critical thinking icebreaker games

37 Fun Zoom icebreaker games for virtual meetings

critical thinking icebreaker games

Playing virtual icebreaker games with remote colleagues is essential for fostering a sense of connection and camaraderie within the team, especially in remote work, where physical distance can lead to isolation and anxiety. Research indicates that remote workers often experience higher loneliness and disconnection levels than their in-office counterparts. For instance, a study by Buffer found that 20% of remote workers struggle with loneliness. Icebreaker games allow team members to interact in a relaxed and informal setting, which can help alleviate feelings of isolation and build stronger relationships.

To ensure that remote colleagues maintain a sense of belonging and connection, it's recommended to incorporate icebreaker games into team meetings or virtual gatherings regularly. Consistent engagement in icebreakers helps break down barriers between team members and address remote work challenges , making sure individuals feel valued and connected despite the challenges of remote work.

37 Fun Zoom icebreaker games for virtual team building

1. virtual two truths and a lie.

Each participant takes turns sharing three statements about themselves: two truths and one lie. The group then guesses which statement is the lie. This game works well with large and small teams. 

How this game encourages connection: 

  • Encourages personal sharing in a comfortable setting.
  • Promotes active listening and engagement.
  • Fosters curiosity and camaraderie as participants learn more about each other.

For a light-hearted atmosphere that breeds interaction and connection, Two Truths and a Lie is a realistic game that’s easy to play online.

2. Zoom scavenger hunt

A moderator gives participants a list of items to find within their homes. Participants race against the clock to find and show the items on camera.

  • Encourages teamwork and collaboration.
  • Provides an opportunity for creative problem-solving.
  • It helps participants feel connected despite physical distance.

Requiring individuals to search their surroundings for specific items injects energy and excitement into virtual meetings, creating memorable shared experiences that strengthen interpersonal relationships.

3. Virtual Pictionary

Set up a virtual whiteboard with a moderator to help keep the game's pace. Each team will designate an artist (they can be a different person each round) to draw while they guess what they're drawing. If they get the answer wrong, the competing team gets the chance to guess.

  • Sparks creativity and imagination.
  • Fosters teamwork and cooperation.
  • Provides a platform for self-expression without pressure.

The team's artists are sure to love this game. Still, for those who aren’t confident in their drawing, it gives them a chance to go outside their comfort zone in a fun and low-stress environment. 

4. Emoji Charades

Everyone is familiar with emojis. Participants will split into teams and, like in Pictionary, designate an actor to act out the emoji without speaking while others guess.

  • Encourages non-verbal communication.
  • Promotes creativity and interpretation.
  • Helps participants feel comfortable expressing themselves.

Emoji charades are a great addition to the roster of Zoom virtual games but can also stand on their own, especially for larger teams. 

5. Virtual trivia night

Pick a host for the evening to ask trivia questions that participants compete to answer correctly. At the end of the game, the host will tally up the correct answers and announce the winner. 

  • Stimulates cognitive engagement and learning.
  • Encourages friendly competition and teamwork.
  • Provides an opportunity for participants to share knowledge and expertise.

Trivia is an excellent Zoom activity as it creates a relaxed and social atmosphere for bonding. Use breakout rooms to split coworkers into teams. 

6. Name That Tune

Choose a moderator to make a playlist, who will then play short clips of songs, and participants guess the title and artist.

  • Stimulates auditory recognition and memory.
  • Promotes a shared cultural experience.
  • Encourages laughter and enjoyment.

A great game for pop culture and music enthusiasts on the team to flex their knowledge, it is also an opportunity for participants to have fun and have a few laughs. 

7. Zoom Bingo

Download virtual bingo cards and pick a host responsible for calling out numbers or items. Like regular Bingo, players will (digitally) mark off the items on their cards.

  • Promotes engagement and active participation.
  • Fosters friendly competition and camaraderie.
  • Provides a structured activity that is easy to follow.

With its simple rules and familiar format, virtual bingo creates a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Perfect for team-building , Bingo adds an element of excitement to virtual gatherings.

8. 20 Questions

One participant thinks of an object, and others ask yes-or-no questions to guess it within 20 attempts.

  • Encourages critical thinking and deductive reasoning.
  • Promotes collaboration and teamwork.
  • Provides a structured framework for interaction.

When the object is guessed correctly, team members will feel a sense of achievement and have the chance to learn more about their colleagues. 

9. Virtual Storytelling Circle

A virtual storytelling circle is a compelling Zoom icebreaker game that fosters meaningful connections and the sharing of personal experiences in a supportive environment, allowing participants to bond over shared narratives and anecdotes. 

  • Fosters empathy and connection.
  • Encourages self-expression in a supportive environment.
  • Promotes active listening and mutual respect.

Through storytelling, participants can express themselves authentically, promoting empathy, understanding, and a sense of belonging within the group. Adding storytelling to the end of a team meeting is a great way to bring the energy up and build rapport amongst colleagues. 

10. Word Association

If you need a quick icebreaker game perfect for an evening of Zoom activities, Word Association is the one!  It can be played multiple rounds as a team of in-breakout groups. A team member starts with a single word, and others respond with the first word that comes to mind, forming a chain of associations.

  • Stimulates creativity and free thinking.
  • Promotes spontaneity and improvisation.
  • Provides a low-pressure environment for expression.

A great game to start or end a meeting, this virtual icebreaker encourages employees to create a sense of unity through shared language and ideas.

11. Virtual Talent Show

Host a virtual talent night to showcase your team's talents. Encourage participants to perform singing, dancing, or magic tricks.

  • Fosters creativity and self-expression in a supportive environment.
  • Encourages appreciation and celebration of individual talents and skills.
  • Promotes inclusivity and diversity by embracing a wide range of talents and interests

Bonding over a webcam doesn't have to be difficult with an engaged event like a talent show , which creates memorable and entertaining moments.

12. Icebreaker questions

This virtual team-building activity lets employees take turns answering light-hearted and thought-provoking questions, such as "If you could have any superpower, what would it be?"

  • Facilitates self-disclosure and conversation starters.
  • Encourages participants to share personal insights and perspectives.
  • Promotes empathy and understanding as participants learn more about each other's preferences and experiences.

The Icebreaker question event is perfect for building rapport and camaraderie by creating a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

13. Virtual Show and Tell

You may remember this game from your grade school days, but it’s still fun for grownups! Coworkers gather on Zoom to share an object or item of significance with the group, explaining its importance or backstory.

  • Foster's storytelling and personal connections through shared experiences.
  • Encourages participants to showcase their interests and passions.
  • Promotes active listening and appreciation for diverse perspectives and experiences.

Providing a platform for individuals to express themselves and showcase their interests, virtual show and tell creates a dynamic and interactive atmosphere, promoting creativity, empathy, and mutual understanding among participants.

14. Guess the celebrity

Before beginning a virtual team meeting , break the ice with this fantastic Zoom game that sparks conversation among participants, prompting them to work together to identify well-known figures from various fields.

  • Stimulates deductive reasoning and knowledge of popular culture.
  • Encourages collaboration and teamwork as participants work together to identify celebrities.
  • Promotes laughter and light-hearted fun in a relaxed setting.

Guess the Celebrity creates an engaging and lively atmosphere through friendly competition and shared knowledge. It fosters camaraderie and laughter, allowing individuals to showcase their cultural awareness and trivia skills.

15. Virtual Escape Room

In a classic virtual team challenge , coworkers solve puzzles and riddles collaboratively to "escape" from a virtual room within a set time limit. 

  • Fosters teamwork and problem-solving skills in a challenging environment.
  • Encourages communication and collaboration as participants share ideas and strategies.
  • Promotes a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie when the team successfully solves the puzzles.

The virtual escape room provides an interactive and engaging experience where individuals work together to solve puzzles and challenges. This creates memorable shared experiences and encourages communication.

16. Name That Movie

In this icebreaker, the moderator provides quotes, scenes, or movie hints, and participants guess the title.

  • Stimulates memory recall and knowledge of film trivia.
  • Encourages friendly competition and camaraderie as participants compete to identify movies.
  • Promotes shared cultural experiences and appreciation for cinema.

Through its interactive and engaging format, Name That Movie creates a fun and nostalgic atmosphere. It fosters connections and shared experiences among participants while showcasing their cinematic expertise.

17. Virtual mindfulness session

Participants engage in guided meditation, deep breathing exercises, or mindfulness activities led by a facilitator.

  • Promotes relaxation and stress relief in a virtual setting.
  • Encourages self-awareness and emotional regulation.
  • Facilitates a sense of calm and focus, enhancing overall well-being.

Practicing mindfulness in the workplace is a surefire way to create a supportive and inclusive space for participants to recharge and rejuvenate.

18. Zoom Icebreaker polls

For an Icebreaker Poll, teams designate a host who creates polls with fun and engaging questions, and participants vote on their answers.

  • Encourages participation and engagement in a structured format.
  • Provides insights into participants' preferences and personalities.
  • Promotes inclusivity by giving everyone a voice in the conversation.

Gathering over Zoom with a simple and easy game can create opportunities for conversation starters and shared experiences.

19. Virtual “Would You Rather”

This classic party game is perfect for Zoom, prompting discussion and debate. Participants take turns posing "Would You Rather" scenarios to the group, sure to get people laughing at some ridiculous scenarios. 

  • Stimulates critical thinking and decision-making skills.
  • Encourages creativity and imagination in exploring hypothetical scenarios.
  • Promotes laughter and light-hearted banter in a relaxed setting.

Virtual Would You Rather creates a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere by presenting thought-provoking scenarios and prompting individuals to consider different options, promoting laughter and play in the context of an online gathering.

20. Virtual hobby showcase

A virtual showcase allows coworkers to share a hobby or interest they're passionate about, showcasing any related items or achievements.

  • Fosters connections through shared interests and passions.
  • Promotes self-expression and creativity.
  • Provides opportunities for learning and discovery.

Virtual Hobby Showcase creates a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, encouraging participants to express themselves authentically while learning more about each other's unique interests and experiences. 

21. Zoom Travel Bucket list 

Team members are encouraged to share a destination they dream of someday and describe why it's on their travel bucket list.

  • Promotes exploration and wanderlust.
  • Fosters conversations about culture, adventure, and personal aspirations.
  • Provides opportunities for sharing travel tips and experiences.
  • Creates a sense of excitement and inspiration for future adventures.

22. Zoom Scavenger Hunt

Participants race to find specific items around their homes based on clues provided by the host. This game can also be done with hybrid teams or during an off-site team retreat. 

  • Promotes creativity and problem-solving skills.
  • Provides opportunities for laughter and enjoyment.

Sharing your Bucket List with colleagues is a great way to create a sense of excitement and adventure in the virtual space.

23. Virtual Simon Says

The host gives commands prefaced with "Simon says," and participants must follow them. If the command is given without "Simon says," participants must refrain from following.

  • Promotes active listening and attention to detail.
  • Encourages engagement and participation.

Virtual Simon Says creates a dynamic and energetic atmosphere, incorporating movement and interaction, promoting laughter, excitement, and teamwork. It is entertaining to break the ice and build connections in virtual meetings.

24. Zoom Jigsaw Puzzle

Perfect for a game night, teams collaborate and find creative ways to solve a digital jigsaw puzzle within a set time limit.

  • Fosters teamwork and collaboration.
  • Promotes problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
  • Provide opportunities for communication and coordination.

A great Zoom icebreaker game, doing a puzzle together encourages participants to rely on teamwork and cooperation. 

25. Virtual Spin the Wheel

The host presents a virtual spinning wheel with various categories or questions. Participants take turns spinning the wheel and responding to the prompts.

  • Promotes spontaneity and unpredictability.

This icebreaker game injects an element of unpredictability and excitement into virtual meetings, encouraging participation and using fun prompts or activities. 

26. Zoom fun facts 

A fantastic way to break down barriers and get the conversation flowing, colleagues open up by sharing exciting or quirky facts about themselves.

  • Fosters personal connections and shared experiences.
  • Promotes self-expression and authenticity.

This icebreaker creates an atmosphere of sharing. It is lighthearted and full of discovery, offering a deeper understanding of each other's backgrounds and personalities.

27. Zoom animal-themed Charades

Much like regular charades, split the group into teams. Each team will choose an animal and act out its characteristics without speaking while others guess it.

  • Promotes creativity and improvisation.

A great virtual game that prompts interactive and entertaining interactions, Animal Charades, creates a lively atmosphere that promotes team bonding and engagement. 

28. Virtual Outfit of the Day

This icebreaker can be done on a designated day or over a longer period of time, like a week. Each day, employees showcase their outfits, describing why they chose it or any interesting details.

  • Encourages self-expression and creativity.
  • Fosters conversations about personal style and preferences.

Outfit of the Day allows participants to express their style and personality, fostering connections and conversations around fashion and self-expression. 

29. Zoom Bucket Brigade

A great way to begin Friday game night is for teammates to pass a virtual bucket from one screen to another, each adding a positive thought or affirmation before passing it on.

  • Promotes positivity and encouragement.
  • Fosters a sense of support and camaraderie.
  • Provides opportunities for reflection and gratitude.

By passing along virtual buckets filled with encouraging messages, the Bucket Brigade creates a ripple effect of positivity and builds a strong foundation for meaningful interactions in virtual meetings.

30. Virtual Show and Solve

Challenging coworkers to work together and solve simple puzzles or riddles within a set time limit is a great way to boost energy before a meeting or at the end of a long day. 

  • Stimulates problem-solving skills and critical thinking.
  • Promotes teamwork and collaboration.

Show and Solve is an engaging Zoom icebreaker game because it requires teamwork to solve puzzles and riddles. It fosters collaboration and critical thinking skills in a fun and interactive way. 

31. Zoom Time Capsule

This icebreaker is a great way to help teams get to know one another. Time Capsule asks participants to share an item or memory representing a significant moment from their past and explain its significance.

  • Fosters connections through shared experiences and memories.
  • Encourages storytelling and reflection.
  • Provides opportunities for empathy and understanding.

Kickstart a meeting with this icebreaker that asks individuals to reflect on meaningful experiences and share their stories. Zoom Time Capsule cultivates a sense of community and understanding, sparking engaging conversations and building bonds that transcend the virtual space. 

32. Virtual Secret Santa

This is an excellent game for the holiday period (and you have plenty of time to start planning!). Teams pick a random name and secretly prepare a small virtual gift for the assigned teammate. 

  • Fosters a sense of anticipation and excitement.
  • Encourages thoughtfulness and kindness.
  • Provides opportunities for surprise and delight.

Perfect for remote teams during the festive season, giving gifts personally and sending them in the mail or giving them out in person at a company retreat will help employees feel valued. 

33. Virtual Word of the Day

An icebreaker that’s sure to make you smarter, individuals are asked to share a word they recently learned or find interesting, along with its definition and usage.

  • Promotes vocabulary expansion and learning.
  • Fosters curiosity and intellectual engagement.
  • Provides opportunities for discussion and exploration.

Word of the Day keeps employees learning and encourages them to share knowledge.

34. Zoom Gratitude Circle

Keeping the workplace positive is vital to maintaining employee morale . By hosting a Zoom Gratitude Circle, employees can express something they're grateful for , whether big or small, and reflect on its significance.

  • Promotes mindfulness and appreciation.
  • Fosters a positive and supportive atmosphere.
  • Provides opportunities for reflection and connection.

Sharing moments of appreciation and reflection helps employees remain mindful, creating a sense of unity and upliftment that sets a welcoming tone for the virtual meeting.

35. Virtual "Would You Survive?"

This fun and imaginative icebreaker prompts employees to pose hypothetical survival scenarios, and others discuss how they would navigate them.

  • Stimulates critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Promotes creativity and imagination.

This icebreaker engages participants in thought-provoking scenarios, making it an entertaining and interactive way to kickstart conversations and build connections in virtual meetings.

36. Zoom Book Club break

Employees are asked to present and briefly share a book they're reading, recently enjoyed thoughts, or a favorite passage.

  • Fosters a love for reading and intellectual curiosity.
  • Encourages sharing of personal interests and perspectives.
  • Provides opportunities for discussion and recommendation.

A virtual Book Club encourages participants to share their reading preferences, fostering engaging discussions and promoting intellectual exchange within the group. 

37. Zoom drawing relay

Participants take turns adding to a collaborative drawing, each building upon the previous contributions.

  • Stimulates creativity and imagination.

The drawing relay promotes active engagement and interaction, creating a dynamic and inclusive atmosphere. 

Don’t forget to connect outside of the office

Managing a virtual team can have its challenges, and virtual icebreaker games are a great way to keep teams connected at a distance. That being said, it’s always essential to get the whole office together in person at least twice a year to help ensure your team doesn’t get stuck in a spiral of Zoom fatigue , which is common in remote teams if you don’t take the time to shake things up. 

At the Surf Office, we are experts in helping you design the perfect off-site team-building retreat . Our expert team can assist you in finding the ideal balance between work and play so your team can return to work refreshed and productive!

critical thinking icebreaker games

free course

How to plan your first company retreat

free course partners logos

Retreat Budget Spreadsheet

Are you organising a company retreat and want to make sure you have all the costs under the control?

Get a copy of our free Budget Calculator spreadsheet.

29 Watercooler talk topics + Do’s and Don’ts!

29 Watercooler talk topics + Do’s and Don’ts!

180 Engaging team-building questions for work

180 Engaging team-building questions for work

43 Best icebreaker games for small groups

43 Best icebreaker games for small groups

265 Intriguing rapid fire questions for employees & friends

265 Intriguing rapid fire questions for employees & friends

90 Halloween icebreaker questions to boost team spirit

90 Halloween icebreaker questions to boost team spirit

Organize your next company retreat with surf office, 💌 join 15,000+ managers receiving insights on building company culture that people love., stay in touch, work with us.

  • By use case
  • AI assisted videos
  • Advertising video
  • Animated video
  • Animated logo video
  • Animated text video
  • Animation video
  • Cartoon video
  • Commercial video
  • Business video
  • Explainer video
  • Infographic video
  • Intro video
  • Movie maker
  • Photo to video
  • Presentation video
  • Short videos
  • Trailer video
  • Book trailer video
  • YouTube video
  • Diverse Workplace Scenes
  • Leadership Skills Tips
  • A Reason to Celebrate
  • Frank Character Explainer
  • Superpowers Girl
  • Robot Character Explainer
  • Team Birthdays
  • Birthday Cake
  • Birthday Calendar
  • Birthday Greetings
  • Funny Birthday
  • Staff Birthday
  • Workplace Announcement
  • Business Explainer
  • Employee Onboarding
  • Business Ad
  • Hybrid Work Policy
  • Workplace Wellness Tips
  • Explainer Script
  • How to Change Your Password
  • Snappy Explainer
  • Mental Health for Employees
  • Product Explainer
  • E-Learning App Ad
  • Infographics
  • Industry Trend Update
  • Real Estate Infographic
  • Marketing Infographic
  • Animated Infographics
  • Infographic Explainer
  • Infographic
  • Introductions
  • New Teammate
  • New Employee Introduction
  • Welcome New Team Member
  • Warm Welcome
  • New Team Members
  • Meet the Team
  • We're Hiring Manager
  • Recruiting Ad
  • We're Hiring IT Support
  • Video Resume
  • Now Hiring Product Engineer
  • Job Offer Congratulations
  • Dancing People Ad
  • Eager Dog Ad
  • Winter Sale
  • Funky Sloth Ad
  • Product Promo
  • Book Trailer
  • Thanks Group
  • You Rock Employee
  • Great Job Team
  • You Rock Team
  • Great Job Employee
  • Great Job Group
  • Weekly Update
  • Company Update
  • Product Launch
  • Monthly Update
  • News Update
  • Year in Review

Ready to get started?

  • Video Trimmer
  • Remove audio from video
  • Add music to video
  • Add text to video
  • Video merger
  • Video resizer
  • Convert image to video
  • Montage maker
  • Add image to video
  • Watermark maker
  • Add frame to video
  • Video analytics
  • Add button to video
  • Image Resizer
  • Convert video to GIF
  • Convert GIF to MP4
  • Extract audio from video
  • Quick start guide
  • Human Resources

20 icebreaker games and activities for every team

Colleagues enjoying a pizza lunch together in the office, captured with Biteable video maker.

  • 31 Aug 2021

As your team’s de facto spirit guide, icebreaker games are definitely your friend. But please, promise us one thing: don’t bring down the mood with boring icebreakers. Don’t go around the circle asking people to awkwardly introduce themselves. That’s stressful for everyone and doesn’t do much to actually bond your team.

Push the envelope and try bolder activities instead.

We’re talking meaningful get-to-know-you games that actually help create a sense of belonging and positive team culture. Or out-of-the-box ideas that work well in a remote setting, like  making videos  that take your icebreakers up a notch. (Don’t worry. We’ll give you plenty of tips for that!)

These 19 icebreaker games are tailor-made to help your people think deeper, connect, and maybe even look forward to team meetings. Win, win, win.

Fun online icebreakers

These icebreaker activities are a perfect fit for remote teams and teams working from home.

1. Scavenger hunt

Break the ice with a game that doesn’t require too much brainpower. List off a few items and send your team on a quest around their house or office to find something that matches.

Ask your team to hunt for something specific like “a broken phone charger” or leave a little room for creativity with items such as “something that represents your favorite hobby”.

A scavenger hunt is a great way to get a little insight into what your people like to do outside of work. Your team just might find shared hobbies and interests to bond over.

Who it works for:  Remote teams or people working from a home office.

Level up with video:  Turn your scavenger list into a video or build the hype for your upcoming scavenger hunt with a video that covers all the must-know details.

2. Two truths and a lie

Two truths and a lie is a great way to get to know new people. The premise is simple: everyone gets a chance to share three things about themselves — two that are true and one that’s a lie.

It’s the perfect balance of getting-to-know-you material and ice-breaking creativity. After each person states their facts, have the group try to discern the truths from the lie.

Who it works for:  Teams (either remote or in-person) who don’t know each other well.

3. Kahoot quizzes

University lecturers know what’s up when it comes to hyping up a room full of people — it’s all about  Kahoot . Kahoot quizzes are easy-to-access live quizzes that anyone can take part in from their own internet-connected device.

As the host, you’ll create the quiz content yourself, so the sky is the limit. If your team just finished an important training, use this as an opportunity to reinforce the material in a fun way.

Create a sense of camaraderie with your staff by grouping people together, or pit them against each other and see who can rise up the leaderboard.

Who it works for:  Particularly effective for teams who need specialist know-how to work well. Shore up their industry knowledge in a fun way.

Level up with video:  Take team quizzes to a whole new level with a personalized quiz video.

4. Jackbox.tv games

Jackbox.tv  games are similar to Kahoot quizzes but a lot less serious. You can buy a suite of games on your laptop or gaming console. To play, your team just needs access to a device and the password to get into the team game. All games can be played remotely or in person.

The most popular Jackbox.tv game has to be  Drawful  (with a player limit of 8), where each person draws a different obscure phrase and racks up points if their competitors guess it right. No prep is needed to play Jackbox.tv games.

Who it works for:  Teams who need to improve their communication.

Level up with video:  Create a  video montage  of everyone’s Drawful sketches and guesses (they’re usually quite funny) and play it at your next meeting.

Create videos that drive action

Activate your audience with impactful, on-brand videos. Create them simply and collaboratively with Biteable.

