Library of teambuilding games & icebreakers

How to play Office Price is right

Now is your chance to play game show host. Someone who is familiar with the items in the office should be the facilitator, since understanding prices is necessary for the game. Have them choose an item and then a panel of 3 individuals should guess the price without going over. Whoever is closest wins! You can organize this into a tournament where people go against each other for prizes, or just run the game impromptu and see who wants to participate.

How to play Mini Myers-Briggs session

If you work in a progressive environment, then chances are you’ve completed some form of personality assessment before, maybe even the Myers-Briggs version. In this popular personality test, you are assigned a four-letter personality type that gives insight into your behavior in relationships, at work, etc. Have everyone complete the test in advance, and then start your meeting by having everyone discuss the results.

This game allows players to explore their potential leadership strengths by creating their pizza with “skill” toppings.

How to play:

Participants draw out a pizza with six slices. They are then asked to put toppings on their pizza, but instead of mushrooms, it’s a skill that they believe they would excel at. Once the pizzas are complete, people present their pizza, explaining why they chose their skills and engaging in a group discussion.

After talking amongst one another, receiving feedback, and discussing their strengths and weaknesses, if you’re willing to take the conversation a step further, everyone revisits their pizza and updates their skills according to feedback.

Materials you’ll need: Paper and general arts and crafts materials. Tables and chairs for drawing surfaces

How many people: Small to mid-sized teams (8-16 people)

How to play Trivia

Questions games don’t get much better than good old-fashioned trivia! A classic way to test people’s knowledge on a range of topics, you can ask questions on everything from science and current events to religion, sports, and history.

Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from playing a “personal trivia” game too. Take this tack, and you’d ask questions to test the team’s knowledge about each other instead! For example, who did what at the last Christmas party? Which team member was born overseas? And who has a middle name that starts with “K”?

You get the idea!

Whatever type of trivia game you choose, the idea is to play in teams and compete against each other to see who can answer the most questions correctly. Award prizes to the winner to incentivize participation.

In silent birthday shuffle, players must line up in order of their birthdays, but here’s the twist—no talking allowed! Only hand signals and body language can be used to figure out everyone’s birthdate, making it a fun and often chaotic communication challenge.

This game is perfect for breaking the ice and encouraging non-verbal teamwork.

How to play:

• Players must arrange themselves in the order of their birthdays.
• No talking allowed—only hand signals and gestures can be used.
• The game ends when the team is successfully in order!

If your team’s plane went down and everyone somehow survived, how do you think they’d get on, living on a desert island? This one here is a fantastic team-building activity that gets the brains ticking.

The Desert Island Game drops your group into a survival scenario where they must choose a handful of items to keep themselves alive on a deserted island. Both the fun and the learning come from each person’s ideas about what’s essential to stay alive, and what isn’t.

The game can kickstart some awesome debates that put negotiation and collaboration to the test, as well as a bit of creative reasoning. 

You can run it in person or remotely (just not on an actual island), and the goal is simple: to think fast, argue smart, and work together to “survive.”

What you’ll need:

Okay, teams, don’t start ordering real flare guns yet. Follow our checklist of every item you’ll need for a fantastic time:

• A list of survival items – Include 10–15 options like rope, a lighter, a tarp, a fishing net, or a water purifier (we’ve got a full list in our how to play section).

• A timer – 15–20 minutes keeps things focused but fast-paced.

• Pens and paper – For participants to jot down or rank their selections.

• A whiteboard or shared doc – To capture final team choices for group comparison.

• Teams or breakout groups – Smaller groups (4–6) spark more discussion and creativity.

• Optional extras – Virtual island backgrounds, themed music, or printed item cards if running in person.

How to play (step-by-step instructions)

Here are the steps to get your own Desert Island Game up and running.

1. Step 1: Set the survival scene

Kick things off by delivering the bad news: your team’s plane has crashed, and they’re now stranded on a deserted island. The good news? Everyone gets to choose three items to stay alive. Read the scenario out loud, then hand out your survival item list. Our recommended list is:

• Compass
• A phone (which is out of battery)
• Lighter
• Sturdy boots
• Sunscreen
• First aid kit
• Toilet paper
• Water filter
• A rifle with 3 bullets
• A mirror
• Flare gun
• Wood axe
• Fishing rod
• Hammock
• Hunting knife
• Inflatable raft
• Mosquito spray
• 100-yard rope
• Vegetable seeds

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Feel free to add obscure objects, or follow our list of essentials. Get your teams to really think about staying alive indefinitely.

