Did you know that icebreakers are a great way to get team bonding? Of course, sometimes it takes more than just one type of game. That’s why we compiled this list for your convenience!
Whether you want to kick off a meeting with your team, play online trivia games or just break the ice in general, there are plenty of different ways to get people talking. Here’s an exhaustive list that should cover most situations.
Scavenger hunt
If you’re looking to get people talking in a group setting, scavenger hunts are the way to go. Each member of your team is given a copy of an item list that they can use to find all the items on it while exploring the area they’re at (be it around town or on campus).
Twenty Questions
Another game that’s great for groups where you want different members spending time with each other is Twenty Questions. To play, split up into pairs and have them ask yes/no questions until one person guesses what object they’re thinking about. Here’s why this works; even if your team isn’t very outgoing, they’ll have to start talking to each other because otherwise they won’t be able to get enough information in the time given.
Icebreaker Relays
Relay races are great icebreakers and really fun as long as you make them a little bit special! Of course it’s important that everyone on your team has a partner, but then try making teams based off of specific traits (i.e. “Red team” is composed of people who like sports and “Blue team” is composed of people who like video games). Another option is to turn one teammate into an “absentee”; this way he/she will need the help of their partner more than ever…probably increasing conversation between partners.
Online quizzes
Sometimes when trying to get people talking you just need to find a good excuse. Online quizzes are perfect for this because they can be about anything (e.g., see who would win in a fight between the cast of Naruto and One Piece) and just give everyone something to talk about while waiting on their results!
DIY icebreakers
Sometimes you need to go old school and get together with your team in person! Try making icebreakers yourself, such as putting the name of a Spice Girl on their back and asking the other members of their team to guess who it is. Or use stickers or markers to draw silly pictures on them and see if they can guess what they are.
Jenga questions
Jenga is a classic game for good reason-it’s fun! But did you know that there are multiple ways to play Jenga? If your team has never played using the question rules before, it’s worth trying out. Not only can questions be used as warnings in case someone is about to topple the tower but they also force people to get up and walk around the table, increasing interaction.
Tower of fun
The Tower of Fun is a classic icebreaker game that can be played as either a large group activity or a small group one. It requires people drawing a card and performing the instructions written on it (such as asking an entire room to cheer for them or everyone else in the opposite section). It’s also worth noting that for this activity the more “extreme” the game is, the better!
Use these icebreaker games to get your team talking and laughing together. Not only will they benefit their team building but also-as a bonus-they’ll be able to show off all of their new found skills in fun/friendly competitions like pictionary or create a team name!
BYOI
BYOI (Bring Your Own Icebreaker) is one of my favorite icebreakers to use. The idea is simple; you choose an activity and people either bring their own or play the one provided…and then show off how much teamwork can accomplish!
I like to use this game in groups of new members, but it’s also a great option for team meetings and bigger events (try combining all the BYOI games into an activity ladder!)