Really makes you think…

These getting-to-know-you games are a great way to level up your team’s critical thinking. Hype up your team in advance with a video invite full of the need-to-know details.

5. Team trivia

Trivia ignites the competitor in everyone, and it’s the perfect way to pull people out of their shells. If your people are a little shy about creative activities, trivia is the perfect team-building game that doesn’t require them to put themselves out there too much.

There are plenty of sets of trivia questions you can borrow from the internet. Or, you can custom-make trivia questions that help your team get to know each other (like “When did Ellen join the team?” or “What type of coffee does Dan drink?”).

Who it works for:  New teams who need to get acquainted; remote teams looking to build camaraderie from afar.

Level up with video:  Do your trivia sesh right by turning your questions into a video quiz. You can even include snippets of video or images for multimedia questions.

6. Problem/solution

For a problem/solution game, break people into small teams and assign each team a different problem. Be ambitious with the problems you assign. Make it big enough to be complicated, with many possible solutions.

Try questions like “How would you prevent animals from ending up at the pound?” or “If the government implemented a healthy eating initiative, what would be most effective?”.

Teams have 15 minutes to come up with a plan that’s as comprehensive as possible and present their ideas to the larger group. The aim isn’t to solve the problem entirely, it’s to think around different approaches and the possible outcomes that arise from each.

Who it works for:  Remote or in-office teams that need to practice working and problem-solving together closely.

Level up with video:  Introduce the problem with a video perfect for online teams. Press play to explain the rules and what the solution should look like, then send teams off into their breakout rooms to come up with an answer.

Debating the different sides of an argument is a skill that doesn’t have to end after high school.

Teaching your team how to form an argument and debate each other respectfully is an investment that’ll pay off ten-fold. Creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable and able to raise (and resolve) a disagreement is a bonus.

Set up two teams of three and assign a moderator. To ease any possible friction, don’t declare a winner. Instead, make your debates simply about having a well-formed argument. It can work well to create debate topics relevant to your industry so everyone already has the expertise to argue either side.

Who it works for:  Both in-person and remote teams.

Better in person

These activities are best saved for when you can gather in the same room. Use the office or turn these ideas into a team outing — either way, use a video to share the who, what, when, wheres.

8. Structure

This is a seemingly easy challenge that might test your team once they get started.

Break everyone into small groups (three per group work well here). The aim is simple: use whatever materials you can find to build the tallest structure. The way people interpret the rules and treat their competitors without a strict etiquette guideline is always revealing.

This icebreaker is also a great way to flex a different part of the brain. For employees who work on laptops all day, using your hands is a refreshing change of pace.

Who it works for:  Big teams with space to stretch out.

Level up with video:  While everyone is running around trying to build their structure, play an infographic video in the background that gives out valuable hints and tricks.

9. Electric fence

Warning: neither a fence nor electricity is needed for this one. Just grab a piece of string or yarn and suspend it across a walkway. The string represents an electric fence, and the goal is to get everyone in the team over without touching it.

To succeed requires a bit of team organization and a lot of practical sense. It’s interesting to see the roles people naturally fall into when faced with a new challenge.

Who it works for:  In-person teams who need a little more cohesion.

10. Silent line up

No, not that kind of lineup (we hope). This one is exactly as advertised. No one is allowed to talk but the group needs to find a way to wordlessly communicate and get into a line in the right order.

The easiest version of this challenge is to have everyone line up according to height. But you can kick it up a notch by asking them to line up according to date of birth or when they started working at your company.

Who it works for:  In-person teams.

Icebreakers for team bonding

These icebreakers are perfect for teams who’ve known each other for a while but need to connect on a deeper level.

11. Unique and shared

Unique and shared is an easy way of building links between your team members. For the first round, divide everyone into randomly assigned groups of two or three. During each subsequent round, increase the group sizes.

The goal for each round is to find a commonality between all people in that group. It can be something as easy as “We all work on the same floor of the office” or as obscure as “We all saw Shrek 2 in the cinema on opening weekend”.

The trick is, no one can use the same shared trait twice. As the groups grow in size, they’ll need to share more and more information to find a common link. Assign points on a sliding scale based on how quickly groups find their shared trait.

Who it works for:  In-person teams. This icebreaker game also works for remote teams if you can put them in smaller breakout rooms.

12. Critical conversations

Facilitating deep and critical conversation is a great way to help your team align on a deeper level. But it ain’t easy!

For this getting-to-know-you activity to succeed, spend time researching critical (and work-appropriate) questions beforehand. During the activity, pitch a few of the best questions to your team.

Questions like “What’s more important in the long run, kindness or ambition?” or “What advice would you give your younger self?” can pull thoughts out of the team and help them get to know one another’s values.

As the moderator, your job is to ensure everyone has a chance to speak equally. Otherwise, this icebreaker can easily become a contest for the spotlight.

Who it works for:  Established teams who work together in-person. It’s always better to have these types of conversations face-to-face.

Level up with video:  Create a quick  animated text video  displaying the rules of engagement (asking people to be respectful and open-minded, for example), followed by a 10-minute countdown timer to keep the meeting on track. (Discussions like this can go all day if you don’t put boundaries around them.)

13. Describing blind

In the lead up to this getting-to-know-you game, collect a few weird items that would be difficult to identify just from touch (mind puzzles, strange toys, or obscure tools are always a winner).

Divide everyone into teams of two. Give one person on each team a piece of paper and a pen, and sit them where they can hear — but not see — their partner. Ask the second teammate to close her eyes, then place an object in her hands. She must describe the object while their partner attempts to draw it.

This is such a hard challenge, but a great way to highlight potential communication problems between people. Once your team gets the hang of it, they’ll want to do it over and over until they improve, so make sure you have enough items on hand.

Who it works for:  In-person teams who need to improve their communication.

Getting-to-know-you games

Brand new teams usually need a bit of help getting comfortable with each other. Use these getting-to-know you games to loosen things up and begin building a sense of camaraderie.

14. Teammate introduction

As a new hire, it can be stressful getting up in front of the whole team to introduce yourself. Take the pressure off your new team member and make a video about them instead.

Film an interview where you ask them a bit about themselves, their new role, and their work history. And don’t forget to clearly display their name for everyone to absorb — most of us are bad at remembering new names.

Who it works for:  Any team with a new addition

15. Name game

No one remembers names the first time they hear them, especially in a high-pressure situation. If you have a new team or a workshop with new people, do them all a favor and start with a name game.

The game starts with one person saying their name. The person to the right of them in the circle (or the Zoom grid) says the first person’s name and adds their own. The next person continues the chain, saying the first two names and adding their own. And so on.

If someone forgets a name in the chain, start again (but start with another person so everyone gets a turn). The game finishes when you make it around to everyone and end with a full list of names.

Who it works for: New teams or groups, remote or in-person.

16. Speed dating

Speed dating is the quickest and easiest way to help big groups of people get to know each other.

Set up a long table with pairs of chairs facing each other all the way down. The group on one side of the table should be stationary, the group on the other side should move one chair to the right at the sound of the buzzer.

Give each round a minute and start them off with a few easy questions. Cat or dog person? Favorite dessert? Best travel experience? It’s amazing how much these quick interactions help build connection and create a more relaxed atmosphere.

Who it works for:  New in-person teams who’ve never met before.

17. Getting-to-know-you bingo

This icebreaker is so much fun but does require a fair bit of prep work from the moderator. To prepare, find an online template for bingo and populate it with facts you know about individual team members.

Include things like “Someone who orders chai lattes” or “Someone with a birthday in October”. It’s best if you make a few variations of the bingo sheet and distribute them randomly to slow the game down.

If people start racing to get through, you can add extra rules to make it trickier. Try things like not allowing them to ask the question directly. For example, you can’t say “When’s your birthday?” but you can say “What would the weather normally be like at your birthday party?” to hone in on a bingo square.

Who it works for:  In-person teams who are new to each other but not to you.

Creative play icebreakers

Sometimes it pays to have fun, especially at work. Use these icebreaker ideas to shake things up and let your team enjoy themselves.

18. Murder mystery

There are two versions of murder mystery — one that’s more low-key and one that’s more elaborate. Both versions take some time, so it’s best to save this game for a longer workshop or a company retreat.

In the easy version, you can play with no props and no required reading. Set up a  game of Werewolf  and see how your team interacts to uncertain alliances.

If you really want to put on a show, find a more elaborate murder mystery structure. (There are plenty of free versions online.) As the host, you’ll have to do a lot of legwork to progress the story and resolve the mystery, but it’s a lot of fun.

Who it works for:  In-person teams who need to loosen up.

Level up with video:  Create a video that guides your team through the mystery or sets the mood with atmospheric music and backgrounds. (Try searching “creepy” in Biteable’s  stock video footage library …if you’re brave enough.)

19. Draw your coat of arms

This icebreaker activity is perfect for helping staff get to know each other’s values. It also helps managers understand how staff perceive themselves and their role in the office.

It’s pretty simple. Provide drawing tools and print off a  coat of arms template  for people to fill in. Coats of arms were created for important families in medieval England and worn by knights so they, and their heroic deeds, could be distinguished on the battlefield. As such, they contain a lot of symbolism.

You can ask your staff to think about the animal that represents them, the colors they like, even the saying that resonates with them the most as a motto. After they’ve finished drawing, have them explain their choices to the group.

Who it works for:  Remote or in-person teams who need to get to know each other.

20. Movie pitch

Movie pitch is pretty much what it sounds like. In movie pitch, each person has to pitch a movie based on prompts. It’s a creative exercise to make your group laugh, loosen up, and get to know each other.

Here’s how it works: choose a motif — A block of cheese? A plot twist involving a pair of twins? — that must be included in the story. Give everyone a few minutes to prepare their pitch. (Keep it short.) If you want, the moderator can award an Oscar for best pitch after everyone’s had their say.

Who it works for:  Teams who already know each other a little; teams working in a creative field.

Level up with video:  Task your team with making their pitch into a movie trailer. (You can give them the video template below as a starting point.) Then, crack open the popcorn machine and set up a viewing of all the movie trailers (they are, after all, the best part of the movie).

Take people ops to the next level with video

Video is an effective way to engage staff, align teams, and activate your entire workforce. Do it in minutes with  Biteable , the world’s simplest video maker. With professional templates, an intuitive workflow, and trackable video analytics, your can rest easy knowing your message will stick.

Looking for more ways to shake up your people ops game? Check out the Biteable blog for loads of other  HR video ideas .

Make stunning videos with ease.

Take the struggle out of team communication.

Try Biteable now.

  • No credit card required
  • No complicated design decisions
  • No experience necessary

Leigh Ann Rodgers

Break the Ice with The Four Quadrants Activity

The Four Quadrants is a tried and true team building activity to break the ice with a group or team.

It is EASY to prep for and set up. It can be MODIFIED to work with any group and/or topic (just change the questions). It is FUN, COLORFUL and works every time!

Kate

Save time and effort designing your workshops

To break the ice with a group or team.

Attachments

4-Quadrants.png

Instructions

The steps to facilitate The Four Quadrants activity:

  • Give each participant a piece of flip chart paper and some markers.
  • Ask them to divide their flip charts into four quadrants.
  • Ask them to DRAW (not write) their response to four questions (one for each quadrant).
  • Give them about 5-10 minutes to work individually.
  • Then, regroup and give each person 4-10 minutes (depending on your time frame) to share their chart and responses with the group.

Here are the questions Cheryle used with our group:

  • 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?

You can change the questions to work with any group . For example, below are questions Michael Barrett, Resonance LLC used with a non-profit Board of Directors. He said when they shared their charts with each other some were moved to tears.

  • What do you BRING to this organization?
  • What do you NEED from this team?
  • What LEGACY do you want to help create through this organization?
  • What is one event that FUNDAMENTALLY shaped your life?

I used the questions below with a team that was working on improving how they communicated to each other when under stress. It was remarkable how much they opened up and learned about each other even though many had worked together for years.

  • A current challenge I am facing outside of work…
  • The types of things that stress me the most at work…
  • What I need you to understand about me when I am under stress…
  • What I need you to do when I am under stress…

Other questions you could insert:

  • Defining moment (personal or professional)
  • Moment of pride (personal or professional)
  • Worst fear (for the group, personally or professional)
  • Desired outcome for this day/session/series of meetings
  • Greatest challenge for this group
  • Greatest success for this group

This activity is so wonderful because you can write any four questions that you think will work for your group. Or have fun with it and let them come up with their own questions. Just think about what you want your group to know about each other.

What four questions will you use to get your next group engaged and sharing with one another? Please share your ideas by commenting on this method below.

Tips for running this activity online

  • Pick an online whiteboard tool that allows to use a large, zoomable canvas (e.g. Mural or Miro)
  • Users can either draw their quadrant on paper and upload an image into the board, or draw it digitally
  • In the reflection step, invite users to navigate to the quadrant of the person speaking
  • If you don’t have an online whiteboard tool, you can use Slack or Google docs to share and comment on the created images
  • If using video conferencing software alone, invite the participants to share their screen and show their digital image, or hold up their physical drawing for the group to see
  • If you want to add a fun extra dimension, encourage people to sketch quickly and if using digital tools, allow no deleting or erasers. Bad drawings can be fun to try and decode as a team.

Source and further ideas for the questions

You can get more suggestion for the questions at the original source of this activity on the Better Teams blog together with more team building ideas.

Comments ( 19 )   ( 4.5 avg / 2 ratings )

Some really great ideas . I am certainly going to use some of these, in my Stress Management workshop . Thanks.

great to try

Grace Labong

This is really awesome in getting team to appreciate each other . I have used it in an inception

Sarah McMullen

Thanks for sharing this! I'm using it as a way to get a management team who are working on coaching skills. Q1 will be their strength, Q2 will be what they are working on personally, Q3 is to help them replicate the feeling of pride with their coachees, and Q4 is to remind them of their "why" (why they love what they do). Here are the questions I am using for the group: What do I bring to the organization? What do I need from this team (or that you are personally working on as a growth goal)? A moment of personal pride. Favorite moment since you joined the organization.

vivian Wells

Thanks for sharing. I like it a lot especially now we are in remote working mode.

Karen Fleming

I like this idea alot. I am going to use this to start of discussions about a learning contract and psychological safety in a group of delegates who will be working together over several months. I usually just do a group discussion for a learning contract, but I think this, as a first step before that discussion will help break the ice and help them be more open about what they want and need from the group and how they can support each other to stay in their stretch zone.

Junisas Hutahayan

I used this at the beginning of the session as part of the participants' self introduction. The questions made them more humane and a little vulnerable. It was good. Thank you.

Shamil Akhlakov

Good idea! Thank you!

Svetlana Chervonnykh

very nice, thank you!

Jackline Mwadime

i LOVE THIS

Hemani Jayaswal

Alexander tanabi.

This is pretty awesome. I like the layout of it.

Maureen Fitzgerald

Great questions and a fun format! I like how the pieces fit together. A variation -- You could also have people build their answers out of pipe cleaners, play dough, legos, etc. Building something out of Legos or making a shape with pipe cleaners is fun (and you don't have to deal with the "I can't draw" stress reaction from people). Plus it's fun to have pipecleaners or Legos on the tables for people to play with. :)

Surendra A Nath

A great effective method! .!I used this method with different set of questions in two different groups of participants as an ice breaker at the start of the program. The participants liked the activity and they were so excited when they were explaining. I used it to introduce the participants themselves. Thanks for sharing.

dalia el zawawy

very simple and useful

Mette Lindgren Helde

Thanks - inspirational. Should call it a teambuilding activity more than an icebreaker though. But that doesn't make it less useful. :-)

Elena Vasileva-Melani

Very useful!!!Thank you!

Some features unfortunately do not work as intended on Internet Explorer. Please, use another browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) for best performance. Thank you!

Select preferred language

  • Bahasa Indonesia

Activity Type

  • Ice-Breakers
  • Team-Building
  • Trust Exercises
  • Health & Wellness
  • Team Puzzles
  • Tag & PE Games
  • Challenge Course

Program Outcome

  • Get To Know One Another
  • Develop Team Skills
  • Build Trust & Empathy
  • Enhance Wellbeing
  • Quickly Re-Energise
  • Interact & Share
  • Be Physically Active
  • Play & Have Fun
  • Learn Names
  • Reflect on Experience

Skill Development

  • Communication
  • Collaboration

Critical Thinking

  • Self Awareness
  • Self-Management
  • Social Awareness
  • Relationship Skills
  • Decision-Making
  • Goal Setting
  • Behavioural Norms
  • Accountability
  • Adaptability
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Mindfulness
  • Physical Education
  • Our Approach
  • Free Resources
  • Testimonials
  • Training & Development
  • Change Language
  • Activity Ideas
  • Debriefing Tips
  • Leadership Tips
  • Engaging Groups
  • News & Events

Memberships

Memberships (4)

Books

Digital (6)

Specials

Specials (5)

Group games are ideal for developing critical-thinking skills.

The link between critical thinking and one’s education is obvious – you can’t learn well unless you think well.

Critical thinking is the ability to look at problems in new ways, to analyse how parts of a whole interact with one another and to interpret information and draw conclusions.

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills were once thought to be the domain of gifted people. Today, they are necessary for every individual and group who seeks to make sensible decisions about financial, health, civic, workplace and leisure activities.

The solutions to international concerns such as climate change and global warming require highly developed critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. These skills include the ability to effectively analyse and evaluate evidence, arguments, claims and beliefs.

Benefits of Developing Critical-Thinking Abilities

The ability to solve interesting and unfamiliar problems often leads to the development of other skills such as increased engagement, higher concentration levels and improved thought processing.

Here are a few examples of experiences that occur in many programs which may provide you with an opportunity to focus on problem-solving skills:

  • Forming a project team to solve an existing, yet complex problem.
  • Thinking of a new campaign slogan to broadcast a difficult, yet important message.
  • Adopting a rational, analytical and evidence-based approach to investigate a conflict.
  • Challenging one of your group’s long-held beliefs or practices.

Naturally, one of the most powerful (not to mention, enjoyable) ways to develop and strengthen your group’s problem-solving skills is to employ the use of fun group games.

Group Activities Which Develop Critical-Thinking Skills

The images below provide links to a sample of simple group activities which may help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving abilities of your group, drawn from playmeo’s ever-expanding activity database .

Enjoy browsing to your heart’s content.

If you’re not yet a playmeo subscriber, join today to unlock hundreds more group games and activities just like these.

Illustration of We Engage Cards

We Engage Cards

Premium subscribers enjoy all the features, save to playlist.

Thought-provoking series of cards to inspire engagement.

Illustration of We Connect Cards

We Connect Cards

Set of question cards to inspire meaningful conversations.

Set of colourful cards called Emoji Cards used for reflection and other fun purposes

Emoji Cards

Useful set of emotive cards to encourage fun & reflection.

Set of hand-drawn picture cards called Climer Cards used in many reflection exercises

Climer Cards

Fun deck of cards to inspire team-building & creativity.

Hands holding two Ubuntu Cards looking for matching objects

UBUNTU Cards

Innovative tool that inspires valuable sharing & fun.

critical thinking icebreaker games

Got A Question?

As a playmeo member, you can reach out to our team for help & support at any time. Holler & we’ll do whatever we can to assist.

Ask for Help

Name That Tune

Share this with friends and colleagues.

Choose a plan that’s right for you

We offer a range of membership plans with no surprises. Click an option below & discover our simple pricing.

Click here if you’re a:

  • Corporate trainer
  • Outdoor educator
  • Camp leader
  • Youth leader
  • Conference organiser
  • Therapist/counsellor

Click here if you represent a:

  • Corporation
  • Community-based Organisation

Explore plans for 10, 50, 200 or more potential users

Remember Me

Forgot Password

Don't have an account? Join Today

17 Online Team Building Icebreakers

' src=

Here is our list of the best online team building icebreakers.

Online team building icebreakers are virtual games and activities to help teammates get to know each other better. Examples include one-minute introductions, rapid-fire questions, and company trivia. The purpose of these activities is to welcome and warm up your group while teammates learn more about their coworkers.

These ideas are similar to examples of fun icebreaker questions , virtual icebreaker tips , and team building icebreakers .

This list includes:

  • icebreaker games for online meetings
  • online icebreaker games for teams
  • online icebreaker activities
  • online icebreaker ideas

Here we go!

List of online team building icebreakers

Virtual team building icebreakers are a great way for teammates to feel connected to each other when working remotely. Here are a few online icebreakers to bring your team closer together.

1. Emoji Resume

You can spice up the introduction process by asking each team member to create an Emoji Resume! Participants can use emojis to represent their skills, interests, and experiences. Be sure to encourage employees to select emojis that fit professional and personal traits. For instance, participants might use a 💻 to represent computer skills or a 🚀 for their enthusiasm to take on new challenges. During a team meeting, participants can share their resumes and briefly explain each emoji. This is one of the most unique online icebreaker ideas and adds a playful element to introductions.

2. Superhero Alter Egos

Your team can flex their creativity by inventing their own superhero alter egos! To start, ask employees to think about the unique powers, skills, or qualities that make them extraordinary in the workplace. For instance, teams may have the ability to solve problems at lightning speed or the power to boost team morale.

Then, participants can invent superhero personas based on those skills. Folks can create superhero names, powers, and even costumes! Colleagues can share their personas and briefly explain how their powers would contribute to the team’s success.

3. Fantasy Job Titles

Creating fantasy job titles is a whimsical way for team members to break the ice! Each team member will invent their own fantasy job title. You can challenge folks to think outside the box and come up with titles that reflect their dream roles or unique skills. From the “Chief Idea Magician” to the “Master of Laughter and Joy,” the goal is to bring a touch of humor to their role.

During the icebreaker, ask participants to share their fantasy job titles and offer a brief description of what their responsibilities might include. Optionally, give out craft supplies for members to make fantasy job plaques or nametags!

4. Story Building with Objects

Story Building with Objects is a collaborative adventure using objects from your team’s workspaces. First, the host shares the beginning sentence of a story. Then, each team member selects a random object. One by one, employees add a sentence or two to the story that includes their chosen object. The challenge is to create a tale that connects the seemingly unrelated objects. This activity fosters creativity and encourages team members to think on their feet.

5. Team Slogan Mad Libs

To bring some laughter and creativity to your team, organize a Team Slogan Mad Libs activity.  First, write a slogan, but leave a few words blank. You could also take a well-known slogan from pop culture and remove some of its words. For instance, “Like a Good _____, State _____ is There.” Then, ask your team for industry-related words without showing them the slogan. You can use those terms to fill in the blanks and then share your new slogan with the team! This activity is a great way to foster collaboration and inject some fun into the workplace.

6. GIF Reactions

GIF Reactions is one of the best icebreakers for remote teams. If you would like to share a laugh with your team, then we suggest playing a game of GIF Reactions. To play this game, you should create a list of hypothetical scenarios.

For example:

  • When you have a 4 p.m. meeting on a Friday
  • When you finally get a promotion
  • When you have to work overtime
  • When you wish it was Friday
  • When you have to wake up at 5 a.m. for work

After posing these prompts to your team, players should find a GIF that can serve as a reaction to the statement. For example, the prompt, “When you finally get a promotion,” might call for a GIF of an employee jumping for joy.

The GIF Reactions icebreaker is a fun chance for employees to laugh in the middle of a tough week.

