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βΆ Video Fruit Basket Everyone is a fruit. Your fruit gets called, you run for a new chair β one short.
How it works: Set chairs in a circle, one fewer than there are people. One person stands in the middle.
β± 10 min π₯ 10β30 people β Needs stuff
βΆ Video Bodyguard Secretly pick someone to hide behind and someone to avoid β then the room starts moving.
How it works: Everyone stands scattered around an open space.
β± 10 min π₯ 10β30 people β No materials
βΆ Video One-Hand Ball Challenge Two people balance a ball between their raised palms β one hand each β and try not to drop it.
How it works: Pair up. Each person raises one hand, palm up.
β± 5β10 min π₯ pairs, any group size β Needs stuff
Energizer 5β15 min Small group (2β8)
βΆ Video Leak Rush A cup full of water gets holes poked in it β keep it from draining before it is passed along.
How it works: Poke several holes around the sides of a cup and fill it with water.
β± 5β10 min π₯ 4β10 people β Needs stuff
Energizer 5β15 min Small group (2β8)
βΆ Video Don't Clap at the Same Time The whole group claps together, over and over, trying not to land on the same beat as anyone else.
How it works: Stand in a circle or loose group.
β± 5 min π₯ 10+ people β No materials
Energizer Team building Under 5 min
βΆ Video Clap Before You Catch Someone tosses the ball to you β you have to clap once before you are allowed to catch it.
How it works: Stand in a circle.
β± 5β10 min π₯ 6β15 people β Needs stuff
Energizer Team building 5β15 min
βΆ Video Bob & Weave Partners face off and try to tap each other's hand while dodging β like a playful boxing dance.
How it works: Pair up, standing arm's length apart.
β± 5β10 min π₯ pairs, any group size β No materials
Energizer Under 5 min Small group (2β8)
βΆ Video Barra Manteiga A Brazilian tag game: one player chases another around a marked circle with a safe pole at the center.
How it works: Mark a large circle on the ground with a safe zone or pole at the center.
β± 10β15 min π₯ 6β20 people β Needs stuff
Energizer 15 min+ Large group (9+)
βΆ Video Guess the Drawing One person draws on a whiteboard while everyone else races to guess what it is before the reveal.
How it works: One person is given a secret word or phrase to draw.
β± 10β15 min π₯ 6β20 people β Needs stuff
Just for fun 5β15 min Large group (9+)
βΆ Video Lowest Unique Number Everyone secretly picks a number β whoever picks the lowest one nobody else chose wins.
How it works: Agree on a number range, like 1 to 20.
β± 5 min π₯ 5β20 people β Needs stuff
Just for fun Under 5 min Low pressure
βΆ Video Guess the Imposter Everyone draws the same secret word β except one imposter, who's faking it. Spot who doesn't belong.
How it works: Everyone except one secret 'imposter' is shown the same word to draw.
β± 10β15 min π₯ 4β10 people β Needs stuff
Just for fun 5β15 min Small group (2β8)
βΆ Video Bounce & Clap A ball gets bounced into the middle of the group β everyone claps the instant it hits the floor.
How it works: Stand in a loose circle.
β± 5 min π₯ 4β10 people β Needs stuff
Energizer Under 5 min Small group (2β8)
βΆ Video Guess the Time Two teams race to hit a buzzer at exactly a called time, with only a hidden stopwatch to judge them.
How it works: Call out a target time, like "1 minute 30 seconds."
β± 10 min π₯ 2 teams, any size β Needs stuff
Just for fun Team building 5β15 min
βΆ Video In & Out A circle is marked on the ground β players react instantly when the caller shouts "in" or "out."
How it works: Mark a circle on the ground and have players stand around the edge.
β± 5β10 min π₯ 4β10 people β Needs stuff
Energizer Under 5 min Small group (2β8)
βΆ Video Match or Miss Two people answer the same prompt at the same time, trying not to say the same word as each other.
How it works: Two people face off and agree on a category or prompt.
β± 5 min π₯ pairs β No materials
Just for fun Under 5 min Low pressure
βΆ Video Chain Game One word triggers the next association, building a spoken chain that keeps going until someone breaks it.
How it works: Agree on a target word count for the round (the source clip played to 7 words).
β± 5β10 min π₯ 3β10 people β No materials
Just for fun Under 5 min Small group (2β8)
βΆ Video Stay in Your Box Blindfolded players stand in taped-off squares and have to stay inside them while something disorients them.
How it works: Mark a small square on the floor for each player and have them stand inside it, blindfolded.
β± 10 min π₯ 6β15 people β Needs stuff
Energizer 5β15 min Large group (9+)
βΆ Video Try to Say the Same Word Two people say a word at the same time, trying to land on the exact same word without talking first.
How it works: Two people face each other.
