10 Exciting and Simple Icebreaker Activities to Foster Connections

Engage in a fun bingo game designed to help everyone get acquainted. Prepare a bingo card featuring various characteristics or experiences, such as "Born in January" or "Owns a cat," and distribute a copy to each participant. Encourage everyone to mingle and identify individuals who match the traits on their cards. When a participant finds someone who fits a trait, they jot down that person’s name in the corresponding square. The first person to complete a bingo line wins!

• To spark more interactions, limit the use of each person’s name to one square on the bingo card.
• Consider including prompts like “has traveled abroad,” “born in January,” “has a pet cat,” or “enjoys playing soccer” on the bingo card.

Discover interesting tidbits about everyone in the group. Ask each participant to share two true statements and one false statement about themselves. The rest of the group will then attempt to identify which statements are true and which one is the lie. This activity doesn’t require sharing deep secrets—simple, everyday facts can make for an entertaining and engaging way to connect with others.

• Examples of statements could include, “I’ve never tried sushi,” “I own a pet parrot,” or “I’ve never been on a plane.”

Turn a classic Jenga game into an interactive icebreaker. Write a unique question on each Jenga block. Assemble the tower as usual, and have each participant carefully pull out a block and answer the question written on it. Continue the game until the tower collapses.

• Questions such as “What’s the most memorable gift you’ve received?” “What’s your favorite season?” and “What do you enjoy doing in your free time?” work well for breaking the ice.
• Other great questions include, “What are two skills you’re proud of?” “What’s one thing you can’t imagine living without?” or “What are you most excited about?”

Compare your life experiences with others in the group. Gather in a circle and distribute 10 pieces of candy to each participant. Each person will take turns sharing a statement starting with “I have never.” If you’ve done the activity mentioned, give the speaker one of your candies. Continue the game for as long as you like.

• Examples of statements include, “I have never gone skydiving,” “I have never visited Europe,” or “I have never eaten sushi.”

Relive the past with your group members. Write down various years on small pieces of paper and place them in a jar. Have each participant draw a slip and share where they were and what they were doing during that year.

• Choose years that are relevant and relatable to everyone in the group.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

What kind of icebreaker activity do you enjoy the most?

Reveal interesting facts using a piece of string. Cut various lengths of string and let each participant choose one. Each person wraps the string around their finger and shares a fun fact about themselves for every loop created. This activity encourages creativity and sharing in a lighthearted way.

• For a humorous twist, use toilet paper instead of string. Participants pull as much toilet paper as they would typically use, then share a fact for each square they’ve taken. This version adds a playful element to the icebreaker.

This activity reveals the values and priorities of group members. Split participants into small teams and ask each team to select 5 items they would take to a deserted island. Each team then presents their choices and explains their reasoning to the rest of the group.

• Teams must collaborate to agree on the 5 items, rather than individuals choosing separately.

Discover more about your group through their footwear. Have everyone stand in a circle and remove their shoes. One person picks a random pair of shoes and makes a positive assumption about the owner based on the shoes. The owner then introduces themselves and continues the game by selecting another pair.

• Examples of assumptions include, “The owner of these shoes has a bold personality” or “This person probably enjoys outdoor adventures.”

Engage your group with this entertaining twist on musical chairs. Have everyone sit in a circle of chairs. Announce a statement starting with “A great wind blows for everyone who…” and ask those who relate to stand up and find a new seat. After each round, remove one chair—anyone left without a seat is out of the game.

• Examples include, “A great wind blows for everyone who enjoys hiking” or “A great wind blows for everyone who has a pet.”

Discover shared interests with others in the group. Split into small teams of 3-6 people. Each team has 3 minutes to list as many commonalities as possible. When time is up, compare lists to see which team found the most similarities.

• Exclude physical traits like “We all have hair” or “We all have hands.”