Fun icebreakers and games

Tell team members that they cannot pick more than one and must assume it is the only item they will have on that island. Allow the teams time to deliberate and then ask them to present the item they chose and why. For this icebreaker, all you have to do is answer the question about your favorite things. You'll ask your team to choose their favorite movie, song, T. The question can change every week.

This icebreaker helps your team get to know each other even when they work remotely and can spark conversation on what everyone likes or dislikes. If you're looking for a remote icebreaker that's more of a game, and less discussion-based, you can host a trivia game. Kahoot is a trivia platform you can use for free hosts up to 10 people. To get started, all you'll need to do is sign up for a free Kahoot account. Then, you can choose a featured trivia game to play. To run this remotely, you'll want to share your screen with your team.

Everyone will need to have a separate device to use so they can enter the game and submit their answers. This is one of my favorite icebreakers because it's a fun way to get to know your team. For this game, have everyone bring in an embarrassing photo and tell the story behind it. Have your team members share their screen or send a file to the team leader to share with everyone.

To make this more interesting, you can have people guess whose photo it is before your team member shares their story. Doing this icebreaker is a great way to build connections remotely. For this icebreaker, have everyone on your team go around and share a word or phrase that represents how they feel that day. Manager, Christina Perricone , says this is her favorite icebreaker.

It provides a space for participants to bring their entire self to work and it gives the team context for how to support that team member that day," Perricone adds.

Take turns showing off the cutest pictures and videos of your pet. The more nonsensical the prompt, the funnier the drawings become.

Drawasaurus is one of my favorite online drawing games to play with colleagues. Players get to choose from three random prompts to quickly interpret and draw their vision.

Other players can score more points for identifying the word the fastest and take turns going until the timer goes out. Thinking off the top of your head is a lot harder said than done in Scattegories. Each round the game will highlight a random letter of the alphabet and let players come up with any noun or phrase that starts with said letter. The best part — players can dispute answers amongst each other to take the win.

A perfect icebreaker for your overly competitive colleagues. A rather straightforward ice breaker, team members can share an object they love over Zoom. Have team members share some bucket list items they want to achieve in the future. Not only can these be inspirational, but they also open the floor for team members to encourage one another to pursue their dreams, too.

While dispersed teams may not have the chance to share a handshake or hug, you can still share the love amongst each other in this icebreaker. Shout them out for their helpfulness in a project, for the energy they bring to the team, or for their lovely smile.

Making something with your team can be a great opportunity to learn something new and keep decorative mementos in your space to remind you of your team. Have everyone follow the same instructions to make a craft like simple origami, a drawing, or painting by a designated instructor in the Zoom call or YouTube tutorial. This icebreaker is best suited for new hires who may feel more reserved as they virtually meet the team. After everyone is done, they should rip up their answers and discard them.

Team icebreakers that focus on setting the right tone and ask everyone to arrive in the room are some of the best ice breakers out there.

What are you bringing to the meeting teampedia opening team check-in. Ice breaker games are not only useful at the beginning of meetings or getting to know new people. They are also a great way to support team building, by creating a positive atmosphere, helping people relax and break down barriers. Team icebreakers such as those below are great for enhancing team building and empowering everyone in the group to move forward together.

The Four Quadrants one of the tried and true team building icebreakers to break the ice with a group or team. It is super easy to prep for and set up — you only need large sheets of paper flipcharts or similar and markers. They should draw the answers in each quadrant. Afterwards they can show each other their drawings and discuss the creations.

Questions can cover topics like current challenges, stressors, defining moments, moments of pride, fears, desired outcome for the current gathering etc. Team icebreakers that encourage openness are great for team building and ensuring everyone in a group is heard!

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. Separate people into same sized teams. Each group has the same amount of time to complete the puzzle.

The secret twist is to switch up a few pieces with the other groups beforehand! Fun icebreakers can help keep a team on their toes and encourage creative thinking — try ice breakers for meetings that include an edge of competitiveness and fun to really liven things up.

The goal is to finish before the others — so they must figure out collectively how to convince other teams to give up pieces they need. This can be through barter, merging or changing teams, donating minutes etc. This is a longer game, but one that is worth doing, since it encourages teamwork on several levels — internally and externally too. Two people should sit facing away from each other. One receives a picture of an object or phrase. Without saying directly what they see, they should describe it to their pair without using words that clearly give it away.

Their pair has to draw the specific picture. The game requires two people to sit facing away from each other, where one team member is given a picture of an object or word. Without specifying directly what it is, the other person must describe the image without using words that clearly give away the image.

