63 Ice Breaker Games [That Your Team Won’t Find Cheesy]

An in-depth study from TINYpulse, an employee engagement company, studied more than 40,000 workers’ inputs from more than 300 companies globally. They found a correlation of 0.92 between employee fulfilment and their relationships with colleagues. Since you can end up spending more time with coworkers than with your family or partner, it is a topic that deserves much attention.

But how can you break the ice without also frustrating your team or making them roll their eyes? Using facilitator-tested and proven methods like those below are a surefire way to open your meetings more effectively and engage your team.

You’ll find classic conversation starters like Two truths and One Lie, fun games like The Marshmallow Challenge or even a Virtual Scavenger Hunt! You’ll find our collection of of the best ice breaker games for work separated by category and find some useful tips for running them in your workshop or meeting too!

Ice breaker games to get to know each other

Whenever you bring a group of people together for a meeting, project, or event, it’s helpful to get to know each other at the outset. This can help establish trust and set the stage for further connection and collaborative work.

They can also help the facilitator or leader of the session to get familiar with everyone, get a read on the energy in the room and discover what may need to be adjusted in their workshop agenda.

​Two Truths and One Lie

Two Truths and One Lie is a classic ice breaker game that can still be effective in the hands of a skilled facilitator.

The best way to start is with a demonstration from the person leading the session. The facilitator will share three statements about themselves: two of which are true, and one which is a lie. Next, participants try to guess which is the lie by asking questions and then finally voting on which statement is false.

After the demo, we recommend breaking people into small groups of 3-4 people to play this icebreaker. This allows everyone to have a voice and to actually form connections, rather than simply shouting over one another or falling into a passive role.

Diversity Bingo

Diversity Bingo is a great icebreaker that helps participants to learn about one another and share what differentiates them as people along the way.

First, create a 3×3 bingo card containing a grid of squares with a statement or question in each square. Example statements include: speaks more than one language, has lived in multiple countries or has ran a marathon. Once every player has received a bingo card, they mingle and find other participants who can say yes to one of these statements.

For best results, include statements that likely to resonate with your team or the workshop topic alongside personal statements. When everyone has reached bingo or you’re almost out of time, ask everyone to can share something they’ve learned and which squares were easy or hard to fill.

Unique and Shared

Unique and Shared is a powerful icebreaker to use with breakout groups, especially at the start of a longer project or training program. Start by creating groups of 4-5 people, and ask them to discover what they have in common, along with interesting characteristics that are unique to each person in the group.

The Unique and Shared icebreaker promotes unity as it helps people to realize that they have more common ground with their peers than expected and celebrate those things as a group. It also creates space for folks to share unique qualities in a safe container. This activity also works great with remote teams in breakout rooms – in such cases, have each group report back to help bring the whole team back into coherence.

​Jenga questions

Jenga Questions is a fresh spin on a classic game that can help spark meaningful conversations and encourage a little friendly competition. Start by collecting a set of numbered questions and adding a number or sticker to the blocks in a Jenga set.

When a participant selects a block, they read the question out loud & answer before placing the piece on the top of the tower. This can ignite exciting conversations about everyday topics like favorite downtime activities to more in-depth stuff, like career and self-development goals.

Traditional games with a unique spin can often generate curiosity and engagement in a groups setting. Jenga Questions can also be adapted to training and team building environments with ease, so its useful to have a set in your toolkit.

Quotes

Quotes is a fast-paced icebreaker activity allows participants to get acquainted with while exploring something inspiring.

Prepare a set of inspirational quotes prior to the session equal to the number of participants on individual slips of paper. Put the pile in the center of the room. Each participant picks up one quote, then picks a partner and begins to discuss what the quote says to them, if it is meaningful, and how.

After just minute or so, give a signal for participants to switch partner and continue their discussions. This can continue for 4-5 rounds for around 15 minutes. Choose quotes that relate to your meeting topic or company culture for an icebreaker that sets the stage for the session ahead.

Speed Dating Icebreaker

The goal of the Speed Dating icebreaker is to have a succession of very rapid conversations in an extremely short amount of time with as many people as possible.

Have people sit in pairs, ideally with colleagues that they don’t directly work with on a day-to-day basis. Determine the time limit (say 3 minutes for each conversation) and set a timer. When it starts, each pair has to start speed networking & find out as much professional information about the other as possible.

While it’s natural for group members to want to spend time with people they know, encouraging your team to mix is an important step to improving team cohesion.

Break the ice with the help of your key

Break the ice with the help of your key is an icebreaker that aims to create memorable moments and group connection with the aid of a physical object.

