The word “icebreaker” sometimes makes me want to run the other direction.
Too many of them feel forced or embarrassing.
I still cringe thinking about a corporate event where we had to share our deepest fear with strangers.
But a good icebreaker is crucial for turning a quiet crowd into a real party.
1. Two Truths and a Lie
This is the ultimate low-stakes conversation starter. Everyone shares three facts about themselves, but one statement is a total fabrication. The rest of the group votes on which one they think is the lie.
2. Human Bingo
Prepare a bingo sheet filled with facts like “has lived in another country” or “hates coffee.” Guests have to walk around the room and find different people who match the descriptions to fill their squares.
Tip: The first person to yell “Bingo” gets a fun, small prize like a gift card for coffee.
3. The Post-It Note Game
Write a famous person or character on a sticker and place it on a guest’s forehead. Everyone else gives hints until the person guesses who they are. It requires zero prep time.
4. Never Have I Ever
Play with fingers up and put one down for every true statement. This works best when the group is a mix of friends and new people because you always learn unexpected things.
Someone usually ends up admitting they used to own a pet snake.
5. The Clothespin Game
Pick a common word everyone uses, like “drink” or “birthday.” Give everyone three clothespins when they arrive. If you catch another guest saying the forbidden word, you get to steal their pin.
6. Would You Rather
Prepare a list of funny or absurd dilemmas.
It instantly gets people debating the absurd.
7. Human Knot
Have everyone stand in a tight circle and reach across to grab hands with two different people. Now, without letting go, the group has to untangle themselves into one large circle.
It forces everyone to work together physically and usually ends in uncontrolled laughter.
8. Speed Friending
Set up chairs in two long rows facing each other. Give everyone a minute to talk to the person across from them, asking pre-planned questions like “What is your best travel story.” After 60 seconds, one row shifts down and the conversation starts over.
Tip: Ring a bell loudly to signal when the minute is up.
9. Find the Fib
I played this once with a new group where one person claimed they had been on a reality TV show. The entire room cornered them for ten minutes asking detailed questions about the filming until they finally cracked and confessed they made it up just to see if we’d believe it. It was the moment everyone stopped being strangers.
10. Marshmallow Tower
Divide guests into teams of three or four. Give them a limited amount of supplies and tell them to build the tallest structure that can stand on its own.
You will need:
- 20 sticks of dry spaghetti
- One roll of masking tape
- One large marshmallow
11. Where In The World
Ask guests to write down the most exotic or unusual place they have traveled on a slip of paper. Put them all in a hat and read them aloud. Everyone has to guess who belongs to which location.
12. Favorite Things
Ask guests to bring a wrapped gift that represents their favorite thing under a set price limit. Everyone takes a number and opens a gift. They have to guess which person brought it based on the item.
Someone usually ends up bringing fancy hot sauce or a weird book.
13. Guess the Baby
Ask guests to email you their baby photos beforehand. Print them out, number them, and hang them up before the party.
People will spend the entire evening trying to match the baby photos to the adult faces. It is a fantastic background activity.
14. Six Degrees of Separation
Pick two random people in the room. Guests have to find a way to connect them using only people and places they both know.
It reveals how small the world really is.
15. Line Up
Ask everyone to silently arrange themselves in a line based on a characteristic. For example, line up by height, by birth month, or by the number of pets they own.
16. The Memory Chain
The first person says their name and a favorite animal. The next person repeats the first person’s information and adds their own. Keep repeating until someone messes up the list.
17. Pass the Story
Someone starts a sentence to begin a story. The paper is then passed to the next person who adds another sentence.
The narrative quickly spirals into ridiculous chaos.
18. Name That Tune
Play a two-second clip of a famous song.
Tip: Pick songs from different decades to make sure all age groups can play.
19. The Shared List
Divide into teams. Give each team a list of tasks they need to complete by surveying the other guests.
Teams must find:
- Three people who share a first initial
- Someone who can speak two languages
- A person who loves pineapple on pizza
Icebreakers do not have to be painful. They are just permission to be silly and stop worrying about being cool. The moment you start laughing with a stranger is the moment the party officially begins.
