n today’s increasingly remote work environment, virtual meetings have become the norm for teams across the globe. While video conferencing helps maintain productivity, it can sometimes feel impersonal or awkward, especially for new team members. Icebreaker games are an excellent way to build rapport, foster engagement, and create a positive team dynamic—whether you're kicking off a weekly team call or bringing together colleagues from different locations. In this article, we’ll explore some engaging icebreaker games for virtual meetings that will help energize your team and break the ice with ease.
1. Two Truths and a Lie
One of the most classic icebreaker games, Two Truths and a Lie, is both simple and fun. Each participant takes a turn sharing three statements about themselves—two of which are true, and one is a lie. The rest of the group then tries to guess which statement is the lie.
This game is great for helping colleagues get to know each other better in a lighthearted way. It’s also a perfect option for meetings that involve new team members or for kicking off conversations in larger groups.
How to play:
- Allow each participant to think of their three statements in advance.
- The rest of the team uses a chat box, poll feature, or simply takes turns guessing which statement is the lie.
- After the guesses are made, the player reveals which one was the lie.
2. Virtual Show and Tell
Remember show and tell from school? This activity can be adapted perfectly for virtual meetings. Each participant is given a few minutes to share something meaningful from their workspace or home. It could be an item that reflects their personality, something related to a hobby, or even a recent purchase they’re excited about.
This game is not only fun, but it also provides a personal glimpse into each team member’s life, fostering connections and sparking conversation.
How to play:
- Before the meeting, let everyone know that they will be doing a virtual show and tell.
- Encourage creativity and variety in the items shared.
- Each person has 1–2 minutes to talk about their chosen item and why it’s meaningful to them.
3. Would You Rather?
Would You Rather? is a fast-paced game that presents participants with two challenging or amusing scenarios, and they have to choose one. It’s easy to play, requires little preparation, and can quickly energize a group while generating some laughs.
How to play:
- Prepare a set of fun, interesting, or quirky “Would you rather?” questions in advance. For example:
- "Would you rather have the ability to fly or become invisible?"
- "Would you rather live without music or movies?"
- Take turns posing the questions to participants or ask them to answer in a poll format.
- Allow time for some discussion after each question to spark conversations.
4. Guess That Emoji
This quick and modern icebreaker is ideal for tech-savvy teams. Have participants use only emojis to describe how they’re feeling, something interesting about their weekend, or their favorite food or movie. The other team members then try to guess what the emojis represent.
It’s a fun, creative way to communicate without words and can result in some hilarious guesses.
How to play:
- Ask each participant to submit a string of emojis that describes something about them or an experience they’ve had recently.
- The team can guess by typing their answers in the chat or by taking turns.
5. Virtual Bingo
Virtual Bingo is a great icebreaker for larger teams and can be customized to fit any group’s culture or preferences. You can create a bingo card with different experiences, characteristics, or facts that relate to your team. For example, “Has a pet,” “Has worked remotely for more than two years,” or “Loves coffee.” Players mark off squares as they learn things about their coworkers that match the descriptions.
How to play:
- Create and distribute a bingo card template to all participants before the meeting.
- As the meeting progresses, participants ask each other questions to check off the squares.
- The first person to get five squares in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) wins!
6. Pictionary
Incorporating a visual element into your virtual meetings can break the monotony and get people thinking creatively. Virtual Pictionary is a fun way to do just that. Using an online whiteboard tool or screen-sharing, players draw objects or scenes, and the rest of the team guesses what it is.
This game can spark laughter and creativity, making it a perfect icebreaker for teams looking to have some lighthearted fun.
How to play:
- Choose an online whiteboard or drawing tool that everyone can access.
- Assign each player a word or phrase to draw (there are random word generators online that can help).
- The rest of the participants guess the drawing in real-time, either through voice or chat.
7. Speed Networking
For larger virtual meetings or cross-functional groups, Speed Networking is a great way to facilitate quick connections between team members. Using breakout rooms in video conferencing software, participants are paired up with a partner for a brief 3–5 minute conversation. After the time is up, they’re rotated to a new breakout room with a different colleague.
This game encourages meaningful one-on-one conversations in a fast and structured way.
How to play:
- Set up breakout rooms with two people each.
- Give participants a fun prompt or question to discuss (e.g., “What was your favorite childhood toy?” or “If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?”).
- Rotate partners every 3–5 minutes, depending on the size of your group.
8. Story Round Robin
This creative icebreaker involves building a story together as a team. The facilitator starts a story by writing or saying the first sentence, then each participant adds to the story one sentence at a time. By the end, you’ll have a hilarious and often nonsensical story that everyone contributed to.
This game helps foster creativity and teamwork while giving everyone an equal opportunity to contribute.
How to play:
- The facilitator starts with a random sentence, such as “Once upon a time, there was a dog who loved to dance.”
- Each participant adds one sentence at a time, continuing the story.
- The story can be completed within a few rounds, or you can set a time limit to wrap it up.
Conclusion
Icebreaker games are a valuable tool for making virtual meetings more interactive and enjoyable. They help break down communication barriers, improve team bonding, and create a relaxed atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable participating. By incorporating these fun and engaging activities, you can ensure your virtual meetings are not only productive but also something your team looks forward to attending. Give these games a try at your next virtual meeting, and watch as your team becomes more connected, energized, and engaged!Icebreaker games are a valuable tool for making virtual meetings more interactive and enjoyable. They help break down communication barriers, improve team bonding, and create a relaxed atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable participating. By incorporating these fun and engaging activities, you can ensure your virtual meetings are not only productive but also something your team looks forward to attending.
If you're looking for a way to simplify the process of organizing team-building events, our platform Remotion is here to help. With Remotion, you can effortlessly plan and host engaging virtual team-building activities, all without the need for complicated preparations. Our platform offers a range of interactive features that make it easy to bring your team together, ensuring a fun and seamless experience. Give Remotion a try, and take your virtual meetings to the next level!
