Icebreaker Games
What shouldn't be missing at any party is a good mood. Fun activities and get-together games are the perfect icebreakers. Whether at a birthday party, a work party, or a cozy evening with friends, ice breaker games guarantee a good time.
✍️ October 25, 2021
- 🤓 What are Icebreaker Games?
- 😹 Fun Icebreaker Games
- ✌️ Icebreaker Games for Small Groups
- 🙌 Icebreaker Games for Large Groups
- 💼 Icebreaker Games for Work
- 🥳 Icebreaker Games for Kids
- 🤔 Icebreaker Questions
The unique thing about ice breaker games is that they can ease the mood! Especially in a group of people who don’t know each other very well. When you meet new people, you can run out of conversation topics after a while.
If you laugh with each other and playfully learn new things about each other, you usually get to talk to new people without much effort. The good thing about ice breaker games is that you don’t have to talk to each other, but you can still have a good time.
What are Icebreaker Games? 🤓
Icebreaker games, as the name suggests, are usually fun activities and question games that are supposed to break the ice between people. More specifically, they are designed to get to know new people and spice up the mood. That is why icebreaker games are very popular at parties.
Some of you may think that playing games are childish. However, icebreaker games are fun at any age. You are never too old to play!
Fun Icebreaker Games 😹
Humor connects people! Laughing reduces stress and depression and boosts your immune system, just to name a few health benefits of laughing.
When people bond through fun icebreaker games they are feeling more comfortable around each other which helps them open up and become closer. Additional benefits of icebreakers are that they help people to connect on a deeper level and feel more comfortable around each other.
The following 6 fun icebreaker games are easy to play, fit almost any occasion, and are guaranteed to make you laugh! Have fun!
1. The Toilet Paper Question Game 🧻
The Toilet Paper Game is as fun as it sounds. In this fun icebreaker activity, you playfully get to know facts about your fellow human beings, depending on how much toilet paper they use. Sounds confusing? Don’t worry. It’s actually quite easy. Here’s how it works:
We recommend at least 4 people to play. In theory, you can also play it in pairs. However, with more people, it’s more fun. All you need to play this game is a toilet paper roll.
All players line up in a circle. Then you pass on the toilet paper roll from person to person. Everyone has to tear down as much toilet paper as they usually need to wipe. In the end, each player must disclose one fact about him/herself for each sheet of toilet paper in his/her hand.
For example: When I was two years old, I broke my nose.
Tip: If the other players do not know the game yet, do not tell them that they have to tell facts about themselves afterward. This will prevent people from tearing off fewer sheets of toilet paper!
2. Shoe Shuffle
Shoe Shuffle is one of our favorite icebreakers for big groups. The goal of the game is to find your shoes as quickly as possible. The more people play, the more difficult and entertaining it will be.
First, all players take off their shoes. Then put them in a pile and mix them up so that the shoes are no longer in pairs. Now you start playing:
📖 Suggested read: The Best Mood-boosting Icebreaker Activities
- Build two teams of the same size
- Both teams position themself in a line in front of the pile of shoes.
- Make sure that the distance between the groups and the pile of shoes is the same.
- As soon as one player gives the starting signal, the first players of each team run towards the pile and have to find their shoes as quickly as possible.
- Then they run back to their team.
- The next person starts running.
- The game continues until one group is finished!
3. You Laugh, You Lose
You Laugh, You lose is pretty self-explanatory since the only rule is already in the title! If you laugh, you lose the game. You can play the game in pairs or create two groups. The goal of the game is to make your opponent laugh.
You can tell a joke, make silly faces, or do whatever else you can think of. If you made your opponent laugh, he/she gets a black point. If you want to make a competition out of it, first determine how many lives everyone has. Or you just play for fun.
4. The Mysterious Illness Game
In this fun icebreaker game, improvisation and acting skills are required. One person from the group is the doctor, and the rest are the patients.
🤓 Suggested read: List of the Best Icebreaker Ideas & Games
As the doctor leaves the room, patients think about what illness or symptoms they have. It is funniest when patients come up with unique and weird symptoms or diseases.
For example: A person might have paranoia and think that the CIA is chasing them. Or someone believes to be another person or animal, such as Michael Jackson or a cat.
When all patients have decided on an illness, the doctor can come back into the room. Then the doctor tries to correctly diagnose each patient by asking questions.
However, patients should not make it obvious to the doctor what problem they have. After the doctor has given everyone a diagnosis, they reveal their real illness. Every round, a different person becomes the doctor.
5. Draw Together
In this game, you can prove your artistic skills and show your creative ideas. The aim of the game is to paint a fictional figure together. Your drawing doesn’t have to be realistic - the more bizarre, the better!