β± 5 min π₯ pairs β No materials
Just for fun Under 5 min Low pressure
Two Truths and a Lie Everyone shares three facts about themselves; the group guesses which one is invented.
How it works: Give everyone a minute to think of three statements about themselves β two true, one made up.
β± 10β15 min π₯ 4β20 people β No materials
Get to know you 5β15 min Teens
Human Bingo A grid of "find someone whoβ¦" prompts that sends people around the room collecting names.
How it works: Before the session, make a 4Γ4 or 5Γ5 grid where each square is a prompt like "has broken a bone" or "speaks three languages".
β± 15β20 min π₯ 10β40 people β Needs stuff
Get to know you 15 min+ ESL friendly
Common Ground Small teams race to find five things every single person in the group shares.
How it works: Split into groups of four or five.
β± 10 min π₯ 6β30 people β No materials
Get to know you 5β15 min Low pressure
Six-Word Memoir Sum up your life, your week, or your job in exactly six words.
How it works: Ask everyone to write a six-word story about themselves. Exactly six β the constraint is what makes it work.
β± 10 min π₯ 4β25 people β No materials
Get to know you 5β15 min Low pressure
Desert Island One object, stuck on an island forever β and you have to justify your choice.
How it works: Everyone picks one object they would take to a desert island.
β± 10 min π₯ 4β20 people β No materials
Get to know you 5β15 min Small group (2β8)
Where In The World Everyone marks where they grew up on a shared map and says one thing about it.
How it works: Put a world map up on the wall or share one on screen.
β± 5 min π₯ 5β40 people β Needs stuff
Get to know you Under 5 min ESL friendly
Show Me Your Desk Grab the nearest object to you and tell its story. Made for video calls.
How it works: Ask everyone to pick up the nearest object within arm's reach. No hunting for a good one.
β± 5 min π₯ 3β15 people β No materials
Get to know you Under 5 min Low pressure
This or That Rapid-fire either/or questions β no explaining, no sitting on the fence.
How it works: Name two options: tea or coffee, mountains or sea, early bird or night owl.
β± 5 min π₯ 5β50 people β No materials
Get to know you Under 5 min Low pressure
Speed Networking Timed one-on-one rounds with a prompt, then everyone rotates.
How it works: Pair everyone up. Odd number, make one three.
β± 15β25 min π₯ 10β40 people β Needs stuff
Get to know you 15 min+ Large group (9+)
Name + Gesture Each person adds a name and a move to a growing chain the whole group repeats.
How it works: Stand in a circle.
β± 10 min π₯ 6β20 people β No materials
Name game 5β15 min ESL friendly
Name Toss Throw a ball across the circle, saying the name of whoever catches it.
How it works: Stand in a circle. Everyone says their name once, out loud.
β± 10 min π₯ 6β20 people β Needs stuff
Name game Energizer 5β15 min
Alliterative Name Curious Carla, Restless Raj β pick an adjective that starts with your initial.
How it works: Everyone picks a word starting with the same letter as their first name.
β± 5 min π₯ 5β30 people β No materials
Name game Under 5 min ESL friendly
Name Bingo A bingo grid of everyone's names β fill a square by learning one fact about them.
How it works: Make a grid with everyone's name in a square, one name per square.
β± 15β20 min π₯ 12β30 people β Needs stuff
Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament Lose and you join your winner's cheer squad β ends with half the room chanting one name.
How it works: Everyone finds a partner and plays one round of rock-paper-scissors.
β± 5β10 min π₯ 10β100 people β No materials
Zip Zap Zop Pass a clap and a word around the circle, faster and faster, until someone fumbles.
How it works: Stand in a circle.
β± 5β10 min π₯ 6β20 people β No materials
Categories Name something in the category before the beat comes back round to you.
How it works: Get a slow clap going β everyone claps together at a steady pace.
β± 5 min π₯ 4β20 people β No materials
Energizer Under 5 min Low pressure
Stand Up Ifβ¦ Stand up if it applies to you β look around, sit down, repeat.
How it works: Everyone starts seated.
β± 5 min π₯ 8β60 people β No materials
Energizer Under 5 min ESL friendly
Count to Twenty The group counts to twenty. No order, no signals β two people speak at once and you restart.
How it works: The group has to count from one to twenty out loud.
β± 5 min π₯ 5β20 people β No materials
Energizer Team building Under 5 min
Human Knot Grab two hands across the circle, then untangle without letting go.
How it works: Stand in a tight circle, shoulder to shoulder.
β± 10β15 min π₯ 6β12 people β No materials
Team building 5β15 min Teens
Line Up Without Talking Order yourselves by birthday or height β in complete silence.
How it works: Give the group an order to line up in: birthday through the year, height, distance travelled to get here.
β± 5 min π₯ 8β40 people β No materials
Team building Under 5 min Low pressure
Marshmallow Challenge Twenty sticks of spaghetti, tape, string, one marshmallow β build the tallest freestanding tower.
