Picking the right icebreaker
Big groups
This or that and most likely to: everyone plays at once.
Remote teams
Share the screen and play on phones.
Classrooms
The name game and two truths and a lie.
Icebreaker games that actually break the ice
The best icebreaker games give quiet people something easy to do and loud people somewhere to aim it. The top picks run on a screen with everyone answering on their phone, so nobody has to volunteer first.
Ranked
14 icebreaker games, ranked
- 01
Play it free
Icebreaker questions, live Our pick
A question on the screen and one name under it. That person answers, the screen picks the next, and nobody gets picked twice in a row.
- Free
- Work safe
Pick it if you want everyone to talk once, quickly.
- 02
Play it free
This or that Our pick
Coffee or tea, beach or mountains. Everyone taps on their phone and the screen shows the split in seconds.
- Free
- No talking needed
Pick it if the group is shy or very big.
- 03
Play it free
Two truths and a lie Our pick
Each person tells three stories, one false, and the room votes on the lie. Themes keep anyone from going blank.
- Free
- Classic
Pick it if the group will meet again.
- 04
Play it free
Most likely to for coworkers Our pick
Who's most likely to reply all by accident? Votes are secret until the reveal, so it stays friendly.
- Free
Pick it if the team already knows each other a bit.
- 05
Play it free
Human bingo Our pick
Each card says things like "has a dog" or "speaks three languages", and people mingle to find a match for every square. From our sister site LiveBingo.
- Free
- Mingling
Pick it if you want people up and moving.
- 06
Play it free
Team trivia Our pick
Split into teams and play a trivia board with phone buzzers, from our sister site LiveGameShow.
- Free
- Teams
Pick it if you want teams to bond fast.
- 07
Play it free
Superlatives Our pick
Awards like best snack drawer and most likely to bring donuts, voted on phones.
- Free
Pick it if you're closing out a week, a project or a party.
- 08
The marshmallow challenge
Teams build the tallest tower they can from spaghetti, tape and string, with a marshmallow on top, in 18 minutes.
Pick it if you want teamwork, not talking.
- 09
Common ground
Pairs have three minutes to find three things they share that aren't obvious. Then swap partners.
Pick it if you have a room of strangers.
- 10
Line up
The group lines up by birthday, without talking.
Pick it if you need a two-minute warm-up.
- 11
Desert island
Everyone names the three things they'd bring to a desert island, and why.
Pick it if you want answers that say a lot.
- 12
Name game
Each person says their name with an adjective that starts with the same letter, like Joyful Jen, and everyone repeats the list.
Pick it if names matter, like a new class.
- 13
Play it free
Would you rather Our pick
Two choices, both a little painful. Everyone picks a side and defends it.
- Free
- Work safe
Pick it if the room likes a debate.
- 14
Show and tell
Everyone shares one photo from their phone and the story behind it.
Pick it if the group is small and remote.
How it works
Ready in about a minute
- 01
Open the game on a TV, a laptop or a projector. The screen shows a six-digit code and a QR code.
- 02
Everyone scans the QR or types the code at LivePartyGames.com. Nobody has to install an app or make an account.
- 03
Every phone answers in secret, then the big screen shows what the room picked.
Questions
Good to know
What is the best icebreaker game?
For most groups, icebreaker questions on a shared screen: everyone answers once, the screen picks who goes next, and it takes ten minutes.
What icebreaker games work for remote teams?
Share the game screen on your call and play this or that or icebreaker questions from your phones.
Are these free?
Yes. The live games are free to start with no sign-up for the people who join.
Keep reading
More ideas for the night
Get the party going tonight
Open it on the TV, share the code, and ask the first question in under a minute.