Start by explaining to the group that they will get to know each other through their keys. One by one, each person will present all the keys they have on their keychain and tell a few sentences about the area the key represents. This might include the city or neighbourhood they live in, the activity it represents (bike or locker key) or the person they received it from.

Be sure to start the circle yourself so the participants get the feeling of how it should be done. Bonus points if you can demonstrate openness and vulnerability for your group to follow!

Whose story is it?

Start the Whose Ssory is it ice breaker game by writing your funniest or weirdest story on a small piece of paper. It has to be a true one, no fiction! Then fold the paper up and drop it into a bowl or other container.

The facilitator or the person leading the program randomly reads every story and group members guess who the writer is. This is a great way to get to know each other and find out new things, even if you’ve worked together for a long time.

​Find your pair

Prepare word pairs, like salt and pepper, milk and honey, sail and wind, etc on separate pieces of paper. Tape one to each person’s back. People then have to walk around and ask closed questions (with a yes or no answer) to find out what their phrase is. Once they find out, they have to find their pair & by continuing to ask questions (these can be open or closed) they have to learn 3 new things about the other.

​Show and tell

Group icebreakers are important, even in teams that know each other well. For more established groups, where people are more familiar with each other, it’s always good to dedicate a day, or an afternoon for “show and tell”. Each team member gets the chance (not all at once of course) to showcase something – an object or a topic that they are interested in.

Try making this activity part of a group routine at the start of every team meeting for bonus points. Creating this habit gives less exhibitionist characters a chance to share and it is also a great practice to hone presentation skills and handle the attention & tricky questions.

Quick ice breaker games

When you have a tightly packed agenda, it’s useful to have some quick icebreakers you can use to warm up the group in a pinch. These activities are simple to explain, fast to run, and work great in large or small groups. They also can double as after-lunch energizers to encourage team members to engage in what’s next!

Here are some of our favorite games you can use to break the ice in a group in ten minutes or less! Prefer something that requires even less set-up? Check out our collection of icebreaker questions for a set of effective conversation starters.

One Word at a Time

One Word at a Time (or the One Word Method) is one of my favorite icebreakers – it’s simple, effective and can easily be tailored to any group. In this activity, groups must work together to create a sentence by contributing one word each while going round the circle. Start by giving a general topic or a guiding word to continue the sentence in a way that makes sense and is likely to result in a complete sentence.

For example, if you are running a training session on how to manage time, you might begin with the word “time” or “clocks.” The sentence that emerges will respond to that prompt and will help the group begin to turn their minds to the session at hand.

I’ve found this to be a fun and energizing icebreaker that works well with students and coworkers alike. Try speeding up or challenging the group to tell a story for added fun!

Apple, Orange and Banana!

Apple, Orange and Bannana is a great game that encourages the group to get synchronized and fully arrive in a space. It’s a favourite icebreaker to use when kicking off an after-lunch meeting where participants need a jolt of physical energy.

Start the Apple, Orange and Banana icebreaker by asking your group to stand in a circle with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front. Explain that when you shout either apple, orange or banana they must perform the associated action: moving forward, backward or spinning around. When the group is comfortable, mix it up by saying two or even three words in sequence!

Diversity Welcome

The Diversity Welcome icebreaker is a great way to create and kick off a session while promoting diversity and creating an inclusive environment for your participants. Start by naming a possible trait of someone who may be present and saying they are welcome. For example, “If you love dogs, you are welcome here! If you prefer cats, you are welcome here!”

Slowly move into deeper territory by naming traits and concepts that resonate with your audience. With established groups, invite participants to share their own welcome, focusing on helping everyone in the room feel safe and welcome.

Stress Balls

Stress Balls is a fast-paced icebreaker that helps highlight the importance of communication and teamwork while also encouraging lots of fun.

Begin this icebreaker by simply asking participants to stand in a circle and pass a ball to their left. Debrief and ask how the task went before asking participants to try again while moving the ball faster. Introduce further complexity until the game becomes a mess! While the result of Stress Balls is chaotic fun, it also offers a very teachable lesson about how teams can communicate in order to achieve great results.

Object Meditation

Object Meditation is a calming and mindful way to open a meeting and encourage everyone to be present.

First, have everyone choose an object that is close to them and invite them to close their eyes. Next, ask the group to notice how they feel and to consider any feelings that aren’t serving them right now. Invite them to transfer these feelings into the object they are holding for the duration of the meeting and then come back to the room.

