18 Icebreaker Games for Work That People Don't Hate

The best icebreaker games for work are short, optional and easy to answer: one quick question each, two truths and a lie, this or that, or a team trivia round. They should take five to fifteen minutes, never force anyone to share something personal, and work the same way on a video call as in a meeting room. Below are 18 workplace icebreakers grouped by how much time you have.

Rules for icebreakers people actually enjoy

• Keep it short. Five minutes at the start of a meeting is enough.
• Make it optional. Let people pass without having to explain why.
• Avoid anything personal. No questions about relationships, money, health, religion or politics.
• Go first. The host answers first so people see how short and light an answer can be.
• Use it for a reason. New team members, a long workshop or a holiday party, not every meeting.

Five-minute icebreakers

1. One question each. Open the work category and let the phone (or the host on a shared screen) hand each person a question: "What was your first job?", "What is a small thing that made your week better?"
2. This or that. "Coffee or tea?", "Early bird or night owl?". People answer with one word, so it is fast even with twenty people.
3. Weather report. Everyone describes their week as a weather forecast: "Sunny with a chance of deadlines."
4. One word check-in. Each person says one word that sums up how they arrive at the meeting.
5. Emoji status. On a video call, everyone posts one emoji in the chat that shows their mood, then a few explain.

Fifteen-minute games for team meetings

6. Two truths and a lie. Use safe topics like "a trip you took" or "your first job". Teammates guess the lie.
7. Would you rather, work edition. "Would you rather have a four-day week or a one-hour lunch break every day?" Turn on the work category.
8. Most likely to. Use the work category only. Keep it positive: "most likely to bring snacks for everyone".
9. Common ground. In small groups, find five things everyone has in common that are not work-related. Fastest group shares first.
10. Desert island tools. Each person names three apps or tools they would keep if they could only use three at work.

Team-building games (30 minutes or more)

11. Trivia board. Two teams pick categories and points, a host reads the questions and keeps score. Arabic-speaking teams can play تحدي الفئات as is.
12. Categories game. Roll a letter; teams fill in a list of categories before the timer ends. Unique answers score.
13. Forbidden words. Describe a word to your team without saying five banned clue words. It is a good, light test of how a team communicates.
14. Charades. Works in person and on camera. Use the easy and everyday decks.
15. Imposter. Everyone gets the same secret word except one person. Great for a relaxed team social.

Holiday party games for the office

16. Forehead guessing game with the Christmas or Thanksgiving deck.
17. Secret Santa clues. Before the reveal, each person gives three clues about their Secret Santa.
18. Holiday trivia board. Mix office facts ("which team has the most plants?") with general holiday questions.

Icebreakers on video calls

• Share your screen with the game open so everyone sees the card.
• Ask people to unmute one at a time, in a set order, so nobody talks over each other.
• Use the chat for one-word answers in big meetings.
• Keep cameras optional.

Questions to avoid at work

Skip anything about weight or appearance, dating and family plans, salaries, health, politics or religion. Every question in our games already leaves these out, so you can play straight from the deck.

Icebreakers for new team members

When someone joins, the goal is to help them learn names and find something in common, not to put them on the spot. Good choices:

• Name and one fact. Everyone says their name, their role and one easy fact, such as a favourite lunch spot near the office.
• This or that round. Quick and impossible to get wrong, so new people relax.
• Two truths and a lie in the second week, once people know each other a little.

Icebreakers for large groups and workshops

With 20 or more people, go-around games take too long. Use games where everyone answers at once:

• Stand up if… "Stand up if you had coffee before 8 a.m." On a video call, use reactions or raised hands.
• This or that by moving. In a room, one side is "coffee", the other is "tea". People walk to their side.
• Small groups. Split into groups of four for five minutes, then ask one person per group to share the funniest answer.

How to introduce an icebreaker without groans

Say how long it will take, why you are doing it and that passing is fine: "We have new people today, so let's take five minutes to learn one thing about each other. Pass if you like." Then answer first, briefly and with a light touch. Most of the eye-rolling disappears once people see it is short and optional.

Turning icebreakers into a habit

Some teams start every Monday meeting with one this-or-that question, or end the month with a fifteen-minute trivia round. A small, predictable ritual feels less forced than a big team-building event once a year.

Common questions

How long should a work icebreaker take? Five minutes at the start of a regular meeting, fifteen for a workshop or onboarding session, and up to half an hour at a team social.

What are good icebreaker questions for work? Light, specific and easy to answer: your first job, a favourite lunch spot, a small win this week, coffee or tea. Avoid anything about family, money, health or beliefs.

Do icebreakers work on video calls? Yes. Share your screen with the game open, call on people in a set order, and let quieter people answer in the chat.

Key takeaways

• Short and optional beats clever and long.
• This or that and one question each work for any team size.
• Two truths and a lie and would you rather are best for small teams.
• Save team games like trivia and charades for socials and workshops.

Planning the end-of-year party? See our Christmas party games, or browse every party game.