2. Solo selection round

Ask everyone to take five minutes to pick their three essential items on their own. This step keeps groupthink at bay, as people will have to trust their instincts before hearing what others think. For virtual sessions, have everyone turn their mic and camera off while they decide, then switch it back on when ready.

3. Group debate and consensus

Now the fun begins. Split everyone into small groups (4–6 people) and have them compare their lists. Each team must agree on a shared list of three survival items, and they’ll need to make their case for why each item deserves to stay. You’re going to be starting some passionate debates on survival theory (“I can use the tarp as a sail if we build a raft. Really!”)

Expect passionate pitches and a few questionable survival theories (“I can use the tarp as a sail if we build a raft!”).

4. Re-evaluate and open “trade”

Once all groups have revealed their lists, open the floor for trades. Teams can adjust their final picks after hearing other arguments. This is a simple twist that pushes them to listen closely to what others have, or whether they just want to get rid of their second toilet roll. They can negotiate however they please, and this moment of adjustment often starts the best insight into how teams are working together.

5. Add an extra, tricky twist

If you’ve got time, get funky with a variation on the rules. You could be a bit cruel and tell them every item needs to start with the same letter. Maybe each needs to cost under $20 from the supermarket, or fit into a backpack. An extra twist can spin the challenge on its head and provide a good belly laugh. 

6. Facilitator tip: keep it lively but

Keep the debates between members and teams lively, but make sure everyone has the chance to explain why they chose their items, not just what they chose. You’ll likely hear some great points from the often-quieter members. Pay close attention to unusual reasoning or shining moments of teamwork, as you’re probably seeing your hidden problem-solvers or leaders in action. A good facilitator can balance logic with playfulness, because half the game is in the ludicrous justifications and panicked bartering.

Debrief: What skills did your teams pick up?

As you debrief with your teams, you’ll likely notice that they hit some of these core tenets of teambuilding that apply to every workforce:

• Creative problem-solving under pressure: Teams learn quickly that survival takes imagination. Some players think practically, while others find clever new uses for ordinary items. It’s a reminder that creative thinking can sometimes outshine default logic, both on the island and at work.

• Communication and persuasion: The debate and trade sparks strong opinions, but also better listening. The best arguments win not through volume, but clarity and persuasion. It’s a fast way to reveal strong communicators and sharpen bartering skills.

• Consensus and compromise: Choosing just three items forces tough trade-offs. People practice negotiation, balancing personal preferences with group success. It’s a small-scale version of making team decisions in the face of real-world pressure.

• Adapting to new information: When someone changes their mind after hearing a smart argument, that can actually be another form of growth. It shows flexibility, open-mindedness, and how adapting fast can turn challenges into wins for the group.

When you’re ready to close the loop and give out the key takeaways for the group, ask them how they think today applies to their day-to-day work.

FAQ:

How long does the game take?

Typically, around 15-25 minutes from setup to debrief. Smaller groups can wrap up faster, while larger ones might need extra time for their survival debates.

What’s the ideal team size?

We find that teams of 4 - 6 strike the best balance. They’re small enough for everyone to speak and big enough for some fun disagreements. For bigger teams, split into smaller islands and compare results afterward.

Can this be done remotely?

It sure can! The Desert Island Game works fine over video calls. Use breakout rooms for small-group discussion and a shared document or whiteboard for everyone’s final choices.

What if team members disagree?

Well, that’s half the fun! Encourage people to persuade, but not to overbear. Let them debate openly, but timebox discussions so they don’t spiral. Remind everyone that compromise is often the key to survival, both on the island and in real-world teamwork.

In acts of kindness quest, teams race against the clock to complete as many random acts of kindness in the community as possible. Whether it’s helping a stranger, picking up litter, or donating items, the goal is to spread positivity and do good.

This activity brings the team together for a feel-good mission while making a difference in the community.

How to play:

• Create a list of random acts of kindness for teams to complete.
• Set a time limit, and send teams out to perform as many acts as they can.
• The team that completes the most acts of kindness wins, but everyone feels great!

How to play Name that product

Remember the memory games that you used to play as a child? A variation of this activity can help new hires to learn about your product offerings. You don’t need anything besides a pen and paper! Begin by making a list of the products that your company sells. On the same page, list product features and price points. Then, on separate papers, write a short product description for each of the items. Have sales reps match the products with the short descriptions. Or, as another variation, instead of descriptions you can use customer needs or wants, or another indicator that would help people to better understand your product breadth and keep them straight.