Combined with a quick debrief, Object Meditation is a great way to gently break the ice with your group. Check out the full method below for a script you can follow too!

Name Game

Name Game is an effective icebreaker to use at the start of a course, workshop or meeting where people don’t know each other’s names.

Start the Name Game by having the group sit in a circle where they can see everyone else clearly. Pick someone at random to say their name out loud.. The next person continues, but after saying their own name, they repeat the first person’s name. This continues with each person repeating one more name. Reassure people towards the end that it’s ok if they get stuck & encourage the others to jump in to help if anyone is lost.

​Have you ever? (Stand up if)

Have you ever? (also known as Stand up if) is an effective icebreaker to help the group start to see connections and share something about themselves in a low-pressure way.

Start by asking a “Have you ever…?” question to the group. For example, “Have you ever gone horse riding?” or “Have you ever facilitated a workshop?” Participants will stand up if they can answer yes to the statement. You can then choose to either ask another prepared question as facilitator or invite one of those people who answered yes to come up with another question.

We recommend encouraging movement where possible, even in an online setting, though note that with some groups and environment you may wish them to answer without standing. A simple wave or affirmative “Whoop!” can also work depending on your team!

Line Up

Line-Up is a quick ice breaker game where players have to form an orderly line without any discussion or verbal cues. Start by asking people to form a line based upon a predetermined criteria (like height, length of company tenure or color of each person’s eyes etc.). and ask the group to get themselves in order without speaking.

With a more familiar group, try adding more complication to the Line Up activity to encourage your team to think more deeply. For example, line up according to the distance to where you born. The Line Up icebreaker is an effective way to develop team collaboration and non-verbal communication. I especially enjoy using it when kicking of a training session with lots of talking later!

Icebreakers for meetings

Using an ice breaker at the start of a meeting is a great way to encourage group members to be present and get things started on the right foot. Effective opening activities energize the group, helping them ‘arrive’ mentally and leave behind whatever task or thought they were previously working on.

They can also help clarify the objectives of the meeting and position the group for what’s coming next. While many of the ice breakers in this collection work well for work gatherings, we’ve found these ones especially effective for this purpose.

What are you bringing to the meeting?

What are you bringing to the meeting is a simple framing icebreaker that can work wonders to help participants mentally arrive in a session and share how they’re feeling at the outset.

In this mindful ice breaker, ask people to take a few moments to “check-in” with themselves and write down their worries, energy levels, and whatever else is on their mind on a piece of paper. After everyone is done, ask them to put these worries and feelings to one side for the duration of the meeting. This process will help everyone articulate their feelings, let go of their worries and have better focus in the session.

Weather Check-in

For some meetings, time can be short. Quick but fun icebreaker activities like this one can be an effective way of getting a read of how everyone is doing while still being time efficient.

Begin this ice breaker by asking each member of the group to share how they are feeling & what’s going on for them right now in the language of weather. For example, I’m feeling like it’s mostly sunny skies with a bit of a rain cloud looming or I feel like I’m in the eye of a tornado! I’ve found this game especially useful when working with remote teams, for whom a metaphor can feel like a safe way to share in a group setting.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique

The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique is a mindful icebreaker that can allow groups to be more present in the session and leave stress behind.

To practice this technique, the facilitator starts by explaining the process of doing a roll call of everything that you’re seeing, touching, smelling, and hearing right at this moment. By asking participants to engage all their senses and take a breath, you can help bring them back to the present moment and rule over anxiety and stress.

Using the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique as an icebreaker presents an opportunity to center, but also to discuss well being and stress with your team in a simple and effective manner.

LEGO Metaphors

LEGO Metaphors is a playful icebreaker that can provide an opportunity for creative thinking and deep sharing in a group. Start by giving each participant a set of LEGO bricks (identical sets to everyone – a few items, around 5-10 bricks per person will suffice). Everyone builds something that relates to the topic of the meeting or to a framing question such as “How would you like to work together today?”

Afterwards, everyone gets 30 seconds to explain what their LEGO metaphor means and how it relates to the framing question. Where possible, encourage folks to tell small stories with their designs and collect the LEGO metaphors together for later discussion or reflection.

Rain icebreaker

The Rain icebreaker is a simple, zero-prep way to ehlp everyone to be present and engaged at the start of your meeting. By getting everyone in the room participating in the same goal, this icebreaker can quickly help everyone “arrive” in the session.

Start the Rain icebreaker by having everyone in the front of the room rub their hands together vigorously. Row by row, get more people to join in until you reach the back of the room. Next, have the first row switch to clicking their fingers and proceed through the room in the same way. Go back and forth between clicking and rubbing in order to replicate the sound of rain and then invite the group to stop and enjoy a break in the shower.

