26 icebreaker games for groups

Find someone who

Players

12 to 60

Minutes

15

Ages

8 and up

You need

A printed grid of light prompts, or the grid on a screen, and pens

1. Give everyone a grid of light prompts such as “has visited a castle” or “can whistle”.
2. People mingle and write a different person's name in each square.
3. Stop after ten minutes and ask for a few surprises.

What to say: “Here is a grid of small things people might have done. Find a different person for each square and write their name in it. You have ten minutes.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone who would rather not walk around can stay in one spot with their grid; people come to them.

Without a printer: Show the grid on a screen and have people jot names on any paper.

For this game: Human bingo

Two truths and a lie

Players

4 to 30

Minutes

10 to 20

Ages

8 and up

You need

Nothing

1. Each person says three short statements about themselves: two true, one made up.
2. The group guesses which one is the lie, then the speaker reveals it.
3. Keep statements light, such as a food you dislike or a place you have been. Anyone can use a ready-made set instead of their own.

What to say: “Think of three short things about yourself: two true and one made up. Keep them light, like a food you can't stand. I'll go first so you can hear one.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone can read a ready-made set instead of their own, or say “pass” and just guess along.

Without a printer: Nothing to print.

For this game: Two truths and a lie ideas

Speed pairs

Players

10 to 40

Minutes

15 to 20

Ages

10 and up

You need

A timer and a list of light questions

1. Make two lines facing each other.
2. Partners get two minutes on a light question.
3. One line moves along one place for a new partner and a new question.

What to say: “Say hello to the person opposite you. You have two minutes on the question on the screen. When the timer goes, this line moves one place along.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone who prefers to stay seated takes a seat at the end of a line; each new partner comes to them.

Without a printer: Read the questions aloud from a phone.

Common ground circle

Players

10 to 30

Minutes

10

Ages

6 and up

You need

A circle of chairs, one fewer than players

1. One person stands in the middle and says “Anyone who likes...” with something light, such as rainy days.
2. Everyone who agrees swaps seats; the middle person grabs a free one.
3. Whoever is left standing goes next. Offer seated swaps or a raised hand to anyone who prefers not to move.

What to say: “I'll stand in the middle and say ‘Anyone who…’ with something true for me. If it's true for you too, find a new seat. Whoever is left standing goes next.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone can raise a hand from their seat instead of swapping, and a nod counts as joining in.

Would you rather walk

Players

Any number

Minutes

10 to 15

Ages

6 and up

You need

A list of would-you-rather questions and room to move

1. Read a would-you-rather question and point to one side of the room for each option.
2. People walk to their choice and chat with a neighbor for a minute.
3. Start the next question. For a seated version, people raise one or two fingers.

What to say: “This wall is the first choice and that wall is the second. Walk to your side, then tell the person next to you why you picked it.”

For shy or less mobile players: Vote from your seat by raising one finger or two.

Human bingo for teams

Players

10 to 50

Minutes

15

Ages

Adults and teens

You need

Printed bingo cards of work-safe skills and pens

1. Give each person a card of squares such as “has used a spreadsheet formula” or “has given a presentation”.
2. People collect a different name for each square.
3. The first full line wins; each person then introduces one discovery to the group.

What to say: “Each square needs a different colleague's name. Ask, don't assume. When you have a full line, call out ‘Line!’”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone who would rather stay at their desk can be the checker who confirms each line.

Without a printer: Show the card on a screen and let people write names on any paper.

For this game: Human bingo

Build the tallest tower

Players

6 to 40, in teams of 3 to 5

Minutes

15

Ages

8 and up

You need

For each team, 20 sheets of paper and a strip of tape

1. Give every team the same materials and five minutes.
2. Each team builds the tallest tower that stands on its own.
3. Measure the towers, then ask each team what they would change next time.

What to say: “Every team has the same paper and tape. You have five minutes to build the tallest tower that stands on its own. When I call time, hands off.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone can be the team's timekeeper or measurer instead of building.

Back-to-back drawing

Players

Pairs, any number

Minutes

10 to 15

Ages

8 and up

You need

Paper, pens and a few simple drawings to describe

1. Pairs sit back to back.
2. One partner describes a simple shape drawing without naming it; the other draws it.
3. Compare the drawings, then swap roles.

