27 Ice Breaker Games That Will Get People Talking in 2025
Ice breaker games are more than just a fun way to kick off a meeting — they can help people connect, build trust and set a positive tone for collaboration. According to a 2024 WorkWell Center guide from the University of Southern California, the right kind of ice breakers can encourage interaction, create a sense of community and even boost productivity by helping teams feel more comfortable and engaged.
No matter the size of your team, the right ice breaker games can shift the energy in the room and get people talking. A simple round of questions, a creative challenge or even adding in a few motivational quotes for work or some positive quotes for work can help people relax and open up.
So, what are the best ice breaker games to try? We’ve rounded up a range of options that work for teams of all sizes — from light and silly to thoughtful and creative.
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- Creative Ice Breaker Games That Get People Talking
- Foodie Ice Breaker Games That Taste Good Too
- Unique Ice Breaker Games for Teams That Do Things Differently
- DIY Ice Breaker Games That Get Everyone Involved
Creative Ice Breaker Games That Get People Talking
1. Paint and Sip Your Way Into Conversation
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Get your team off to the right start with a fun paint and sip class. Whether they’re a beginner or a pro, a talented artist will guide them through a beautiful masterpiece they'll be happy to hang in their home. And the best bit, they get to sip on their favorite drinks while they paint. With paint and sip classes in Denver, Chicago, NYC and anywhere in between, there’s bound to be a unique paint and sip near you.
2. Make Something Together With Pottery
Engage your team with one of the best ice breaker games for work: pottery classes. They’ll learn how to shape and glaze a one-of-a-kind bowl, mug or vase to take home — no experience needed.
If you’re looking for creative gifts for employees, why not let them create their own unique pieces? You'll find plenty of convenient pottery classes in a city near you.
3. Dance Together to Get Things Started
Bust a move with your team with dance classes in Las Vegas, NYC or the Bay Area. Your team will learn energetic choreography from an experienced dancer and level up their skills on the dance floor, all while learning to let go and have fun together. Can't get everyone all in one place? No problem, choose an online dance class for hybrid or remote teams. Dancing together makes for a great team building activity even if your team already know each other.
4. Act It Out With a Round of Charades
Engage your team in one of the best ice breaker games for work. Split everyone into groups for a unique team building activity. Instruct your employees to write down examples of relatable office happenings for a fun game. From gossiping at the water cooler to frustrations with the printer, charades will always entertain any team.
If charades isn't your thing, there are tons of other top-rated ice breaker games out there that you can buy online and play anywhere!
5. Solve a Mystery as a Team
Everyone loves a classic whodunit. Assign people on your team a classic character, including a murderous villain. Invite your team to dress the part to take your ice breaker game to the next level.
Enjoy playing these thrilling murder mystery games during a team meeting or over dinner for a memorable evening.
6. Pitch a Movie and Get Creative
Creating an original movie pitch is one of the most creative ice breaker games for work. Break your team into small groups as they brainstorm their own movie idea.
Give them prompts to jog their creativity, or let them run wild with their ideas. After spending some time deliberating, invite everyone to share their pitch and crown the next movie mogul.
7. Tell a Story, One Line at a Time
Invite your team to build a creative story. Incorporate team values and the company’s mission for a great team building experience. Split your employees into groups or engage them in a solo assignment for a creative ice breaker game.
8. Share an Embarrassing Photo
Share a blast from the past with one of the best ice breaker games for adults. Invite your team to scour through their family photos to find one of their most embarrassing. This activity is a great way to share some laughs and deepen the bond with your small team.
Foodie Ice Breaker Games That Taste Good Too
9. Cook Together and Swap Tips
Grab your apron and invite your team to exciting cooking classes near you. Whether they’re a pro or looking to learn a new recipe, an experienced chef will walk them step-by-step through a delicious and curated menu.
Whether you’re looking for a fun activity for a holiday work party or even one of the best ice breaker games for teens, cooking classes are something that everyone will enjoy.
10. Online Cooking Classes for Remote Teams
Remote or dispersed teams might be better off with online cooking classes. They'll receive the same level of hands-on guidance, just from the comfort of their home or office, or anywhere they're working from. Before they know it, after ice breaker activities like this, they'll be rolling authentic Italian pasta or making sushi together and talking about their new skills.
11. Online Mixology Classes to Stir Up Conversation
Looking for an ice breaker for adults that's a little bit different? Why not try online mixology classes? A world-class mixologist will walk your team through how to make their favorite cocktails — and share their creations with teammates. Cocktail discussions encourage casual conversation during the class and give talking points even after it ends.
12. Virtual Wine Tastings That Break the Ice
Sip and sample some of the best wines with one of the best ice breaker games for adults. In virtual wine tastings, skilled sommeliers will guide your team through a live, interactive setting to discover the best pairings and blends of wine. No matter the size of your team, they’ll never forget this fun foodie team building experience.
13. The Marshmallow Challenge for Some Sweet Competition
Whether you’re looking for unique team building activities or creative ice breaker games for kids, the marshmallow challenge is a great way to encourage a little friendly competition.