This is a great game to develop verbal communication and remember that icebreaker games for work do not need to reinvent the wheel to be effective. BackBack Drawing communication collaboration trust ice breaker teampedia action. Everyone has great memories from childhood scavenger hunts. It is a no-brainer then to recreate this experience as one of your icebreaker activities for adults. You can do this indoors at the office or outside if the weather is nice. They require a wide range of skills and thinking and diverse personalities to be completed successfully.

This is a great energiser that requires players to move about as they build an imaginary electric fence. The fence can be represented by a rope or a shoe string tied between two objects. It should be about waist high. They must also be touching a teammate with at least one hand at all times. This ice breaker activity requires quick brainstorming, problem-solving and negotiating other ideas.

Make sure that people who are uncomfortable with physical contact have an option to not participate but still feel involved in the brainstorming part.

Inclusive games make for some of the best ice breakers: be sure to bare this in mind when deciding on icebreaker games for work or your next meeting.

The object of this ice breaker game is to introduce event participants to each other by co-creating a mural-sized, visual network of their connections. They will also need a substantial wall covered in butcher paper to create the actual network.

Then they find the people they know and draw lines to make the connections. This is one of our favourite ice breakers for meetings, particularly if those involved in the meeting are distributed in interesting ways. Low-tech Social Network gamestorming ice breaker opening. The object of this game is to introduce event participants to each other by co-creating a mural-sized, visual network of their connections. Ice breaker games usually all have a strong aspect of teamwork and collaboration as people work together in groups to accomplish a challenge or solve a puzzle.

Therefore these team icebreakers can also be used as part of team building events and team development workshops. They are meant to fast-track group familiarity and increase the socialization process in a new or existing environment. With increased social interaction, people naturally learn how to work together more productively — the mood can warm up between colleagues who are normally highly formal with each other.

The best ice breakers have the power to strengthen coworker bonds, stimulate better brainstorming sessions, and create an atmosphere of inclusivity. In eighteen minutes, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. The marshmallow needs to be on top. It emphasizes group communication, leadership dynamics, collaboration, innovation and problem solving strategy.

Fun icebreakers for meetings can be hard to find — The Marshmallow Challenge is one of those icebreaker games for work that feels almost like play. The Marshmallow Challenge was developed by Tom Wujec, who has done the activity with hundreds of groups around the world. Ice breaker ideas that are fun, well designed and have a proven track record are definitely worth a try.

Marshmallow challenge with debriefing teamwork team leadership collaboration. Visit the Marshmallow Challenge website for more information. This version has an extra debriefing question added with sample questions focusing on roles within the team. This fun activity could be used as an icebreaker both for people who have just met and for already existing teams. Breaking people up into groups, each one needs a fresh egg, some straws, masking tape and other items for creating a package to protect the egg.

Using the raw materials provided, the team goal is to build a structure that will support a free falling egg dropped from a predetermined height e. Get to know you games with an element of danger are always fun ice breakers for meetings.

This is a method that shows and fosters team communication, collaboration and strategic thinking as well. Egg drop teampedia collaboration teamwork ice breaker team. This fun activity could be used as an icebreaker for people who have just met but it can be framed as a method that shows and fosters team communication, collaboration and strategic thinking as well.

Line up people in two rows facing each other. Introduce the Helium Stick and ask participants to hold their index fingers out. The goal is to lower the Stick to the ground in a way that no one lets go of it at any time. Pinching, grabbing or holding on properly to the Stick is not allowed. If the group makes a mistake, they start from the beginning.

With the right group, Helium Stick is one of the most fun icebreakers out there. Helium Stick teampedia team teamwork ice breaker energiser. A great and simple activity for fostering teamwork and problem solving with no setup beforehand. Blindfold your seated participants. Leave the circle and ask them to form a perfect square from the rope without looking.

When people think they are finished, they can remove their blindfolds to see the result. Blind Square is one of the icebreaker games you can use to highlight leadership and communication — some people will want to take charge, while others are more comfortable following direction.

Also, it can be repeated after the first try to see if they can improve their collaboration. Blind Square — Rope game teamwork communication teambuilding team energiser thiagi outdoor.

When the correct game is chosen, everyone benefits from the energy they bring to any meeting or event. Remember that choosing ice breakers for meetings, even if those meetings are business-critical does not mean that you should discount fun icebreakers. This ice breaker activity is a fun one that requires some creativity. It enhances a sense of community because people have to draw the others as a group — not just between the drawers, but the recipients of the portraits too.

The outcome is very visual and colourful, the images can be put up in the meeting room. Meeting ice breakers that produce physical results can really help ensure the work of the meeting continues afterwards!

Portrait Gallery hyperisland team ice breaker. The Portrait Gallery is an energetic and fun icebreaker game that gets participants interacting by having the group collaboratively draw portraits of each member.