Conversation Questions

This collection of 25 conversation questions is a great starting point for helping a group get to know each other or open a meeting dynamically.

Small groups might wish to mingle and ask these conversation questions one on one, while you might invite larger groups to answer questions by raising their hand to answer. The great thing about these questions is that you can tailor them to your group and use as many as you have time for. Even adding a single question for folks to answer in chat at the start of a virtual meeting can have a profound effect on team cohesion over time.

See more in these full blog post of over 200 icebreaker questions.

Celebrate the wins in your team

Celebrate the wins in your team is a fast, easy icebreaker that will have everyone feeling good at the start of a meeting. Start by asking participants to think of a recent achievement, personal or professional, big or small. Then, go around a circle and ask each person to highlight the achievement that they’d like to celebrate with the team.

Ask everyone to share in the celebration, either with applause, kudos or chat emojis and then move onto the next person in the group. Celebrating wins as a team is a great mood boosting icebreaker. By lifting each other up, the energy in the room tends to build and people in the group tend to feel seen and values as a result.

Ice breaker games to support team building

ce breaker games are not only useful at the beginning of meetings or getting to know new people. They are also a great way to support team building, by creating a positive atmosphere, helping people relax and break down barriers.

Team building icebreakers can also reveal new information about colleagues that otherwise you wouldn’t discover during your everyday routine. Remember that successful teams are often those who’ve gotten to know each other better on a personal level too!

Team icebreakers such as those below are great for enhancing team bonding and empowering everyone in the group to move forward together. Let’s take a look!

See more in this post on the best team building activities.

Coat of Arms

This Coat of Arms icebreaker is a great way for players to introduce themselves to others and share deeply with others in a visual and creative way.

Start by letting participants know they’ll be creating a personal coat of arms with five sections ranging from what you do at work, all the way through to a core personal value. The group then spends 10 minutes drawing their coat of arms before pairing up with the person in the group they know the least. In pairs, participants then present the coat of arms of the other person, helping everyone in the room learn about each other more deeply.

This is a longer, more involved icebreaker, but it’s a great way to open a training program or deeper team building session.

Break the Ice with The Four Quadrants Activity

The Four Quadrants Activity is a creative team icebreaker where participants share four things about themselves in a series of simple drawings. It’s a highly adaptable exercise that can help folks get to know each other as a team.

Begin by asking people draw up a 2×2 grid on a piece of paper (or virtual whiteboard) and ask them four questions. Participants will then draw their answer in each of those four quadrants. Sample questions include things like: what do I bring to the group? What do I need from the group? What is your hobby? What is your vision for this group?

Afterwards, ask participants to present their drawings and discuss their creations and watch the group connections flow!

Team Jigsaw Puzzle Game

The Team Jigsaw Puzzle is a great way to get larger teams working together collaboratively while breaking the ice. Start by separating people into teams. Give each a very different jigsaw puzzle (with equal difficulty & number of pieces). Each group has the same amount of time to complete the puzzle.

The secret twist is to switch up a few pieces with the other jigsaw sets beforehand! things up. This means that each group must figure out how to ask other teams to share the pieces they need and work collaboratively on their goals. When working with groups of people who may typically work in silos, the Team Jigsaw Puzzle is an effective way to shake things up and start conversations that might not happen otherwise.

Back to Back Drawing

Back to Back Drawing is a great game for developing communication skills in a fun and memorable way.

Start by asking pairs to sit back to back. One person receives a picture of an existing image or scene. Next, they describe the image to the other person using only verbal directions. The other person then has to draw the object with the instructions they’ve been given and see how it compares to the original.

Back to Back Drawing can be easily adapted to encourage fun – using complex or well-known images – or you can also choose to focus on a specific topic by sharing images related to your team or product.

Scavenger Hunt

The Scavenger Hunt icebreaker is a great opportunity to mix people into teams who don’t typically work together and bring them together in a shared goal.

Start by creating a list of items that need to be gathered and then split your group into small teams to try and find them all to kick off your scavenger hunt. For best results, create a mix of easy and difficult to find items and use a time limit to encourage the group to think critically and collaboratively

Working with a remote or hybrid team? Try the virtual scavenger hunt below! Be sure to put in items that require a wide range of skills and thinking and diverse personalities to be completed successfully.