7. One-Word Phrases

One-Word Phrases is one of the quickest and simplest online icebreaker games for teams. To play this game, you must come up with a few prompts to ask your team, such as:

  • How would you describe our company culture?
  • How would you describe your job?
  • How would you describe your coworkers?
  • How would you describe a typical day for yourself?
  • How would you describe working from home?

After asking employees one of these prompts, players must provide an answer using only one word. For example, when asked, “How would you describe our company culture?” a player’s response may be, “Fun!”

This icebreaker aims to help employees improve communication skills by explaining concepts briefly and concisely.

8. Rapid-Fire Questions

If your team is meeting for the first time, then we recommend Rapid-Fire Questions as one of the best online icebreaker games. To play this game, you should pose questions for your team to answer.

Questions can include:

  • Can you share an interesting fact about yourself?
  • What is the strangest job you have had?
  • If you were not working here, what would be your dream job?
  • What is a skill you have always wanted to learn?
  • What is the weirdest food you have eaten?
  • If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

In this game, employees must answer questions as quickly as possible. It would be best if you encouraged players not to overthink their responses and to respond with the first thought that comes to mind. Rapid-Fire Questions is a fun, fast-paced icebreaker that allows teammates to get to know each other quickly.

9. One-Minute Intro

One-Minute Intro is one of the best online icebreaker games for new teams. The objective of this icebreaker is to have each team member provide a short introduction. Team members can share their names, nicknames, interests, and goals.

We recommend limiting each introduction to one minute to keep this icebreaker short. Short introductions will ensure that each team member has enough time to speak. The One-Minute Intro icebreaker is an excellent way for teammates to meet each other without the pressure of having to talk for a long time.

10. Future News Headlines

Future News Headlines is one of the most insightful icebreaker games for online meetings. As part of this game, you and your team will use your imagination to create news headlines. The twist of this game is that players must envision future events at your company. Then, players should write a creative headline based on their thoughts.

Here are a few examples of futuristic headlines that employees could create:

  • CEO retires from ABC Company
  • ABC Company launches its first self-driving car
  • Employees of ABC Company rank a 100% employee happiness score
  • ABC Company acquires XYZ Company for $1M

Future News Headlines is an exciting icebreaker that allows employees to use their creativity to create funny headlines related to the company’s future.

11. Gratitude and Challenges

The Gratitude and Challenges icebreaker focuses on getting personal with coworkers. As part of this game, players must share one statement about what they are grateful for and another about a challenge they are facing.

For example, a player may say they are grateful for their decision to attend college. However, this player might also share that they feel scared due to the challenge of managing school, work, and life.

The Gratitude and Challenges icebreaker promotes team building as this activity allows teammates to get to know each other on a more personal level.

12. Team Map

When teams work remotely, there is a good chance that all members may not be located in the same city or country. Therefore, one of the most exciting online icebreaker activities is creating a Team Map to show each teammate’s location.

We recommend using online templates and collaboration tools to create your Team Map. First, you should include a picture of a blank map on Google Slides. Then, once your team is on a video chat, teammates can speak one at a time, describing their city or town. Each team member should also drop a pin on their location.

By the end of the game, you should see a map filled with red pins in different parts of the world. The Team Map icebreaker allows employees to learn where their teammates are from while visualizing where each coworker resides in the world.

13. Teammate Trivia

Teammate Trivia is a fun challenge that allows coworkers to learn new facts about one another. Here are the instructions to make this game a success:

  • Assign one team member as the moderator
  • Ask all team members to send fun facts about themselves to the moderator
  • Put together a quiz based on all fun facts submitted by the team
  • The answer to each question will be a team member’s name
  • Go through all questions and then tally up which player scored the most points
  • The player who answers the most questions correctly is the winner

Teammate Trivia is a great icebreaker because this game allows teams to connect by learning about each other’s interests, likes, and dislikes. Teammates may also find new similarities, making the team feel more united.

Check out more online trivia options .

14. Musical Emojis

One of the most fun online team building icebreaker ideas is Musical Emojis. As part of this icebreaker, players must guess the name of a song. The twist of this game is that the only clues provided are in the form of emojis. So, for example, if you show an emoji of a dancer 💃 next to an emoji of a crown 👑, players should guess that the answer is the song “Dancing Queen.”

Musical Emojis is a fun icebreaker that can get your team thinking hard to guess the correct answer. In addition, this icebreaker promotes teamwork, as employees can work together to guess what each emoji means.

15. Virtual Office Tour

Working in a remote environment means that each employee has a different workspace. One of the most creative online icebreaker activities is to have each team member give a Virtual Office Tour.

In a Virtual Office Tour, teammates show coworkers around their home office. These tours typically showcase the area around each employee’s workspace, including their desk, chair, computer, and any surrounding decor. As each employee shows the team around their home office, we suggest asking participants to share one part of their office that is the most special.

Virtual Office Tours can give teams a peek into their coworkers’ home offices. This icebreaker can make teammates feel connected even while working in different places.

16. Company Trivia

If you would like to test your employees, we recommend hosting a game of Company Trivia. As part of this icebreaker, players answer a series of questions about the company.

Starter questions:

  • What year was our company founded?
  • Who was the company’s first CEO?
  • What is our company most well-known for?
  • How many departments make up the company?
  • Who is the company’s current CEO?
  • How much did the company earn in review last year?

Company Trivia is an ideal icebreaker because it allows team members to learn facts about the company where they work.

You can play this game virtually by reading off questions one by one and asking players to type answers in the chat, sending participants to breakout rooms with forms to complete, or using Kahoot!

17. Riddle Masters

Riddle Masters is a fun game where players must work together to solve tricky brain teasers. To play this challenge, you can split your group into two to three small teams, depending on how many people are playing the game. We recommend assigning five to ten players to each team. Once you have your teams, you should send them into breakout rooms on your Zoom call.

Next, you should give each team two to three riddles to solve. Then, give the teams a time limit of 10 to 15 minutes to answer each riddle. The first group to solve the most riddles wins.

Here are a few examples of riddles that you can use in the game:

  • I have many keys, but I open no locks. What am I? Answer: a piano
  • I have cities but no houses. I have mountains but no trees. I have water but no fish. What am I? Answer: a map
  • What is always in front of you but is something you cannot see? Answer: the future
  • Which month has 28 days? Answer: all of them
  • What belongs to you but is used more by others? Answer: your name
  • What starts with the letter e but only has one letter? Answer: an envelope

The Riddle Masters icebreaker is a wonderful opportunity for employees to use their critical thinking skills while laughing together.

Final Thoughts

Online icebreakers are get to know you activities and games for employees to engage in while working remotely. Playing icebreakers with your team is a fun way to get to know one another while providing a warm welcome to new members. If you would like to bring more unity to your team, then we recommend choosing an online icebreaker that all team members can enjoy.

Team building icebreakers can positively impact teams and bring coworkers closer together. When your team feels more united, your employees will feel happier and more satisfied. Your employees can also exhibit higher productivity and success in their jobs when they feel more relaxed and connected with their peers.

Read more ways to make virtual meetings fun .

FAQ: FAQ: Online team building icebreakers

Here are answers to questions about online team building icebreakers.

What are online team building icebreakers?

Online team building icebreakers are ideas, games, and activities to bring teams closer. Team building icebreakers are also great activities to welcome and warm up new team members. These exercises are typically conducted during virtual team meetings on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams and occur at the beginning of a call.

How do you do icebreakers with teams online?

There are many ways to play icebreakers with teams online. The first step is to get your entire team together on a virtual conferencing platform like Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. Then, it would be best to introduce your chosen icebreaker to the team, whether you are playing a simple trivia game or doing a more complex activity like a virtual scavenger hunt. Finally, to ensure that all teammates are motivated and engaged, we suggest having each member turn on their video cameras during the activity.

What are the best online team building icebreakers?

The best online team building icebreakers are activities and exercises that help teammates get to know each other better. These icebreakers may include:

  • Rapid-Fire Questions
  • Teammate Trivia
  • Riddle Masters
  • Virtual Office Tour

After playing online icebreakers during your virtual team meeting, your team members will feel more connected and united.

Leave a Reply Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fun Online Storytelling Workshops

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5400+ Reviews

Museum Hack leads online storytelling workshops that are fun, fast-paced and surprisingly cool.

Highlights include:

  • Smart Humor, Mind Blowing Facts, Juicy Gossip
  • Icebreakers & Fun Team Photos
  • 100% "You'll Love It" Guarantee

Your team will learn a world class skill they can use at work and in their personal lives.

critical thinking icebreaker games

Let's Roam Explorer

35 Fun and Hilarious Ice breaker Games (That Aren’t Cheesy!)

It’s tough to know what to say or do in an uncomfortable situation when awkward silence sets in. These ice breaker games should get conversation flowing!

critical thinking icebreaker games

Sometimes, it’s tough to know what to say at an organizational event, social gathering, or during that awkward silence that often takes over a team meeting. One of the best ways to lighten the mood and get people mingling is with fun ice breaker games. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of the best conversation starters to help make everyone feel welcome. We hope you enjoy them!

Explore new places on scavenger hunts !

Over the past few decades, employers have really begun to see the value of team building .  Well-planned exercises allow colleagues to see each other in a different light, build bonds, improve communication skills, and collaborate with ease. They’ve also been proven to boost productivity , increase staff engagement, and foster a positive company culture. We believe in the power of team-building so much that we’ve created 20+ highly-rated activities to help companies achieve their goals! Contact our expert guides to discuss how we can help you.

Team-Building Ice Breaker Games

We all know the feeling of being “the new kid on the block,” onboarded to a large group, or the latest addition to a project. It can be a little nerve-wracking, to say the least. Even if you’ve scouted out the company and staff on social media, it’s still tough to try to integrate yourself into a team of strangers.

Luckily, the best leaders have been in that same position and know that team-building exercises can make introductions a little easier. The icebreaker activities that made this list will have staff members feeling like family in no time!

Note: While these icebreaker ideas are formatted for use as team-building games in the work environment, they can easily be adapted for use with small teams of any kind.

1. Charades

Most people know this old-school party game where you act out a person, place, or thing without saying any words. Your team has to guess what you’re trying to convey and if they do, you get a point. The game is normally segmented by time periods (e.g. 30-seconds or one minute), but since it’s so simple, you can change the rules in any way that works for you!

Around the world, you can find people playing trivia whether it be at a house party, bar, work event, etc. There is a very good reason for that—it’s fun! It’s easy to download trivia questions and scorecards online and you can keep track of everyone’s scores on a simple piece of paper. Depending on what the event is, you can also create your own questions about your company, its history, and perhaps some fun facts about the upper management. 

3. The Line-Up

This game may sound very simple but can get surprisingly hard as you go along. To start, team members must stand in line according to a physical characteristic (height, hair color, eye color, etc) without speaking to one another. If the group knows each other well, you can make the topics even harder. This is a particularly interesting icebreaker game to do at both the beginning and the end of a multi-day event to see how people’s behavior has changed. Were there people at the beginning who took charge? Are they the same people as at the end or did some of the attendees come out of their shells a bit during the event?

4. Jigsaw Puzzles 

This fun icebreaker combines teamwork and critical thinking skills into one challenge. During this game, each team gets a puzzle of equal difficulty. They then work together to try and put it together faster than the other teams. To make it a bit more challenging, make sure to switch a few of the puzzle pieces before the game starts. Teams will then have to negotiate with the other teams to give them the necessary pieces in order to finish the puzzle. Since everyone is trying to finish the fastest to win the game, this may take some considerable skills!

5. The Artist and the Muse

During this game, two people sit with their backs towards one another. One person is given a picture of an object that they then need to describe to the other person without using specific words of what it is. This is a great way for teams to work on verbal communication skills and listening skills. It also gives a unique perspective into how people view the world based on the descriptions that they were given. When the game is done, make sure to hang the drawings up on the walls both as a way to showcase the “art” and to remind people of the importance of clear communication. 

6. The Stick Game

This is an easy and quick icebreaker that can get people moving a bit. You simply need to long, thin stick (think something like a broom handle). Have the entire team hold out their hands and lay the stick across their hands. They then need to work together to keep the stick complete straight as they lower it all the way to the floor without anyone letting go of it until the very end. If you want to make it even more challenging, make it a silent activity where people can only use nonverbal communication. It’s amazing to see how creative people can get with signaling even when they aren’t able to use their hands. 

7. The Floor is Lava!

In this energetic game, teams are required to cross a large section of a room or park stepping only on certain spots. They must then help each player cross the “lava”. You can make this as difficult or as easy as you like by making the “safe” areas bigger or smaller or by adding extra obstacles along the way which helps develop problem-solving skills. The goal of the exercise is to get people thinking one or two steps ahead at all times while ensuring that everyone in their group is successful as well. 

8. Egg Drop

This is another great game that requires some major teamwork. To start, each team is given “construction materials” that they must use to create a protective case for an egg. The egg will be dropped from a high height (6-8 feet is good). The team’s egg that manages to survive the drop is the winner. In the case that more than one team is successful, you can either declare both teams as winners or try dropping the eggs again from a slightly higher height. Just make sure that you don’t go too high. While it’s entertaining for the eggs to be in “danger”, it’s slightly less enjoyable when it comes to your own safety!

9. Marshmallow Challenge

Aspiring engineers get ready—this one is for you! The marshmallow challenge is a team-building activity where teams must create the tallest free-standing structure using just 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and a marshmallow. The marshmallow must be at the top of the structure, but that’s basically the extent of the rules. Teams get 18 minutes for brainstorming, planning, and building their creations and although it seems like playtime for grown-ups, it’s the perfect way to promote leadership skills, collaborations, innovation, communication, and communication techniques. 

10. Movie Pitch

Imagine this… you are the executive at a Hollywood studio. A group of hopeful filmmakers comes to pitch their movie idea and you get to decide which one could be the next Hollywood blockbuster. Pretty cool, huh?

To start this icebreaker, you need to divide teams into small groups and then give them an allocated time to come up with their movie pitch (usually 10 minutes is sufficient). The players get to vote on the movie that they would most like to see and depending on the group dynamics, the winners can either get a prize or they can have the chance to act out a scene from their movie in front of everyone. This is a great way to keep extroverts engaged and also give introverts the chance to speak more. 

11. Team Members Squared

During this game, each team member is blindfolded, and the facilitator places a long piece of rope into everyone’s hands. The team members then need to form a square with it. While the minimum amount of people needed for the game is four, the more people that you add, the more challenging it gets. When everyone thinks that they’ve made the square, you can ask them to remove their blindfolds and see how they’ve done. 

After they see what went well and what didn’t, they can put their blindfolds back on and try the whole exercise again. This is a great way for them to practice problem-solving skills and work on clear communication. 

12. Flash Mob Dance

About a decade ago, flash mobs swept through the United States with people breaking out in choreographed dances across the country. While they seemed a bit cute and silly at the time, they’ve also proven to be great icebreakers. 

Flash mob dances work best when you have a multi-day day meeting with a big group of people. The group is divided into smaller groups and everyone is taught part of a dance. The dance is timed to fit in with the song and each group learns a different part without knowing what the other groups are doing. When the closing dinner comes around, make sure that that song is played and each team can get up and show their dance moves. 

While it may seem awkward to learn a particular dance at the start of an event, it’s a fun way to break the ice and get some energy pumped into the crowd. It’s always the perfect way to finish the event memorably.

13. Scavenger Hunts

Many of us remember the thrill of doing scavenger hunts as kids. Well, we have good news—you don’t have to be a child to enjoy one! We’ve created more than 400 adventures that offer fun ways to learn a lot about the history and culture of places around the world. These activities are great for just about any group and perfect for team-building events . You can even use online hunts as virtual icebreakers! 

Use scavenger hunts as a conference warm-up activity, introduce a new office space to your employees, welcome visitors to your city, or merge recent hires with the rest of the group. When you’re looking to break the ice, there are so many options, and our helpful experts can walk you through each step of the planning process. Fill us in on your specific objectives and we can produce an event that suits your needs and exceeds your expectations!

Everyday Conversation Starters

There is something so incredibly uncomfortable about walking into a silent room where no one is talking to one another. You can hear every footstep, every cough, and every paper shuffle as people wait for the event to start. Rather than having everyone endure this awkwardness, why not kick things off with some fun icebreaker games that will get people chatting and hopefully, some conversations rolling! They are participating great if you have a group of people who are new hires that are getting their first introduction to the company and their colleagues. 

The great thing about these games is that they work with both small and large groups and you can get started even before everyone has arrived. Many of the games below include questions and answers so, if you need some inspiration, be sure to check out our lists of “ Funny Icebreaker Questions That Will Have You In Stitches ” and “ 25+ Icebreaker Questions for Small Groups .”

14. Guess Who

Most of us have played this board game when we were younger. During the game, players have to give clues about a person and the other person has to guess which one it is. This is a really great icebreaker game especially when you know interesting information about everybody attending the event The statements could be something like “This person has been to 100 countries” or ” this person loves to eat octopus”. Try to focus on things that are light-hearted and will make people strike up a conversation so that the fun can keep going even after the game ends!

15. Two Truths and a Lie 

This is another simple ice breaker that allows people to learn a surprisingly large amount about one another and it works really well with large groups. During the game, each person stands up and says three statements about themselves. Two of them should be true and there should be one lie. The other people need to guess which one is the lie. The more outrageous the truth statements are the better as it makes the game even more fun!

16. Diversity Bingo

This game starts the same way as a normal game of bingo. Each contestant gets a card with a grid on it. However, instead of having numbers, it has statements that will apply to some of the people in the group but not all of them. After everyone has a card, they get a chance to mingle with one another and find people who “match” the statements. These people will then sign their cards. The first person to have a straight or diagonal line gets a “Bingo”. Make sure to limit the number of times one person can sign another one’s card to ensure that two people don’t simply fill up their cards together (trust us, it happens).

Another fun party game, Jenga is normally used as a way to promote hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. To make it even more engaging, you can write questions on the Jenga pieces. When a person draws a game piece, they will need to read an icebreaker question aloud and answer it before putting the block back on top of the tower. These questions can be as silly or as deep as you want them to be ranging from things like favorite color to career goals.

While you’re creating the questions, make sure to think about what kind of environment you want to create through it. (Oh, and use dry erase markers so you can wipe it off the pieces and use them for another game later!)

18. The Human Map

As companies become more and more globalized, people from around the world find themselves working closely with people from different countries and even continents. If you’re part of an organization with people from across the country or around the world, how about creating a human map to show where people are from? To get the game going, you simply need to “draw” an imaginary map on the ground and tell everyone what the “borders” are.

People can then stand on a spot to show where they are from. They can then give one or two facts about their hometown or they can even share one of their favorite childhood memories. This is a great way for team members to connect on a deeper level and it helps people learn more about the world around them.

19. Unique and Shared 

This is another quick way to help teams from diverse backgrounds to uncover their similarities. To start, you need to divide the attendees into groups of four or five people. They can then discuss what they have in common and also ask about other team members’ unique characteristics.

To help guide them, you can give topic ideas like “who likes the New York Knicks?” or “who loves to travel?”. As people begin to feel more comfortable around one another, it’s likely that they will begin talking more about themselves which helps everyone connect on a higher level.

20. Speed Dating

While the words “speed dating” may not seem like a great icebreaker for a work event, they are actually a great way for people from different teams to get to know each other a little bit better. You can have them keep things at a personal level if you want to help develop relationships or you can ask them to speak about their day-to-day tasks and working style. This situation is particularly useful if you have departments that are constantly butting heads (e.g. finance vs. sales) and you may be surprised at how well it works to smooth over any friction points in the future. 

21. Keychain Stories

This icebreaker is a unique way for team members to share a bit of their personal life based on their comfort levels. During the game, everyone sits in a circle and shows their keys. They then describe what they are for (house, car, storage) and give a brief description of any keychains that they may have. This is perfect for people who tend to be a bit more introverted as it gives them the chance to give as much or as little information as they want. 

22. Tic-Tac-Toe

While most of us have played this game at some point in our lives, we might not have considered that it could actually be used as an icebreaker game. This is a fun way to get to know one another at the beginning of an event. You simply need a 3 x 3 grid to get things going. Have each person fill in each block with a personal passion and then walk around the room trying to find someone with a similar passion. Just like in bingo, any person who manages to get a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line is a “winner”. If the game is going well, you can continue playing until everyone is a winner. 

23. The Name Game

We all know how tough it can be to remember a bunch of names (and how embarrassing it is to have to ask people what their names are later on). The name game can help make it easier to keep track of who is who and is a fun memory game. 

To start off, one person says their name. The next person says the first person’s name and then their own name. The third person says the first two names and then their own and so on. This works really well with groups of eight to ten people and by the end, hopefully, people will have remembered the majority of people’s names. If someone gets stuck, make sure to encourage the other attendees to step in and help. This helps transform the activity from a conversation starter to a basic teamwork activity.

24. Never Have I Ever

While a version of this game is played at frat parties across the country, it can easily be incorporated into a professional event as a fun-filled icebreaker. Before the event begins, the facilitator puts together a list of “Never Have I Ever” statements. These can range from things like, “Never have I ever been to Iceland,” “Never have I ever seen Jurassic Park ,” or “Never have I ever gone snorkeling.” 

After each statement is read, people can either stand up or simply put their hands up to show that it’s something they’ve done. It’s best to start off slowly with things that most people have done to make sure that everyone is engaged before launching into some of the more random questions.

25. Storytime

To start this game, each player writes down a true story of something funny that happened to them. They then fold the paper and put it into a container or in a pile. The facilitator will then read each of the stories and everyone has the chance to guess who wrote the story. It’s an interesting way to learn a little bit more about how coworkers see the world, their sense of humor, and their writing style. 

26. Cards Against Humanity

While this hilarious game is played at parties around the world, it can work surprisingly well in a professional environment if people already have a strong interpersonal relationship and you simply need something to set the right mood for the event. You may want to take some of the most offensive cards out of the pile before you start just in case and then see where the game takes you!

27. Show and Tell

Most of us have had “Show and Tell” during our elementary school days and the premise for the icebreaker version of it’s much the same as the childhood activity. During “Show and tell”, each team member has the opportunity to talk about or show something that they are interested in. It could be anything from a new cookie recipe that they’ve mastered to a history book that they read.

Show and Tell not only allows people to get to know each other on a more personal level, but it also gives everyone the chance to speak about something that they are passionate about. This may be incredibly useful for introverted team members who may not have a chance to speak publicly to practice these skills.

28. Who Am I?

At the start of the game, each team member has a name tag put on their back featuring the name of a famous person. They then need to ask their colleagues yes or no questions to try to figure out who they are. Keep going until everyone is reasonably certain that they know who the famous person is. Have them say the name in front of the group and then show them whether or not they were correct.

If you’re playing this game with people from around the world, try to make sure that the people are well-known globally (football players and basketball players may not work so well here and only use really, really important historical figures). 

29. Would You Rather?

This is one of my all-time favorite icebreakers. The name pretty much says it all but in this game, each team member gets to ask another person what they would rather do. One of the easiest ways to facilitate this is by printing off a list of questions for each participant and allowing them to mingle with their fellow attendees. Try to make get people to ask a few follow u questions and keep the conversation going. For example, the question could be ”Would you rather be stuck on a desert island or in the middle of the Amazon jungle?” The follow u question could then just be a simple “why?”. The answers can tell you a lot about the way people think and even a bit about their problem-solving skills. 