You need at least 4 people to play. In a larger group, you can create several teams of 4 people. First, prepare a sheet of paper, scissors, and a pen. Then you divide the sheet into four equal parts. Before you hand out the pieces of paper, write on one side of the sheet, what body part has to be drawn:
- Head
- Upper body
- Lower body (except feet)
- Feet
Then each of the four players receives one of the pieces of paper and begins to draw. Finally, the pieces of paper are put back together and, at best, laughed at. If you play in two teams, decide who created the funniest creature!
6. Storyteller - Icebreaker Game
In this icebreaker game, you write a story together as a group. One person begins with writing an introductory sentence.
For example: “Once upon a time I was awakened by a loud bang in the middle of the night”.
Then the other players add another sentence. The last person writes a final sentence. We recommend at least four players. Otherwise, the story will be very short. In the end, someone reads out the story to the group.
In a larger group, you can create two groups. Each of the groups writes their own story and reads it out loud at the end. If you like, you can also rate at the end who wrote the funnier story.
Tip: The more creative and odd the sentences are, the funnier the story will be.
Icebreaker Games for Small Groups ✌️
To make a great first impression, you need to be able to communicate successfully with others. Engaging in conversation is the easiest way for a group of people to get comfortable and familiar with each other. And that’s where icebreaker games come into play!
📖 Suggested read: 400+ Great Icebreaker Questions
It’s crucial that your group members feel comfortable around each other before getting started because it increases the chance that they will enjoy your event and bring great ideas to the table.
These fun conversation starter games for small groups are guaranteed to help you and your team bond and start communicating right away:
1. Word Chain
You might know the Word Chain Game from your school days. In this word game, the players have to come up with words that begin with the letter that the previous word ended with. The words must match not only the letters but also the category in question.
So if one person says the word “lion” (category “animals”), the next person has to say a word that starts with “n” and falls in the category “animals”, such as “noctule”.
The only two rules are:
- You have five seconds to come up with a name.
- Don’t repeat words in the same game.
2. Two Truths, One Lie
Two Truths, One lie is an awesome ice breaker game and conversation starter. The goal of the game is to find out which statements about a person are right and which are wrong. All players arrange themselves in a circle. Then everyone thinks about three facts about themselves. But one of the three statements must be a lie.
For example: “I have a twin sister. I know how to juggle. I am allergic to peanuts”
Each round, one person shares their three statements with the other players. Then the group decides together which of the statements is a lie. At the end of each round, the person reveals what was the lie.
📖 Suggested read: Icebreakers | How to break the ice
Tip: Try to use unique facts that might not apply to everyone.
3. Jenga Question Game
The Jenga question game requires a little preparation. To play you need the game “Jenga” and a pen. Each Jenga block must be labeled with a question, for example: “What do you like most about yourself?”. The rules are the same as usual.
One by one carefully pulls out a block of the tower without causing it to collapse. Then the person reads the question on the block and answers it. The game is over when the tower collapses.
👉 You can find ideas for questions here: Truth or Dare Jenga!
4. Who am I?
The guessing game Who am I? is a classic among icebreaker games. The only things you need to play are sticky notes and a pen. You can play the game in pairs or a group.
Initially, a person is selected who is the first to guess who they are. The others in the group have to decide who or what the person is. Then they write the name on a note and stick it on the person’s forehead.
Now the person can start guessing who she/he is by asking questions. However, you may only ask questions that can be answered with yes or no. Optionally, you can also set a time limit.
5. Going on a picnic
In the ice breaker game Going on a picnic, you not only get to know new people but also train your memory. A person starts the round by saying their name and choosing an item to take to the picnic.
For example: “Hey, my name is Lisa. I am going on a picnic and I am taking my dog.”
The next person repeats the name and item that the person mentioned before them and then says their name and item.
For example: “Lisa takes her dog on a picnic. My name is Barbara and I am taking my microwave.”
Each person of the group has to repeat everyone’s name and their items in the right order before adding a new item to the list. The game ends when one person can’t remember all names and items.
Icebreaker Games for Large Groups 🙌
Understanding others is key to making new friends, having meaningful relationships, and being able to communicate well. If you want to bond with other people, try playing some icebreaker games. These are great for any situation!
Whether you’re planning your next team-building event or simply trying to connect with a large group of family members, these icebreaker games are fun and effective ways to help everyone get comfortable around each other.
Enjoy this list of icebreaker games for any gathering:
1. Charades 🎭
Charades is about acting out words and guessing them correctly. First, divide all players into two teams. Then both groups have to write phrases or words to guess on slips of paper. The groups put their notes folded into a container. Each team receives the box from the opposite team.