How it works: Split into teams of four. Give each team twenty sticks of spaghetti, a metre of tape, a metre of string, and one marshmallow.
β± 20β25 min π₯ 8β30 people β Needs stuff
Team building 15 min+ Teens
Build the Tallest Tower Identical junk, identical time, one winner. Whatever you have lying around works.
How it works: Give every team the same pile of materials. Paper cups and newspaper both work well.
β± 15β20 min π₯ 6β30 people β Needs stuff
Would You Rather Two bad options, no third choice, and you have to defend the one you pick.
How it works: Pose two options, both awkward. Fight a horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses.
β± 5 min π₯ 4β40 people β No materials
Just for fun Under 5 min Low pressure
Fortunately, Unfortunately A story that swings between disaster and rescue with every person who speaks.
How it works: The first person opens with a plain sentence: "I went to the shop."
β± 10 min π₯ 5β15 people β No materials
Just for fun 5β15 min Teens
One-Word Story The group tells a story together, one single word each.
How it works: Going round the circle, each person adds exactly one word to a shared story.
β± 10 min π₯ 5β20 people β No materials
Just for fun 5β15 min ESL friendly
Guess the Baby Photo Everyone submits a baby photo in advance; the group works out who is who.
How it works: A few days ahead, ask everyone to send you one baby photo privately.
β± 15 min π₯ 6β25 people β Needs stuff
Just for fun 15 min+ Small group (2β8)
Dicebreakers Roll a die and answer whatever prompt the number lands on β no deciding what to share, the die decides for you.
How it works: Before the session, write six prompts, one per die number β an unusual skill, a place you'd like to visit, a food you could eat every day, a childhood memory, something on your bucket list, someone who shaped who you are.
β± 10β20 min π₯ 6β30 people β Needs stuff
Get to know you 5β15 min Small group (2β8)
The Penny Story Everyone takes a coin, checks the year, and shares a memory tied to it β no prep, no printing, just a jar of change.
How it works: Pass around a jar of coins and have everyone take one without checking the date yet.
β± 15β20 min π₯ 8β40 people β Needs stuff
Get to know you 15 min+ Small group (2β8)
Whose Story Is It? A handful of true, surprising stories get read anonymously β the group guesses who each one belongs to.
How it works: Ahead of time, ask five or six volunteers to privately send you one surprising true story about themselves.
β± 15β25 min π₯ 10β40 people β Needs stuff
Get to know you 15 min+ Small group (2β8)
One-Word Check-In Everyone shares exactly one word for how they're arriving today β quick, honest, no elaboration required.
How it works: Go around the group and have each person say one word describing how they're showing up right now.
β± Under 5 min π₯ 5β50 people β No materials
Get to know you Under 5 min Low pressure
Desert Island Survival Stranded for 30 days, three items each β then negotiate with your team down to one shared list of five.
How it works: Tell the group they're stranded on a desert island for 30 days and each person can bring three items.
β± 15β25 min π₯ 8β30 people β Needs stuff
Team building 15 min+ Small group (2β8)
Toilet Paper Icebreaker Pass a roll of toilet paper and tell people to take as much as they think they need β each square is a fact they now owe the group.
How it works: Pass a roll of toilet paper around the group and tell everyone to tear off as much as they want. Don't explain why yet.
β± 10β20 min π₯ 8β40 people β Needs stuff
Just for fun 5β15 min Small group (2β8)
Icebreaker Puzzles Small teams work through a lateral-thinking brainteaser together β the puzzle is really just an excuse to talk.
How it works: Split into groups of three or four.
β± 10β15 min π₯ 6β30 people β Needs stuff
Team building 5β15 min Small group (2β8)
Virtual Scavenger Hunt Call out a category, everyone has 60 seconds to grab something from their space that fits, then show and tell on camera.
How it works: Call out a category β something that represents where you're from, a book you're reading, something you're proud of.
β± 15β25 min π₯ 5β30 people β Needs stuff
Get to know you 15 min+ Small group (2β8) Everyone is a fruit. Your fruit gets called, you run for a new chair β one short.
Time: 10 min
Group: 10β30 people
Materials: Chairs β one fewer than players How to play Set chairs in a circle, one fewer than there are people. One person stands in the middle. Go round and give everyone a fruit β apple, banana, orange β repeating so there are several of each. The person in the middle calls a fruit. Everyone with that fruit has to get up and find a different chair. The person left standing goes in the middle and calls next. Calling "fruit basket" means everybody moves at once. Variations Swap fruit for anything β favourite colours, months of birth, football teams. For a calmer version, call it seated and have people swap seats at walking pace. Open as its own page β
Secretly pick someone to hide behind and someone to avoid β then the room starts moving.
