An icebreaker fails in one of two ways: it asks too much too early (stand up and tell us an embarrassing story), or it goes on so long that people start checking their phones. The list below is sorted by how much each game asks of people. Start at the top with a new group and move down as the room warms up.
At a glance
| Game | Risk for players | Group size | Time | Needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This or that, by walking | None | 8 to 50 | 5 min | Space to move |
| Line up without talking | None | 8 to 40 | 5 min | Space to move |
| Find three in common | Low | 6 to 50 | 10 min | Nothing |
| Human bingo | Low | 15 to 50 | 15 min | Printed grids |
| One-word check-in | Low | 4 to 20 | 3 min | Nothing |
| The question ball | Low | 6 to 25 | 10 min | A ball and questions |
| Two truths and a lie | Medium | 4 to 20 | 15 min | Nothing |
| Desert island picks | Medium | 4 to 20 | 10 min | Nothing |
| Name and a motion | Medium | 6 to 25 | 5 min | Nothing |
| The story chain | Medium | 4 to 15 | 10 min | Nothing |
| Speed chats | Medium | 10 to 40 | 15 min | A timer |
| Imposter | Medium | 4 to 10 per group | 5 min a round | A phone |
| Charades | Higher | 6 to 30 | 15 min | A word list |
| Forbidden word | Higher | 6 to 20 | 20 min | Cards or a phone |
| The question hot seat | Higher | 5 to 15 | 15 min | A list of questions |
No-risk starters
Nobody speaks alone in front of the group.
1. This or that, by walking
Call out two choices and point to two sides of the room: “Morning or night?”, “Mountains or beach?”, “Cats or dogs?”. Everyone walks to their side. Ask one or two people on each side why. Ten rounds take five minutes and the room is already mixing.
2. Line up without talking
The group lines up in order of birthday, January to December, without saying a word. Hand signals only. Then check by asking everyone their date. It always takes longer than people expect and ends in laughter.
Low-risk games
People talk, but in pairs or small groups first.
3. Find three in common
Groups of three or four get five minutes to find three things they all share that are not obvious: not “we all have shoes”, but “we all broke an arm” or “we have all lived abroad”. Each group reads its list. It is the best single icebreaker for work and school.
4. Human bingo
Hand out a 4 by 4 grid of squares like “has been to another continent”, “plays an instrument”, “was born in winter”. People walk around and find someone for each square, writing their name in it. First full row wins. Write squares that fit the group; avoid anything personal like age or family.
5. One-word check-in
Everyone says one word for how their week is going. No explanation unless they want to give one. It takes three minutes for 20 people and is the gentlest start for a regular meeting.
6. The question ball
Write easy questions on a soft ball, or on numbered slips. Throw the ball; the catcher answers the question under their right thumb. Questions like these work:
Easy questions for question rounds
From the mild truths in the free truth or dare deck in the app. They work as icebreaker questions with the dares left out.
- What is the silliest thing you were afraid of as a kid?
- What is the best gift you have ever received?
- What is the strangest dream you remember?
- If you were an animal, which one would you be?
- Have you ever pretended to be sick to skip something?
- What is something you are really bad at?
- What is your biggest fear?
- What is your favorite thing about the person on your left?
- What is your most unusual fear?
- What do you do when no one is watching?
Medium: a little bit of sharing
7. Two truths and a lie
Each person says three things about themselves, one invented; the rest vote on the lie. With more than 15 people, split into circles. Rules, scoring and ideas: two truths and a lie.
8. Desert island picks
Each person names the three things they would take to a desert island, and why. Variations: one book, one song and one food; or one skill.
9. Name and a motion
In a circle, each person says their name with a motion, and everyone repeats it. The next adds theirs, and so on. It is the fastest way to learn 20 names.
10. The story chain
The group tells one story, a sentence each, around the circle. Give a first line: “The bus was late, and that is how it started.” Nobody can get it wrong.
11. Speed chats
Two lines facing each other, one question per round, two minutes, then one line moves along. Five rounds and everyone has had five real conversations. Good for new teams and student groups.
12. Imposter
In groups of 4 to 10, everyone gets the same secret word except the imposter, who sees only the category. Each player says one word about it; then everyone votes. It gets people talking without asking anything personal, which makes it a strong icebreaker for teens. How to play imposter.
Higher energy: for groups that are warming up
13. Charades
Two teams, one actor at a time, one minute per turn. Use easy words for a group that has just met. Charades rules and easy charades words.
14. Forbidden word
One player describes a word without saying it or any of the five forbidden words on the card; their team guesses. Loud and fast, and it gets competitive. How to play forbidden word.
15. The question hot seat
One person sits in the middle and answers three questions from the group, then picks who goes next. Anyone can pass a question. Use the easy questions above and keep it light.
How to run an icebreaker well
- Go first yourself. If you ask people to share, share first and keep it short.
- Make passing normal. Say at the start that anyone can pass. Fewer people will.
- Keep it short. Stop after five to ten minutes, while people are still enjoying it.
- Match the room. No personal questions at work; no physical games if anyone cannot join.
- Use it. Point back to what people shared later: “Since three of you have lived abroad…”