Whether it’s kicking off a work meeting, training session, or just getting together with friends, an engaging icebreaker game can go a long way in setting the right tone. Icebreakers are designed to energize groups, encourage interaction, and help people make connections right from the start.
At their core, icebreaker games are about building rapport, breaking down social barriers, and bringing people together through a spirit of playfulness and shared experience. They create a relaxed environment that allows everyone to be themselves and lets personalities shine through.
While the thought of icebreaker activities may make some people roll their eyes, there’s a reason they are such a staple of social events and team building exercises. Done right, icebreakers provide an easy way to diffuse any awkwardness or tension at the start of a gathering.
As the Harvard Business Review found in their study of over 40,000 employees, there is a strong correlation between people’s workplace fulfillment and their relationships with colleagues. Since so much of our time is spent with coworkers, building positive team dynamics is incredibly important.
So how can you use icebreakers to liven up your next group gathering in a way that is actually fun and engaging rather than cheesy or forced? This guide will share dozens of fresh icebreaker game ideas to help you get any meeting, party or social event off on the right foot.
Getting to Know You Through Play
One of the primary benefits of icebreakers is providing a structured way for groups to learn about each other when they first come together. These types of getting-to-know-you games create a shared experience that sparks connections.
Some classic icebreakers that facilitate self-disclosure in a lighthearted way include:
Two Truths and a Lie
This is a true icebreaker staple that folks are sure to recognize. Each person shares three statements – two truthful ones and one false one. The rest of the group has to guess which statement is the lie by asking follow-up questions to get more context. It allows people to reveal facts about themselves while enjoying a bit of mystery.
Toilet Paper Icebreaker
Here’s a quirky one that always gets some laughs. Provide a roll of toilet paper and have each person take as many sheets off the roll as they want (without saying what it’s for). Once everyone has some, instruct them that they have to share one fact about themselves for every sheet of toilet paper they took. This encourages opening up in a silly way.
Trading Card Icebreaker
For something more creative and artistic, have each person decorate a blank trading card with doodles, phrases and images that represent their personal interests, hobbies and personality. Then everyone can mingle while swapping cards and telling stories related to what they’ve drawn.
Find Your Pair
If you need an icebreaker that gets people up and moving around, Find Your Pair can be an entertaining option. Give each person a random photograph or picture cut in half. They then have to mingle and “find their partner” by matching their incomplete image. Then partners take turns introducing each other.
Icebreakers to Get Playful
On the opposite end of the getting-to-know-you spectrum, there are lots of hilarious icebreakers designed purely for having fun and getting in touch with your silly side. Laughter is a powerful way to build bonds.
Toilet Paper Fashion Show
Building off of the toilet paper icebreaker from earlier, a fashion show variant can add a blast of levity to any gathering. Provide rolls of toilet paper along with basic craft supplies like markers, glue sticks and scissors. Break into small teams and have each group create an over-the-top look using only the toilet paper and items you’ve provided as materials. A silly runway walk-off is the perfect follow-up!
Bippity Bippity Bop
If you’ve never played this infectiously hilarious circle game, get ready to work your core with laughter. Bippity Bippity Bop requires nothing but a group willing to get in touch with their goofy side. Players go around the circle, each one saying the next word in the sequence “bippity bippity bop.” The trick is that you can’t be the one to say “bop.” If you mess up and say it, you’re out! Things get hilariously silly as players try to psych each other out.
Zip Zap Zop
This is another simple circle game that is way more fun than it might seem at first. Players passing imaginary energy balls in a set pattern saying “zip, zap, or zop.” If you break the rhythm or pass to the wrong person, you’re out! It sounds basic but this game sparks side-splitting laughter in no time.
Build a Situation
Here’s an icebreaker with endless possibilities for creativity and humor. Split players into teams and have them randomly draw situation cards or pieces of paper with different scenarios written on them. Then give the teams a set time to prepare and act out a humorous performance or skit based on their random scenario. From singing telegrams to baking show hosts, the plot possibilities are limitless!
Icebreakers for Team Building
For workplace settings and events centered around team bonding and professional development, icebreakers can create the foundation for improved collaboration, communication and relationships.
Led by a trained facilitator, structured icebreaker games help establish working agreements, build trust, and encourage people to embrace a growth mindset – all qualities that support successful teamwork. Try one of these options at your next office gathering:
The Marshmallow Challenge
This delightfully simple icebreaker requires teams to work together to build a freestanding structure out of basic materials like dried spaghetti, tape, and a marshmallow that rests on top. It’s meant to trigger the innovative skills people use to collaborate and solve problems creatively. The tallest freestanding structure wins!
Defusing the Virtual Bomb
For remote teams accustomed to video calls, this free online game presents a virtual crisis scenario where players have to communicate and think critically to deactivate a “bomb” before time runs out. It exercises skills like clear communication and information sharing under pressure.
Origami Teamwork
A bit of artistry and active listening come into play with this icebreaker that tasks teams with collaborating to build the most impressive origami sculpture possible. Only one person from each group is given the instructions at first, so they have to use clear communication to guide their teammates.
Group Map
If your group comes from all over, Group Map is an enlightening icebreaker to try. Have people physically place themselves around the room based on where they’re from originally. Then have participants share an important personal value they gained growing up there. This sparks deeper conversations and brings diverse perspectives to the surface.
Quotes
For a reflective spin, print out a selection of inspirational quotes and distribute them randomly. Have each person read their quote out loud and explain why they find it meaningful or what it makes them think about. This encourages participants to open up and establish common ground.
While they may seem cheesy on the surface, icebreaker games are designed to quickly build a sense of community, generate positive energy, and ensure everyone is fully present and engaged for the event ahead. With a little creativity and willingness to get playful, you can transform any icebreakers into meaningful shared experiences that bring people closer together.
The next time you have an important meeting, team off-site, or social gathering, be sure to have some icebreaker games up your sleeve to kick things off on the right note. A little strategic silliness at the start can pay dividends by fostering an environment of trust and connection that carries through the rest of your time together.