Time: 10 min
Group: 10β30 people
Materials: None How to play Everyone stands scattered around an open space. Each person silently picks two others: one to be their bodyguard, one to be the threat. Tell nobody. On go, everyone moves to keep their bodyguard directly between themselves and their threat. The whole room drifts into constant motion because nobody's target is standing still. Call stop after a minute or two and let people reveal who they picked. Variations Reverse it β stand so your threat is between you and your bodyguard. The room collapses inward instead of spreading out. Open as its own page β
Two people balance a ball between their raised palms β one hand each β and try not to drop it.
Time: 5β10 min
Group: pairs, any group size
Materials: A ball (or anything round) How to play Pair up. Each person raises one hand, palm up. Balance a ball between your two palms using only that one hand each β no gripping. Try to move, pass to another pair, or complete a small challenge without the ball falling. Swap hands, or add a time limit, once the group has the hang of it. Open as its own page β
A cup full of water gets holes poked in it β keep it from draining before it is passed along.
Time: 5β10 min
Group: 4β10 people
Materials: A cup, Water, Something to poke holes with How to play Poke several holes around the sides of a cup and fill it with water. Pass the cup down the line β each person plugs as many leaks as they can with their fingers before passing it on. Whoever is holding it when it runs dry loses the round. Open as its own page β
The whole group claps together, over and over, trying not to land on the same beat as anyone else.
Time: 5 min
Group: 10+ people
Materials: None How to play Stand in a circle or loose group. On a signal, everyone claps once, at a moment of their own choosing. The goal is to be the only person clapping at that instant β overlap with someone else and reset. Play a few rounds; the group naturally learns to spread its timing out. Open as its own page β
Someone tosses the ball to you β you have to clap once before you are allowed to catch it.
Time: 5β10 min
Group: 6β15 people
Materials: A ball How to play Stand in a circle. Toss the ball to someone across the circle. Before catching it, that person claps once β miss the clap-then-catch order and the group restarts the count. Speed up the tosses as people get the hang of it. Open as its own page β
Partners face off and try to tap each other's hand while dodging β like a playful boxing dance.
Time: 5β10 min
Group: pairs, any group size
Materials: None How to play Pair up, standing arm's length apart. Each person tries to tap the other's hand or shoulder while bobbing and weaving out of reach. First to land a set number of taps wins the round. Rotate partners after each round. Open as its own page β
A Brazilian tag game: one player chases another around a marked circle with a safe pole at the center.
Time: 10β15 min
Group: 6β20 people
Materials: Chalk, cones, or tape to mark a circle How to play Mark a large circle on the ground with a safe zone or pole at the center. One player is 'it' and chases another around the outside of the circle. The player being chased can dash to the center to be safe, but only for a few seconds before they have to move again. Tag someone and they become the new chaser. Variations Known in English as "Butter Bar" β the Portuguese name is kept here since that is what the creator used. Open as its own page β
One person draws on a whiteboard while everyone else races to guess what it is before the reveal.
Time: 10β15 min
Group: 6β20 people
Materials: Whiteboard or large paper, Marker How to play One person is given a secret word or phrase to draw. They draw it while the rest of the group calls out guesses. Whoever guesses correctly first draws next. Set a time limit per drawing to keep rounds moving. Variations Working title β the creator did not name the game on-screen, only captioned it "Can you guess what he's drawing before the reveal?" Open as its own page β
Everyone secretly picks a number β whoever picks the lowest one nobody else chose wins.
Time: 5 min
Group: 5β20 people
Materials: Paper and pens, or phones How to play Agree on a number range, like 1 to 20. Everyone secretly writes down one number. Reveal all the numbers at once. Whoever picked the lowest number nobody else picked wins the round β if every number is duplicated, nobody wins. Open as its own page β
Everyone draws the same secret word β except one imposter, who's faking it. Spot who doesn't belong.
Time: 10β15 min
Group: 4β10 people
Materials: Paper and pens, or a whiteboard How to play Everyone except one secret 'imposter' is shown the same word to draw. The imposter has no idea what the word is and has to fake a drawing that blends in. Everyone reveals their drawing at once. The group discusses and votes on who they think the imposter is. Open as its own page β
A ball gets bounced into the middle of the group β everyone claps the instant it hits the floor.
Time: 5 min
Group: 4β10 people
Materials: A ball How to play Stand in a loose circle. Someone bounces a ball once in the middle. Everyone claps the moment it hits the ground β early or late claps are out. Mix up the bounce height and timing to catch people out. Variations Working title β the creator's caption was just "Clap when it bounces," no formal name given. Open as its own page β
Two teams race to hit a buzzer at exactly a called time, with only a hidden stopwatch to judge them.