It also has a very colourful visual outcome: the set of portraits which can be posted in the space. They then explain the meaning behind the picture to the person on their left. They also have to find something they share with each person in the team characteristic, hobby, etc. Write different words on pieces of paper, making sure each word is part of a pair e.

They will then walk around asking questions until they figure out what their word is so they can find their pair. Do you have other icebreaker games we can add to the list? Tell us in the comments below:. Sam Molony is the marketing strategist at ZoomShift , the leading employee scheduling software. When Sam's not publishing or promoting new content you can find him playing his guitar or baking. Sam Molony. Employee Management. With that said, here are 50 icebreaker games perfect for the workplace: 1.

Virtual Scavenger Hunt Ask people to stay in their chairs until you call out a household item. Examples: Grab a book with a red cover. Grab something that was a gift. Scavenger Hunt Give small groups a list of locations around the office or campus and have them take selfies in front of specific places or monuments. Brown, what did you study in college? Paper Airplane Game Pass around a pack of multi-colored paper.

Year Of The Coin Bring your coin jar into the office and sort out any coins that may be too old. Example: , my niece Caitlyn was born. Bowl Of Questions Fill out a sheet full of questions that are good conversation starters. Examples: What strange food combinations do you enjoy?

What was the last photo you took? Speed Networking Set a minute timer and pair people up. Would You Rather?

Another fun alternative for this game is sharing embarrassing photos such as childhood photos. The Friendly Debate Pick a harmless question you think may divide the room and prompt people to then spend a few minutes coming up with reasons why their choice is better.

Example: Which food is better, pizza or tacos? Have You Ever? Examples: Have you ever … sang in the shower? Regifted something? Flown in a helicopter? Two Sides of a Coin Pair everyone up and have each person share a recent negative experience.

Example: Why did the employee get fired from the calendar factory? He took the day off. Tic Tac Toe Get everyone to create a tic tac toe board and fill it out with their passions.

The first person to get three in a row is the winner. Jenga Questions Everyone loves Jenga, and this is a great take on the traditional party game. The Circle of Names Line all the participants up in a circle. Once the squares are filled out, people walk around discussing the questions and their drawings. Team Jigsaw This is a nice easy one, but entertaining nonetheless! The Marshmallow Tower Teams need to build the tallest tower possible from: 20 sticks of spaghetti One yard of tape One yard of string One marshmallow The teams can build their tower how they like, but the marshmallow has to be on the top.

Wink Banishment Players are seated in a circle. The Movie Pitch Break the group into smaller teams. Trading Cards Everyone creates their own trading card with a self-portrait, name, nickname, and fun facts.

Leave Your Shoes at the Door Everybody leaves their shoes at the door. Minefield Set up your conference room with a big space in the middle and place objects across the floor keep in mind the safety of the participants. No Smiling Please When everyone arrives, announce to the group that nobody can smile for the first minutes of the meeting. 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.

Hit enter to search or ESC to close. Close Search. About SnackNation SnackNation is a healthy office snack delivery service that makes healthy snacking fun, life more productive, and workplaces awesome.

Connor Garrett January 13, Connor Garrett January 11, Carri Helman January 6, Alexis says:. May 29, at pm. Tony says:. September 15, at am. Steven Fales says:. August 27, at am. Leena says:. September 20, at am. Eric says:. October 25, at pm. Heather Rogers says:.

January 30, at pm. KayCee says:. April 19, at pm. Annie says:. November 1, at am. Monica Linares says:. November 12, at pm. Michale says:. October 24, at pm. Rachel says:. November 10, at am.

Donna says:. November 13, at am. November 16, at pm. January 19, at pm. Louise says:. November 28, at am. November 30, at pm. Alex says:. January 29, at am. Esther says:. January 31, at pm. February 7, at pm. Jim says:. February 22, at am.

Alia says:. February 20, at am. Carole says:. February 16, at pm. February 18, at pm. Lisa says:. July 23, at pm. Vlad says:. February 23, at pm. Tot Ellis says:. March 8, at pm. Alana A. April 20, at am. Shawn says:. March 20, at am. Krizel says:. April 6, at pm. April 15, at pm.

Richard says:. April 7, at pm. Cailee Yielding says:. April 24, at pm. Laura Nguyen says:. What type of questions do you put? April 26, at am. Jerrie says:. May 2, at pm. May 14, at am. Kris says:. May 26, at am. Mohana says:. August 28, at am. Maria Medrano says:. August 28, at pm. Julia Wolfe says:. July 20, at am. August 14, at am. Slots says:.

September 1, at pm. October 28, at pm. November 3, at am. Fred Schrader says:. December 5, at am.