Electric Fence Icebreaker

The Electric Fence game is an energizing icebreaker that requires players to collectively build an imaginary electric fence. They have to try and cross it without touching it and getting “electrocuted”. The fence can be represented by a rope or a shoe string tied between two objects. It should be about waist high. Players can’t go under it, this is not limbo dancing!

They must also be touching a teammate with at least one hand at all times. This ice breaker activity requires quick thinking, problem-solving and negotiating with others.

​Trading Card Icebreaker

The Trading Card Icebreaker is an effective way to creatively break the ice and let your team share their personalities with the group.

Start by handing out materials and giving each person 5–10 minutes to create a personal “trading card”— including a quick self-portrait, a nickname for their “player,” and one thing about themselves that people in the room aren’t likely to know.

The Trading Card activity lets people self-define and share their personality outside of their day-to-day work. This approach means people get to connect more meaningfully and authentically while also creating cards that serve as mementos of the session.

Low Tech Social Networking

Low-tech Social Network is one of our favourite ice breakers to use when working with large, multi-discipline groups where connections might not be immediately obvious.

The objective of Low-tech Social Network is to introduce event participants to each other by co-creating a large visual network of their connections. Begin by having all participants create an avatar on a piece of card with a self portrait and name.

Once their avatar is ready, each person will “upload” themselves by sticking their card to the wall. Finally, each participants will find the people they know and draw lines to make the connections known, labelling how they know that person too.

Ice breaker games for small groups

While many of the icebreaker games above can be adapted for any group size, these activities are especially effective when working with groups of less than 15 people.

These icebreakers are great for using the smaller group size to create opportunities for team bonding and deeper sharing between team members. You’ll find them particularly useful when creating working groups, or building cohesion between teams who collaborate regularly.

Interview icebreaker

The Interview Icebreaker is a playful way to get team members talking at the start of a session while also introducing the topic of the workshop or meeting.

Start by getting people into pairs. One person begins by being a reporter and then other will be the interviewee. For three minutes, the reporter will interview the other person on a chosen subject and attempt to get as much information as they can before switching roles. Encourage the group to really get into their roles and provide some example questions to guide the group toward the topic of the day.

Magic Box

The Magic Box icebreaker encourages players to think creatively and share with the group in response to an object they pull from a box.

Start Magic Box by assembling a box of interesting and varied objects. Having objects of different sizes and texts is best, though even a collection of photos will do. Next, invite participants to choose an object without overthinking it and then explain who they are, why they chose the object and what they think the connection between the object and the workshop is.

Paper Telephone

Paper Telephone is a fun icebreaker that encourages creativity and laughter by combining two classic games: telephone and pictionary. Start by handing out a stack of small papers and pens, and invite each team member to write a sentence on the first piece of paper. Players then pass their stack to the next person who must read the sentence and then create a visual representation of that sentence on the next piece of paper in the stack.

Play proceeds around the circle, with players needing to transform back and forth between words and images. Often, by the time you get your original stack back, the sentence has gone on a weird and wonderful transformation!

Human Knot

Human Knot is a fun, physical icebreaker that is best played in groups of 7-16 people. It’s a great way to break the ice while also creating energy and a sense of fun.

Start Human Knot getting the group to stand in a circle and ask them to close their eyes. Next, everyone reaches out and links one hand with someone across the circle. Then they link the other hand with another person in the circle. Then, ask everyone to open their eyes and try to untangle the knot they’ve made without breaking the chain!

When running Human Knot with small groups, it can often be interesting to ask folks to reflect on what happened and how it illustrates core group dynamics or how they work together more generally.

Your Amazing Future (Because of that…)

Your Amazing Future is a powerful icebreaker for helping people think about setting goals, connect to the future and get energized.

Start by pairing up members of your group and designating one as the speaker and the other as the listener. Next, each person imagines it’s one week from now and the speaker tells the listener what happened during the current session, saying what they got from it and what made it so great.

After 45 seconds, groups then imagine its 10 years in the future and the speaker shares what they’ve done in that time. Have the listener respond by enthusiastically saying “And because of that” in response to what the speaker says. After a completed round, swap roles and go again so that everyone has the chance to think about future.

Life Map

Life Map is a reflective icebreaker that helps create connections and deepen group understanding in a way that can be both creative and surprising. Begin by inviting team members to draw their life as a map, using common symbols and signs you might find on a map. Stop signs, deer crossings, mountainous areas…the choice of how to illustrate your life story is yours!

After everyone has completed their life map, give them 5-minutes to share with the rest of the group. Using Life Map as a small group icebreaker allows people to be vulnerable in a safe, approachable and creative way.