Break your team into small groups and supply them with a pack of spaghetti, tape, string and marshmallows to build a tall structure. They’ll put their creativity and innovative skills to the test for this fun ice breaker game.
14. The Candy Bar Game That Gets Everyone Rolling
These sweet treats provide one of the best ice breaker games for meetings. Fill a bowl with the most delicious candy bars and set a timer for five minutes. Invite your team to roll a pair of dice.
If they roll doubles, they can grab a candy bar from the bowl or steal a flavor from another teammate. The game ends when the timer goes off and your team is stocked with candy bars. This is also a great option for tailgate games to keep the kids occupied.
Unique Ice Breaker Games for Teams That Do Things Differently
15. Play Online Trivia With a Twist
Invite your team to enjoy some healthy competition with one of the best ice breaker games online. No matter the size of your team, an entertaining host will guide your crew through an exciting live and virtual setting for an incredible experience.
Test your team’s pop culture or Harry Potter knowledge with online trivia games, or challenge your team to some thrilling virtual game nights for an event to remember. These also make for great road trip games if you're traveling with someone you barely know and need to break the ice.
16. Race to Win a Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Discover one of the best ice breaker games for teens with virtual scavenger hunts. Race against the clock as you hunt for clues and decipher riddles. An entertaining host will guide your team through a thrilling challenge in a live, interactive environment perfect for any size team.
17. Get to Know Each Other With Two Truths and a Lie
Intrigue your employees with one of the best team building games. Your employees will share two truths and one lie and the team must work together to decipher the difference. As one of the most exciting ice breaker games for meetings, your team will share laughs and know more about each other than they did before.
18. Break Out of an Escape Room Together
Beat the clock with virtual escape rooms. These are exciting for any team building virtual events or fun ice breaker games for teens. Explore a cursed forest or a supervillain's lair as an energetic host guides you through a string of riddles and clues to make your great escape.
19. Get Talking With Big Questions Like ‘Would You Rather?’
Discover a different side of your team with one of the most engaging ice breaker games for small groups. Lighthearted questions like Would You Rather?, Never Have I Ever or Who’s Most Likely To…? can spark laughter, reveal quirky preferences and get people talking in a low-pressure way.
Want more inspiration? Check out our roundup of creative conversation starters: questions to get to know someone, funny questions, deep questions, random questions and questions to ask your friends to help you get started.
20. Compare Personality Types Just for Fun
Take a deep dive into personality tests with one of the best ice breaker games for small groups. Encourage your team to take a personality quiz before the meeting. From Myers-Briggs, Enneagram or DISC, there are many tests to explore how your personalities work together.
21. Unleash Your Team's Competitive Nature With Bingo
Invite your team to an exciting game of bingo for one of the best ice breaker games for work. Create a board with team values and company mission statements to bring it all together. Or create a custom board encouraging your employees to mingle and build their relationships with one another. This one’s also easy to adapt for outdoor team building activities when you want fresh air and plenty of laughs.
DIY Ice Breaker Games That Get Everyone Involved
22. Virtual Flower Arranging to Find Shared Interests
Help your team discover a new hobby with relaxing virtual flower arranging classes. A talented florist will guide your crew through a live, digital setting where they’ll learn how to select the best pairings and create a bouquet. Regardless if your team has experience with flower arranging, they’ll enjoy creating a beautiful piece for their home.
23. Glass Blowing With a Built-in Wow Factor
Discover the thrill of glass blowing with this creative activity. A skilled glass blower will walk your team through how to melt and shape glass into beautiful pieces, such as bowls or ornaments. This unique activity is also perfect if you’re searching for fun work Christmas party ideas.
24. Sewing Classes That Get You Talking
Prepare your team to get out of any wardrobe malfunction with sewing classes. A patient seamstress will guide your crew through a series of stitches, so they can create bags or fun pillows for their home. No matter their experience, they’ll enjoy learning this useful skill.
25. Woodworking Classes That Go Beyond the Basics
Treat your team to one of the best employee appreciation gift ideas with woodworking classes. With the help of knowledgeable woodworkers, your team will learn how to measure, cut and create unique pieces for their home. From cutting boards to picture frames, these classes are a cool gift that just keeps on giving.
26. Get To Know Each Other With a Hometown Map
Try this hands-on ice breaker for meetings that encourages conversation and connection. Secure a large world map to the wall and give your employees pins and notecards. Invite them to mark their hometown to spark conversation with their teammates. Whether your employees are from near or far, this ice breaker game will give everyone something to talk about.
27. Human Billboards That Show Personality
Keep your team engaged with this unique ice breaker activity. Distribute large pieces of paper and colored markers to your team. Then, encourage them to draw pictures and shapes to describe themselves.
Cut two holes in the paper and attach string to hang over their shoulders like a billboard. Have a mellow social hour so your team can admire fellow billboards and learn more about their teammates.
So, what makes a great ice breaker game? It’s something that gets people talking, thinking and maybe even laughing — whether you’re building trust with a remote team or kicking off a new project in person. The right ice breaker games don’t just fill time — they help teams feel more connected and ready to collaborate.
For even more fun game ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