Time: 10 min
Group: 2 teams, any size
Materials: A stopwatch or phone timer, A buzzer or bell How to play Call out a target time, like "1 minute 30 seconds." Start the clock and hide it from view. Each team hits their buzzer when they think the target time has passed. Whoever is closest to the actual time wins the round. Open as its own page β
A circle is marked on the ground β players react instantly when the caller shouts "in" or "out."
Time: 5β10 min
Group: 4β10 people
Materials: Chalk or tape to mark a circle How to play Mark a circle on the ground and have players stand around the edge. A caller shouts "in" or "out" β players jump into or out of the circle to match. Mix in fakes and quick repeats to catch people reacting on autopilot. Anyone who jumps the wrong way is out; last one standing wins. Open as its own page β
Two people answer the same prompt at the same time, trying not to say the same word as each other.
Time: 5 min
Group: pairs
Materials: None How to play Two people face off and agree on a category or prompt. On a count of three, both say a word out loud at the same time. The goal is to avoid matching β say the same word as your opponent and you lose the round. Switch prompts and partners to keep it going. Variations Working title β the creator posed it as on-screen text ("Can you avoid saying the same thing as me?") rather than a name. Open as its own page β
One word triggers the next association, building a spoken chain that keeps going until someone breaks it.
Time: 5β10 min
Group: 3β10 people
Materials: None How to play Agree on a target word count for the round (the source clip played to 7 words). The first person says a word. Each person after that says a word associated with the one before it. Reach the target without repeating or breaking the chain to win the round. Open as its own page β
Blindfolded players stand in taped-off squares and have to stay inside them while something disorients them.
Time: 10 min
Group: 6β15 people
Materials: Tape to mark boxes on the floor, Blindfolds How to play Mark a small square on the floor for each player and have them stand inside it, blindfolded. The only goal is to stay inside your box. The facilitator introduces distractions (spinning, calling out, moving obstacles) to throw people off. Whoever drifts out of their box first is out β or just debrief afterward on how far people wandered. Variations Working title β the only on-screen text was "1 goal: stay in your box." The exact disorientation mechanic is not fully clear from a single clip; verify before running it. Open as its own page β
Two people say a word at the same time, trying to land on the exact same word without talking first.
Time: 5 min
Group: pairs
Materials: None How to play Two people face each other. Agree on a category, or just go in blind. On a count of three, both say a word out loud at the same time. If you match, you win the round. If not, let the two words you just heard guide your next guess and try again. Open as its own page β
Everyone shares three facts about themselves; the group guesses which one is invented.
Time: 10β15 min
Group: 4β20 people
Materials: None How to play Give everyone a minute to think of three statements about themselves β two true, one made up. The first person reads all three out loud, in any order, with a straight face. The group discusses and votes on which one they think is the lie. The speaker reveals the answer and gives the story behind the truth people found hardest to believe. Move around the circle until everyone has had a turn. Variations Two Truths and a Wish β the false one is something you would like to be true. Softer, and often more revealing. For big groups, split into circles of six so nobody waits twenty minutes for a turn. Open as its own page β
A grid of "find someone whoβ¦" prompts that sends people around the room collecting names.
Time: 15β20 min
Group: 10β40 people
Materials: Printed bingo grids, Pens How to play Before the session, make a 4Γ4 or 5Γ5 grid where each square is a prompt like "has broken a bone" or "speaks three languages". Hand out one grid and one pen per person. People move around and find someone who matches a square, then write that person's name in it. A name can only be used once per sheet, so everyone has to keep talking to new people. The first person to fill a row shouts bingo; keep going a few more minutes so nobody is left standing alone. Variations Write prompts based on what you already know about the group β recognising each other is half the fun. Online: put the grid in a shared doc and let people fill it in during breakout rooms. Open as its own page β
Small teams race to find five things every single person in the group shares.
Time: 10 min
Group: 6β30 people
Materials: None How to play Split into groups of four or five. Each group has to find five things that are true of everyone in it. Rule out the obvious β no "we all work here", no "we all have hands". Groups share their best find with the room. If you want a winner, the group with the most surprising shared fact takes it. Variations Raise it to ten things and give twice as long β the last few are where the interesting stuff comes out. Open as its own page β
Sum up your life, your week, or your job in exactly six words.
Time: 10 min
Group: 4β25 people
Materials: None How to play Ask everyone to write a six-word story about themselves. Exactly six β the constraint is what makes it work. Give a real two minutes of quiet thinking time. Do not rush this part. Go around and have people read theirs out. No explaining unless someone asks. The six words should stand on their own. Variations Narrow the topic: six words about your week, your first job, or why you joined this team. Online: everyone drops theirs into chat at the same time on a count of three. Open as its own page β
One object, stuck on an island forever β and you have to justify your choice.
Time: 10 min
Group: 4β20 people
Materials: None How to play Everyone picks one object they would take to a desert island. Rule out the clever answers up front β no boat, no satellite phone, no infinite supply of anything. Each person names their object and gives one sentence on why. Let the group push back on the weak ones. The arguing is the point. Variations One book, one album, one meal β swap the category to suit the group. Open as its own page β
Everyone marks where they grew up on a shared map and says one thing about it.