Ice Breaker Games for Remote Teams

While icebreakers are a lot of fun and a great way to increase engagement, they can be a little tricky to do with remote teams. However, online communication tools like Zoom have made this a million times easier. Below is a list of great activities specifically designed for teams located around the world. Let the team bonding begin!

30. Let’s Draw

Get ready to get your creativity flowing! Attendees can take turns drawing out a random word while everyone else tries to guess what it is as fast as they can. The first person to guess correctly wins the round. The scoring is done virtually so you don’t have to keep track of anything and our experts will make sure that everything goes flawlessly.

In our version of this virtual Pictionary game , professional hosts lead teams through a series of clever drawing challenges, ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and participates. It’s a popular choice on our team-building platform!

31. Virtual Draw and Sip

If you love the idea of drawing but arent sure Pictionary is the right game for your event, you may also want to consider Virtual Draw and Sip where a skilled artist teaches attendees how to create their very own masterpiece. Before the event, our team will let you know exactly what materials are needed to complete the project and you can either provide this for the attendees. On the day of the event, they will then walk the attendees through the creative process with a drawing or painting tutorial. This is a great option if you’re managing a hybrid event and want to do something really creative.

32. Virtual Trivia

While we normally think of trivia as something that we do in a bar with friends, it’s just as fun virtually! Since dealing with technical issues can be a bit tiresome, Let’s Roam is here to help by offering a customized virtual trivia game full of fun facts. If you want to keep the fun going, you can also try a number of other fun virtual office games. 

33. Virtual Escape Room

Escape rooms have become extremely popular worldwide over the past decade and it’s easy to see why. Combining problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork, this is a great activity for groups of friends or families who want to try something new and challenging and equally as good for team members who could benefit from a team-building activity (which, honestly, is pretty much everyone).

34. The Hot Seat

While many people don’t necessarily like being in the spotlight, this is one activity that’s designed to bring even the most introverted people out of their shells. During the game, each person takes the hot seat while other people get to ask them questions. To get started, you may want to provide a list of sample questions for people to choose from and if you sense any tension between people, it may be a good idea to keep a close eye on the game to make sure that no drama unfolds. 

35. No Smiling!

Icebreakers definitely can’t get any easier than this one! The premise of it is very easy. People must keep a straight face and are not allowed to smile for a period of time (five minutes is usually good to shoot for). While it seems a bit contradictory compared to what icebreakers are trying to achieve, trust us. It really works. 

In real life, most people find it really difficult to follow this instruction and may begin looking around the room to see what their fellow attendees are doing. It usually only takes one person to start to chuckle and, next thing you know, you’ll have a room full of gigglers! It usually works even faster when you’re in a virtual setting with all of the funny aspects of everyday life happening offscreen. 

 It may sound a bit silly but think back to the last time that you had a case of uncontrollable giggles and how happy that made you feel. Now imagine a room full of event attendees that feel that same way. Talk about starting off on the right foot!

Ready to start breaking the ice?

We hope that this list has given you some great ideas to use as icebreakers for your next event. Don’t forget to focus on the end goal of the icebreaker and choose the games that work best for you and your group.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re facilitating or hosting a meeting, it’s helpful to have a few ice breaker games ready. Consider using the Name Game , Charades , Guess Who , or even a quick Team-Building Scavenger Hunt .

If you’re hosting a work event, help attendees get to know each other with the Name Game or The Artist and the Muse . If you’re throwing a party, Guess Who or Never Have I Ever can get conversation flowing.

There are many icebreaker activities that translate well to video. To get your virtual event off to a good start, try a drawing game like Pictionary , trivia , or an ice breaker game like the Hot Seat .

Featured Products & Activities

  • Get started Get started for free

Figma design

Design and prototype in one place

critical thinking icebreaker games

Collaborate with a digital whiteboard

critical thinking icebreaker games

Translate designs into code

critical thinking icebreaker games

Get the desktop, mobile, and font installer apps

See the latest features and releases

  • Prototyping
  • Design systems
  • Wireframing
  • Online whiteboard
  • Team meetings
  • Strategic planning
  • Brainstorming
  • Diagramming
  • Product development
  • Web development
  • Design handoff
  • Product managers

Organizations

Config 2024

Register to attend in person or online — June 26–27

critical thinking icebreaker games

Creator fund

Build and sell what you love

User groups

Join a local Friends of Figma group

Learn best practices at virtual events

Customer stories

Read about leading product teams

Stories about bringing new ideas to life

critical thinking icebreaker games

Get started

  • Developer docs
  • Best practices
  • Reports & insights
  • Resource library
  • Help center

53+ Icebreaker Ideas for a More Connected Workplace

ice breaker ideas cover photo

Meetings are meant to be collaborative, but a good start is essential. That’s why an icebreaker activity, proven to boost collaboration amongst teams, is a great way to kick things off.

The best icebreakers help people get to know each other, feel more open to working together, and ultimately set teams up for smoother collaborations.

Whether it's a team meeting, a virtual hangout, or a workshop , these 53 icebreaker ideas will keep everyone engaged.

What is an icebreaker?

An icebreaker is a warm-up exercise that helps people in a team get to know one another. Depending on your agenda and how well everyone already knows each other, your icebreaker could be a game or a question, fun or thought-provoking, long or short. A successful icebreaker can create a productive, engaging, and inclusive team atmosphere.

When to use icebreakers

Today’s teams often include a mix of remote and in-office members, and there may be fewer moments to connect in person. Icebreakers help team members bond, fostering hybrid team unity. Breaking the ice is especially important with a new team or a group of people who don't know each other well.

Benefits of using icebreakers

Project leaders may want to rush through team-building activities during meetings, considering them a waste of time for busy teams. But fun activities like icebreakers can save time in the long term, as people feel free to provide essential feedback or to make proactive suggestions.

Using icebreakers can help you in three ways:

  • Improve listening techniques: Icebreaker activities boost team communication with shared attention and focus. They create an active listening environment where everyone feels encouraged to speak.
  • Foster a sense of community: Icebreaker activities shape and reinforce the team culture. They uncover shared interests and related experiences, building community for a more cooperative, harmonious workplace.
  • Build a productive work environment: Icebreaker activities are team energizers, turning an ordinary team meeting into an exciting learning environment. These warm-ups are fun, but they're also essential for productive brainstorming and challenging group work. In today's diverse work settings, these questions highlight unique perspectives, sparking creativity and innovation.

Types of icebreakers

The following icebreaker categories work for most team-building objectives—read on to find the right fit for your team meeting.

  • Introductions: Ask questions or play simple get-to-know-you games to help team members introduce themselves.
  • Team-builders: These activities build stronger relationships and understanding through teamwork and cooperative tasks.
  • Problem-solving: Participants solve a problem or puzzle together, promoting creative thinking and collaboration.
  • Brainstorming: Brainstorming stimulates creative thinking; even a quick session can surface fresh ideas.
  • Games: Fun activities help reduce stress and build a positive team culture.
  • Topical: These icebreakers relate directly to the topic or purpose of the meeting or event to stimulate thinking about the subject at hand.
  • Energizers: These icebreakers rejuvenate a group through physical activity or quick, engaging games—ideal for after breaks or during long sessions.
  • Culture-building: This type of icebreaker enhances team culture by instilling shared values and behaviors.
  • Virtual: For remote teams or online meetings, virtual icebreakers can include fun quizzes, virtual tours, or digital content sharing.

Icebreaker ideas for meetings 

Break the ice with some of these icebreaker ideas and activities in your next meeting.

1. Two truths and a lie

Two truths and a lie is a great activity for teams just getting to know each other. Each team member shares two true statements and one false statement about themselves, and others guess which statement is the lie.

You could even play a spin-off of this game, two truths and a dream, where instead of a lie, you share an aspiration or dream you have.

two truths and a lie template

2. 10 things in common

This easy icebreaker works well when team members are getting acquainted for the first time. Divide your team into pairs and have them find 10 things they have in common.

3. Guess that team member

Team members write down five personal facts on paper strips, tuck them into an envelope, and hand them over. The leader reads the facts out individually while the rest of the team guesses who matches each set of details.

If your team is remote, you can ask each person to share their five facts anonymously using an online survey maker like Wufoo or Jotform.

4. Skittles sharing

Each person picks a few Skittles (or M&M’s) in varying colors, with each color tied to a question or prompt they'll respond to (for example, red = preferred vacation spot). Reveal the questions after team members choose their colors for an additional layer of vulnerability. This is a creative way to encourage sharing interests and experiences within a group.

5. Name that movie quote

With this icebreaker activity, participants take turns quoting a line from a movie, and the rest of the group has to guess which movie the quote is from. It's a fun way to test everyone's pop culture knowledge and encourage friendly competition.

6. Speedy ideation

In the speedy ideation icebreaker, your team gets about a minute to generate as many ideas as possible on a specific topic or challenge. The goal is to encourage creativity without overthinking.

After the time is up, team members share their ideas with the group. This icebreaker is an effective warm-up for brainstorming sessions and sets a positive tone for collaborative discussions.

speedy ideation template

7. What’s your headline?

This is a fun and engaging activity where team members come up with a catchy news headline related to the meeting's topic. It's a great way to kick off a meeting and set a lively tone for the discussions ahead.

8. Value story circle

This icebreaker encourages team members to share personal stories that highlight their values and experiences. Participants sit in a circle, each sharing a story related to a specific value or principle they hold dear.

This icebreaker aims to create deeper connections among team members by learning about one another's values and the experiences that have shaped them.

9. Bucket list

Participants share items from their personal bucket lists—things they want to experience, achieve, or do in their lifetime. Each person shares one item from their bucket list,briefly explaining its importance.

10. Lost at sea

This scenario-based icebreaker activity asks team members to imagine they are stranded on a deserted island after a shipwreck. They have a list of items they salvaged from the shipwreck and must work together to prioritize and choose the most important things for survival. It’s a fun way to foster critical thinking, communication, and group dynamics.

11. Word association

Start with a random word and go around in a circle, each person adding a word tied to the one before. The goal is to say the first word that pops into your head, sparking a speedy cascade of words.

12. Rose, thorn, bud

Rose, thorn, bud invites team members to share their highlights (roses), challenges (thorns), and opportunities for growth (buds). This icebreaker allows team members to reflect, promoting open sharing of both positive and challenging experiences.

rose bud thorn icebreaker

13. Bad joke contest

Each participant delivers a bad joke, like one with a silly punchline, and the others will vote to determine which joke was the worst. Make sure to give your team a heads-up so they can prepare beforehand!

14. Talent show

If you have any secret talents, it's your time to shine! Whether it's juggling, hilarious celebrity imitations, or even beatboxing, encourage your team to showcase their finest talent for the entire group to enjoy.

15. Hot take

Each person shares a bold opinion, either uniting them with like-minded colleagues or sparking friendly debates with those who disagree.

The aim is to keep things entertaining, so stick to light subjects and avoid anything too contentious. For example, “Deep dish pizza is better than New York-style pizza,” or “The ending of Game of Thrones was good.”

16. Share an embarrassing photo

Got any embarrassing photos from back in the day? Now's your chance to unveil them! Ask your team to dig up some delightfully embarrassing photos and tell the stories behind them during the session.

17. Wild ideas only

Present your team with a scenario or challenge, like an unexpected alien invasion. Task your team with brainstorming solutions, but here's the twist: They must unleash their wildest and most imaginative ideas to solve the problem.

18. Alternative uses

In this activity, your team has to brainstorm various ways to utilize a basic item, such as a lamp, garden hose, or paper plate. Use a timer and have each team member come up with as many ideas as possible in three minutes.

19. Compose magnet poems

This icebreaker idea is a fun opportunity for team members to dive into a jumble of words and shape them into something beautiful—or hilarious! Grab magnetic word kits or try a virtual template , letting your team arrange words to craft interesting poems.

magnet poem icebreaker

Icebreaker activities for virtual teams

Whether you're hosting a remote brainstorm or catching up with remote colleagues, these icebreaker activities are perfect for virtual teams.

20. Virtual scavenger hunt

In this activity, participants search their surroundings for specific items based on given prompts. For example, participants might look for something blue, a favorite book, a childhood photo, or an item that represents one of their hobbies.

21. Show and tell

Virtual show and tell allows team members to show off personal stuff, hobbies, or interesting experiences through their webcams. This could mean sharing a favorite book, a souvenir from a trip, or even a tasty dish you made. Not only does it help everyone connect but you also get to know your colleagues better.

22. Pictionary

Sure, Pictionary may traditionally be an in-person activity, but you can take the fun online with " Fig-tionary ." In this icebreaker, team members use a digital whiteboard to draw pictures while others guess what they are.

pictionary in Figma

23. Pet parade

Is everyone on your team a proud pet owner? If so, invite team members to bring their companions to the online meeting and let them introduce their furry (or scaly or feathery) friends to the whole team. It's a great way to kick-start conversations and create connections.

24. Virtual bingo

Players get virtual bingo cards on their screens, the host draws random items, and players mark their cards. The goal is to complete rows, columns, or diagonals, just like regular bingo.

It’s a fun icebreaker that promotes participation and a hint of competition. Fostering camaraderie and chats in the virtual "bingo hall, is a great way to warm up team meetings or events.

25. Remote work setup tour

Ever heard of a remote setup tour? In this fun virtual icebreaker, team members show off their home office or workspace on a video call. People talk about how they've decorated their space, what equipment they're using, and any cool stuff that shows their personality.

26. Share your screen

In this icebreaker activity, each team member shares their computer screen with the rest of the group. They can showcase their favorite apps, websites, digital hobbies, or even a glimpse of their work projects. As they navigate their screen, they explain why these elements are important to them, sharing anecdotes and stories that reveal their interests and passions.

This icebreaker provides insight into team members' digital preferences and creates a relaxed atmosphere where everyone gets to know one another on a more personal level.

27. Music favorites

Who doesn't enjoy music? For this icebreaker, have team members share their current favorite song and how they discovered it. They can even link the tracks from their preferred music streaming platforms if they want to.

music favorites

28. Personality quiz

This icebreaker is simple: Each team member takes a fun quiz to learn about their personality and style. They answer questions about what they like and how they act. Then, in your online meetup, everyone shares their quiz results. It's a cool way to understand ourselves better and get to know one another's quirks.

29. Color Jacuzzi

The color Jacuzzi icebreaker is like the virtual version of the Skittle-sharing activity. Ask participants to pick their favorite color, then assign questions for each color option (for example, red = what motivates you the most?). Have your team answer the question for the color they picked.

color jacuzzi icebreaker

30. Themed meeting

Imagine a virtual meeting that's more than just the usual routine. Everyone dresses up according to a fun theme, like a favorite movie, holiday, or time period. Participants can even change their virtual backgrounds to match the theme.

This isn't just about dressing up and changing backgrounds, though; it's about breaking the ice, laughing, and seeing each other in a new light. It makes the meeting feel fun, gets conversations going, and brings out everyone’s creative side.

31. Emoji introductions

Each person picks a few emojis that represent different aspects of themselves, like their hobbies, personality, or even how they're feeling that day. During the meeting, the team shares their chosen emojis and explains why they picked them.

It's a creative way to introduce yourself beyond the usual "name and role" routine. Plus, emojis can say a lot in just a tiny symbol, so it starts conversations and shows your personality in a lighthearted way.

32. The hobby host

Invite volunteers to host quick webinars about their personal hobbies before meetings. It could be anything from ice fishing to video gaming to RV traveling. This gives your team a chance to bond and discover new things about one another. It's both fun and educational!

33. Animal drawings

If you’re looking for a fun icebreaker for your virtual team, try the animal drawings game. Think of an animal and give everyone 30 seconds to draw it, then, admire the drawings together.

animal drawing icebreaker

Quick icebreakers

If you’re short on time but still want to break the ice and get the group feeling warmed up, check out some of these quick icebreaker ideas.

34. One-word check-in

This simple, quick icebreaker adds a personal touch to meetings. Each person shares a single word that describes how they're feeling or what's on their mind. It could be anything—a mood, thought, or even something related to their day. This icebreaker gives you a quick peek into each person's perspective before the meeting starts.

35. Meme challenge

This icebreaker is similar to the "one-word check-in," but with a twist: You share a meme that reflects your mood or what’s on your mind. It's a funnier way to show the team how you're feeling and start the meeting with a good laugh.

36. Adjective description

Encourage each person to use one to five adjectives that describe themselves. This playful approach helps the team discover more about one another.

adjective description

H3: 37. Personal achievement share

Sharing personal achievements brings a positive, motivating energy to team interactions. In this activity, each team member gets to talk about something they're proud of accomplishing, whether big or small.

It could be hitting a fitness goal, learning a new skill, completing a project, or even perfecting a recipe. This allows team members to celebrate their successes and offer insights into their passions and interests outside of work.

38. Time capsule message

Each team member writes a short message to their future selves that they'll open later. The message could include personal goals, current thoughts, aspirations, or even predictions. Whether you open the time capsules at the end of a quarter or a year later, it'll be a heartwarming reminder of where everyone started and how much they've grown.

39. Highs and lows

In this activity, each participant shares the best and the most challenging aspects of their day, week, or a specific timeframe. It's an easy way to kick off discussions, build connections, and acknowledge everyone's feelings and experiences.

40. Life philosophy in three words

Pick three words that capture what you believe in or how you see the world. They could relate to what's important to you, your dreams, or how you deal with challenges. It's a quick and fun way to get to know what really matters to each team member.

41. Would you rather

In this fun icebreaker, team members take turns posing two options and asking which one others would choose. It sparks conversations, laughter, and creative thinking. It's a playful way to reveal preferences, encourage debates, and bring out everyone's unique personality. Jump to the would you rather questions below for some inspiration.

Icebreaker games

From large groups to small workshops, these icebreaker games are perfect for breaking the ice, sparking conversations, and creating memorable moments.

42. Charades

Team members act out words, phrases, or movie titles without speaking, only using gestures and expressions. It's a fun, team-focused game that gets everyone laughing and working together. Charades suits various themes, making it perfect for energizing a group, building connections, and setting a vibrant tone.

43. Who am I?

This is a great icebreaker game for large and small groups alike. Players wear a card on their foreheads labeled as a famous person, character, or object. Without peeking, they ask yes or no questions to discover their identity.

44. Team portraits

Team portraits is a sketching relay race, where one team member draws a facial feature in a box, then another team member draws another facial feature in the next box. At the end, the boxes connect to form funky—and funny—faces.

team portraits icebreaker

45. Story starters

In this icebreaker, each person starts with a sentence or a few words that serve as the beginning of a story. They then continue the story with their own unique twists, ideas, and characters. As the storyline goes around the group, each participant adds their part, building upon what the previous person said.

46. People BINGO

Each person receives a bingo card with a grid of boxes, each containing a characteristic, trait, or experience that someone in the group might have. Instead of numbers, the boxes might include things like "Has traveled to more than three countries," "Speaks more than one language," or "Plays a musical instrument."

The goal is to interact with fellow participants and find teammates matching the boxes' descriptions. When someone finds a person who fits a characteristic, they write that person's name in the corresponding box. The first person to complete a row, column, or diagonal of boxes calls out, "Bingo!"

47. Workplace trivia

This icebreaker activity adds a playful spin to the classic trivia game, all centered around your workplace. Come up with questions about your teammates, past company events, or ongoing projects. It's a way to infuse team knowledge and camaraderie into a familiar game format.

48. Survival

Survival is a dynamic icebreaker game that promotes creativity and teamwork. Team members select a slip of paper from a container, each bearing a different object, like a bike helmet or peanut butter jar. Everyone then collaborates to create teams where the combined objects would aid in wilderness survival. The team leader hears each team's argument for having the most effective objects and decides on the winning team.

49. Lineups

Organize your team into groups of roughly 10 people and equip each team with a whistle. Declare a lineup category, such as oldest to youngest or alphabetical order, and the teams compete to arrange themselves according to that criterion. The team that completes the lineup first signals their victory with their whistle.

Icebreaker questions

Check out this collection of fun, unique, and thought-provoking icebreaker questions:

50. Fun icebreaker questions

  • If you could have any fictional animal as a pet, what would it be and why?
  • What's the most unusual food you've ever tried?
  • If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
  • What's your go-to dance move when nobody's watching?
  • If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?

51. Unique icebreaker questions

  • What's a talent or hobby you have that most people don't know about?
  • If you could live in any time period other than now, what would you choose?
  • What's something on your bucket list that's unconventional?
  • If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would it be and why?
  • What's the strangest or most interesting place you've ever been?

52. Thought-provoking icebreaker questions

  • If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
  • What's a book, movie, or experience that has significantly shaped your perspective?
  • If you had to give up one modern convenience, what would it be and why?
  • What's the most valuable lesson you've learned from a past mistake?
  • If you could have a deep conversation with any historical figure, who would it be and what would you discuss?

53. Would you rather icebreaker questions

  • Would you rather have the ability to fly or be able to breathe underwater?
  • Would you rather travel 100 years into the past or 100 years into the future?
  • Would you rather have a rewind button for your life or a pause button?
  • Would you rather live in a world with only black and white or a world with no music?
  • Would you rather explore space or the deep ocean?

5 tips for icebreaker facilitators

If you're in charge of hosting a meeting, especially the icebreaker segment, use these tips to ensure you hit the mark.

1. Match the icebreaker to your goal

Different icebreakers serve different purposes, whether you're brainstorming, doing group work, or just getting to know each other. Choose the ideal icebreaker for your team-building goals, considering your group dynamics and work environment.

2. Consider setting and timing

A quick, fun activity might be perfect for a short online meeting, while an in-depth discussion might suit a longer, in-person session. Make sure you allow enough time to complete your activity. Icebreakers are about building community—not something you want to rush.

3. Set an example

As a facilitator, set the tone by answering the icebreaker question first. This helps put everyone at ease and demonstrates the depth and style of the desired response.

4. Promote active listening

Encourage participants to listen carefully and ask follow-up questions. The aim is to establish connections, build community, and ensure everyone feels heard.

5. Foster interaction

Allow team members to engage freely with one another, not just in the larger group but also in small groups or pairs. This makes the session more inclusive and less intimidating.

Break the ice with FigJam

Whether your team meeting is online or in person, FigJam's free virtual icebreaker templates can kick-start your next team-building session. Use drag-and-drop features to create games and customize the template to capture your team style or theme.

Ready to break the ice and start team-building? Find your next icebreaker with FigJam .

Press ESC to close

Anti-Work Movement could result in Unionization

9 Icebreaker Games to Get Started in Meetings

Icebreaker games can be a great way to break the ice, foster communication, and build relationships in a group. They are particularly useful in meetings where people may feel a bit awkward. Icebreaker games can help to create a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and can also be a lot of fun! In this blog, we’ll be exploring 11 different icebreaker games that you can use in your meetings or team-building events. Whether you’re looking for a quick and simple game or something more involved, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s dive in and start breaking the ice!

Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is a popular icebreaker game that is often played in meetings. In this game, each person takes turns sharing three statements about themselves. two of which are true and one of which is false. The other participants then try to guess which statement is the lie. The game is designed to help people get to know each other better by sharing interesting or unexpected facts about themselves. It also encourages active listening and critical thinking skills.

Two Truths and a Lie can be played in a variety of settings. From casual get-togethers to more formal team-building like meetings, and is always a fun way to break the ice!