How to play Capture the flag

In this fast-paced game, players try to steal flags from each other's territories. The game is helpful for strategic thinking and promotes togetherness. You’ll need two to four teams with between 4-8 players. Each team should spend a few minutes creating their flag, and then find an open space where the teams can each hide their flag and have everyone attempt to come steal their flag.

The Price is Right is a legendary TV guessing game show where contestants need to guess the price of items to win prizes. But did you know, you can also adapt this for the office space?

How to play:

1. Gather your team in a room
2. Choose names out of a hat for the "contestants"
3. Gather office items or personal items of employees (make sure they are willing to let you handle them)
4. Showcase them on a table
5. Ask the contestants to guess the price of each item.
6. Whoever is closest wins!
7. Rotate contestants

This game is not only a fun way to break up the monotony of the workday, but it also helps strengthen teamwork and collaboration skills.

It can also provide an opportunity for employees to provide backstories on their items further improving presentation skills. You never know; some stories could be fascinating listen!

Here’s another easy, energizing, ice-breaking, and amusing activity that brings teams together and helps co-workers learn more about each other.

How to play My first job was…

To play My First Job, start by handing out a pen and a post-it note or scrap of paper to each participant. Next – and without showing anyone else – they have to write down whatever their first job was, before folding up the paper, and placing it in a hat/box in the center of the room.

From there, teammates take turns selecting a post-it from the pile, reading the role to the group and then guessing who wrote it. If they get it wrong, the rest of the team can jump in, working together to decide who had the job. Expect friendly banter, laughter, and all sorts of revelations to ensue!

Top tip: My First Job can be played in remote teams too. You’d simply ask people to send their jobs to you – the moderator – privately beforehand, then plug them into an online tool such as Wheel Decide. Employees can then spin the wheel and guess the owner of whatever job they land on.

How to play Times tables

This one will take everyone back to third-grade! Print out the old-fashioned multiplication or division worksheets that you can find online. You can find many of them with 100 problems. Set the timer for a minute and see who can answer the most (correctly).

How to play “Secret word” game

For this game, divide your group into two teams. Give each of them a different, “secret” word. The members of each team will try to incorporate the word into conversation as often as possible, without the other team guessing what their word is. For example, maybe one team is using the word “avocado”. Members would try to sneak in that word as often as possible, but organically, so it’s not easy to pick out. If someone orders a salad, a member might say “I love to put avocado in my salad.” Whichever team picks up on the other team’s secret word first, wins.Note: You obviously want to make sure the secret word is work appropriate!

Most likely everyone is familiar with the old game Pictionary. This activity puts a spin on the traditional game, focusing on adaptability and quick-thinking. Adaptability is highly important in agile practices, with most teams needing to respond to changes while mid-task. This game helps with that, so here’s how to set it up:

Set up:

Get everyone into pairs or small groups, with one person from each group starting out as the “artist.” The artist draws a prompt that you give them, such as “team goal” or “product feature.” Halfway through, introduce a new element to what they need to draw, like “user feedback” or “project roadblock.” They need to adjust the drawing on the fly, while everybody else throws out their guesses.

Quick, easy, engaging, and ideal for getting to know one another, Roulette Questions is an energizer/ice-breaker that’s sure to go down well before virtual meetings – especially for new teams.

How to play Roulette questions

The game involves using an online roulette wheel that’s full of different questions. Co-workers take turns “spinning” the wheel and answering whichever one they land on.

Simply work your way through the questions until there are none left (many roulette tools allow you to eliminate questions as you do, ensuring you never land on the same one twice) or until everyone has answered something!

Try playing with a time limit to inject more energy into the activity. For instance, depending on its size, you could challenge the team to get through the questions in 10 minutes or less. This should stop the game from dragging on too long and make it more enjoyable to boot.

21 Questions is the perfect game for passing the time, learning more about each other, and exercising critical thinking skills. Here’s how it works:

One person in the group thinks of an individual (e.g. a celebrity), a place, an animal, or an object. Then everyone else takes turns asking “yes/no” questions to work out what it is! The aim of the game is to work together to find the answer as quickly as possible. If they don’t succeed within 21 questions, they lose.

Here’s an example where Player One is thinking of an elephant:

• Player Two: “Is it an animal?”
• Player One: “Yes.”
• Player Three: “Does it fly?”
• Player One: “No.”
• Player Four: “Is it a large animal?”
• Player One: “Yes.”
• Player Two: “Does it live in Africa?”
• Player One: “Yes.”
• Player Three: “Is it a giraffe?”
• Player One: “No.”
• Player Four: “Is it an elephant?”
• Player One: “Yes.”