Time: 5 min
Group: 5β40 people
Materials: A map β printed, or shared on screen How to play Put a world map up on the wall or share one on screen. Everyone marks their hometown with a pin, sticker, or cursor. Each person says one sentence about the place β not a life story, just one thing. Point out the clusters and the outliers; people find their own conversations from there. Variations Use a country or city map for a local group. Ask for the place that shaped you most rather than where you were born. Open as its own page β
Grab the nearest object to you and tell its story. Made for video calls.
Time: 5 min
Group: 3β15 people
Materials: None How to play Ask everyone to pick up the nearest object within arm's reach. No hunting for a good one. Each person holds it to the camera and gives it thirty seconds β what it is, how it got there. Boring objects are fine and often funnier. Variations Oldest thing on your desk. Or the thing you would grab in a fire. Open as its own page β
Rapid-fire either/or questions β no explaining, no sitting on the fence.
Time: 5 min
Group: 5β50 people
Materials: None How to play Name two options: tea or coffee, mountains or sea, early bird or night owl. People show their answer instantly β move to one side of the room, raise a hand, or react in chat. Do not let anyone explain. Speed is what makes it work. Run fifteen to twenty rounds, then stop while it is still fun. Variations Every fifth round, pause and let one person defend an unpopular answer. Let the group supply the pairs once they have the rhythm. Open as its own page β
Timed one-on-one rounds with a prompt, then everyone rotates.
Time: 15β25 min
Group: 10β40 people
Materials: A timer How to play Pair everyone up. Odd number, make one three. Put a prompt on screen and set a timer for three minutes. When it goes off, one row of people shifts along and everyone has a new partner. Change the prompt each round. Run five or six rounds. Finish with a minute for anyone to share something they learned. Variations Online: use breakout rooms with a fixed timer and let the platform reshuffle. Cut to ninety seconds for a faster, louder version. Open as its own page β
Each person adds a name and a move to a growing chain the whole group repeats.
Time: 10 min
Group: 6β20 people
Materials: None How to play Stand in a circle. The first person says their name and does a gesture β a wave, a spin, whatever. The whole group repeats that name and gesture back. The next person does the first person's name and gesture, then adds their own. Keep going around. The last person has the hardest job, so put a volunteer there. Variations For a big group, break the chain every eight people so it stays achievable. Sound instead of gesture works well with kids. Open as its own page β
Throw a ball across the circle, saying the name of whoever catches it.
Time: 10 min
Group: 6β20 people
Materials: A soft ball (or mime one) How to play Stand in a circle. Everyone says their name once, out loud. The first person says someone else's name and throws them the ball. That person does the same to someone new. Everyone should get it once before anyone gets it twice. Once the pattern is set, run it again at speed. Add a second ball when the group is confident. Chaos follows. Variations No ball? Mime it. Works surprisingly well and travels light. Reverse the order once people know the sequence. Open as its own page β
Curious Carla, Restless Raj β pick an adjective that starts with your initial.
Time: 5 min
Group: 5β30 people
Materials: None How to play Everyone picks a word starting with the same letter as their first name. Go around the circle: each person says their pairing. For a harder version, each person repeats everyone before them first. Use the full pairings for the rest of the session β that is what makes the names stick. Variations Restrict the adjective to something true about you today. Animals instead of adjectives, for younger groups. Open as its own page β
A bingo grid of everyone's names β fill a square by learning one fact about them.
Time: 15β20 min
Group: 12β30 people
Materials: Printed grids, Pens How to play Make a grid with everyone's name in a square, one name per square. To claim a square you have to talk to that person and write down one thing about them. First full row wins, but keep going until most sheets are full. Finish by asking a few people to introduce someone else from their sheet. Variations Print the grid with photos instead of names for a group that has met on video but never in person. Open as its own page β
Lose and you join your winner's cheer squad β ends with half the room chanting one name.
Time: 5β10 min
Group: 10β100 people
Materials: None How to play Everyone finds a partner and plays one round of rock-paper-scissors. The loser does not sit down β they become the winner's cheerleader and follow them. Winners find a new winner to play. Their cheer squads come with them and cheer. Keep going. The crowds get bigger and louder each round. The final is two people playing in front of the entire room split into two chanting halves. Variations Best of three for the final, purely for the drama. Scales beautifully β this is the one to use for a hundred people. Open as its own page β
Pass a clap and a word around the circle, faster and faster, until someone fumbles.