Word Association

Word Association is a classic icebreaker game that can be a great way to get a group talking and thinking creatively . In this game, one person starts by saying a word, and then the next person has to say a word that is associated with the first word. This continues around the group, with each person building on the previous word and coming up with new connections and associations. The game can be played with a specific theme or topic in mind, or can be completely free-form. Word Association is a great way to encourage active listening and creative thinking, as well as getting people comfortable with speaking up in a meeting. It’s also a fun way to discover new connections and insights about the people in the group.

Would You Rather

Would You Rather is a fun and engaging icebreaker game that can help to foster lively conversation and debate in a meeting. In this game, the facilitator poses a series of questions that begin with “Would you rather…”, and each person takes turns answering the question by choosing between two options. The questions can be silly or serious, and are designed to encourage people to think critically and creatively. This game can be played in a variety of settings, from casual social gatherings to more formal business meetings or team-building events.

Would You Rather is a great way to get people talking and thinking outside the box, while also providing a fun and lighthearted way to break the ice and get to know one another better.

Desert Island

Desert Island is a creative icebreaker game that can be a fun and engaging way to get people talking and working together in a meeting. In this game, participants are asked to imagine that they are stranded on a desert island and can only bring three items with them. Each person takes turns sharing what they would bring and why, sparking conversation and debate among the group. The game can be played with various variations, such as specifying certain categories of items or adding additional constraints, making it a versatile game that can be tailored to different settings and preferences.

Desert Island is a great way to encourage creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. While also providing a fun way to break the ice and learn more about one another’s personalities.

Picture Sharing

Picture Sharing is a simple and effective icebreaker game that can help to create a relaxed and engaging atmosphere in a meeting. In this game, each person is asked to bring in a picture or photograph that represents something about themselves, their interests, or their experiences. Each person then takes turns sharing their picture with the group and explaining why it is meaningful to them. This can spark conversation and help to build connections among the group members. Picture Sharing is a great way to encourage self-expression and creativity, while also providing a fun and interactive way to break the ice and get to know one another better.

The game can be played with different variations, such as having people guess who brought which picture or having a group discussion about common themes or interests that emerge from the pictures.

Picture Sharing Game

Guess Who is a fun and interactive icebreaker game that can be a great way to get people talking and learning more about one another in a meeting. In this game, each person is asked to provide a series of interesting or unique facts about themselves, without revealing their name. The other participants then take turns guessing who the person is based on the facts they have shared. The game encourages active listening and critical thinking, as well as providing a fun and engaging way to break the ice and learn more about one another. Guess Who can be played in various settings, from casual social gatherings to more formal business meetings or team-building events.

The game can be tailored to different preferences and interests, such as asking people to share facts related to a specific theme or topic.

Personal Trivia

Personal Trivia is a unique and engaging icebreaker game that can help to build connections and foster a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere in a meeting. In this game, each person is asked to share three interesting or unusual facts about themselves that the other participants may not know. The facts can be related to any aspect of their life, such as their hobbies, travel experiences, or personal background. After each person shares their facts, the other participants take turns guessing which fact is the lie. This game encourages active listening and critical thinking , while also providing a fun and interactive way to learn more about one another.

Personal Trivia can be played in various settings, from casual social gatherings to more formal business meetings or team-building events. The game can be tailored to different preferences and interests, such as asking people to share facts related to a specific theme or topic.

One-Word Story

One-Word Story is a creative and entertaining icebreaker game that can help to spark imagination and creativity in a meeting. In this game, the facilitator starts a story with a single word, and each person in the group takes turns adding a single word to the story. The goal is to create a cohesive and entertaining story by building off of one another’s contributions. The game encourages active listening and collaboration. While also providing a fun and interactive way to break the ice and get people talking. One-Word Story can be played in various settings, from casual social gatherings to more formal business meetings or team-building events.

The game can be tailored to different preferences and interests, such as focusing on a specific theme or topic.

This or That

The facilitator asks participants to choose between two options, such as “cats or dogs” or “coffee or tea”, in the simple and fun icebreaker game called This or That, which can help create an interactive meeting. Participants explain their choice and reasoning behind it, encouraging active listening and leading to lively discussions as they share their preferences and opinions.

This or That can be played in various settings, including casual social gatherings and more formal business meetings or team-building events, and can be tailored to different preferences and interests, such as specific topics or themes.

In conclusion, icebreaker games can be a great way to start meetings and foster positive relationships between team members. By breaking down barriers and creating a more relaxed and fun atmosphere, icebreaker games can help team members feel more comfortable sharing ideas and collaborating with one another.

The key to successful icebreaker games is to keep it simple, inclusive, and appropriate in a group setting. With the right icebreaker game, you can set the tone for a productive meeting that everyone will enjoy.

Share Article:

You might also like

Most likely to questions for work, here it is

The Best List of Team Names for Work

Planning the Contingency Plan

How Can Businesses Plan For Contingencies?

critical thinking icebreaker games

The Comprehensive Guide to Physical Safety in The Workplace

Other stories, the comprehensive guide to org charts, the comprehensive guide to employee control systems.

Jira Software

Project and issue tracking

Content collaboration

Jira Service Management

High-velocity ITSM

Visual project management

  • View all products

Marketplace

Connect thousands of apps and integrations for all your Atlassian products

Developer Experience Platform

Jira Product Discovery

Prioritization and roadmapping

You might find helpful

Cloud Product Roadmap

Atlassian Migration Program

Work Management

Manage projects and align goals across all teams to achieve deliverables

IT Service Management

Enable dev, IT ops, and business teams to deliver great service at high velocity

Agile & DevOps

Run a world-class agile software organization from discovery to delivery and operations

BY TEAM SIZE

Small Business

BY TEAM FUNCTION

Software Development

BY INDUSTRY

Telecommunications

Professional Services

What's new

Atlassian together.

Get Atlassian work management products in one convenient package for enterprise teams.

Atlassian Trust & Security

Customer Case Studies

Atlassian University

Atlassian Playbook

Product Documentation

Developer Resources

Atlassian Community

Atlassian Support

Enterprise Services

Partner Support

Purchasing & Licensing

Work Life Blog

Support for Server products ends February 15, 2024

With end of support for our Server products fast approaching, create a winning plan for your Cloud migration with the Atlassian Migration Program.

Assess my options

critical thinking icebreaker games

Atlassian Presents: Unleash

Product updates, hands-on training, and technical demos – catch all that and more at our biggest agile & DevOps event.

  • Atlassian.com

Icebreaker activities

Got 5 minutes? Then you've got time to start making the personal connections that help us do our best work together. We hand-picked a few that build relationships as well as help move your work forward. 

USE THIS PLAY TO...

Get to know the people you work with and let them get to know you. 

Prime your brains for strategic planning, brainstorming, and problem-solving.

If you're struggling with team cohesiveness , or shared understanding on your  Health Monitor , running this play might help.

User Team

Running the play

Pull these tricks out of your hat when you're waiting for people to trickle into a meeting, or at the beginning of an offsite centered on brainstorming and problem-solving. Have fun!

Whiteboard or butcher paper

  • Index cards

"Dicebreakers" print-out

SUPER QUICK ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS

Got a minute or two while people trickle into the meeting? Toss out a question and have a bit of fun. 

QUESTIONS WITH PURPOSE

What will be the title of your autobiography?

  • Theme: Summarizing complex events or concepts
  • Purpose: Prepare for activities like crafting a vision statement.

What is your superhero name?

  • Theme: Naming stuff is hard!
  • Purpose: Practice packing a lot of info into a single, evocative word or phrase.

Who was your first mentor, and what qualities made them a good (or lousy) one?

  • Theme: Teamwork and support is important
  • Purpose: Reinforce the idea that relying on each other is a part of growth – good for projects or teams with lots of dependencies.

When did you call customer service to complain? 

  • Theme: Empathizing with customers
  • Purpose: Remembering what it feels like to be on the customer side of a bad product or service puts us in a compassionate frame of mind before discussing trade-offs or designing a new user experience.

What is one thing you learned from a project that went wrong? 

  • Theme: Failures are learning opportunities
  • Purpose: Focus on risk identification and mitigation.

"JUST FOR FUN" QUESTIONS

Print and assemble one of our  icebreaker dice   for a little extra fun, or just choose one of the questions below.

  • What animal would you choose to be, and why? 
  • What is the last dream you remember? 
  • How do you let teammates know you're in deep work mode? 
  • Where would you vacation if money were no object?
  • Books, magazines, or podcasts?
  • What car did you learn to drive on?
  • What is one thing you're grateful for today? 
  • When you read or watch TV, do you go for fiction or non-fiction?
  • Coffee, tea, or soda?
  • Can you remember a bumper sticker that made you smile? 

FILL IN THE BLANKS

I have never ________________.

My friends love me for my ________________.

If my pet could talk, it would say ________________.

One ____________ is better than ten ________________.

ICEBREAKER ACTIVITIES FOR MEETINGS, OFFSITES, ETC.

Exorcise the demons (10 min).

Best for groups of 3 or more. Use this activity to juice up your neuropathways before brainstorming or problem-solving, and have a few belly laughs. 

  • Introduce the topic you'll be brainstorming around, or the problem you'll be trying to solve. 
  • Using a whiteboard or butcher paper, ask the group to grab a marker and write down the worst ideas they can think of
  • After a few minutes, step back and take 'em all in (we dare you not to bust up laughing!). 
  • (optional) Ask each person to share their favorite worst idea and why it stood out to them. 

This exercise helps us resist the temptation to self-censor when the real problem solving begins. Because hey: you've already heard the worst ideas the group can come up with. Now that you've flushed them out of your system, you can proceed with your regularly-scheduled brainstorming.

Mystery Person Group Sort (15-30 min)

Best for groups of 20 or more. Use this activity to kickstart creative thinking and see different thought processes in action. 

  • Ask each person to write a surprising fact about themselves on an index card, and drop all the cards into a bag, box, or hat.
  • Each person chooses a card at random. 
  • Now the fun begins. Stand up, mingle, and find cards that align to a theme or are of a type. Keep an open mind when thinking about what constitutes the common threads. It could be "daredevil tendencies", "origin stories", "music", or anything else. There is no limit to how big each grouping can be, but you must find groupings that accommodate all the cards. 
  • Have each group read their cards and share the theme they identified.
  • (optional) Now, having heard the groupings chosen so far, invite the group to stand up and re-sort themselves. Some groupings will likely stay the same, while others will be dramatically different. 

Notice how the point of the exercise was  not  to figure out which fact goes with which person? That's on purpose. In fact, remember to let participants know that at the beginning of the exercise in order to stave off any anxieties around it.

Telephone Charades (15 min)

Best for groups of 10 or more. Use this non-verbal activity to, oddly enough, warm up for a day of listening. 

  • Divide into teams of 5-8 people. 
  • Ask one team to come to the front of the room and stand in a line, all facing in the same direction (it's important that they can't see the person standing behind them). 
  • Show the person at the back of the line a word to act out silently, but don't have them do so just yet. Show it to the "audience" as well so they know what's up, but make sure nobody else in the line sees it.
  • When the person at the back of the line is ready, they will tap the shoulder of the person standing in front of them. That person turns around so now the two are standing face to face (but again: the rest of the line continues facing forward). 
  • The person acting pantomimes the word as best they can. Do it 2 or 3 times so the person watching can really absorb and memorize the movements. But do not tell them the word being acted out!
  • Now the person watching becomes the actor – they tap the person in front of them and repeat the pantomime as best they can. (You see where this is going, right?)
  • Repeat steps 4-6 until everyone in the line has seen the pantomime.
  • Laugh your arse off as the pantomime morphs dramatically from how the person at the back of the line originally acted out the word. 
  • If the person at the front of the line can correctly guess the word, that team scores a point. 

Make sure each team gets a chance to act, and go until you cry "uncle". Looking for words to have the teams act out? Try these: mermaid, lawn sprinkler, firefighter, Gollum, light bulb, snow shovel, jet ski, surfer, walkie-talkie, frying pan.

Three Things (5-10 min)

Best for groups of 5 or more. Use this fast-paced activity to trigger quick, unfiltered thinking before a brainstorming session. 

  • Circle up and choose a person to kick things off – we'll call them Person A. 
  • Person A turns to the person next to them (Person B) and names a category – e.g., "types of sandwiches". 
  • Person B rattles off 3 things that fit into that category as fast as they can. No judgement and no self-censoring!
  • When they're done, the entire group give a clap and yells "Three things!"
  • Go around the circle until everyone has had a chance to name the category and name the three things. 

The point isn't to make sure all things named fit the category perfectly, or to come up with the wittiest response. Just let your brains relax so your neurons can fire quickly. Celebrate even the oddest contributions and set an anything-goes tone before diving into more cerebral, strategic activities. 

Be sure to run a full Health Monitor session or checkpoint with your team to see if you're improving.

For more, check out this list of icebreaker games from our pals at Culture Amp. 

If you snapped pictures or grabbed video (especially of Telephone Charades), share them afterward. Try to resist getting a case of the giggles all over again – and good luck with that.

Related Plays

    Rules of Engagement

Want even more Playbook?

Drop your email below to be notified when we add new Health Monitors and plays.

Thanks! Now get back to work.

Got feedback?

Drop a question or comment on the Atlassian Community site.

If you have five minutes, the Icebreaker Activities Play can help you make personal connections and spark the kind of creative thinking that moves work forward.

Clock icon

Run Time 5-30 mins

Connected people icon

People 3-100

Stopwatch icon

What you'll need

  • Video conferencing with screen sharing
  • Digital collaboration tool
  • Dicebreakers cutout
  • Meeting space
  • Whiteboard or butcher paper

Instructions for running this Play

Pull any of the following icebreaker activities out of your hat in any order while waiting for people to trickle into a meeting, during onboardings and trainings, at the beginning of offsites, or any time you want to put people at ease and spark creativity. Have fun!

Super quick icebreaker questions

Have an extra minute or two? These thought-provoking questions make fantastic, fun icebreakers.

Make people think, get conversations started, and warm up before tough brainstorming sessions.

1. What would be the title of your autobiography?

  • Theme: Summarizing complex events or concepts.
  • Purpose: Preparing for activities like crafting a vision statement.

2. If you were a superhero, what would you call yourself?

  • Purpose: Practicing packing a lot of info into a single, evocative word or phrase. This is a killer icebreaker for marketing teams!

3. Who was your first mentor, and what qualities made them a good (or lousy) one?

  • Theme: Teamwork and support are important.
  • Purpose: Reinforcing the idea that relying on each other is part of growth. Use this icebreaker for projects or teams with lots of dependencies, and during leadership meetings.

4. Have you ever called customer service to complain? What happened?

  • Theme: Empathizing with customers.
  • Purpose: Putting everyone into an empathetic state of mind before discussing trade-offs or designing a new user experience.

5. What's one thing you learned from a project that went wrong? 

  • Purpose: Focusing on risk identification and mitigation.

JUST-FOR-FUN QUESTIONS

Spark conversation, especially in less formal meetings. You can also print and assemble one of our dicebreakers for a little extra fun.

  • What's the last dream you remember? 
  • What are your favorite books, magazines, or podcasts?
  • What car did you use to learn how to drive?
  • What's one thing you're grateful for today?
  • Do you prefer coffee, tea, or soda?
  • Can you remember a bumper sticker that made you smile?

Get to know new coworkers or teammates.

I have never ________________.

My friends love me for my ________________.

If my pet could talk, it would say ________________.

One ____________ is better than ten ________________.

Curious how we created these vital signs?

First, we ran organization-wide surveys to gather data. Then, we applied the principles of outcome-driven innovation from Anthony Ulwick’s book, What Customers Want , to give each vital sign an opportunity score.

Icebreaker activities for meetings, offsites, and more

Loosen up and get engaged with these fun icebreakers for meetings. 

Exorcize the demons 10 MIN

Juice up your neural pathways before brainstorming or problem-solving, and have a few belly laughs. Best for groups of three or more.

  • Introduce the topic you'll be brainstorming about, or the problem you'll be trying to solve. 
  • Using a whiteboard or butcher paper — or, for remote teams, a digital collaboration tool — ask the group to write down their worst ideas.
  • After a few minutes, step back and take 'em all in (we dare you not to fall on the floor laughing!).
  • (Optional) Ask each person to share their favorite worst idea and why it stood out to them. 

This exercise helps teams resist the (often strong) temptation to self-censor when real problem-solving begins. After you’ve heard the worst ideas and flushed them out of your system, you can proceed with your regularly scheduled brainstorming.

Mystery person group sort 15-30 MIN

Kickstart creative thinking and see different thought processes in action. Best for large groups of 20 or more.

  • Each person writes a surprising fact about themselves on an index card and drops their cards into a bag, box, or hat.
  • Each person chooses a card at random from the bag.
  • Now the fun begins. Participants stand up and mingle, with the goal of finding cards that align with a theme or are of a similar type. Keep an open mind when thinking about what constitutes the common thread between cards. The thread could be daredevil tendencies, origin stories, music, or anything else. There's no limit to how big each grouping can be, but you must find groupings that accommodate all the cards — nobody gets left out.
  • Each group reads their cards and shares the theme they identified.
  • (Optional) Invite everyone to stand up and re-sort themselves. Some groupings will likely stay the same, while others might be dramatically different.

Notice how the point of the exercise was not to figure out which fact goes with which person? That's on purpose. In fact, remember to let participants know this at the beginning of the exercise in order to stave off any anxieties.

Tip: MAP OUT YOUR DATA

If it’s helpful to visualize each of your vital signs relative to the others, you can plot your results on a scatter plot.

When to remove a vital sign

If average satisfaction is higher than average importance, the vital sign is probably not very important to your team, or your team is satisfied with it already. In the future, you can replace the vital sign with one you want to watch more closely.

Telephone charades 15 MIN

Warm up for a day of listening with this non-verbal activity. Best for groups of 10 or more.

  • Divide into teams of five to eight people. 
  • Ask one team to come to the front of the room and stand in a line, one behind the other, all facing the same direction (it's important no one can see the person standing behind them). 
  • Show the person at the back of the line a word to act out silently, but don't have them do so just yet. Show the word to the audience as well so they know what's up, but make sure nobody else in the line sees it.
  • When the person at the back of the line is ready, they tap the shoulder of the person standing in front of them. That person turns around and faces the person who knows the word.
  • The actor pantomimes the word as best they can two or three times so the person watching can really absorb and memorize the movements. Do not let anyone say the word being acted out!
  • The person watching then becomes the actor – they tap the person in front of them and repeat the pantomime as best they can. (You see where this is going, right?)
  • Repeat steps four to six until everyone in the line has seen the pantomime.
  • Laugh as the pantomime morphs dramatically from the original. 
  • The person at the front of the line tries to guess the original word. If they get it right, the team scores a point. It’s up to you how strict you want to be!

Make sure each team gets a chance to act. You can continue as long as you like. Here are some example words your teams can act out: mermaid, lawn sprinkler, firefighter, Gollum, light bulb, snow shovel, jet ski, surfer, walkie-talkie, or frying pan.

Three things 5-10 MIN

Trigger quick, unfiltered thinking before a brainstorming session with this fast-paced activity. Best for groups of five or more.

  • Circle up and choose a person to kick things off – we'll call them Person A.
  • Person A turns to the person next to them, person B, and names a category, like "types of sandwiches.”
  • Person B rattles off three things that fit into that category as fast as they can. No judgment and no self-censoring!
  • When they're done, the entire group claps and yells, "Three things!"
  • Go around the circle until everyone has had a chance to name a category and three things. 

The point isn't to make sure all things named fit the category perfectly, or to come up with the wittiest response. The point is to laugh and have fun. Let your brain relax so your neurons can fire quickly. Celebrate even the oddest contributions and you’ll set an anything-goes tone before diving into more cerebral, strategic activities.

Tip: DON’T SKIP THIS STEP!

Asking questions and not discussing the outcome is often worse than not asking at all.

  • Virtual Experiences
  • In-Person Experiences
  • Hybrid Experiences
  • Social Calendar [New]
  • Experience FAQ
  • Features & Benefits
  • How Pricing Works
  • Client Testimonials
  • Happiness Guarantee
  • Blog Articles
  • Video Library
  • View 48 Experiences

17 Fun Icebreaker Games for Adults

Here is our list of the best icebreaker games for adults .

Icebreaker games are exciting event openers that help folks get to know each other better. Examples include Don’t Judge Me, Jenga Icebreaker Questions, and Crock of Questions. These games create a relaxing environment and allow teams to connect.

Icebreaker games for adults are similar to leadership icebreakers , large group icebreakers , and small group icebreakers . Playing these games helps create a positive work environment and encourages the benefits of employee engagement .

icebreaker-games-for-adults

This list includes:

  • funny icebreaker games for adults
  • fun icebreakers for meetings
  • icebreaker games for adults at work
  • party icebreaker games for adults
  • icebreaker name games for adults

Let’s get started!

List of icebreaker games for adults

From Storytelling Icebreaker to Hope and Fears to Mean Face Game, here are examples of games adults can play to break the ice.

1. Don’t Judge Me

Don’t Judge Me is a fun game that promotes inclusivity and acceptance. This game is a simple and fun way to improve communication between colleagues.

To play Don’t Judge Me:

  • Give each employee a piece of paper.
  • Colleagues will anonymously write down a work-related or personal action they took and still feel guilty about. Take, for example, drinking a colleague’s coffee at work.
  • Toss the papers in a bowl, and shuffle them.
  • Pass the bowl around, and each teammate will pick a random piece of paper from the bowl.
  • Each worker will read the statement on their paper aloud and offer advice or encouragement for the anonymous writer.

This activity is a simple way for colleagues to build trust and become comfortable with each other. For a fun variation, colleagues can also anonymously write funny experiences to entertain the team.

2. Crock of Questions

Crock of Questions is one of the best party icebreaker games for adults because it allows colleagues to learn new facts about each other.

To play Crock of Questions:

  • Write down fun questions on strips of paper. For example, “How often do you eat burgers in a week?”
  • Fold the papers, and toss them into a bowl.
  • Employees will take turns drawing questions from the bowl.
  • Each teammate must try to answer the question honestly.
  • If the player refuses to answer the question, then the team can choose a task for them to perform. For example, the group can ask the player to do eight push-ups.

This game can get quite interesting depending on how funny and weird the questions are. In addition, this activity is a great opportunity for employees to express their personalities and connect with teammates.

Get our free team building toolbox

  • icebreaker games
  • bingo cards

heart

3. Storytelling Icebreaker

Storytelling Icebreaker promotes creativity and pushes employees to use their imaginations. In this game, employees will create a story using a set of four pictures as prompts.

To play Storytelling Icebreaker:

  • Print out several copies of four images.
  • Split the colleagues into teams of three to four.
  • Hand each group a copy of each picture.
  • Teams get ten minutes to study the photos and create a story connecting them.
  • When the time is up, each team will take turns sharing their story.
  • Other teams may suggest how the group can develop their story.
  • If employees fail to create a story connecting the images, then they must repeat that session.
  • The team with the best story wins the game.

To make this game more engaging, you can reward the winners. This brainstorming activity is one of the best icebreaker games for adults at work because it improves employees’ focus and helps them develop social skills.

4. Hopes and Fears

Hopes and Fears encourages employees to reflect on their expectations and helps them conquer their fears.