Large group icebreakers

Breaking the ice in a big group can feel a little awkward at first, but the right activities can turn a room full of strangers into a lively, connected team in no time. Large group icebreakers are a great way to get people talking, boost participation, and create a positive, energetic vibe for your meeting, workshop, or event.

These activities are designed to be inclusive, fast-paced, and interactive—ensuring that everyone feels involved and ready to collaborate. Whether you’re kicking off a corporate gathering or a team retreat, these icebreakers will help build rapport and bring energy to the room.

Group Map

Group Map is fun, active icebreaker that gets people moving while also learning a little about one another. It’s especially effective when working with new groups who come from different regions or locations.

Start by asking the group to imagine the space they’re in as a map of the world. Next, participants place themselves on the map on the spot they best feels represents the country according to where they grew up.

With large groups, you might ask folks to simply shout where they’re from and rearrange as needed. In smaller groups or with more time, it can be gratifying for folks to share a value they learned while in that place, and why that is important for them.

Get to know you better

Get to know you better is an effective large group icebreaker that helps avoid awkward silences and encourages networking in a genuinely helpful way.

At the beginning of your session, give each person a badge with the following three statements:

1. My name is..
2. I can answer a question about…
3. I have a question about…

Next, have people walk around & mingle while discussing what’s on their badges. It’s a great way to enhance engagement & help people set goals and hold themselves accountable during the session.

Passions Tic Tac Toe

The goal of the Passions Tic Tac Toe icebreaker is to help the participants to get to know each other at the beginning of an event or to help identify their values during the later part of a training session.

Create a 3 x 3 grid for each participant and have them fill in each block with a different personal passion randomly. After the individual work, have everyone walk around the room and compare notes. When they find the same passion listed in both grids, ask them to sign for each other in the appropriate square. The winner is the participant who manages to have other people’s signatures on three lines (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal). You can continue the game to have as many winners as you like.

Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

Rock Paper Scissors Tournament is fun a warm-up to help even the largest groups get swiftly energized. This game uses traditional Rock Paper Scissors rules but with a twist: the people who lose become fans who cheer for the players still in the game.

Start a Rock Paper Scissors Tournament by asking everyone in the room to get into pairs and play a round of Rock, Paper, Scissors. (Go best of 3 quick if you’re working with a small group or have extra time.) The loser will became a fan of the winner and cheer them on as you match winners to continue playing. Keep going until you have only two players remaining for a final round with everyone else cheering on!

Lifeboat Debate

Lifeboat Debate is a high-energy icebreaker that challenges participants to think critically, communicate persuasively, and make collective decisions under pressure.

Start by breaking participants into smaller groups and then give them the scenario: a lifeboat is sinking, and only a limited number of people can stay on board. Each participant takes on the role of a different character—such as a doctor, artist, scientist, or athlete—and must argue why they should be saved. The group then debates and decides who stays and who must leave the lifeboat.

Lifeboat Debate often sparks lively discussions while encouraging teamwork, quick thinking, and strategic reasoning. It’s a great way to get a large group engaged right away, prompting both fun and meaningful conversations.

Near and Far

Near and Far is a simple yet meaningful icebreaker that helps teams discover shared experiences and unique backgrounds. Participants take turns sharing something they have in common with the group (“Near”) and something that makes them different (“Far”). For example, one person might say, “Near: I love coffee. Far: I’ve lived in five different countries.”

This activity encourages open conversation, strengthens connections, and highlights the diversity within a team. It’s a great way to break down barriers in large groups while fostering curiosity and mutual understanding.

Count Up

Count Up is a deceptively simple yet engaging icebreaker that challenges teams to count sequentially from 1 to a set number—but with a catch. Participants must say the numbers one at a time, in random order, without speaking over each other or establishing a pattern. If two people speak at the same time, the group starts over.

This activity requires patience, awareness, and teamwork, making it a great way to build focus and connection in a fun, low-pressure way. It’s perfect for energizing a group while subtly reinforcing the importance of active listening and collaboration.

Ice breakers to improve teamwork

In this section, we’ve collected some activities that are expressly collaborative in nature and which encourage puzzle solving and team work in an experiential way. They’re great to throw into an event or workshop when you want to get people interacting and build team bonds by stealth.

If you’re looking for some shorter activities that help improve teamwork and collaboration, check out our post on 5-minute team building activities.

The Marshmallow Challenge

The Marshmallow Challenge, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. To complete the marshmallow challenge, the marshmallow needs to remain on top without falling off!

