Pancakes vs Waffles
Pancakes vs Waffles is a quick debate game in which a group must agree which of two things stays in the world and which disappears for good, starting with pancakes and waffles. The winner then faces a new challenger named by someone in the group, and the pairings tend to drift from breakfast food towards choices that show what people value. The game was popularised by teambuilding.com and Museum Hack; its original inventor is not known.
Facilitation script
- 1
Set the premise and the rule: one of pancakes or waffles disappears for ever, the group decides by majority vote, and the loser never comes back.
1 min - 2
Round one: take short arguments for each side, then vote and announce the survivor.
2 min - 3
Ask one person to nominate a challenger for the survivor. Debate and vote. Repeat for three to five rounds, passing the nomination to a different person each time.
8 min - 4
Announce the final survivor. Ask one question to close, such as which round was hardest and why, and take two or three answers.
3 min
Tips
State the decision rule before the first round and keep to it; majority vote keeps the pace up.
Keep arguments short, about a minute per round, and pass the right to nominate around so the same two voices do not run the whole game.
End on a round that got a laugh or a real moment of thought, not when the group has run dry.
Common pitfalls
Not stating the decision rule, so the first close result turns into an argument about how the group decides
Letting each round run for several minutes; the game lives on pace, and long debates about breakfast drain the room
Allowing two confident people to argue every round while the rest only vote, which defeats the purpose of a warm-up
Nominations that touch on charged topics such as politics or religion, which can turn a light game into a real dispute; redirect these quickly
Playing on after the peak, so the game fizzles and the session starts flat
Variations
Sources differ on the decision rule: some versions use a majority vote, while teambuilding.com describes the group deciding unanimously. The unanimous version is slower and gives real practice at persuasion and giving way, so use it with small groups and more time. Online, use a poll or have people type their choice in the chat at the same moment. In groups above about fifteen, split into smaller groups that each run their own chain and compare final survivors. For a link into the session topic, steer the last nomination towards it, for example the surviving item against a tool, habit or meeting the team actually has.
Where it fits
When to use it
The start of a team meeting or workshop where people need a few minutes of low-stakes talking before the real agenda
A remote call where cameras are on but nobody has spoken yet
Before a prioritisation or decision session, as a harmless rehearsal of arguing, voting and accepting the result
A team that knows each other's roles but not much about each other's tastes and values
A short gap in the agenda that needs filling with no preparation or materials
When not to use it
The team has a contested decision pending and the game would read as making light of it; go straight to a structured decision method such as dot voting or gradients of agreement
A very large plenary, where only a few people can speak and the rest watch; split into small groups or use a quick physical energiser
You need people to learn names or backgrounds; an introduction activity does that better
The group includes people who find being put on the spot to argue stressful, unless you make speaking optional and let the vote carry participation
Related methods
Frequently asked questions
What is Pancakes vs Waffles?▾
Pancakes vs Waffles is a quick debate game for teams. The group decides which of two things stays in the world and which disappears for ever, starting with pancakes and waffles. The survivor then faces a new challenger, and the chain continues for a few rounds.
How does the group decide the winner of each round?▾
Most versions use a simple majority vote, which keeps the game fast. Another version asks the group to reach a unanimous decision, which takes longer and gives more practice at persuading and conceding. Choose one rule and announce it before you start.
How long does Pancakes vs Waffles take?▾
Between 5 and 20 minutes. Four or five rounds with majority voting fit into about ten minutes. The unanimous version and larger groups need more.
Can you play Pancakes vs Waffles on a video call?▾
Yes, it was popularised as an activity for remote teams. People argue aloud or in the chat, and votes are taken with a poll, raised hands or everyone typing their choice at the same moment.
What is the point of the game?▾
It gets everyone talking and laughing within a minute and needs no preparation. As the pairings grow from food to bigger things, people's choices and reasons show a little of what they care about. It also gives a group a harmless run at arguing a case and accepting a group decision.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from teambuilding.com / Museum Hack (original inventor unknown).