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Need some quick ice breakers perfect for all seasons and reasons?
If you still have bruises from kicking yourself the last time a conversation with a fine-as-wine damsel went south, this is for you. We get it... it can be hair-pullingly frustrating when a conversation doesn't pun out the way it played out in your mind. Maybe they felt awkward or you just didn't create the right atmosphere for a fun and compelling conversation.
Does this sound like you?
Ice breakers are a fun, easy way to meet new people and lighten the mood. We’ve come up with a chat-em-up cheat-sheet filled with surprising, sizzling icebreakers that’ll take you from weirdo to suave in a snap. We’ve thrown in some ridiculously fun ice breaker games and exciting things to do during team-building, meetings, and trainings.
Contents
8 Best Quick Ice Breakers
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The best quick ice breakers have the power to strengthen bonds, stimulate better conversations and create an atmosphere of inclusivity. But here’s the thing… it’s easier said than done. Poorly executed icebreakers can lead to awkwardness or increase social tension. Not good…
We’ve compiled a list of mouthwatering ice breakers to get your social juices flowing.
1. Famous People/Cities
This game works by taping a piece of paper into the player's back and writing the name of a famous city/person without them knowing. The goal is for the player to guess the name written just by asking questions that are only answerable by yes or no.
2. Name Aerobics
This works best if the members of the group don't know each other's names. To do this quick game, form a circle and let the first member say their name and associate an action with it. Then, the second person will repeat the name of the first person together with the action and then come up with an action of their own. Do this until the first member is able to recite the names of all the people in the circle and perform the corresponding actions.
3. Baby photos
Have each member of your group send a baby photo to you. Make a presentation of the compilation of the photos and let them guess who's who. The member who gets the most correct number of correct guesses wins.
4. First/worst job
Let all members of your group write their names and first/worst jobs on a piece of paper. Collect the papers and read each of the jobs aloud. Let the players guess whose job is which. The player who gets the most correct guesses wins.
5. Ask funny questions
Crack each other up by asking funny questions.
via: Unsplash / Latrach Med Jamil
6. The One-Word Icebreaker
Divide your group into smaller groups with 4-6 members each. Ask them to come up with one word that describes "X". In this game, "X" can be anything or anyone. This will make discussions within the small groups possible. After each group has decided on a word, let each group discuss their one word with the rest of the group. This way, more discussions will arise.
7. The Foodie Icebreaker
This ice breaker has food in its title but no one's going to eat while doing this. This ice breaker works by asking each member of the group to come up with a dish they would like to prepare for the team and explain why they made that choice. Sure sounds yummy.
8. The M&M Game
Have a pack of M&M's and a corresponding category for each color. For example, for Blue, favorite food. For Yellow, favorite song. Ask each member to pick 1 to 3 pieces of the candy without getting candies of the same color. Reveal the categories to them and let them share their favorites. At the end of this activity, your team will know a bit more about each other.
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4 Fun Warm Up Games
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Guys… not all icebreakers are created equal. But you already know that. We have searched high and low for some ridiculously fun icebreaker games to bring some cheer to your interactions. These games are relaxed, simple, and fun. They’re great for starting anything from fun conversations to meetings. Print out this epic list of icebreakers. They’ll come in handy.
9. Paper Airplane Game
Have each member of the group write their name and 2 questions on a sheet of paper. Ask them to fold the paper into an airplane. Set a timer for 5 minutes. Each member should throw their paper airplanes into the air and pick a plane, throw it again and repeat until the time runs out. When the timer ends, each member should approach the person to whom the plane they're holding belongs and ask them the two questions on the paper.
10. Train Wreck
Arrange your chairs in a circle, where a person in the middle is the only one without a chair. The person in the middle starts off by saying a fact about himself like "I am an only child." The members of the team who have the fact in common with the person in the middle are now required to stand and find another seat, while the person in the middle tries to find a seat as well. Repeat the procedure with the new person in the middle.
via: Unsplash / Omar Lopez
11. Balloon Pop
Have each member write one fact about themselves in a piece of paper. Fold the paper and put it inside a balloon then blow the balloon up. Form a circle and toss the balloons in the middle. Have each member pop a balloon and guess who the fact belongs to.
12. Birthright
Divide the group according to their birthright: Only child, eldest, youngest, and middle. Have each group share what their experiences are as someone in that birthright.
4 Collaborative Games For Teens
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These ice breaker games for teens are definitely not boring. Gather them up and have them play one of these games that everyone will surely enjoy.
13. String
Form a circle and ask a member to hold the end of a ball of string. This person shall then say his or her name and toss the ball of string to another person who does the same. Do this until everyone has got their turn and then retrace the path of the string until the ball of string is back to the first person once again.
14. Birthday Boggle
Make the group a line according to what they think is the correct order of their birth date without talking to each other. So, those born on January 1 should be the first in line and those born on December 31 should be last.