Time: 5β10 min
Group: 6β20 people
Materials: None How to play Stand in a circle. One person claps toward someone and says "zip". That person claps toward anyone else and says "zap". The next says "zop", then back to "zip". Keep the order zip-zap-zop going. Speed up as the group gets it. Wrong word or hesitation and that person steps out β or just laughs and carries on, if you would rather nobody is eliminated. Variations Skip elimination entirely and just see how long the group can hold the rhythm. Open as its own page β
Name something in the category before the beat comes back round to you.
Time: 5 min
Group: 4β20 people
Materials: None How to play Get a slow clap going β everyone claps together at a steady pace. Call a category: breakfast cereals, countries in Africa, things in a toolbox. Going round the circle, each person names one on the beat. Repeat something or miss the beat and you are out. Start a new category. Keep the pace slow enough that ESL speakers can keep up. Variations No elimination β when someone misses, just start a fresh category. Let whoever missed pick the next category. Open as its own page β
Stand up if it applies to you β look around, sit down, repeat.
Time: 5 min
Group: 8β60 people
Materials: None How to play Everyone starts seated. Read a statement: "Stand up if you have lived in another country." Whoever it applies to stands, looks around, and sits back down. Run fifteen or so. Mix easy ones with a couple that only one or two people will stand for. Nobody has to explain anything unless they want to. Variations Hands up instead of standing, for a seated or online group. Let the group supply statements once it is warmed up. Open as its own page β
The group counts to twenty. No order, no signals β two people speak at once and you restart.
Time: 5 min
Group: 5β20 people
Materials: None How to play The group has to count from one to twenty out loud. Anyone can say the next number, but only one person at a time. No agreeing an order, no pointing, no nodding. If two people speak together, go back to one. Let them fail a few times. The silence that develops is the whole point. Variations Eyes closed makes it harder and quieter. Ten first, for a group that will get frustrated. Open as its own page β
Grab two hands across the circle, then untangle without letting go.
Time: 10β15 min
Group: 6β12 people
Materials: None How to play Stand in a tight circle, shoulder to shoulder. Everyone reaches in and takes two different people's hands β not the person next to you, not both hands of the same person. Without letting go, the group untangles itself back into a circle. Talking is allowed and necessary. Stepping over and ducking under is expected. Sometimes it resolves into two linked circles. That still counts. Variations Two teams race. Ask the group about personal space first β this one involves a lot of contact. Open as its own page β
Order yourselves by birthday or height β in complete silence.
Time: 5 min
Group: 8β40 people
Materials: None How to play Give the group an order to line up in: birthday through the year, height, distance travelled to get here. No talking. No writing. Gestures only. Give them a target time β three minutes is generous. Check the line by having everyone say their answer down the row. Run a second round with a harder category. Variations Birthday is the easiest to verify and the best one to start with. Eyes closed for a much harder version, if the space is safe for it. Open as its own page β
Twenty sticks of spaghetti, tape, string, one marshmallow β build the tallest freestanding tower.
Time: 20β25 min
Group: 8β30 people
Materials: Dry spaghetti, Masking tape, String, Marshmallows How to play Split into teams of four. Give each team twenty sticks of spaghetti, a metre of tape, a metre of string, and one marshmallow. The tower has to stand on its own with the whole marshmallow on top. Eighteen minutes on the clock. Call the time out loud as it runs down. Measure from the table to the bottom of the marshmallow. Anything that has collapsed scores zero. Debrief: most teams build the structure first and add the marshmallow last, which is why so many collapse in the final seconds. Variations Ban talking for the first three minutes to force planning by sketch. More on this game: tomwujec.com β
Open as its own page β
Identical junk, identical time, one winner. Whatever you have lying around works.
Time: 15β20 min
Group: 6β30 people
Materials: Newspaper, cups, straws, tape β same set per team How to play Give every team the same pile of materials. Paper cups and newspaper both work well. Twelve minutes to build the tallest freestanding structure. It has to stand unsupported for ten seconds to count. Measure them all with the same ruler in front of everyone. Variations Add a constraint halfway through β it must now hold a book, or one team member cannot use their hands. Open as its own page β
Two bad options, no third choice, and you have to defend the one you pick.
Time: 5 min
Group: 4β40 people
Materials: None How to play Pose two options, both awkward. Fight a horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses. Everyone commits β hands up, move to a side of the room, or answer in chat. Pick one person from each side to defend their choice in ten seconds. Next question. Do not linger. Variations Let the group write the questions on slips and draw them at random. Open as its own page β
A story that swings between disaster and rescue with every person who speaks.
Time: 10 min
Group: 5β15 people
Materials: None How to play The first person opens with a plain sentence: "I went to the shop." The next starts with "Unfortunatelyβ¦" and makes it worse. The next starts with "Fortunatelyβ¦" and rescues it. Alternate around the circle. Nobody blocks β you always build on what came before. Stop when it reaches somewhere absurd, which will not take long. Variations Set the opening line yourself to steer it somewhere useful β a project kickoff, a first day at work. Open as its own page β
The group tells a story together, one single word each.