The Marshmallow Challenge was first developed by Tom Wujec and had been run thousands of times all over the world. It’s an engaging group activity that gets people working together in a practical and memorable way very quickly.

Egg drop

In Egg drop, teams must work together to build a structure that will support a free-falling egg dropped from a predetermined height (e.g. 7 feet) without the egg breaking.

Start by handing out material, including everything from straws and popsicle sticks to masking tape and cotton balls. Next, give each group 10 minutes to build a structure that will keep the egg safe before it’s fall. Have a round of (safely) dropping the eggs and invite the team to discuss their takeaways from working together on this short group project.

Helium Stick

Helium Stick is a seemingly simple game that requires the team to work together while aiming to lower a stick to the ground while staying synchronized.

First, line up people in two rows facing each other. Introduce the Helium Stick and ask participants to hold their index fingers out. Lay the stick on their fingers & before letting go, have everyone adjust their position so the stick is horizontal and everyone is touching it. The goal is to lower the stick to the ground in a way that no one lets go of it at any time.

Pinching, grabbing, or holding on properly to the Stick is not allowed. If the group makes a mistake, they start from the beginning. Helium Stick is a fun problem solving icebreaker that we’d recommend for any team building workshop!

Blind square – The perfect square

The Blind Square Rope Game is a hands-on activity that challenges teams to rely on strong communication and collaboration. Participants are tasked with forming a perfect square using a looped rope—while blindfolded or with their eyes closed. Since no one can see the shape, the team must depend on verbal instructions, active listening, and strategic coordination to succeed.

This exercise highlights the importance of clear communication, trust, and leadership within a team. It’s especially effective for breaking down communication barriers and encouraging participants to work together under challenging conditions.

Desert Island

The Desert Island activity is a classic team-building exercise that puts problem-solving and negotiation skills to the test. Participants imagine they’re stranded on a desert island and must choose a limited number of items (from a provided list) to survive. The twist? They have to make these decisions as a group, which requires discussion, persuasion, and compromise.

Desert Island can often spark lively debates as team members prioritize needs, defend their choices, and learn to find common ground. It’s a fun way to explore different perspectives, practice critical thinking, and improve group decision-making under pressure.

Strength-Building Exercise

The Strength-Building Exercise is a powerful icebreaker that encourages team members to recognize and celebrate each other’s strengths. Participants take turns sharing positive qualities or skills they’ve observed in their colleagues, highlighting specific examples to make the feedback meaningful.

This activity fosters a culture of appreciation, boosts team morale, and helps individuals feel valued for their contributions. It’s a simple yet powerful way to strengthen team dynamics and build confidence.

Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe

Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe takes the classic game to a whole new level with added complexity and strategy. Instead of one grid, there’s a larger 3×3 grid made up of nine smaller tic-tac-toe boards. Players must win individual boards to claim spots on the larger grid, with each move influencing where the next player can go.

This activity requires strategic planning, adaptability, and teamwork when played in groups. It’s perfect for energizing a team, sharpening problem-solving skills, and encouraging friendly competition.

Fun Ice Breaker Games

The best ice breakers have the power to strengthen coworker bonds, stimulate better brainstorming sessions, and create an atmosphere of inclusivity.

They’re also incredibly fun to play, making them a welcomed break from regular work activities. Fun icebreakers like those listed below can effectively break down barriers that might exist between employees & make it easier for people to communicate with one another.

Portrait Gallery

This ice breaker activity is a fun one that requires some creativity. It enhances a sense of community because people have to draw the others as a group – not just between the drawers, but the recipients of the portraits too. The outcome is very visual and colorful and the result images can be put up in the meeting room afterward! Meeting ice breakers that produce physical results that can be shared can really help ensure the good vibes of the meeting continue afterward!

​What is my name (celebrity party)

What is my name is a well known icebreaker that begins wit everyone receiving the name of a well-known celebrity or public figure which they must attach to their back or forehead without looking.

Have players mingle and ask each other yes/no questions to find out who they are. For best results, have players ask only one question of one person before moving onto the next one, ensuring people mix and spread the good fun around!

Minefield

Set up harmless obstacles in the room you’re meeting in. Use squeaky toys, whoopie cushions, bubble wrap and the like. Everyone takes turns going around the course while blindfolded, guided by their teammates. The goal is: help each to navigate through the minefield.

While this game often results in lots of laughter, it also helps teach the importance of clear communication and trusting your team.

Crazy Handshake

This ice breaker helps people ease into a group and brings out their creativity without a lot of effort. Splitting the group into pairs, each pair develops a creative handshake. Once done, the pair splits and each individual partners with another group member. The newly formed pair then teaches each other the original handshakes and together creates a new one. You can break up and pair off people as many times as you want.

