Icebreaker games for meetings

Updated September 2026

A good icebreaker game turns the awkward first minutes of a meeting into something people actually enjoy. It gets everyone talking, warms up quieter teammates and makes the rest of the meeting easier to run.

Here are 25 icebreaker games for meetings, sorted by what you need. Every game lists how many players it suits, how long it takes, what prep it needs and whether it works remotely.

Quick picker

Quick icebreaker games (10 minutes or less)

1. Two truths and a lie

Players: 4 to 12 · Time: about a minute each · Prep: none · Remote: yes

Everyone shares three statements about themselves, two true and one false, and the team guesses the lie. It's a classic for a reason. Need inspiration? See our two truths and a lie ideas.

2. Agree or disagree

Players: any · Time: 5 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

Read out a statement like "Most meetings could be an email" and everyone takes a side. Ask one person from each side to explain. Grab a list of agree or disagree questions.

3. Would you rather

Players: any · Time: 5 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

Offer two tricky options and ask everyone to choose. The debates are the best bit. Pick from our 'would you rather' questions.

4. Either or

Players: any · Time: 5 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

The fastest game there is: "Tea or coffee?", "Tabs or spaces?". Everyone answers at once, then a couple of people explain. Use our either or questions.

5. One-word check-in

Players: any · Time: 2 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

Everyone describes how they're arriving in one word. Simple, quick and a useful read of the room before a retro.

6. Emoji weather report

Players: any · Time: 3 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

Ask everyone to post one emoji that sums up their week, then invite a few people to explain theirs. It works brilliantly in a chat.

Get to know you games

7. Desert island picks

Players: 3 to 10 · Time: 10 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

Everyone names one book, one song and one luxury item they'd take to a desert island. Great for new teams.

8. Show and tell

Players: 3 to 10 · Time: 10 minutes · Prep: light · Remote: yes

Each person shows an object that means something to them and tells its story in under a minute. On video calls, it doubles as a tour of everyone's desk.

9. Guess who

Players: 5 to 20 · Time: 10 minutes · Prep: light · Remote: yes

Before the meeting, collect one surprising fact from each person. Read them out one by one and let the team guess who each fact belongs to.

10. People bingo

Players: 10 to 50 · Time: 15 minutes · Prep: light · Remote: partly

Make bingo cards with squares like "has been to Japan" or "plays an instrument". People mingle to find someone who matches each square. Online, share the card and let people ask questions in the chat.

11. Common ground

Players: 3 to 30 · Time: 10 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

In pairs or small groups, find three things you all have in common that aren't about work. Share the most surprising one with the group.

Icebreaker games for remote teams

12. Desk scavenger hunt

Players: 3 to 20 · Time: 5 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

Call out an item, like "something blue" or "the oldest thing on your desk", and give everyone 30 seconds to find it and show it on camera.

13. Guess the desk

Players: 5 to 15 · Time: 10 minutes · Prep: light · Remote: yes

Everyone sends a photo of their workspace before the meeting. Share them one at a time and let the team guess whose desk it is.

14. Draw it

Players: 4 to 12 · Time: 10 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

One person draws a word on a shared whiteboard while everyone else guesses. Keep the words work-related for extra laughs, like "stand-up" or "technical debt".

15. Name that tune

Players: 4 to 20 · Time: 10 minutes · Prep: light · Remote: yes

Play a few seconds of a song and let people guess the title in the chat. Ask everyone to suggest a track beforehand for a team playlist.

Icebreaker games for large groups

16. Silent line-up

Players: 8 to 30 · Time: 5 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: no

Ask the group to line up by birthday, without talking. It's a quick lesson in non-verbal teamwork.

17. Rock, paper, scissors tournament

Players: 10 to 100 · Time: 5 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: partly

Everyone pairs up and plays. Whoever loses becomes the winner's cheerleader, until two players are left with the whole room cheering them on.

18. Stand up if

Players: 10 to 100 · Time: 5 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

Read out statements like "Stand up if you've lived in another country". Online, people turn their cameras on or raise a hand instead.

19. Quick-fire team quiz

Players: 10 to 50 · Time: 15 minutes · Prep: light · Remote: yes

Split into teams and run five or six questions about general knowledge, your company or your product. Keep the questions light so everyone can join in.

Creative and team-building games

20. Story chain

Players: 4 to 12 · Time: 5 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

Start a story with one sentence. Each person adds the next sentence in turn. It gets silly quickly, which is the point.

21. Team crest

Players: 3 to 8 per group · Time: 15 minutes · Prep: light · Remote: yes

Each group designs a crest that represents the team, with a motto. Share and explain them at the end.

22. Worst idea wins

Players: 4 to 12 · Time: 10 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

Pick a problem and ask for the worst possible ideas. Then look for the good idea hiding inside each bad one. It's a great warm-up before a brainstorm.

23. Marshmallow challenge

Players: 4 per group · Time: 20 minutes · Prep: kit needed · Remote: no

Each group builds the tallest free-standing tower from spaghetti, tape and string, with a marshmallow on top. Best for workshops and team days.

24. Draw your week

Players: 3 to 12 · Time: 10 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

Everyone draws a quick picture of their week, then explains it in a sentence. It's a creative check-in that works well before a retro.

25. Question of the day

Players: any · Time: 2 minutes · Prep: none · Remote: yes

One question, one quick answer from everyone. It's the easiest daily habit for stand-ups. Browse our question of the day ideas.

How do you run an icebreaker game in a meeting?

1. Match the game to the time you have. In a 30-minute meeting, stick to games under five minutes.
2. Explain the rules in one sentence. If it needs more, pick a simpler game.
3. Go first. Show the tone you want.
4. Let people opt out. Nobody should feel forced to share.
5. Stop while the energy is high, then move into your agenda.

Running a retrospective? TeleRetro boards include icebreaker questions, GIFs, emoji and icebreaker music, so you can warm the team up in the same place you run the retro. For game-themed retros, see our online retrospective games.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good icebreaker game for a meeting?

For most meetings, pick a quick game that takes under five minutes and needs no prep, like two truths and a lie, agree or disagree, or a one-word check-in. They get everyone speaking early without eating into the agenda.

What icebreaker games work for remote teams?

Games that use the chat, cameras or a shared board work best online. Try a desk scavenger hunt, guess the desk, emoji weather report or agree or disagree with votes in the chat.

How long should a meeting icebreaker game take?

Five to ten minutes is plenty for a regular meeting with 5 to 15 people. Save longer team games, like the marshmallow challenge, for workshops, offsites and team days.

How do you choose the right icebreaker game?

Think about three things:

• Time: quick games for regular meetings, longer ones for workshops
• Group size: pair or small-group games for big teams
• Setting: pick a game that works on video if anyone is remote