What to say: “Sit back to back. Describers, explain the drawing with shapes and positions only, without saying what it is. Drawers, no peeking.”

For shy or less mobile players: A pair can sit side by side with a folder standing between them if turning chairs is awkward.

Two-minute desert island

Players

6 to 40, in groups of 3 to 5

Minutes

10

Ages

8 and up

You need

A timer

1. In small groups, agree on three ordinary objects to take to an imaginary desert island.
2. Add one rule for life on the island.
3. Each group shares its list and its rule.

What to say: “Your group is heading to a desert island. Agree on three ordinary objects to take and one rule for living there. You have two minutes, starting now.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone can be the group's writer and let the others do the talking.

Story in a sentence

Players

4 to 15

Minutes

10

Ages

6 and up

You need

Nothing, or paper to write the story down

1. One person starts a story with a single sentence.
2. Each person adds one sentence in turn.
3. The last person gives it an ending and a title, and someone reads the whole story back.

What to say: “I'll start a story with one sentence. Each of you adds one more, in order. The last person gives it an ending and a title.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone can add a single word instead of a sentence, or say “pass” and the story moves on.

Picture it

Players

Any number

Minutes

10

Ages

6 and up

You need

One unusual photo or drawing, on a screen or printed

1. Show the picture.
2. Each person suggests a title, or what happened just before it.
3. Vote for the funniest and the most likely.

What to say: “Look at this picture. What would you call it, or what happened just before it was taken? Call out your idea or write it down.”

For shy or less mobile players: Ideas can go on paper for the host to read out.

Name and a gesture

Players

4 to 25, in a circle

Minutes

5 to 10

Ages

5 and up

You need

Nothing

1. Standing or seated in a circle, each person says their name with a small gesture.
2. The group repeats the name and gesture back.
3. The next person goes. A wave or a nod counts as a gesture.

What to say: “Say your name and add a small gesture, like a wave or a thumbs-up. Then we'll all say it back to you, with the gesture.”

For shy or less mobile players: A nod is enough, and anyone can say just their name.

Category chain

Players

Any number

Minutes

5 to 10

Ages

6 and up

You need

Nothing

1. The host names a category, such as fruits.
2. Around the circle, each person adds one item without repeating.
3. A pause of five seconds starts a new category, and nobody is out.

What to say: “The first category is fruits. Going around, each person adds one without repeating. If we get stuck for five seconds, the next person picks a new category. Nobody is out.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone can say “pass” and the turn moves on.

Common thread

Players

8 to 40, in groups of 4

Minutes

10

Ages

10 and up

You need

Nothing

1. In groups of four, find three things everyone has in common that you could not see by looking, such as a favorite season.
2. Keep to likes and experiences, not personal details.
3. Each group shares its best one.

What to say: “In your group, find three things you all have in common that nobody could guess by looking at you. Likes and experiences only. You have five minutes.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone can listen and agree rather than suggest.

Quick-draw introductions

Players

Pairs, any number

Minutes

10

Ages

8 and up

You need

Paper and pens

1. Each partner describes a favorite place in a few words.
2. The other has one minute to draw it; drawing skill does not matter.
3. Each shows the drawing to the group and names the place.

What to say: “Tell your partner about a favorite place in a few words. They have one minute to draw it. Nobody is judging the art.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone who would rather not draw can write three words about the place instead.

Two words

Players

2 to 30

Minutes

5

Ages

8 and up

You need

Nothing, or the chat on a video call

1. Ask everyone to sum up how they arrive today in two words, such as “sleepy but curious”.
2. Go around once.
3. Nobody explains unless they want to.

What to say: “In two words, how are you arriving today? Mine is ‘sleepy but curious’. No need to explain.”

For shy or less mobile players: Typing the two words in the chat counts, and so does “pass”.

Group number count

Players

8 to 20

Minutes

5 to 10

Ages

8 and up

You need

Nothing

1. The group counts from 1 to 20, one number per person, in no set order and without signals.
2. If two people speak at once, start again from 1.
3. Play seated, with eyes open or closed.

What to say: “We'll count to twenty together, one number at a time, in no set order and with no signals. If two people speak at once, we start again at one.”