Time: 10 min
Group: 5β20 people
Materials: None How to play Going round the circle, each person adds exactly one word to a shared story. No planning ahead and no whispering. Someone has to say "the" or "and" occasionally. That is fine. Have someone write it down and read the whole thing back at the end. Variations Three words each moves faster and is easier for a nervous group. Give it a genre β ghost story, product launch, nature documentary. Open as its own page β
Everyone submits a baby photo in advance; the group works out who is who.
Time: 15 min
Group: 6β25 people
Materials: Baby photos collected beforehand How to play A few days ahead, ask everyone to send you one baby photo privately. Number them and put them all up on a wall or a slide. Everyone writes down their guesses. Reveal one at a time and let the person tell the story behind theirs. Highest score wins, but the reveals are the good part. Variations School photos work too, and people are usually less precious about them. Make it opt-in β some people genuinely will not have a photo, and that is fine. Open as its own page β
Roll a die and answer whatever prompt the number lands on β no deciding what to share, the die decides for you.
Time: 10β20 min
Group: 6β30 people
Materials: A die (or an online dice roller for video calls) How to play Before the session, write six prompts, one per die number β an unusual skill, a place you'd like to visit, a food you could eat every day, a childhood memory, something on your bucket list, someone who shaped who you are. Each person rolls the die and answers whichever prompt they land on. Works over video call too β use a shared-screen dice roller instead of a physical die. More on this game: gamesandgiggle.com β
Open as its own page β
Everyone takes a coin, checks the year, and shares a memory tied to it β no prep, no printing, just a jar of change.
Time: 15β20 min
Group: 8β40 people
Materials: A jar of pennies (or any coins) How to play Pass around a jar of coins and have everyone take one without checking the date yet. On go, everyone flips their coin over and finds the year. Each person shares a memory or moment connected to that year β or, if it predates them, a story from that era or what they know about it. More on this game: gamesandgiggle.com β
Open as its own page β
A handful of true, surprising stories get read anonymously β the group guesses who each one belongs to.
Time: 15β25 min
Group: 10β40 people
Materials: A few true stories collected from volunteers beforehand How to play Ahead of time, ask five or six volunteers to privately send you one surprising true story about themselves. Read each story aloud without saying who wrote it. The group discusses and votes on who they think each story belongs to. Reveal all the authors together at the end. More on this game: gamesandgiggle.com β
Open as its own page β
Everyone shares exactly one word for how they're arriving today β quick, honest, no elaboration required.
Time: Under 5 min
Group: 5β50 people
Materials: None How to play Go around the group and have each person say one word describing how they're showing up right now. No explanation needed, though people can add a sentence if they want to. Briefly reflect back what came up before moving on β it's useful for pacing whatever comes next. More on this game: gamesandgiggle.com β
Open as its own page β
Stranded for 30 days, three items each β then negotiate with your team down to one shared list of five.
Time: 15β25 min
Group: 8β30 people
Materials: Paper and pens How to play Tell the group they're stranded on a desert island for 30 days and each person can bring three items. Give everyone two minutes to write their own list. Split into small groups and have each group negotiate down to one shared list of five items for everyone. Groups present their final list and explain how they decided. Variations For a shorter, individual version of the same idea with no negotiation, see "Desert Island" elsewhere on this site. More on this game: gamesandgiggle.com β
Open as its own page β
Pass a roll of toilet paper and tell people to take as much as they think they need β each square is a fact they now owe the group.
Time: 10β20 min
Group: 8β40 people
Materials: A roll of toilet paper How to play Pass a roll of toilet paper around the group and tell everyone to tear off as much as they want. Don't explain why yet. Once everyone has their share, reveal the rule: each square is one fact they have to share about themselves. Go around the group β whoever took the most has the fullest turn. More on this game: gamesandgiggle.com β
Open as its own page β
Small teams work through a lateral-thinking brainteaser together β the puzzle is really just an excuse to talk.
Time: 10β15 min
Group: 6β30 people
Materials: A lateral-thinking puzzle or brainteaser per group How to play Split into groups of three or four. Give each group a lateral-thinking puzzle or brainteaser that has more than one possible angle of attack. Give them five to seven minutes to work through it together. The reasoning and debate matters more than whether they land on the answer. More on this game: gamesandgiggle.com β
Open as its own page β
Call out a category, everyone has 60 seconds to grab something from their space that fits, then show and tell on camera.
Time: 15β25 min
Group: 5β30 people
Materials: Whatever is nearby β no shopping list needed How to play Call out a category β something that represents where you're from, a book you're reading, something you're proud of. Give everyone 60 seconds to find an object from their own space that fits. Each person holds it up on camera and explains why they picked it. Run a few rounds with different categories. More on this game: gamesandgiggle.com β
Open as its own page β
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