To play Hopes and Fears:

  • Encourage employees to write down their greatest expectations and fears for a specific project on a piece of paper.
  • Put the papers into a bowl, and shuffle them.
  • Pass the bowl around, and each teammate will pick one paper from the bowl.
  • Colleagues will take turns reading out the statements on each piece of paper.
  • Then, the team will brainstorm and offer ideas and suggestions for tackling the problem. For example, if a colleague has issues coming up with novel ideas for a project, then colleagues can guide the teammate to the right path.

To make this game even more engaging, teammates with similar difficulties with a project may team up and get encouragement from other workers. This icebreaker game is a simple and fun way to build a positive and encouraging workforce.

5. Jenga Icebreaker Questions

Jenga Icebreaker Questions is a fun party game where colleagues must remove pieces from a tall tower of bricks without toppling it over.

To play Jenga Icebreaker Questions:

  • Write icebreaker questions on each Jenga brick.
  • Stack the Jenga bricks in threes until you have a complete tower.
  • Press the pieces together so they are firm.
  • Teammates will take turns pulling Jenga bricks from the tower without toppling it over.
  • Colleagues will answer the questions on the block before adding the block to the top of the tower.
  • Employees will continue in this manner until the Jenga tower falls.

This game is a fun exercise to improve teammates’ decision-making skills and boost team engagement. This activity is best suited for teams with several new employees. By playing Jenga Icebreaker Questions, new recruits get to know their teammates individually.

6. Mean Face

Employees can use Mean Face to create a fun and engaging work environment. In this game, colleagues must try hard not to laugh or smile when teammates tell funny jokes or stories.

To play Mean Face:

  • Split employees into two teams of four to five.
  • Teams will sit facing each other.
  • Employees will take turns telling jokes to the employees sitting opposite them.
  • If a player laughs at a joke, then they will leave the game, and the opposing team will get a point.
  • If a player keeps a straight face, then their team gets a point.
  • The team with the highest points wins the game.

To make this game even more fun, employees can make silly faces while telling a joke to make other players laugh.

7. Sweet Story Game

Sweet Story Game improves employees’ communication skills. In this game, workers will apply their cognitive skills to tell interesting and entertaining stories.

To play Sweet Story Game:

  • Put red, green, yellow, pink, and blue candies in a large bowl.
  • Red represents love, green is weird, yellow is work related, pink is sweet, and blue is funny.
  • Pass the bowl of candies around, and each employee must pick two candies.
  • The colleagues will tell stories or tales matching the theme of their chosen colors.
  • The teammates will then vote for the best story.

You can add a little element of surprise in this game by withholding the theme of each candy until each player picks their preferred colors. You may then share the candies’ theme for colleagues to share their stories.

8. Quotes Game

Quotes Game is one of the best icebreaker games for adults at work because it tests colleagues’ memories and challenges their cognitive skills. In this activity, colleagues will pick quotes from their favorite movies, books, songs, and TV shows for teammates to guess.

To play Quotes Game:

  • Split the players into pairs.
  • Teams will share quotes from popular movies, songs, books, and TV shows.
  • Opposing groups must guess what the quote is from.
  • The pairs get a point for every correct answer.
  • The team with the most points wins the game.

You may even offer bonus points to colleagues who can name the character or figure out who said the quote. You can also offer hints for colleagues who need help answering the questions.

9. Tic-Tac-Toe

Tic-Tac-Toe is one of the easiest icebreaker activities for teammates. In this game, employees must apply their strategic thinking skills to win.

To play tic-tac-toe:

  • Draw a tic-tac-toe board.
  • Each player will choose a symbol or icon to represent them. For example, a player may use the first letter of their name or an asterisk as their marker.
  • Teammates will take turns putting their symbols on the board to get three of their symbols in a row, vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
  • The first player to get all three symbols in a row wins the game.

You can make this activity even more challenging by asking players trivia questions. The teammate who gets the question right gets to make a move on the board. Any player who fails to answer must wait until they get a question right to make a move.

10. Name the Song

Name the Song is a great game that allows employees to vibe to their favorite songs and learn each other’s taste in music.

To play Name the Song:

  • Split the players into groups of three to four.
  • Each team will curate a playlist of songs for other groups to guess.
  • Teams will play snippets of random tunes from their playlist.
  • Opposing teams must guess the song title.
  • If an employee correctly guesses a song, then their team gets a point.

You can award bonus points to players who correctly name the singer. To make this game even more challenging, players must add a mix of different genres into their playlists, including rap, R&B, and jazz.

11. Say Your Name Backward

Say your Name Backward is one of the best icebreaker name games for adults because it challenges employees intellectually.

To play Say Your Name Backward:

  • Each employee will spell their name backward on a slip of paper and put it in a bowl.
  • Shake the bowl to mix up the names.
  • The teammates will draw a piece of paper from the bowl and attempt to guess the correct name within ten seconds.

This game is a great icebreaker activity for new team members. Colleagues get to know each other’s names without formal introductions. This activity is also a great way to introduce new team members. To further the introductions, you may have all new members share fun facts about themselves when colleagues draw their names.

12. Embarrassing Picture Game

Embarrassing Picture Game helps employees laugh and unwind. In this game, colleagues share an embarrassing picture of themselves and tell the story behind it.

To play Embarrassing Picture Game:

  • Each employee will send embarrassing or funny pictures of themselves to a coordinator.
  • The coordinator will then create a slideshow of these images.
  • Project these images onto a screen.
  • Teammates take turns identifying their pictures and sharing the events that led up to that image.
  • The teammate with the funniest story wins.

The Embarrassing Picture game is one of the best funny icebreaker games for adults because it helps create a happy work environment and promotes team bonding.

13. Belly Balloon Pop

Belly Balloon Pop is an exciting game for colleagues. In this activity, colleagues must attempt to burst blown-up balloons between two bellies. This game requires speed and teamwork for colleagues to win.

To play Belly Balloon Pop:

  • Give each group ten inflated balloons.
  • Set a timer for 60 seconds.
  • The pairs must attempt to pop all the balloons between their bellies before the timer runs out.
  • The team with the most burst balloons wins the game.

This fun game encourages colleagues to work cohesively. It is important to note that the game rules do not encourage colleagues to use their hands, teeth, or feet to pop the balloons.

14. Paper Ball

Paper Ball is an engaging game where employees aim to throw paper balls into a basket. This game will test precision, accuracy, and time-management skills.

To play Paper Ball:

  • Roll up pieces of paper into a ball.
  • Give each player five to seven rolled-up papers.
  • Set an empty basket at a reasonable distance away from the player.
  • Set a timer for 30 to 60 seconds.
  • Colleagues will shoot the paper balls into the basket.
  • Teammates who throw in all the balls before the timer runs out win the game.

This fun activity is great for colleagues to play during lunch breaks. You may even take this activity further by offering the top three winners gift cards for lunch at a local restaurant.

15. Act and React

Act and React is a fun icebreaker that challenges workers’ improv skills. In this activity, employees react to an event without saying what it is, and colleagues must use their investigative skills to guess the event.

To play Act and React:

  • Write down events on slips of paper, and put them in a bowl.
  • Colleagues will take turns picking a paper from the bowl without opening it.
  • When each teammate gets a slip, colleagues take turns reading their acts silently.
  • The players will react to the event using facial expressions, gestures, and words without saying what the event on the slip is. For example, you may write, “You won the lottery,” on the paper, and the player must react accordingly.
  • Teammates must gauge the player’s reactions and guess what the act on the slip is.
  • Colleagues get points for each correct guess.
  • The employee with the highest points wins the game.

To make this activity more exciting and challenging, you can ask employees to act out their events without talking. This simple and fun game promotes colleague interaction and helps employees ease stress.

16. Trading Cards

Trading Cards is a fun way to encourage team communication.

To play Trading Cards:

  • Give employees index cards and markers.
  • Set a timer for four to five minutes.
  • Employees will create personal trading cards with their names, photos, and fun facts about them.
  • Employees will combine their cards in a deck and shuffle.
  • Employees will then pick random cards from the deck and find the teammate who owns the card.
  • Teammates will then ask the owner of the card questions to get to know each other better.

To make this game even more fun, teammates can ask hilarious questions to get funny responses. For example, employees could ask, “Is cereal soup?” This exercise makes colleagues more comfortable around each other and helps develop office friendships.

17. Magic Word Party

Magic Word Party is one of the best fun icebreakers for meetings because it helps improve teammates’ memories. In this game, colleagues will get a list of words they cannot use throughout the entire party.

To play Magic Word Party:

  • Give each employee a wristband and a magic word they can not say during the event.
  • Pick words commonly used in regular speech to make the game more challenging.
  • Employees must pay attention when other colleagues speak to ensure they do not accidentally use the forbidden words.
  • If a colleague overhears another teammate using their magic words, then the colleague will collect their wristband.
  • The employee with the most wristbands wins.

This activity helps boost teammates’ vocabulary and teaches colleagues to pay attention to detail. This game is also a great opportunity for colleagues to connect, chat, and share ideas.

Icebreaker games are fun exercises that boost employees’ work performance and promote employee engagement. In addition, these activities encourage employee interaction, foster friendships, and create a fun and engaging work environment.

These activities are easy to organize, and colleagues can play individually or in teams. Teams can plan these games before meetings or during lunch breaks. These games also work well for small and large audiences. So, employees should choose an activity that can accommodate the entire team.

For more icebreaker inspiration, check out our lists of icebreaker questions , seasonal icebreakers , and virtual icebreakers .

Book wildly fun team building events with expert hosts

team building event banner

FAQ: Icebreaker games for adults

Here are frequently asked questions about icebreaker games for adults.

What are icebreaker games for adults?

Icebreaker games for adults are fun activities or events that help employees build trust, connect, and bond.

What are some good icebreaker games for adults?

Some good icebreaker games for adults include Belly Balloon Pop, Magic Word Party, Paper Ball, and Quotes Game.

Why is it important to do icebreakers with adults?

It is important to do icebreakers with adults because they help ease tension in unfamiliar environments and help folks become comfortable around each other. Being relaxed greatly affects how workers and teammates express themselves and work together. Therefore, icebreakers play an important role in developing a collaborative workforce.

Author avatar

Author: Grace He

People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com. Grace is the Director of People & Culture at TeamBuilding. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

We lead wildly fun experiences for teams with 1,000,000+ players to date.

event cards

4.96 / 5.0 rating on

50,225 Google Reviews

Get our free team building tool box

$49 value at no cost..

  • May as well check it out?
  • 100+ tested icebreaker questions
  • 24+ themed Bingo generators
  • 5+ PDFs (including the 8% Rule)
  • 2024 team building calendar and more...

Tool Box

Enter your email for instant access

SnackNation

42 Ridiculously Fun Icebreaker Ideas, Games, & Activities In 2024 For Your Next Meeting

Ice Breaker Games for Work

How much does a polar bear weigh? Enough to break the ice.

Don’t you feel better now that we’ve gotten that out of the way?

Level Up Your Career In 5 Minutes

Productivity Pictionary Icebreaker ✏️

Instructions: Divide your team into pairs or small groups and give each group a list of work-related terms or challenges. Each team member takes turns drawing a term or challenge on a whiteboard or paper, while their partner or team tries to guess what it is.

This creative and collaborative game not only breaks the ice but also encourages team members to think on their feet and engage in a fun, productivity-focused activity.

⭐️ For more team icebreakers and conversation starters, subscribe to The Assist for free.

Icebreaker games make meetings better by loosening everybody up and getting them into “meeting mode.” Consider the icebreaker meeting warm-up, an exercise you need to avoid awkward cramps throughout a meeting.

Despite persistent cliches, icebreakers for adults do not have to follow any particular format, and they definitely do not have to be lame. You can use pretty much any game or activity you want to break the ice before your meeting, as long as it gets people talking and smiling. A well-planned virtual icebreaker activity can also be a great way to ease the tension before a conference call with coworkers.

And if you’re really trying to go for some bonus points, consider pairing your icebreaker activity with snacks for the entire team to get the energy in the room pumping.

Without further ado…

1. The Solve a Murder Icebreaker

Cue The Office theme song… Michael Scott enters… “There’s been a murder…”

In all honesty, Michael was actually on to something! Solving a murder mystery can be a great way to break the ice with your team. Check out Outback’s Virtual Clue Murder Mystery for all types of mystery games that are designed for both the physical and virtual workplaces that help to develop teamwork, communication, and culture building.

Remember… If all else fails… Finger guns galore…

2. The Virtual Icebreaker Template

A Virtual Icebreaker Template is a pre-designed set of prompts, questions, or activities that are meant to help team members get to know each other and feel more comfortable communicating and collaborating virtually.

These virtual templates can be used in a variety of situations, ranging from online classes and online meetings to virtual team building activities and remote social events. Typically, virtual icebreaker templates will include introductions, personal preferences, games, photo sharing, and group discussions.

The real benefit of using icebreaker templates is that it provides the right structure for participants to share info about themselves and their interests, bond with other team members, and participate in fun, interactive games and activities. These templates also ensure total group inclusion!

Looking to try one? Here is a list of a few templates to break the ice:

Kick off your online meetings and any other virtual activities with a Virtual Icebreaker Template!

3. Snack Time (5 Minutes for Everyone to Enjoy a Snack and Chat)

Stock your kitchen with office snacks

A snack time break in the workplace can boost productivity. Dedicate five minutes for everyone to enjoy a snack and engage in light conversation. In turn, employees can take a rejuvenating break and return to their tasks with renewed energy and focus. This brief pause in the workday creates a relaxed atmosphere, sharpening creativity and reducing the risk of burnout.

On top of that, snack time provides an opportunity for team members to connect on a personal level, strengthening team bonds and improving overall communication. The casual conversations during these breaks can even spark innovative ideas and collaborative solutions to work challenges.

Implement a daily snack time in your office and witness the significant impact it can have on productivity and workplace morale. Grab a snack , connect with your colleagues, and supercharge their productivity!

4. GeoGuessr

Integrating GeoGuessr into your workplace can revolutionize a typical break into an exhilarating and captivating experience. This online game immerses players into random locations on Google Street View, challenging them to guess their whereabouts. It’s entertaining and highly educational.

By playing GeoGuessr in the office, you encourage critical thinking and collaboration among team members as they combine their geographical knowledge and problem-solving skills to pinpoint locations.

It’s an incredible way to break the monotony of the workday, exercise team building skills, and stimulate the brain in fun and unexpected ways. The competitive element of the game adds excitement, fueling healthy competition among colleagues.

Schedule a weekly GeoGuessr challenge in your office to uncover who can become the ultimate geographical detective. Explore the world together, right from your workplace, and infuse an extra dimension of enjoyment and learning into our work routine!

5. The Movie Pitch Icebreaker

A favorite at Bonusly , split people into groups and have each group come up with a movie they want to make. Everyone should have a short pitch prepared within 10 minutes. (This film is The Avengers meets My Little Pony .) Let everyone make their pitch, and then have all virtual meeting attendees vote on which idea deserves “funding.”

The winners won’t immediately move to pre-production, but they might get a company-wide shoutout on the Bonusly platform for their creativity – next step… Hollywood!

6. Create a Themed Slack Channel

Create a #gratitude-wall Slack channel

The SnackNation team set up a Gratitude channel!

Promote team camaraderie and enhance workplace dynamics through crowdsourcing team interests. Gather insights into everyone’s hobbies, favorite activities, and passions to create dedicated Slack channels that serve as hubs for both professional and personal engagement.

From bookworms and fitness enthusiasts to tech geeks and gourmet foodies, these specialized groups provide a platform for team members to connect, share, and discover common interests beyond work-related tasks. This approach breaks the ice and cultivates a more inclusive and engaging office culture.

By implementing interest surveys, you can form Slack channels that perfectly align with the interests of your team members.

7. The One-Word Icebreaker

I feel alpaca.

critical thinking icebreaker games

Assembly Icebreaker Template

The company culture leaders at Assembly (a free employee recognition software ) keep things simple by having everyone describe their current mood in one word. You can have people explain their one-word mood descriptor if you want to add more depth to your icebreaker activities, but you can also just go with the flow and enjoy how cryptic some of the answers can be.

The free Assembly Icebreaker Template allows you to :

  • Design a quiz about any topic and personalize it for the specific occasion
  • Engage employees in a fun and creative way while growing participation
  • Gather interesting feedback or perspectives from the workforce
  • Set different types of questions to keep things fun and interesting

8. The Friendly Competition Icebreaker

critical thinking icebreaker games

A Friendly Competition Icebreaker is an icebreaker activity that pits participants against each other in the throes of serious — yet super fun competition. This category of icebreakers is designed to stimulate team members and engage them, while allowing them to get to know each other on a deeper level.

The key benefit of these types of games and activities is that they gamify that early getting-to-know-each-other stage, so your team can bust right through it without even realizing it. You could try scavenger hunts, trivia games, two truths and a lie, pictionary, and charades.

Try out a few challenge-based activities to let employees bond together:

Break the ice with a little friendly competition!

9. The All-Inclusive Icebreaker

critical thinking icebreaker games

Virtual icebreakers are needed now more than ever. As the workplace is being reimagined, it’s looking like one or more days a week working from home or remotely is going to be the standard.

Having said that, the Fun Bundle For Adults is the perfect icebreaker idea for keeping friends, families, coworkers, and employees entertained. These 6 thoughtfully designed PDFs can help you spice up Zoom meetings or be used in just about any situation where you want people to get to know each other better!

10. The Virtual Game Icebreaker

What happens when you combine fun online games with built-in video conferencing technology? The ultimate Zoom icebreaker !

These Fun and Affordable Virtual Game Icebreakers were designed specifically with remote teams in mind. The games (trivia, charades, impersonations) will show you new, hilarious sides to your coworkers. For an extra layer of get-to-know-you goodness, each icebreaker activity integrates personalized player trivia into the game – how well do you know your teammates? You’re about to find out!

👉 Check Out The Library of Virtual Game Icebreakers 👈

11. The OMG Icebreaker 😮

critical thinking icebreaker games

Brought to you by The Assist , a free weekly email that delivers workplace culture and productivity inspo, this icebreaker activity will have your teammates dropping jaws and sharing laughs. Ask your colleagues this question:

“What is the craziest request you’ve ever gotten in your career?”

Be prepared for some major team bonding and left field answers like the one below:

Early in my career I was a Legislative Assistant to a local politician. I have a laundry list of inappropriate requests, but one that’ll always stand out to me is when she handed me and another staffer the keys to her State-issued vehicle and requested that we pick her granddaughter up from the holding cell at her high school! She was fighting and the school police arrested her. Needless to say, I didn’t spend much more time employed by her. Oh, she’s still in office. – Kendall H., The Assist Subscriber

12. The Budget Friendly Icebreaker

critical thinking icebreaker games

A Budget Friendly Icebreaker is an activity or a game that can be enjoyed with little or no equipment. Whether your team is looking to play two truths and a lie, a name game, scavenger hunt, group juggling, or human knot, you’ve got plenty of ways to execute this idea.

The best part about Budget Friendly Icebreakers is that they are inclusive, cost-effective, and can be adapted to different settings. On top of that, a smartly-designed icebreaker facilitates relationships and picks up the pace to develop deep work connections.

Start your next icebreaker on a budget with minimal setup and minimal materials!

13. The Online Quiz Icebreaker

Pop quiz! The folks at The Go Game created a really fun and easy-to-use icebreaker tool that will help your team get to know each other a little more each week through ice breaker quizzes and games.

Two-Truths-Weve

Two Truths and a Lie

With a huge catalog of ice breaker options to choose from, you will be cracking up with your coworkers in minutes! Choose from activities as short as 5 minutes to longer activities where you and your colleagues can play multiple games via an online icebreaker showdown. Split into teams and participate in rapid-fire activities that are sure to break some ice!

Here are just a few of the icebreaker quiz games you can try out…

  • 🙊 Two Truths and a Lie
  • 🗣 Low Stakes Debate
  • 🎤 Name That Tune
  • 🙅‍♀️ Wrong Answers Only

To start quizzing your coworkers, get more information at The Go Game .

14. “Treat Yourself” Icebreaker 

Recipient-Choice

What’s an even better way to break the ice than any ol’ icebreaker activity? A little online shopping! The folks over at Caroo provide an ever-expanding catalog of premium gifts, delicious treats, gift cards, and more that let you and your guests pick out a perfect gift to cap off your team event.

Simply send over the link, give everyone a few minutes to window shop, and their next treat will arrive at their doorstep. With Recipient Choice rewards starting at $25, this is the kind of icebreaker that your team members will remember!

15. The Marshmallow Challenge

This challenge from Tom Wujec , a business visualization expert, makes the perfect icebreaker and team-building hybrid. Break your meeting attendees into groups of four. Give each group 20 sticks of spaghetti, 1 yard of tape, 1 yard of string, and one marshmallow. Ask them to build the tallest freestanding structure they can. Sit back and see what happens. Here’s Tom Wujec talking about the team-building virtues of the Marshmallow Challenge:

16. Scream for Ice Cream

ice-cream-float-kit-Experieince

This Ice(cream) breaker will place your meeting guests in a fun and lively how-to icebreaker where your coworkers will learn how to make ice cream in a bag! Listen to some tunes, get to know each other a bit better, and shake your ice cream ingredients until everything is perfectly frozen. Yum! The folks at Unboxed Experiences can even provide pre-made kits to be sent directly to remote employees tuning in from home.

Cap off your icebreaker activity by cracking open a soda and pouring rootbeer, orange soda, or cherry cola over your fresh ice cream for a delicious float to sip on as you get down to business.

Pro-Tip: If you are scheduling a meeting for the afternoon, why not segue into a Virtual Beer & Cheese Tasting where you and your coworkers will learn how to identify matching flavors and aromas to create a perfect pairing of craft beers and gourmet cheeses.

Beer & Cheese web image

Sample your next beer flight from home!

17. The Foodie Icebreaker

Who doesn’t love talking about food? Chopped, Master Chef, Cutthroat Kitchen, Top Chef, Cake Boss, Restaurant: Impossible… There is even a Master Chef Junior folks… Point is: food is a common ground that we all share and an excellent way to break the ice. 

critical thinking icebreaker games

Food can also be the perfect topic for a short icebreaker. Everyone eats, and most people love eating, so it’s a perfect opportunity to get out of the office in a group setting to learn more about each other.

“There’s many benefits about living and working in Los Angeles: the weather, the scenery, the fours days a year when there’s no traffic. One of our favorite things, however, is the food. World-renowned for the available cuisine, our team loves to take advantage by grabbing a bite to eat with a new hire or after a full day of work to unwind.” -Emily Hill on the Bambee team.

Break the ice by asking everyone what dish they would want to prepare for the team. Ask them how they learned to make it, why it’s significant to them, and what powerful memory they associate with it.

18. The Speed “Dating” Icebreaker

Have everyone sit near people they don’t work with. Tell everyone to look to their right and announce that they’ll be spending the next 5 minutes speed networking with the person next to them. The goal: 5 conversations in 5 minutes. Set a timer; every time the buzzer goes off, it’s time for people to find a new conversational partner.

Pro-Tip: Take this team bonding idea online and skip the awkward weather talk with this speed dating inspired corporate activity . Groups will be presented with an icebreaker, and randomly paired one-on-one with a coworker to answer the question in breakout rooms. Participants will then be brought back to the main room for a different question and re-randomized for another round. At the end, everyone will come together to share their most fun, interesting, or weird fact. Only rule is, you can only share someone else’s fun fact, not your own! Check it out here 👈

19. The Escape Room Icebreaker

Escape from prison, uncover ancient treasure, or even steal priceless art with this engaging icebreaker activity!