You can flip a coin to determine which group goes first. Each round, a person must pull a slip of paper out of their box and act out the word. Your group has 1-2 minutes to guess the word correctly. If the group has guessed the word within the time, the team gets the point. Then it’s the other group’s turn.
The game continues until there are no more notes. Finally, the points are counted. The team with the most points is the winner.
👉 If you’re out of ideas for charade words, you can look for inspiration here: Charades Word Game!
Do you want to try playing the game online? Check out our apps!
2. The 4-Corner Game
The 4-Corner game is my personal favorite get-to-know-you game. This icebreaker game is about getting to know each other’s opinions.
In the beginning, the moderator is chosen, who shares various statements with the group, for example: “Pineapple does not belong on pizza”. Then four corners are determined which stand for four different answer options:
- Strongly agree
- Somewhat agree
- Somewhat disagree
- Strongly disagree
After the statement is said, all players must position themselves in the corner that corresponds to their answer. For example, if you find pineapple on pizza disgusting, you probably go in the corner “strongly agree”.
The aim of this game is nothing more than to learn new things about others and have fun and exciting discussions.
3. Never have I ever
I assume you all probably already have heard about the question game Never have I ever. It’s not only a fun drinking game it’s also a great way to get to know new people. The rules are simple. One person starts by asking a Never have I ever question.
For example: “Never have I ever peed in a pool.”.
If you have already done it, you have to raise your hand. With the right fun icebreaker questions, this ice breaker game will cause a lot of laughter.
👉 Here you can find out more about the Never Have I Ever game!
If you want to play Never Have I Ever online, give our apps a try:
4. Post it!
This is a game where you make other people compliments. For playing, you need sheets of paper and pens. Each person sticks a note on his back. Then all people write one compliment on each other’s back.
If you don’t know a person that well, you can write things like, “I like your style.” For each person, think about what you want to say to them. It is important that you ONLY write positive things. In the end, you can read your note of compliments and be happy about it.
5. Whose Story Is It?
In this game, you have to guess which story belongs to which person. In the beginning, everyone in the group writes a little story or event from their life.
For example: “When I was ten years old, I found a hedgehog on the street and wanted to bring it back into the forest. When I tried to catch it, it bit my finger, and I had to go to the hospital.”
All stories are then put in a box. In each round, one person draws a piece of paper and reads the text. Then they have to decide who’s story it could be. The person has two attempts to find the right person. After the second attempt, it is revealed to whom the story belongs.
Icebreaker Games for Work 💼
There are many benefits of getting to know your coworkers on a more personal level. By becoming better acquainted with the people you see every day, you can improve communication and company culture in general.
But how do you make sure everyone gets along? Icebreaker games can be a great way to help establish some common ground early on. And they fit in every team meeting.
These six icebreaker games for work will help create a fun environment that will boost morale and open up lines of communication between team members!
1. The Pitch Icebreaker Game
Salespeople will love this classic game. The goal of this game is to pitch a random item to your colleagues.
Here’s how it works: Each player receives two small pieces of paper. On one paper, you write the name of an object. On the other, you write a random price. Then put the notes with the items and the prices in two different containers.
In each round, another person draws two notes, one from the item box and another from the price box. The person then has to prepare a pitch with the item and the price they drew. The player has two minutes to do so. After two minutes, the person pitches their product to their colleagues.
Tip: The more random the items and prices are, the funnier it gets!
2. The Marshmallow Challenge
The Marshmallow Game is a creative game for team building. The aim of the game is to build a tower with only a marshmallow, 20 spaghetti, and tape.
First, all players are divided into teams of the same size. Then each team receives its materials. The groups have 20 minutes to build a tower.
Finally, the marshmallow is placed on the top of the tower. The group with the tallest tower is the winner.
3. Would You Rather
Would you rather is a fun game, where you can learn more about your colleagues and friends. This game belongs definetly on the list of the best virtual team building activities. Every round one person asks a Would you rather question. These questions should include two options that are as opposite as possible.
For example: Would you rather be immortal or have 9 lives?
Each player has to choose which option they prefer. We guarantee you will find out a lot of new stuff about your colleagues! And remember, there is no wrong answer!
👉 Here you can find our more awesome ideas for Would You Rather!
Also check out our apps, where you can choose from different categories and get random question each turn:
4. The Hot Seat
You’ll either hate it or love this game. It depends on your personality type. The hot seat game is kind of like a friendly version of an interrogation. Each turn, one person must sit on the hot seat, which is just a random chair.
Then each player may ask one question to the person sitting on the chair. But please don’t be too hard on them and don’t ask inappropriate questions. After all, it’s about having fun.
5. Speed Dating Icebreaker
Speed Dating is a great way to connect with your colleagues. Most of the time, cliques form in the office time. Only a few leave their comfort zone and try to meet new people. This game is like a little personality quiz!