15. Alien Greeting
Form a circle and ask each member of the group to pretend that they're an alien coming for the first time to Earth. Ask them to come up with a greeting that would replace the usual "Hello" that humans use. Ask the team to repeat the greeting.
via: Unsplash / Brooke Denevan
16. Time Bomb
Form a circle and let the members say their names out loud one by one. The reader then calls one member whose name he can remember and throws a tennis ball for him to catch. This member then has 2 seconds to call another player and throw the ball and so on.
5 Introductory Games For Adults
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Looking for some ice breaker games for adults? Adults are most receptive when they feel comfortable with the people around them. Whether it's a party, a classroom, a conference, or a seminar, there are things you can do to reduce tension and encourage participation.
Get people in the mood by playing ice breaker games that are fun without being overly cheesy. This collection is great for warm-ups and introductions.
17. The Five of Anything
Ask each member of the group to share five of anything. These can be their five most favorite fruit or five least favorite movies.
18. The Toaster Game
To play this game, you've got to have a toaster, pieces of bread, and an assortment of condiments and spreads. Start with gathering the group into a circle. Give them a minute or two to think of words to fill in a sentence like: I love/hate/dislike/admire ________ because _________. And then, put a slice of bread into the toaster and ask a person to start sharing their completed sentence. Whoever is speaking while the bread pops should eat the toast...but the team gets to decide which condiment or spread goes into the toast. What a delicious way to break the ice.
19. Toilet Paper Game
For this one, you'll need a tissue roll, of course. Start the game by tearing off a piece of it then passing the roll to the person to your right. Ask them to get as much as they think they'll need for a bathroom emergency. After everyone has finished getting their 'squares', tell them that the number of squares they got will be the number of facts they need to reveal about themselves. Let them share their facts, starting from the one who got the least squares. After this activity, each member would have let others know more about him/her.
20. Line up
Divide the group into smaller groups and ask them to line up according to different categories within a set time limit. Categories can be the birth month, age, shoe size, etc. The group that lines up the fastest wins.
via: Unsplash / Nicolas Lobos
21. The Morning After
Ask everyone to act out what they did the night before. The first person who guesses the act wins.
4 Interactive Games For Small Groups
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Here’s the thing… icebreakers have a way of stimulating better conversations and creating an inclusive atmosphere. This can help strengthen relationships in a small group of people. Our collection of icebreakers for small groups can help you get to know each other and set a strong standard of respect and collaboration. Try them out.
22. Marshmallow challenge
This game will bring out your team's creativity to the surface while ensuring a fun collaboration. Divide your team into smaller groups. Make sure you have the following materials for each group: 10 sticks of uncooked spaghetti, a small roll of tape, a yard of string, and a piece of marshmallow. Have them build a free-standing tower they can make using all the materials they've been given, making sure that they can place the whole marshmallow on top by the end of 18 minutes. The team that has the tallest structure wins.
23. Whodunit
Each person writes something they have already done on a piece of cardboard. The leader collects the papers and shuffles them, then reads the first card. He will then guess who did what was on the card. The guessed person will then let the player know if they guessed correctly or not. If they did, then the guessed person shall tell the story behind what he wrote. If not, simply move on to the next card and the next person. The game ends when all cards have been read.
24. Desert Island
Ask each member of the team to name an object they would bring if they are to be in a deserted island and why.
25. Flags
Ask each member of the team to design the flag of their ideal country. After 10 minutes, ask them to explain their flag to the group.
via: Unsplash / Vladislav Klapin
18 Questions to Cut the First Turf
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Nothing beats icebreaker questions when you want to break the monotony of an interaction. When executed the right way, these icebreakers can turn a boring conversation into a charged and fun engagement. They’ll liven things up and make people more receptive.
Here are 18 quick funny icebreaker questions
26. What was the funniest thing you’ve seen recently online?
Don't be shy if the funniest thing you've seen is your profile picture, that's okay. We totally agree.
27. How could carousels be spiced up so they are more exciting?
So they're boring, to begin with, eh? Didn't know that.
28. What songs would be played on a loop in hell?
Well, your hell might just be somebody else's heaven.
29. If You Were to Perform in the Circus, What Would You Do?
It's time to put those skills into the spotlight. Go on. Jump through those flaming hoops.
30. If You Moved to Sesame Street, Who Would You Want as Your Neighbor? Why?
But first, tell us how to get, how to get to Sesame Street.
via: Pexels / Skitterphoto
31. What animal would you want to bring with you on a journey through outer space?
Yes, you can choose to bring an elephant..as long as it fits in the space shuttle door.
32. You have an itch on your butt, inside your ear, and up your nose at the same time, which would you scratch if you would only pick one?
Don't be shy now...we won't judge. choosing the butt is totally okay.
33. Starbucks called, they said you forgot your…
Ooooh coffee, that's one tough ice breaker.
34. If money was not a concern what would you do every day if you didn’t work?
Oh, this is THE life.
35. Would you like to be invisible for a day? Why?
The power of invisibility is something that is desired by many, but if you'll say no, that's perfectly fine.
via: Unsplash / Joss Woodhead
36. Would you rather be really hairy or bald?
Of course, this doesn't make a difference if you're THAT good-looking. Now, if you're not, choose wisely. Please.
37. Name one thing you miss about being a kid.
We know there are a lot..but just choose one.