The Movie Pitch Icebreaker

The Movie Pitch Icebreaker is a fun, fast-paced activity where small groups create and pitch an original movie idea based on a random or chosen theme. Teams come up with a title, a brief plot, and even cast imaginary actors, then present their pitch to the group as if selling it to a studio.

The Movie Pitch icebreaker sparks creativity, encourages teamwork, and adds a dose of humor, especially if you ask teams to create a movie based on the topic of the session or even the subject of meetings!

Bang!

For this game, you have to have quick reactions or you’ll be eliminated. Have everyone stand in a circle with one person in the middle as the ‘sheriff’. They must surprise other players by pointing to them. These people must quickly crouch and those on either side of them have to quickly ‘draw’ their weapons. If you are too slow, you switch places & become the sheriff.

This icebreaker is a wonderful way to increase group energy before starting a meeting in earnest, and it also helps people learn names too! If you’re working with an especially large group, note that it’s better to play in parallel before finishing with a final showdown!

Sound Ball

This is a simple icebreaker activity that energizes participants, and it’s also suitable for highlighting spontaneity and teamwork. The activity involves participants standing in a circle and throwing imaginary ball(s) to each other in increasing pace. When throwing the first ball, the person starting should make a special sound that has to be repeated by the catcher upon receiving the ball.

Once the ball is being thrown around at a fairly brisk pace, you can introduce another imaginary ball and start throwing it. When the group gets proficient at it, you can have three or four balls in play!

Hello Kitty

Starting a meeting with smiles and laughter is a great way to set the tone for the session. In this fun icebreaker, separate your group into teams of kittens and puppiess. Puppies try to make the kittens laugh or crack a smile by simply saying, “Hello Kitty” in an amusing manner. Any kittens who smile or laugh join the puppies until their is only one kitten left standing!

Encourage the group to be creative and be sure to give kudos to the funniest participants or those who manage to keep a straight face!

Just the facts

Just the facts is an engaging icebreaker that encourages participants to quickly recall and share factual information on a specific topic. Begin by selecting a relevant subject—such as “Effective Presentation Techniques” for a training session or trivia about your city for a casual gathering. Seated in a circle, participants take turns stating a fact related to the chosen topic, aiming to keep the flow rapid and avoid repetitions.

If someone introduces an opinion, repeats a fact, or states something questionable, others can challenge by saying, “Just the facts!”

Just the facts not only energizes the group but also reinforces knowledge on the subject matter, sharpens quick-thinking abilities, and sets a collaborative tone for the session ahead.

Purpose of ice breaker games

So how do you avoid creating a frustrating, patronizing ice breaker game that won’t make participants feel like they are wasting their time?

The benefits of a good ice breaker far outweigh any negatives. They can take care of introductions in a much more fun way than just simply going around the room and stating what’s on your business card. They can help people remember names, start conversations and create a positive atmosphere in moments.

When done right, ice breakers can quickly build a sense of community, set the tone for the upcoming session & give participants ownership of the learning ahead.

Icebreaker games are also a great way for people to share their expectations and for facilitators to introduce the topic of the day. They help participants to loosen up, understand each other more and enable better collaboration and networking. Last, but not least, it is a surefire way to energize the group and have everyone focused and ready to go.

From icebreaker to completed agenda

Now you’ve discovered the perfect icebreaker, it’s time to create the rest of your meeting!

With SessionLab, you drag, drop and reorder blocks to create your agenda in a snap. Your session timing adjusts automatically as you make changes and when you’re done, you can share a beautiful printout with your colleagues and participants.

Explore how facilitators use SessionLab to build effective workshops and meetings or watch this five minute video to get started!

Now over to you!

Your meetings and workshops don’t have to be boring. We hope you have found some useful tips for practical and fun ice breaker games you can use in your next session!

What are your favorite ice breaker activities? Have you tried any of the methods above? How did you find them? Let us know about your experiences in the comments. Want to see even more great icebreaker ideas? Our collection of icebreaker questions contains heaps of conversation starters you can bring to your next session.

Want to go further? Check out our guide to planning an effective workshop to start building more engaging sessions with better outcomes!

Robert Cserti Co-founder

Robert took his first facilitation training in 2009, and since then immersed himself in designing and delivering experiential learning experiences, group workshop, and train-the-trainer/facilitator programs. His passion for facilitation led him to co-found SessionLab, the online platform that helps people design and facilitate better workshops.