They’d then swap roles, with Player Four (i.e. the person who guessed the answer) thinking of something for everyone else to guess.

How to play Blind sketching

This is a great communication exercise and is simple to play at work. The goal of the game is for a player to draw an object that was described correctly. It’s similar to charades, with a player sketches something based on gestures instead of words. You don’t need any special drawing skills, but you do need a pen and paper. It’s also helpful to have a larger open space where people can spread out and draw. Start by pairing off two players as a team. One player will make gestures describing an item and the other participant will draw. If the pair comes up with an accurate drawing of the described item, they win!

Sneak-a-peak is a fabulous game for getting everyone involved. The aim of the game is rapid-fire copying of a Lego structure you make. The only prep needed beforehand is to get your Lego set and have a structure in mind that isn’t too easy to replicate.

Set up:

1. Build a simple structure out of Lego pieces. Something not too easily guessable, and keep it hidden!
2. Split everyone into small teams, with one ‘viewer.’
3. Allow the ‘viewer’ a short time (about 30 seconds) to come and observe your hidden structure.
4. Get them to go back to their teams and describe it, in as much detail as they can.
5. Teams are given a 10-minute timer to build the structure. Once complete, compare each team’s attempts.

Put strategic thinking to the test with the Strategy Showdown: Board Game Bonanza challenge. Teams will face off in a series of classic board games that require cunning tactics and clever maneuvers. From chess to Uno, participants will showcase their ability to strategize and outwit opponents. This challenge highlights the importance of strategic collaboration in achieving collective goals.

Instructions

• Select a variety of strategic board games.
• Divide participants into teams and assign each team to a different board game.
• Teams compete in rounds of board games, earning points based on their performance.
• Declare the team with the most points the ‘Board Game Bonanza’ champions.

How to play Group Map

Are you hosting an event where people come from various locations? Try laying out an imaginary map in a room representing all the areas people may have come from. Have them stand in their “place of origin” and share a bit about where they came from. You could also print a large map and have everyone place a pin on their area. The important thing is to share some information about where they’ve come from.

Learning about your coworker's wants and dreams outside of the office is a great way of building stronger, lasting relationships.

Great for: Interpersonal bonding

Duration: 5 minutes

Players: 4+

You’ll need: Nothing

How to play Bucket List

Setup: Ask your group to sit together in a circle, on chairs or on the floor.

To play: One by one, players tell five items from their bucket list to the rest of the group. This gives employees vital insight into the aspirations of their coworkers.

How to play Wanna spoon

Using only a spoon, players should attempt to transfer as many ping pong balls as they can from one bowl to another - no hands! Hands would be allowed if you drop the ball on the ground but then they should be placed back into the original bowl for another attempt. Whoever moves the most ping pong balls in the minute timeframe wins.

Minefield is a fun energization game that improves communication and listening skills. All you need is an open space and a bunch of soft-edged objects.

Great for: Listening skills, communication, energization

Duration: 10–15 minutes

You’ll need: Various soft objects like balloons, foam blocks, plastic cups, etc.

How to play:

• Divide your group into teams of about 4–5 players and blindfold one player from each team.
• Spread out your soft-edged objects throughout the space.
• Ask the teams to stand at one end of the room.
• When you shout “Go!” the blindfolded player must make their way to the other side of the room without touching any of the objects on the floor. The players without blindfolds are allowed to give verbal commands to the blindfolded player. They are NOT allowed to touch or guide the blindfolded player in any way.
• The team to reach the other side of the room first without touching any of the objects wins. If a team touches an object, they must return to the start.

How to play Shout Out

In this game, members collaborate and contribute by shouting out some ideas. You’ll need some sort of white board or flip chart, and plan for 3 - 10 people in a group. First come up with a problem that you want to discuss. For example, “How can we reduce waste in our production process?” or “How can we bring that new product to market one week faster?” Give each person the opportunity to yell out an idea so that the whole group can hear. Once everyone has had a chance to speak, ask the group to come to a consensus on the best option, and then hold a discussion about it. Why is it the best idea? What makes it workable, etc? Also, did everyone feel listened to? How did the results from this process differ from just speaking to each other?

This gives your employees a chance to learn more about problem solving processes and cooperation, in addition to potential solutions to real business issues.