps because people can vote without having to speak first.
Can I make my own hot takes?
Yes. Pick something familiar, add a twist that most people will disagree with, and check that it picks on a thing, not a person. If you have to explain it, it is too niche.
Sources
- Dictionary.com: hot take for the dictionary definition
- Wikipedia: hot take for the origin of the term in journalism