Escape Room Team Building Hub

If you’re going to escape, you HAVE to work together. Escape rooms give your team a fun way to connect and learn about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The experts at Team Building Hub have mastered the art of the remote adventure that will ensure your team bonds while also having a blast!

20. The Trivia Results Icebreaker

Water Cooler Trivia gives you and your team weekly trivia quizzes that spark conversation and competition. The trivia is super-customizable so you can choose the categories and difficulty that work for your team. You can even choose a “personalized” category like Coffee, NYC, or Tech that their professional question-writers will write just for you.

It’s like all the fun of pub trivia but without the logistics of coming up with questions or getting everyone together in the same room at the same time.

The best way to use Water Cooler Trivia as a meeting icebreaker? Set up the quizzes so that the results are sent right when your weekly meeting starts. Then your team can celebrate the winner and laugh at the funniest responses as a light-hearted way to break the ice. Thousands of companies use Water Cooler Trivia to make their work week more fun and there’s a free four-week trial .

“I’ve been having a ball. It’s interesting to compete with colleagues on the other side of the country I usually wouldn’t interact with.” -Investor at General Catalyst

21. The Holiday Icebreaker

Ho-Ho-Ho… The holidays are (practically) here!

Kick off your next virtual meeting this holiday season with an icebreaker activity that all Rudolph and Frosty enthusiasts will love. Break out the egg-nog, fire up the Zoom app, and get ready to experience one of these holiday-themed icebreaker games:

  • 🎄  Holiday Jeoparty
  • ⛄️  Frosty’s Original Game Show
  • ❄️  Holiday Phrase Craze
  • 🎁  Christmas Coworker Feud
  • 🎅  Santa’s Holiday Hijinks

22. The ‘Start Happy Hour Early’ Icebreaker 

Mix things up with a fun virtual happy hour icebreaker to start the last meeting of the week off right. This online mixology icebreaker event includes a delicious beverage team members can sip on as they crush the big meeting and get down to business.

critical thinking icebreaker games

Star your Zoom call with an expert mixologist in the break room teaching you and your teammates how to prepare a delicious drink! Cocktails & mocktails will be crafted, your team will settle into the meeting, and you will get to enjoy your tasty drink as you hop into your agenda.

Sip, Sip, hooray!

Tip: Send everyone joining your virtual mixology get-to-know-you activity a box of snacks that pairs with their drinks.

23. The Office Charades Icebreaker

Kick off your meetings by playing a few rounds of charades where the presenters can pick only office-related things. If you’re rusty on your charades skills, here’s a quick refresher:

  • Pick a “presenter” to start things off.
  • Ask the presenter to think of an office item or activity. They can announce the category, but that’s the last time they can talk.
  • Then have the presenter explain the item using only gestures. Any spoken words lead to an immediate disqualification.
  • Laugh a lot. All charades manuals agree the game cannot be played without lots of laughter and yelling.
Pro-Tip: There is also an virtual version of office charades that can be found here .

24. Let’s Build a Story Together Icebreaker

We all love a good story, right? Building a storyline is one of the oldest and most fun ways to have a good laugh!

In this icebreaker activity, the meeting host begins the story with an opening sentence on Empuls (an employee engagement platform). They then tag one of the attendees and leave them with an incomplete sentence. The tagged attendee completes the sentence and tags another person to continue the story.

By the time all attendees have completed their turn building out the storyline on the Empuls discussion thread , you will have one crazy hilarious story that you can all read together. Quick, simple, and easy to set-up — this meeting icebreaker is a good mix of engagement and creativity for your group.

25. The Boss Q&A Icebreaker

pexels-photo-1059111

26. Tea & Mindfulness

critical thinking icebreaker games

For teams looking for a slightly longer icebreaker, this 30 minute virtual session will refocus and destress your team members via a guided meditation and goal setting activity with Unboxed Experiences’ Guided Tea & Mindfulness Experience . Participants will also learn how to brew and taste 3-6 globally sourced loose leaf and flowering teas as they experience a guided mindful exercise and goal-setting meditation.

Guided mindfulness tastings are fun and can enhance collaboration amongst teams by creating shared experiences. This icebreaker might just be the perfect thing you schedule for your team on a busy day!

27. The Logo Love Icebreaker

pexels-photo-697059

  • Hand out name tags and pens.
  • Have participants write their names and draw logos they love.
  • Have everyone share why they chose their logos. Share in a group, or have everyone share thoughts with their neighbors.

28. The Yankee Swag Swap Icebreaker

Did someone say swag ???

Here is a creative idea to try out during your next company meeting that will quickly help to break the ice and get everyone smiling:

  • For every person that will attend, order one piece of swag  ranging in monetary value
  • Throw all of the pieces of swag into a box or bag that you can hold up above their head
  • When the event begins, assign everyone a number 1 through… X
  • Start with person 1
  • That individual proceeds to blindly  pick ( 3 seconds ) from the assortment of swag items
  • The piece of swag that they pick becomes theirs… for now… Proceed to person 2
  • This new individual now picks another item at random and… (this is when the REAL fun happens) … they can then choose to swap swag items with one of the revealed pieces or keep what they’ve selected
  • Rinse and repeat until the final person picks the last item and they can keep or swap it
  • You go home with what you have in your hand
Side-Note: this is also a great feedback mechanism to help you determine which pieces of swag people really want based on how many times they are traded. 

29. The Trading Card Icebreaker

Meeting with cards

  • Hand out index cards and markers.
  • Tell everyone to draw a self-portrait and write their names, their nicknames (real or imaginary), and a fun fact.
  • Everyone jumps up and trades cards. People can trade as many times as they want, but they have to read each card they get before they trade.
  • After a few minutes, have everyone announce the name on the card they ended up with. People can even ask questions of the card’s owner if they want.
  • Let the conversations flow!

30. The Problem-Solution Icebreaker

pexels-photo-1020313

31. The Shoe Icebreaker

pexels-photo-267202

32. Laugh Out Loud Icebreaker 

Break a smile to break the ice! Nothing warms up a group quite like shared laughter. What most folks don’t know is that laughing together also relieves stress, connects teammates and boosts productivity.

Laughter On Call has a variety of distinct and effective services that use a unique mix of Improv games and Stand-up prompts, led by a team of professional comedians. Starting off a big meeting, conference, or culture building activity with a laughter icebreaker can help settle everyone in and open up the lines of communication.

Laughter-Icebreaker

Also, because Laughter On Call started in the healthcare space all their programs put mental health first creating a space that is compassionate, inclusive and downright fun!

Whether your goal is team-building, improving communication skills, encouraging innovation or simply sending the message, “We care about your well-being,” LOC will customize a icebreaking workshop exactly right for you. Available virtual, hybrid and in-person.

Bonus: The Props Icebreaker

pexels-photo-1083623

33. The Company History Icebreaker

SignUpGenius’s icebreaker helps employees learn some valuable company history. Make a list of icebreaker questions , pop them on the projector, and ask employees if they know the answers. (Individual buzzers could be totally cool if you have any on hand!) Here are some question ideas:

  • Mission statement
  • Founding year
  • Biggest goal
  • Founder’s name
  • Number of employees
  • Biggest competitor

34. Paint & Sip Icebreaker

This virtual icebreaker brings colleagues together to flex their creative minds and sip some bubbly in a relaxed atmosphere! Drawing and painting can keep employees engaged while taking them to a place free of competition and workplace pressures. Coworkers can bond through their shared creative journey, and walk away with a fun experience and a beautiful keepsake to remember after!

Pro-Tip: Try adding a theme to this icebreaker activity. Some of our favorites: Hawaiian luau Emo artists Pirates Silly accents Shakespeare Famous royals Food Network star

Paint Nite offers fun icebreaker activities and food/drink packages for in-person, remote, or hybrid teams looking to add even more flair and energy to the party.

35. The No Smiling Icebreaker

Govloop has a counter-intuitive icebreaker that actually leads to lots of laughter. Tell everyone they can’t smile during the first five minutes of the meeting. You’ll be amazed at how humorous some people become when they’re told not to smile. Get the camera ready to take some silly pictures.

36. The Instagram Icebreaker

pexels-photo-174938

Bonus: The Friendly Debate Icebreaker

pexels-photo-601170

  • Which food is better: pizza or tacos?
  • Would you rather go on a hike or to a movie?
  • What skill is more valuable: creativity or logic?
  • Which is worse: being bored or being too busy?

Have everyone physically divide into sides—pro pizza to the right; pro taco to the left. Let all the like-minded people discuss the virtues of their position for a while, and then have a representative try to sell the other side of the room. This will give everyone a chance to see things from different perspectives. It will open everyone’s minds for a productive meeting.

37. The Employee-Driven Icebreaker

This icebreaker takes the cake on ease. Have each meeting attendee bring their favorite icebreaker. This “icebreaker” can be a funny joke , a quote, a phrase, an activity—anything at all. This icebreaker works because it removes the “Why are you making me do this?”  factor. Everything employees do will be self-inflicted.

38. The Electric Fence Icebreaker

This icebreaker from Toggl gets employees up and moving as they build an imaginary electric fence and try to cross it without getting “electrocuted.” Make the fence by tying some string between two chairs. They can cross the fence however they like as long as they don’t go under it.

39. The Things-in-Common Icebreaker

pexels-photo-711009

This FairyGodBoss icebreaker helps teammates get to know each other on a deeper level by discovering what they have in common. Split people into groups and tell them to find out how many things they have in common.

The group who discovers the most things in common wins, so it pays to be persistent and thoughtful. (Physical features and clothing colors do not count!) Each group will announce what they have in common to the rest of the group. Have everyone else raise their hand if they also have the thing in common.

40. Conflict Resolution Role Play

Most people, especially in work environments, avoid conflict like the plague. That’s amazing right? Why shouldn’t we all just get along? Because just “getting along” isn’t that simple all the time. And if most people eschew conflict, then most people probably don’t know how to deal with it, or more importantly, resolve it, when it does come up.

This role-playing ice breaker deals out some conflict-resolution takeaways, and it also captures everyone’s attention and get them invigorated for your meeting. Why? Because this exercise involves drama, and there are few things people find more compelling than that. Start by selecting your conflict premise. You can make up your own based on your personal office experiences or use/borrow some of these for inspiration. Keep things simple by sticking to just two “characters.”

  • Adam confronts Mimi, angry that she got the promotion he wanted.
  • Agatha asks Martin why he shot down an idea they’d discussed many times before during an all-hands meeting.
  • Andre asks Tim why he didn’t get a raise this year.
  • Lena tells Mary she finds her recent work inadequate.

Create your discussion questions. These are the questions you’ll discuss as a group after the role-play skit is complete. Design questions that make people examine the success of the characters’ conflict resolution efforts and explore how things could have been handled differently. For example:

  • How do you think each person felt after this exchange?
  • What would you have said if you were Mimi?
  • How do you imagine these two will behave around each other when they meet again?

When it’s meeting time, ask for 2 volunteers to play the characters. Tell them your premise and set a timer for 5 minutes. Make sure they know they can behave however they want and say anything they want. People will get the most from this 5-minute team building activity if it’s truly organic and open-ended. After the skit, set a timer for 10 minutes and pose your discussion questions with the group.

41. Play a Round of Spyfall

Spyfall is a role-playing and guessing game rolled into one. You can play it on phones or computers, and you don’t need any materials to get started. Game summary: The interface assigns each player an identity. One person is the “spy.” All the non-spies are in the same location (their identity assignments tell them what this location is). The spy’s identity assignment includes no location.

  • The objective for the non-spies is to guess who is the spy.
  • The objective for the spy is to guess everyone else’s location.

To play, everyone asks each other thoughtful questions until someone has enough clues to wager a guess. Spyfall makes a perfect icebreaker because it is the kind of group game that gets people thinking critically, talking to each other, and also getting unprecedented insight into how their coworkers’ minds work. It’s also incredibly fun. (Most games last less than 15 minutes.)

42. Thought Experiment Icebreaker

Warm up everyone’s active thinking muscles before your big meeting with a thought experiment icebreaker. Thought experiments prep people to challenge assumptions and status quos and to think outside the box. This icebreaker will be especially helpful before a brainstorming session. The Thiagi Group has a toolkit that will help you get started with some meeting-appropriate, quick thought experiments that get participants considering the work competencies and skills they value most in themselves.

Bonus #1 Peek Into Each Other’s Home Office/Workspace Icebreaker

An icebreaker for distributed teams, the good folks at Time Doctor recommend an exercise that encourages team members to open their home offices/workspaces to one another virtually. Each team member will make a short video showing off their home office/workspace and some of their favorite things.

This activity allows team members to get to know one another on a more personal level and can lead to feelings of welcomeness and friendship. This activity may be better suited for small teams, but it’s undoubtedly a great way to get the personal feel going. Another way to do this is by allowing one team member to show off their home office/workspace at the beginning of each week’s work meeting, on a team member’s birthday , or during a virtual happy hour cocktail kit experience.

Bonus #2  The Inspirational Speaker Icebreaker

Put meeting attendees out of the spotlight and invite an inspirational speaker to break the ice before your meeting. Pick someone with expertise in what your company does or what you’re meeting is about. Ask the presenter to make the talk super quick so there’s plenty of time for Q&A.

Bonus #3  The Personality Quiz Icebreaker

Make sure everyone has their smartphones. (We doubt this will be a problem.) Send everyone a link to a personality quiz you think they would like. Since there are probably over a million quizzes circulating, we know there will be one to pique your interest. Everyone can take the quiz and then reveal their results to the group. Have everyone explain why they agree or disagree with the results.

Bonus #4 The Toilet Paper Icebreaker

This idea from Lifehack requires minimal effort and minimal funds. To play, pass a roll of toilet paper around and have everyone rip off how much they would usually use. Everyone will probably think you’re crazy. When the toilet paper makes it all the way around the circle, have everyone count their squares. The number of squares each person took is the number of fun facts they have to reveal about themselves.

Bonus #5 The “5 Minute Vacation” Icebreaker

What better way to get to know your team than to travel together?

Grab your passport and join your fellow meeting attendees on a tour of the world. A quick virtual tour is a fun and informative way to learn about the world from the comfort of your desk. Plus, you can learn more about which countries and places your coworkers have been to before! This icebreaker encourages active collaborative participation from team members and gets them ready to engage before the next meeting.

Choose one person to be your “tour guide” and watch as you take a few minutes to uncover some of Earth’s wonders.

Tip: You can use a platform like Google Earth to make your virtual trip a success!

Bonus #6 The “Building Connections” Icebreaker

Hop into a gameroom and choose from a list of lighthearted or deep questions to get to know your teammates better. Or if you prefer, you can hang out over a game of cards, Werewolf or Draw It to let the fun times happen organically!

Brightful works with all video conferencing software. There is nothing to download or install.

Bonus #7 The Mindfulness Icebreaker

Meetings can sometimes fail because of what we bring to them, and we’re not talking about notebooks and cell phones. If meeting attendees feel stress, especially about the meeting itself, then tension will dominate the agenda.

Reduce stress by opening the meeting with a mindfulness icebreaker. Start with three minutes of silent contemplation, and then have everyone write down what is stressing them out. When everyone finishes writing, tell them to rip up their stress. Put all the scraps together in a bowl on the table.

Bonus #8 The Artsy Icebreaker

Prep your meeting table with art supplies. At the very least, provide 2 sheets of paper and 1 pencil for everyone. But if you think your team will be into it, then go ahead and go crazy with colored pencils, paint, glue, dry noodles, and anything else you can stick on paper.

Give everyone a prompt to avoid creative block. We love Artwork Achieve’s prompt, “Illustrate a cause or current event that you are passionate about.” Allow 10 minutes for creating and 10 minutes for sharing and discussing.

Bonus #9  The Minefield: The Obstacle Icebreaker

This classic classroom activity from TeachThought makes the perfect meeting icebreaker. Set up “obstacles” around the conference room table. (We recommend something harmless and funny, like squeaky toys.) Now everyone takes turns navigating the obstacles while blindfolded, guided only by the shouts and direction of their teammates.

(PS – Get more sh*t done with  The Assist — the #1 free weekly newsletter made for assistants by assistants. )

People Also Ask These Questions About Icebreaker Games

Q: how can icebreakers boost work productivity.

  • A: Icebreaker games make meetings better by loosening everybody up and getting them into “meeting mode. With a quick 5 minute activity, employees will be energized to tackle the meeting with enthusiasm. The only tough part is finding the right activity for your team. To get you started, we have compiled our unique list of icebreaker games to try at your next meeting.

Q: What are some fun icebreaker games for work in 2024?

  • A: The “Movie Pitch,” The “Logo Love,” and The “Foodie” are a few examples of the icebreaker activities you can learn about in our 39 Ridiculously Fun Icebreaker Games in 2024 For Your Next Meeting! Battle-tested by top performing companies, we are proud to share with you the best of the best.

Q: Where can I find good icebreaker games for my next meeting?

  • A: The team at SnackNation spoke to hundreds of companies across our network to find the top 39 undeniably fun icebreakers for your next meeting. These icebreakers were handpicked to encourage team engagement and support your company culture.

Do you have any favorite fun icebreakers you want to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Motivating & Managing Employees Resources:

Thoughtful employee recognition & appreciation ideas for 2024 [updated], team building kits for boosting engagement, 141 inspirational and motivational quotes for work, 21 freakishly effective ways to motivate employees, 11 insanely powerful and motivational videos for your team, managing millennials in the workplace: stop making it complicated, 17 lessons most first time managers make the hard way, how to run a productive one-on-one meeting, 14 essential team management skills for first-time managers, 79 insanely fun team building activities for work, 31 things successful people do to increase their productivity at work.

Interested in a content partnership? Let’s chat!

Get Started

critical thinking icebreaker games

About SnackNation

critical thinking icebreaker games

SnackNation is a healthy office snack delivery service that makes healthy snacking fun, life more productive, and workplaces awesome. We provide a monthly, curated selection of healthy snacks from the hottest, most innovative natural food brands in the industry, giving our members a hassle-free experience and delivering joy to their offices.

critical thinking icebreaker games

Popular Posts

Want to become a better professional in just 5 minutes?

You May Also Like

Administrative Professionals Day Ideas

🗓️ The Effective Guide for Mastering Executive Calendar Management in 2024

Irene Lopez

🛠️ 14 Best Productivity Templates for Maximum Efficiency in 2024

P. W. Foley

52 Comments

' src=

I have used a “Don’t Judge Me” Icebreaker before.

I had each team member anonymously write something they’ve done and felt guilty about during the week that they haven’t told anyone.

We had some funny ones like: I ate my kid’s last fruit snack and some others like: I accidentally banged my car door on someone else’s car (no damage though!).

Sometimes it’s best to free ourselves of something we’ve done that may be frowned upon. 🙂

' src=

Wow, it’s really nice!

' src=

Tremendous article. Thank you. I also found Alexis’ comment helpful. Much appreciated.

' src=

Any ideas for a conflict management training session? I found mindfulness icebreaker and problem solution icebreakers closer to my subject. I am looking at an icebreaker which will set the tone for the 2 day training program

' src=

Re idea for a conflict management ice breaker….

Get a two litre bottle of fizzy drink and pass it to someone. Ask them to say something that makes them feel really angry, they can say it in an angry voice and as they say it; they should give the bottle an angry shake.

Then ask them to pass the bottle onto the person next to them; and repeat with each person in the room.

When the bottle comes back to you, get a cloth and gently open the bottle releasing all the gas. You have choices in how you respond to anger, you can add more, or you can find ways to reduce tensions.

' src=

I LOVE This, Eric! There is a magic trick I perform called “Fizz Master” where people shake up a can of soda, and you transfer the combustion to another can. The secret is that the fizz calms down quickly in the shaken can and you squeeze the other can while you open it to act like it’s fizzy. I hope this contributes to you! (While this is a ‘magic secret’ these ice breaker secrets are just as valuable~

' src=

do you have any idea about icebreaker for a class that can be related to the topic we discussed?

' src=

Love the idea of – ‘ Movie Pitch Icebreaker’. Going to try it in my meeting. 🙂 Thank you for the idea.

' src=

I hope it’s a crowd favorite! Thanks, Annie!

' src=

Tremendous article! Thanks you!

' src=

These are some great ideas! I run a youth club, and I’m definitely using the trading card icebreaker tonight to kick off the year.

Glad to hear it, Rachel! I hope your icebreaker is a hit!

' src=

There is always the tried and true, 2 truths and a lie. Fun way to keep all involved and laughing. Sit in a circle and go around, each person introduces themselves the shares 2 truths and a lie. The rest has to guess.

A classic! Great add, Donna!

' src=

I’m actually new to being a supervisor and planning 2truths and one lie for our first meeting

' src=

This one is fun. Give everyone a coin. Ask each of the participants to tell the rest something about them that made that year memorable (if the coin is older than the person, swap it out for a new one!)

Love it! Great idea, Louise!

' src=

Great ideas. Enough to satisfy a range of meeting types. Some of these could be thrown in part way through the day too especially the One-Word ice breaker.

' src=

Am new to my supervisory role ,planning a learning & reflection session for my team , No smile Icebreaker ,man that’s going to be difficult ahahah

' src=

Can anyone suggest me an ice breaker session.. For the new joiners in the company so that they know get to know each other…. Apart from introducing themselves I am searching for something new… Please suggest if anyone has some ideas

' src=

How about getting to know you pictionary. Give them 2 minutes each with whiteboard and marker to draw as many things about themselves as they can for the others to guess…incentivise with biscuits!

' src=

I dont understand this. Can you please elaborate?

' src=

I need a health/wellness ice breaker about 5 minutes long before a meeting on Tuesday. Help please.

Hi Carole! A simple icebreaker you could do is to have everyone say what their favorite fruit or veggie is and how they like to prepare it. This could spark some great ideas and encourage team members to eat healthier in a new way!

' src=

I love this!

' src=

We use 2 ice breaks. First like you must say for what things you love the company. And second addition for first part. What feat is my company can do for me? Thanks you very mauch for article! Sorry my English.

' src=

A great ice breaker is a human bingo. create a bingo with things like: have a tattoo, hates chocolate, speaks two languages, has a broken bone etc. participants will mingle and write names of person in meeting who matches each slot. rule varies and can be that they cannot repeat names or can repeat only once.

' src=

I like this one!

Hi Ellis Wonderful idea. Can you please share some more questions to ask for this Human Bingo. I am having hard time coming up with questions. Thanks,

' src=

I do believe you get your arse kicked at any place I’ve ever worked for all of these except maybe the marshmallow one. Thank you for that one at least

' src=

Help me for an Ice breaker where we each of our team members can say thank you to our team. ☺️

Hi Krizel! As a part of our weekly team meeting, we start off with ‘Team Wins’ in which every person has the chance to call out another team member that did a great job that week. Hope this helps – we love it!

' src=

I have a presentation on how social media influences consumer behavior . Any tips ?

' src=

I am an Orientation leader at my community college and i have to get the Freshman coming in involved during our orientation session! One Ice breaker I use is cheap and simple! Go to your local Walmart or Dollar General and get a soccer ball, look up questions on the internet and fill in each section of the ball with a question, then throw the ball (gently, unless the person ate your lunch) at someone and call out a finger, where ever the finger is located on the ball is the question they answer! Its fun and a really good way to get to know someone!