38. Who was your enemy or the bully when you were young?
It's totally understandable if you'll say it's your uncle or the monster under the bed.
39. What would be the perfect caption for this meme/cartoon/awkward photo?
Show off your creative and funny side this time and come up with the perfect caption you can ever think of. The timer starts now.
40. Will you tell us a story about something you’re wearing?
Don't forget that your smile is something you're wearing too.
via: Pexels / Ekaterina Belinskaya
41. What make-believe world would you want to live in?
We'd totally want the Chocolate Factory of Charlie or Elsa's Frozen Castle or
42. If you were a condiment, what would you be, and why?
If someone always sneezes when they smell you, you're totally black pepper.
43. What would your historical nickname be?
This works best if you know your history 101, but if not...
3 Team-building Games For Large Groups
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Icebreakers are perfect for encouraging group participation. They can get people interested in an event or activity. Our collection of ice breakers for large groups require no advance preparation. You can use them anywhere with and at any point of the interaction, - the beginning, the middle, or the end. These icebreakers will work for any age.
44. Defend the egg
The goal of the game is to build a structure using 3 pieces of paper, 1 roll of tape, and 1 foot of string that will serve as the landing area of the egg. Each group should come up with a design that will prevent the egg from breaking when dropped from a certain height. The group who successfully defends the egg wins.
45. Shoe Shuffle
Ask each team member to put one of their shoes in the middle of the circle. Ask them to pick a shoe and search for the person to whom it belongs to.
via: Pexels / Ingo Joseph
46. Creative Name Tags
Ask each member of the team to come up with their name tag without spelling their name. They can draw, fold, or do whatever with paper and a pen.
3 Funny Games to Break the Ice
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Meetings, blind dates, parties, and other interactions do not have to be an all work and no play affair. If you’re looking for quick funny ice breakers to liven up your next date, then you’re in luck. We’ve put together a list of funny icebreakers that will get people rolling with laughter.
47. No Smiling
Break your team into pairs. Ask each pair to stare at each other without smiling. The person who smiles first loses and the winner moves on to challenge the winners of the other pairs. The game ends when there is when there's only one man standing.
48. What Annoys You?
Let each member share with the group something that annoys them.
49. Back to Back Drawing
Divide the team into pairs. Have them seated back to back. Give a picture to the first person and let them describe the picture to the second person, who then tries to draw the picture based on the descriptions given. The pair who was able to come up with the closest replicate of the original picture wins.
How to pick the best quick ice breakers
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Here’s a fun fact – most people feel awkward when they meet new people. Icebreakers can help ease them through the discomfort. But you need to pick the right icebreakers for the right moment. After all, a bad icebreaker can cause more discomfort than it cures. We have some tips on how to choose the appropriate icebreaker for every interaction.
1. What are the goals of the interaction?
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Determine what the goal of the interaction is. Is it a group brainstorming session? A date, perhaps? Whatever the case, you need to match the mood of the icebreaker to the meeting. Have a store of icebreaker ideas at hand in case you misjudged the mood and need to make a quick switch.
2. Who Is Your Audience?
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Is it a group? Are they strangers or do they know each other? Some ice breakers work best for large groups while others work best for smaller groups of less than 5 people. For very large groups you might want to split them into smaller groups.
3. What’s the Purpose of the Icebreaker?
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What do you intend to ease introductions, cheer people up, or get creative juices glowing? If you want to make people laugh, you can use some of the funny icebreakers we’ve listed above.
4. Materials Required
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Figure out what materials you will need for the icebreaker. For example, if you choose to play a game of paper airplane, you need to make sure you have enough paper for everyone. Before the D-day, make a list of materials you will need and and carry them with you. Be prepared to switch or improvise if you can't get a crucial item.
5. Available Time
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Make sure to consider the time it will take to do the icebreaking. If you pick an activity that takes 5 minutes per person, it may be unsustainable for a large group. It's always best to go with a short and punchy icebreaker if you're not sure about the number of people you'll be dealing with.
6. Preparation Required
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You might want to go for simple, straightforward icebreakers that can be explained clearly and executed with ease. Complicated icebreakers add a layer of complexity to the preparation. You'll take longer to explain what needs to be done and they will require good facilitation skills. Whatever you go for, make sure it's suitable for the audience and occasion.
Downloadable and Printable List of Quick Ice Breaker
Here is a downloadable and printable jpg/pdf list of quick ice breaker (right-click the image and select Save Image As...):
via: Mantelligence
More Awesome Topics
Planning to go on a date armed with our collection of icebreakers? Great decision! We have more tips to make your date even more memorable.
- It's easy to run out of stuff to talk about when you're out on a date. Here are some questions to ask that will make your date fun and engaging.
- We have a collection of date ideas that will impress the girls.
- The ladies love a man with a hobby. We have a collection of hobbies for men you might want to check out.
In Conclusion
It's normal to get a bit shy and a little awkward when in unfamiliar territory. Ice breakers are meant to help people relax during one-on-one interactions and group activities. Our collection of quick ice breakers are worth their weight in gold. Give them a try to reap the rewards.