The goal of the game is to learn as much as possible about new people in a short amount of time. After a signal, everyone looks for a partner they know the least. Then, each couple has three minutes to talk to each other. After the next buzz, everyone looks for a new partner again.
6. The Human Knot
The Human Knot, also known as “The Tangled Chain” is a great problem-solving game and team-building exercise. The more people are playing, the more complex it gets. Before playing make sure you have an open space.
Stand in a circle and move close together. Then hold the hands of two different people in the circle. However, you must not take your neighbors’ hands. Each left hand should hold a left hand and each right hand a right hand.
The aim of the game is to untangle the “human knot” without letting go of the other person’s hands. Communication and teamwork are essential to solve the task successfully.
Icebreaker Games for Kids 🥳
When kids are young, they need to be able to work together and understand one another to create a good environment. This is especially important in early education settings.
If you’re looking for fun icebreaker games that encourage ideal social development skills like communication and teamwork then check out these activities that will help children bond with their peers!
1. The Telephone Game
The Telephone Game, also called “Whisper down the line”, is a fun ice breaker for birthday parties. This Ice breaker game is about whispering a word to your friends and seeing how much it changed during the game. All you need to play this game is a couple of friends.
A person begins by whispering a word or phrase into their neighbor’s ear. This person then whispers what they have heard into the next person’s ear. This goes on until the word has reached the last person.
The last person tells the group what they think they heard. In the end, the correct word or phrase is revealed. Then it shows how much the word or phrase has changed.
2. Belly Balloon Break
One of our favourite icebreaker games is Belly Balloon Break. This game is all about popping balloons.
First, everyone chooses a game partner. Each pair receives at least ten inflated balloons. This game is great for improving their emotional intelligence.
When the start signal sounds, all pairs must pop as many balloons as possible within one minute. You may only use your bellies for this. Whoever pops the most balloons in the end wins!
3. The Freeze Game
In this game, you can show off your craziest dance moves! For playing, you need music and enough space. First, a person is chosen as a judge who is responsible for the music and compliance with the rules.
The rules are simple: When the music is playing, everyone is dancing wildly. When the music stops, each player must immediately freeze and remain in that position until the music starts again. If a person does not immediately freeze, they are eliminated from the game.
The winner is the last person left on the dance floor!
4. Catch The Ball
Catch The Ball is one of the best conversation starter games for kids. The only thing you need to play is a ball or something else that you can throw safely. The first person receives the ball and must reveal something about themselves. This can be their favorite color, hobby, or a funny story from their life.
Then the person throws the ball to another person who then has to say something about themself. The game continues until everyone had the ball once and told something about their life.
5. Where do you stand?
Where do you Stand? is a fun activity for classrooms in which you learn more about the opinions of your schoolmates. Make sure you have enough space to play, depending on how many people are playing.
Before starting the game, create a long straight line on the ground by using a ducktape. If you like you can also create an imaginary line. Just make sure the line is long enough for people to stand along the line.
Each round one person asks the group one question, which includes two opposite options.
For example: “Cats or dogs?”
The left end of the line stands for “cat”, the right end for “dogs”. Everyone has to answer the question by positioning themselves on the line. The further to the left you stand, the more you like cats. The further to the right you stand, the more you prefer dogs. If you have no opinion or prefer neither option, stand in the middle of the line.
👉 Check out our This or That Game as a fun alternative!
BONUS: Ice breaker Questions 🤔
Questions are a great way to kick off any conversation. They allow you to get to know someone better, learn about their experiences, and establish common ground.
These icebreaker questions will help set the stage for your next social event so you can focus on developing new friendships instead of wondering what to talk about. Enjoy this list of icebreaker questions!
Fun Ice breaker Questions
- What was the weirdest dream you ever had?
- What’s the unfunniest joke you know?
- If you were a car, what car would you be?
- If you could be an animal for one day, what would you be and why?
- What’s the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in public?
- If you had to be allergic to something, what would it be?
- What is something you do when nobody is looking?
- How old is the oldest item of clothing in your closet?
- If you could eliminate one thing you have to do each day, what would it be?
- What things do you do that are considered by others as childish?
Icebreaker Questions to get to know someone
- What are three things that you can’t stand?
- What are three things that you love?
- What is one thing you miss about being a kid?
- What’s one thing you did as a teenager, that you regret now?
- What is the one thing that makes you different from other people?
- If you could have any question answered, what would it be?
- If you were arrested, whom would you call for bail money?
- Do you like to plan or be spontaneous?
- What’s the shittiest job you’ve ever had?
- Are you more like your mom or your dad?
👉 Here you can find more fun questions to ask: 250+ Questions to get to know someone!