' src=

Hey Cailee. Thanks so much for sharing! That sounds really fun!

' src=

What type of questions do you put?

' src=

We have used an inflatable beach ball for this one as well. You can get them at the dollar tree as well and they may be a little safer, lol. We typically tell them to answer the question at their right thumb (or choose a finger). This one is really fun. Questions can be anything, What was your favorite vacation?, What was your first car?, Where were you born?, What was your first or favorite job?, What is your dream job?, What is your favorite hobby?, What is your favorite restaurant?, etc……

' src=

Very good way to make the office atmosphere more harmonious,thank you for your sharing.

' src=

Ice Breaker Activity Title: Dum Dum Fun Time: 10-15 Minutes Type of Group it would be appropriate for: Educational/Discussion/Support Groups Population: Any Age: Any Materials Needed: Bag of Dum Dum Lollipops Explanation: Each member will be encouraged to choose their favorite flavor lollipop out of the bag/basket upon entry to the meeting. Once everyone has chosen, then the facilitator/leader will provide instruction. ‘Look at the wrapper of the lollipop you chose, take note of the flavor. Count the number of letters in the flavor name. Please be prepared to share that amount of facts about yourself. For example, if the flavor is -Cherry- please share 6 things about yourself with the group. They can be things like your favorite color, food, favorite place, restaurant, favorite time of year, or even how many pets you have’ Then after instruction the facilitator will provided 1-2 minutes for the members to come up with their ideas, then they will demonstrate, and then choose someone to begin. Benefits: The success of any group is based on the level of comfort each member has for the group. When entering a group of people you don’t know sometimes you can be shut off from building a relationship with them to establish any sort of comfort. This activity encourages you to get to know the members of your group. You, can discover that maybe you share the same likes or interests as another member which can lead you to feel more comfortable; and encourage you to open up more in the future. Attachments: None Considerations: May want to get sugar free lollipops for those who may be diabetic Precautions: limit each members share to about 30 seconds to a minute, discourage other members making comments on shares.

' src=

Good One. Will try this out

' src=

Thank you!!!

' src=

Did this at a meeting and it was a big hit.

Ahead of time, write several sentences on easel paper, replacing key words with blank lines, e.g. “Members of my team are _____.” “I like my______ because they are ______.”

Create a card for each removed word. Write the type of word on one side, e.g. group of people, noun, adjective, etc. Leave the other side blank.

Each participant should have a card placed face down on their chair. (This will determine how many sentences you need.)

Once you reveal the game, they can look at their card. They write a word that matches the category, e.g. elephant, blue.

You may want to ask if everyone knows what an adjective is. Don’t assume everyone does.

When time is up, ask “Who has a (noun? adjective?)” and fill in the blanks.

Reveal the sentences with the new words in them.

' src=

magnificent submit, very informative. I ponder why the opposite experts of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!

' src=

All of the gaming blog concept material is covered here. The article addresses the moving cause and functions as such. You wrote it in a layman way, so that everyone might appreciate it. Depending on its content, it’s an article worth applauding.

' src=

I savor, cause I discovered exactly what I was having a look for. You’ve ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye

' src=

I adore looking at and I think this website got some truly useful stuff on it!

' src=

Great job you did as I saw your new blog which gives positive feelings and encourages me in my future steps. Thanks for uploading this detailed post. This blog is easy to capture subscribers and attract the reader. I am feeling proud to be your subscriber; your post is so amazing. Keep it up.

' src=

Really Amazing work by you.

' src=

Absolutely amazing list, thanks a lot for sharing. I would go for #4 – The Online Quiz Icebreaker. I love quiz games and I think it’s a great way to get to know each other. Thanks a lot for sharing these icebreakers and team-building methods with us!

' src=

I visited your. article! I really like it. Lots of good information. Keep it up.

' src=

My share is here,

simple icebreaker you could do is to have everyone say what their favorite food is and how they like to prepare it, it would encourage team members to collaborate, have friendly time & healthy eat together ! + spark at work place

' src=

These are some amazing fun activities! The No Smiling Icebreaker is my personal favorite. Really glad that I came across this blog.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

SnackNation About Careers Blog Tech Blog Contact Us Privacy Policy Online Accessibility Statement

Pricing How It Works Member Reviews Take the Quiz Guides and Resources FAQ Terms and Conditions Website Accessibility Policy

Exciting Employee Engagement Ideas Employee Wellness Program Ideas Thoughtful Employee Appreciation Ideas Best ATS Software Fun Office Games & Activities for Employees Best Employee Engagement Software Platforms For High Performing Teams [HR Approved] Insanely Fun Team Building Activities for Work

Fun Virtual Team Building Activities The Best Employee Recognition Software Platforms Seriously Awesome Gifts For Coworkers Company Swag Ideas Employees Really Want Unique Gifts For Employees Corporate Gift Ideas Your Clients and Customers Will Love

© 2024 SnackNation. Handcrafted in Los Angeles

  • Recipient Choice Gifts
  • Free Work Personality Assessment
  • Happy Hour & Lunches
  • Group eCards
  • Office Snacks
  • Employee Recognition Software
  • Join Our Newsletter
  • Partner With Us
  • SnackNation Blog
  • Employee Template Directory
  • Gifts For Remote Employees
  • ATS Software Guide
  • Best Swag Vendors
  • Top HR Tools
  • Ways To Reward Employees
  • Employee Appreciation Gift Guide
  • More Networks

critical thinking icebreaker games

  • Privacy Overview
  • Strictly Necessary Cookies
  • 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Heritage Center

15 Seriously Fun Meeting Ice Breakers: Games and Questions

Jul 27, 2020 | Events

EB icebreakers

Time to thaw out those expectations and warm things up with some fun! Team icebreakers can make or, yes, break the crucial first hours of your meeting, conference, workshop or other corporate event. Regardless of whether your event is virtual, in-person or a hybrid mix of the two, the right ice breakers for work can foster ease and goodwill among participants that will last throughout the event.

Fun Icebreakers For Meetings

You won’t find any lame “fun fact” introductions or uncomfortable, forced interactions here: These ice breaker ideas are fresh and varied, so you can find the unique option that works for your event and your guests! Below you’ll find a list of some of our favorite ice breakers for meetings, including:

Remember that, while ice breakers are a great tool for a broad spectrum of events, some meetings or workshops may not be the appropriate time or place for more “fun” activities, like meeting under a high-pressure situation or to discuss more serious topics. Use your best judgment!

critical thinking icebreaker games

Virtual Icebreakers

Remote meetings can be awkward, to say the least. Webcam troubles, sound issues, WiFi problems and general unfamiliarity can make virtual events a little stilted. Ice breakers for remote teams can be equally as stiff, but you won’t find any of those in this guide to fun, easy virtual icebreaker ideas! These virtual icebreakers are perfect for video conferences thanks to their simplicity—no additional tech required.

1. Give Us a Tour!

Ask participants to give the group a tour of their workspace. Encourage them to point out the fun, silly or interesting details of whatever room or space they’re working in, from kids’ art on the fridge to a pet hanging out beneath their desk. This ice breaker for remote meetings helps to loosen up everyone on the call by reminding everyone that their coworkers are regular people, just like them!

2. Two Truths & a Lie

In this icebreaker, each participant takes a turn to share three things about themselves: Two things that are true, and one that is a lie. The rest of the team then must guess which of the three facts is the lie! For this to work optimally, remind players to make their lies as believable as possible, as outlandish claims stick out like a sore thumb.

3. Visual Check-In

Ice breaker questions.

What’s the easiest way to get to know someone? Ask them about themselves! Ice breaker questions are a fun, genuinely interesting way to learn more about your teammates or meeting guests and foster a sense of community for the duration of your event and beyond! Keeping your work meeting ice breakers lighthearted, positive and PG (that is, work-appropriate,) is the best method to achieve a great outcome.

4. Funny Icebreaker Questions

Amusing questions work well as icebreakers in a variety of settings, including as video conference ice breakers, in-person team meeting ice breakers, and more. For these icebreakers to work best, keep the pace upbeat and snappy, so everyone has a chance to share. You might consider breaking off into smaller groups to encourage conversation and memorable connections.

Some quick, easy and funny icebreaker questions for work include:

  • The zombie apocalypse is here! What 3 celebrities do you want on your side?
  • What’s your go-to karaoke song?
  • If music played every time you entered a room, what would you want your theme song to be?
  • Which sandwich is “the perfect sandwich,” and why?
  • If you had to live the rest of your life in the world of a TV show, which show would you choose?

5. Would You Rather . . .

“Would You Rather . . . ?” is a classic icebreaker game used by folks young and old everywhere from playgrounds to boardrooms! In these fun team icebreakers, participants are asked to identify which of two presented activities, actions or circumstances they would rather experience—hypothetically, of course. As with all workplace icebreakers, keep your Would You Rather questions work-friendly and avoid any topics or scenarios that might make others uncomfortable. Consider some of these starter questions:

Would you rather . . .

  • . . . travel back in time to meet your ancestors, or forward in time to meet your descendants?
  • . . . always be extremely late for everything, or always arrive ridiculously early ?
  • . . . give up watching TV or give up listening to music ?
  • . . . be the first person to set foot on a new planet , or be the first person to live forever ?

6. If You Could . . .

Like “Would You Rather . . .?”, “If You Could . . .” questions are simple, fun icebreakers that encourage participants to start thinking creatively and learn about one another. Again, participants are asked a question that requires them to weigh options, consider new possibilities, and support an argument—all of which make these types of questions perfect corporate ice breakers! Consider these examples as a starting point:

If you could . . .

  • . . . live anywhere in the world , where would it be and why?
  • . . . instantly become an expert in something, what would you choose as your area of expertise?
  • . . . be on any reality TV show , which would you choose and why?
  • . . . have a dinner party with anyone , dead or alive, celebrity or otherwise, who would you invite and why?

critical thinking icebreaker games

Ice Breaker Games For Small Groups

Icebreaker games run the gamut, from head-scratching critical thinking games to silly, on-the-spot improv and beyond. Small groups are ideal for getting folks up on their feet , which helps encourage participation and connecting with their fellow attendees.

7. Who Am I?

If you’ve seen “The Office,” you’ve seen a game of “Who Am I?”—albeit a less successful one! In this game, everyone has a name tag attached to their back bearing the name of a famous person. Each participant must try to figure out which famous person they are only through “Yes” or “No” questions to their fellow players. For example, you could ask “Am I an athlete?” but not “What’s my profession?” This one is great for groups of 50 or less.

8. What’s In Your Purse?

An oldie but a good, “What’s In Your Purse?” is a scavenger hunt for grown-ups. At the start of the game, players are given a list of items. When time begins, players must race to produce those items from the contents of their purses, backpacks, etc. You can even adapt this game for the modern era by making it “What’s On Your Phone?” and including list items like “A photo of your pet” or “A word game app.”

9. Whose Story is This, Anyway?

Icebreaker games for work get a bad reputation as being boring, but this one is anything but! Provide participants with paper and pens. Have each person anonymously write down the wildest, funniest story they have based on a given prompt. (Think along the lines of “Tell us about your worst vacation,” or “Describe the worst haircut you’ve ever had.”) Once completed, the stories go into a hat, and are chosen at random for the group to decide: Whose Story is This, Anyway?

10. Categories

Ice breaker games for big groups.

Big groups can be tricky when it comes to conference ice breakers—there’s just so many people to engage! Thankfully, there are many ice breaker games for large groups that rise to the challenge. These games make big groups easier to manage by breaking them into smaller groups, and encourage sharing while limiting the opportunity for focusless chatter.

11. Human Rock, Paper, Scissors

This icebreaker is great for amping up the energy of an event. As a group, decide on physical poses that will represent each element in the game, like the fetal position for “Rock” or going stiff as a board for “Paper.” If someone is leading the meeting, they may consider preparing these poses beforehand to eliminate crosstalk.

After poses have been decided, break participants into two teams. For each round, each team will do one pose, with every team member holding the same pose. Give the teams a few minutes to strategize. Then, the meeting leader will instruct the two teams to face each other and count down from three. On “Shoot!”, each team must strike one of the three poses and hold it—without laughing! The rules are the same as traditional Rock, Paper, Scissors, but if a team starts to giggle, they automatically forfeit that round to the other team! Best out of 5 rounds is a good number for a larger group.

12. Lost On a Desert Island

Meeting ice breakers are going tropical, but all is not well in paradise! The premise is this: Everyone at your event has been stranded on a deserted island, but are allowed to salvage one item from the “shipwreck,” ideally something that means something to them or that they would enjoy having under these dire circumstances. The first part of this game is simple: Each participant describes what their chosen item is and why.

Next, break participants into smaller groups. Ask the groups to work together to increase their chances of “survival” by combining their items in some fashion. Participants will have to get creative to use every item to create something useful! If necessary, participants can use elements “found on the island” to supplement their designs. When time has ended, each group can share their creation with the whole and explain how it would aide in surviving their island adventure!

13. A Great Wind Blows

critical thinking icebreaker games

Quick Icebreakers for Meetings

Sometimes, you simply have to get the show on the road. That’s where quick icebreakers come in! Icebreakers don’t always have to be time-consuming games or conversation starters; they can be as simple as an easy joke or anecdote. Consider some of these brief icebreakers for your next meeting:

14. Ice Breaker Jokes

Okay, yes, we promised you up top that there’d be no cheesy one-liners in this guide: But these jokes are cheesy on purpose! If you can get your group laughing with you, not at you, you’re well on your way to a cohesive, enjoyable meeting. For these ice breaker jokes to work the way you intend, make sure it’s clear through your tone and body language that you know these jokes are bad—that’s what makes them so good!

  • Whenever I meet new people, I start talking about global warming. It’s a real ice breaker!
  • How do you make an egg laugh? Tell it a yolk.
  • What do you get when you cross an elephant with a kangaroo? Huge holes all over Australia!
  • Why was Cinderella thrown off the [your regional basketball team]? She ran away from the ball!
  • Did you hear about the time the past, present and future walked into a bar? It was tense.

15. Ice Breaker Short Stories

If you’re leading a meeting or event, an easy way to make your participants feel more comfortable and at-ease sharing with you is to share about yourself first. Tell a quick story or anecdote about something relatable and, if possible, pertinent to the topic or focus of your meeting.

Some examples that tend to go over well are:

  • A story about your first encounter with the group, product or idea you’ll be discussing at that event.
  • A fun anecdote about the last time you had this group of people together, or the last time you led a similar meeting. Don’t be afraid to be playfully self-effacing!
  • An inspiring, brief story about what the day’s topic or focus means to you.

Host Your Next Meeting At Earle Brown Heritage Center

Breaking the ice can be intimidating, but planning your next corporate event shouldn’t be. At Earle Brown Heritage Center, we’re experts in planning and executing business events of all varieties and sizes . With distinctive, welcoming rooms and all the amenities you’ll need to make your event a success, Earle Brown Heritage Center is the perfect place to gather your team. Contact us today to start planning your truly extraordinary event!

Recent Posts

  • 10 Classic Wedding Themes And Decor That Are Always In Style
  • Wedding Reception Vs. Ceremony: What’s The Difference?
  • What Does A Day Of Wedding Coordinator Do? When To Get One
  • 8 Amazing Alternative Wedding Ceremony Ideas to Consider
  • 13 Fun Team Building Activities in Minneapolis and St. Paul

View by Category

Contact us today.

IMAGES

  1. Classroom Ice Breakers: Five Fun Critical Thinking Activities

    critical thinking icebreaker games

  2. 3 Great Ice Breaker Activities for Team Building at Work

    critical thinking icebreaker games

  3. Pin by paula mettala on BGC

    critical thinking icebreaker games

  4. Free Ice Breaker is perfect for Middle and High School students

    critical thinking icebreaker games

  5. "Survivor"

    critical thinking icebreaker games

  6. Find Someone Who Game Icebreaker Game Classroom Game

    critical thinking icebreaker games

VIDEO

  1. ICE BREAKER GAME

  2. Training Icebreaker| Outbound Training Games| Human Knot Game

  3. Icebreaker

  4. Would You Rather Questions ( Episode 12) #shorts #whatwouldyourather #quiz #trivia #game

  5. Icebreaker

  6. Would you Rather (Valentines Day Edition Part 1 ) #shorts #wouldyourather #quiz #trivia

COMMENTS

  1. 10 Team-Building Games That Promote Critical Thinking

    The following team-building games can promote cooperation and communication, help establish a positive classroom environment and — most importantly — provide a fun, much-needed reprieve from routine. See also Team-Building Games For The First Day Of School. 10 Team-Building Games That Promote Collaborative Critical Thinking

  2. 80+ Creative Icebreakers for Brainstorming

    Sunshine or Snow. 5. The Reverse Brainstorm. This icebreaker will help to stimulate new creative paths. Create a list of made-up brand names and get participants to think of as many products or businesses that the name could stand for. Try and encourage people to be as descriptive and expressive as possible.

  3. 61 Ice Breaker Games [That Your Team Won't Find Cheesy]

    Break the Ice with The Four Quadrants Activity. The Four Quadrants is a fun and creative team icebreaker than can be adapted for any situation. It is super easy to prep for and set up - you only need large sheets of paper (flipcharts or similar) and markers. Have people draw up a 2×2 grid and ask them four questions.

  4. 37 Fun Zoom icebreaker games for virtual meetings

    Stimulates problem-solving skills and critical thinking. Promotes teamwork and collaboration. Provides opportunities for laughter and enjoyment. Show and Solve is an engaging Zoom icebreaker game because it requires teamwork to solve puzzles and riddles. It fosters collaboration and critical thinking skills in a fun and interactive way. 31.

  5. 20 icebreaker games and activities for every team

    Fun online icebreakers. These icebreaker activities are a perfect fit for remote teams and teams working from home. 1. Scavenger hunt. Break the ice with a game that doesn't require too much brainpower. List off a few items and send your team on a quest around their house or office to find something that matches.

  6. 25 engaging ice breakers for virtual meetings (that won't bore your

    Virtual ice breakers can be an effective method of kicking off a project, onboarding a new team member or enlivening your team meetings. Choose the right method and you can get your meeting off to an energizing start that encourages participation and builds connections. Get it wrong and risk being met with groaning team members or indifference.

  7. Break the Ice with The Four Quadrants Activity

    Instructions. The steps to facilitate The Four Quadrants activity: Give each participant a piece of flip chart paper and some markers. Ask them to divide their flip charts into four quadrants. Ask them to DRAW (not write) their response to four questions (one for each quadrant). Give them about 5-10 minutes to work individually.

  8. How to Use Icebreakers for Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

    Icebreakers can be a great way to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Brain teasers such as Sudoku, crosswords, or word searches are a good way to get learners to use logical ...

  9. 7 icebreaker games to help your team build authentic connections

    5. One-word Icebreaker (15 mins) Best for: Team building. How: Split participants into small teams (using breakout rooms if you're on Zoom) and ask them to come up with one word to describe, say, your company culture, or a project you're working on. Give them a few minutes to discuss amongst themselves, then let each team present their word ...

  10. Find Critical Thinking Games & Exercises

    Critical thinking is the ability to look at problems in new ways, to analyse how parts of a whole interact with one another and to interpret information and draw conclusions. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills were once thought to be the domain of gifted people. Today, they are necessary for every individual and group who seeks to ...

  11. 17 Online Team Building Icebreakers

    The Riddle Masters icebreaker is a wonderful opportunity for employees to use their critical thinking skills while laughing together. Final Thoughts. Online icebreakers are get to know you activities and games for employees to engage in while working remotely.

  12. 35 Ice Breaker Games (That Aren't Cheesy!)

    This fun icebreaker combines teamwork and critical thinking skills into one challenge. During this game, each team gets a puzzle of equal difficulty. They then work together to try and put it together faster than the other teams. ... Ice Breaker Games for Remote Teams. While icebreakers are a lot of fun and a great way to increase engagement ...

  13. 53+ Icebreaker Ideas for a More Connected Workplace

    Check out over 53 icebreaker ideas, activities, games, and tips that'll help you facilitate an unforgettable team meeting. Check out over 53 icebreaker ideas, activities, games, and tips that'll help you facilitate an unforgettable team meeting. ... It's a fun way to foster critical thinking, communication, and group dynamics. 11. Word ...

  14. 38 Icebreaker Games, Activities & Ideas for Small Groups

    2. Wolf/Chicken/Grain Riddle. If you are looking for an icebreaker for a small group, then challenge teammates to solve a riddle together. Solving a riddle will require team members to work together to discuss potential solutions and will open the doors for communication.

  15. 9 Icebreaker Games to Get Started in Meetings

    Icebreaker games in meetings are a great to improve communication, and build relationships. Here are the 9 best to get you started. ... The game encourages active listening and critical thinking, as well as providing a fun and engaging way to break the ice and learn more about one another. Guess Who can be played in various settings, from ...

  16. Icebreaker Activities

    Icebreaker activities. If you have five minutes, the Icebreaker Activities Play can help you make personal connections and spark the kind of creative thinking that moves work forward. Jump to instructions. Run Time. 5-30 mins.

  17. 60 Fun And Exciting Virtual Icebreakers For Remote Work

    283 Philosophical Questions to Spark Deep Critical Thinking. 283 Philosophical Questions to Spark Deep Critical Thinking. Conversation. 15 min read. Read more . ... Recreate the viewing experience by asking everyone to watch 10-second videos with you during an icebreaker game. If one person laughs, the team moves on to the next video. It'll ...

  18. 17 Fun Icebreaker Games for Adults

    From Storytelling Icebreaker to Hope and Fears to Mean Face Game, here are examples of games adults can play to break the ice. 1. Don't Judge Me. Don't Judge Me is a fun game that promotes inclusivity and acceptance. This game is a simple and fun way to improve communication between colleagues. To play Don't Judge Me:

  19. 15 Delightful Icebreaker Games for Students

    Incorporate critical thinking into your collection of icebreaker games for students. Assign each student an emoji, which will be printed on a card or projected on a screen. During the introduction, students use only body language and facial expressions to communicate the emotion or action represented by the emoji they received. 9. Say It In 30 ...

  20. 21 Fun Icebreakers for Training Sessions With Team Members

    Here are examples of icebreakers you can use for training: 1. Meet-and-greets. Meet-and-greets allow team members to talk to everyone on their team attending the meeting and learn something new about them. If time allows, team members can share one thing they learned about one another at the end of the activity.

  21. 42 Ridiculously Fun Icebreaker Ideas & Games

    15. The Marshmallow Challenge. This challenge from Tom Wujec, a business visualization expert, makes the perfect icebreaker and team-building hybrid. Break your meeting attendees into groups of four. Give each group 20 sticks of spaghetti, 1 yard of tape, 1 yard of string, and one marshmallow.

  22. 15 Seriously Fun Meeting Ice Breakers: Games and Questions

    Icebreaker games run the gamut, from head-scratching critical thinking games to silly, on-the-spot improv and beyond. ... Ice Breaker Games For Big Groups. Big groups can be tricky when it comes to conference ice breakers—there's just so many people to engage! Thankfully, there are many ice breaker games for large groups that rise to the ...

  23. Brainzilla

    About Brainzilla. Brainzilla is a website dedicated to everyone who likes to have fun and exercise the brain. Our games are good because: They enrich logic, critical thinking, and problem solving skills;