For shy or less mobile players: Nobody has to say a number; the count works with whoever speaks.

Map of where we have been

Players

2 to 30

Minutes

10

Ages

8 and up

You need

A large printed map or a shared online map, and stickers or pens

1. Put up the map, or draw a rough one.
2. Each person adds a dot for a place they have visited or would like to visit.
3. Each says one word about their place.

What to say: “Put a dot on a place you have been, or one you would love to visit. Then give us one word for it.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone can hand the pen to a neighbor and tell them where to put the dot.

Pass the sound

Players

6 to 20, in a circle

Minutes

5

Ages

5 and up

You need

Nothing

1. One person makes a sound and passes it to the next.
2. Each person copies the sound, then changes it slightly as they pass it on.
3. See how far it has travelled when it comes back round.

What to say: “I'll make a sound and pass it to my left. Copy it, change it a little, and pass it on. Let's hear what comes back.”

For shy or less mobile players: A clap or a tap on the table can be the sound.

Treasure trade

Players

8 to 30

Minutes

15

Ages

10 and up

You need

Cards or slips of paper and pens

1. Everyone writes one useful tip on a card, such as a shortcut or a favorite recipe.
2. Mix the cards and hand them out.
3. Each person reads theirs aloud and the group guesses who wrote it.

What to say: “Write one useful tip on your card, like a shortcut or a recipe. Don't sign it. We'll mix the cards up, read them out and guess who wrote each one.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone can ask not to be guessed; the reader simply thanks whoever wrote it.

Mirror partners

Players

Pairs, any number

Minutes

5 to 10

Ages

5 and up

You need

Nothing

1. One partner leads slow hand gestures and the other mirrors them.
2. Switch roles.
3. Talk about what made the movements easy to follow. Play seated or standing; no contact is needed.

What to say: “Face your partner. Leaders, move your hands slowly so your partner can follow. After a minute I'll call ‘Switch’.”

For shy or less mobile players: Seated is fine, and small hand movements are enough.

Group sketch

Players

3 to 15

Minutes

10

Ages

6 and up

You need

A sheet of paper or a shared drawing surface

1. Start drawing a shared imaginary place.
2. Each person adds one feature and says what it is.
3. Stop when every volunteer has added something.

What to say: “We're drawing a place that doesn't exist yet. Add one thing and tell us what it is.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone can tell someone else what to add and let them draw it.

Common-ground pairs

Players

Pairs, any number

Minutes

10

Ages

8 and up

You need

Nothing

1. Partners talk about a hobby, food or activity they enjoy.
2. Find one shared interest.
3. Introduce it to the group only if both agree, then swap partners.

What to say: “Chat with your partner about something you enjoy doing or eating until you find one thing you share. Only tell the group if you both agree.”

For shy or less mobile players: A pair that finds nothing in common can say so; that counts as an answer.

Silent line-up

Players

8 to 30

Minutes

10

Ages

8 and up

You need

Nothing

1. Players arrange themselves in order of the month of an invented birthday, using gestures only.
2. Read the months aloud afterwards to check the order.
3. Invented dates mean nobody reveals anything personal. Offer a seated version.

What to say: “Invent a birthday month. Without talking, put yourselves in order from January to December, using gestures only. Go.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone seated stays in their seat and shows their month with gestures like everyone else; the line forms around them.

Object introductions

Players

4 to 20

Minutes

10

Ages

6 and up

You need

Ordinary objects in view

1. Each person chooses an ordinary object in view and explains one possible use for it.
2. The next player gives another use, or chooses another object.
3. Nobody needs to show a personal possession.

What to say: “Pick an ordinary object you can see from where you are, like a pen or a mug, and tell us one way to use it.”

For shy or less mobile players: Anyone can add a use for someone else's object instead of choosing one.

Three-word wish

Players

Any number

Minutes

5

Ages

10 and up

You need

A whiteboard or a shared document

1. At the end of a first session, each person says three words for what they hope the group will get out of working together.
2. Collect the words.
3. Read them back at the next session.

What to say: “Before we finish, give me three words for what you hope this group gets out of working together. I'll write them up, and we'll read them back next time.”

For shy or less mobile players: Words can go on a sticky note or in the chat.