Top Ice Breakers for Meetings: Fun Ideas to Boost Team Engagement

In today's hybrid and remote work environment, the success of any team meeting often hinges on how well it begins. A warm, engaging start can transform a room full of muted microphones into a vibrant space for collaboration.  

That’s where icebreakers for meetings come in—they set the tone, build rapport, and encourage participation. Whether you're running virtual stand-ups, cross-functional syncs, or global town halls, incorporating the right zoom icebreakers can make all the difference.  

From light-hearted games to thoughtful prompts, this guide merges the best of ice breakers for Zoom meetings and in-person gatherings, offering creative ideas to energize your team from the very first minute. 

Importance of icebreakers for meetings 

Icebreakers are essential to any types of meeting or group activity. They serve as a means of introduction, allowing participants to become familiar with each other in a non-threatening, fun way.  

Here are some reasons why icebreakers are important: 

1. Facilitates introduction  

In a meeting involving participants unfamiliar with each other, introductions can be awkward. Icebreakers serve as a structured yet informal way for individuals to introduce themselves and share something about their personality or background. This helps establish a basic understanding among the group members and sets a friendly tone for the meeting. 

2. Encourages participation 

Icebreakers are designed to involve everyone in the group. Encouraging everyone to participate in an icebreaker activity makes individuals more likely to speak up during the meeting. This is particularly beneficial in a meeting where active participation from all members is crucial for success. 

3. Break down barriers 

Every group or team has some social barriers, whether due to hierarchy, unfamiliarity, or differences in personality. Icebreakers can help to break down these barriers by encouraging open communication and interaction among all participants. This can lead to improved collaboration and understanding throughout the meeting. 

4. Energizing the group  

Icebreakers can contribute to a more effective learning environment. By creating a relaxed and open atmosphere, icebreakers can help to stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving skills. This can be particularly beneficial in meetings that involve brainstorming or strategic planning. 

5. Fosters team building  

Icebreakers can help foster team building. By working together on a fun and low-stakes activity, team members can build relationships and develop a sense of camaraderie. This can lead to improved teamwork and collaboration during the meeting and beyond. 

6. Eases anxiety  

Speaking up in a meeting can be nerve-wracking for some, especially if they are new to the team or shy. Icebreakers can help ease this anxiety by providing a relaxed environment for individuals to express themselves. 

7. Sparks creativity 

Many icebreakers involve creative thinking, which can help to spark creativity among the participants. This can be particularly beneficial in meetings that require innovative ideas or solutions. 

8. Offers insight into individuals' strengths and weaknesses 

Icebreakers often reveal more about an individual’s communication style, problem-solving skills, and ability to work in a team. This insight can be valuable in understanding how to work together in a meeting effectively. 

Challenges of implementing icebreakers in meetings 

Let’s discuss some challenges that can arise when implementing icebreakers in meetings: 

1. Time constraints 

Meetings often have much to cover in a limited amount of time. Allocating time for an icebreaker can sometimes be seen as taking away from the main agenda. Managing time effectively ensures the icebreaker doesn’t overrun the meeting. 

2. Inappropriate icebreakers  

Choosing the wrong type of icebreaker can lead to discomfort among participants. It’s crucial to select an icebreaker appropriate for the group’s size, the individuals’ backgrounds, and the nature of the meeting. 

3. Lack of participation 

Not everyone feels comfortable participating in icebreakers, especially those who are more outgoing or require sharing personal information. This can lead to awkwardness and may not achieve the desired outcome of bringing the group closer together. 

4. Cultural differences 

Cultural differences can pose a challenge in a diverse group. What might be a fun icebreaker in one culture could potentially be offensive or uncomfortable in another. It’s important to be aware of cultural sensitivities when planning icebreakers. 

5. Virtual meetings 

In today’s digital age, many meetings occur virtually. Implementing icebreakers in a virtual setting can be challenging due to technical issues, lack of physical presence, and other factors. 

6. Overuse of icebreakers  

While icebreakers can be beneficial, overusing them can lead to them losing their effectiveness. If every meeting starts with an icebreaker, participants may find it repetitive and boring. 

Fun icebreakers for meetings 

Introducing a fun icebreaker at the beginning of a meeting can help break the ice and create a positive and engaging environment.  

Here are a few examples of fun icebreakers for meetings 

1. Two truths and a lie 

Each person shares two true statements and one false statement about themselves, and the rest of the team tries to guess the lie. This game is a fun way to learn interesting facts about each other. 

2. The human knot 

This physical activity involves team members standing in a circle, reaching across to hold hands with two people, and then trying to untangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands. It’s a great exercise in teamwork and problem-solving. 

3. Picture sharing 

Ask team members to share a picture of something important or meaningful to them (like a pet, a favorite book, or a vacation photo) and explain why they chose it. This can lead to interesting discussions and help team members connect personally. 

Icebreaker for virtual meetings  

A good icebreaker for online meetings helps to promote healthy conversations. Let’s look at some examples of icebreakers during virtual meetings.  

1. Virtual background challenge 

The Virtual Background Challenge is a fun and engaging way to kick off a virtual meeting. Participants are asked to change their virtual background to something representing a personal interest, hobby, or favorite place.  

Each person then takes a turn explaining their background and why they chose it. This adds a visual element to the icebreaker and allows team members to share a bit about their personal lives, fostering a sense of connection and camaraderie. 

2. Online quiz or trivia  

Online quizzes or trivia games can be a great way to engage the team. You can use online platforms to create a custom quiz related to your industry, the meeting’s topic, or just general knowledge. 

This can help to stimulate the team’s thinking and create a competitive yet friendly atmosphere. It also allows for active participation from all members, regardless of their location. 

3. Show and tell  

Show and tell is a classic activity that can easily be adapted for virtual meetings. Each participant is asked to share a personal item and explain its significance.  

This could be a favorite book, a family heirloom, or a pet! This activity provides insight into each team member’s life. It helps foster a sense of empathy and understanding within the team. 

4. Virtual scavenger hunt  

A virtual scavenger hunt can add a bit of excitement and fun to your virtual meeting. Create a list of items participants must find in their home or workspace. The first one to show each item on their camera wins.  

This activity breaks the ice and adds a bit of physical movement to the meeting, which can be a welcome break from sitting. 

5. One-word activity 

The one word activity is a quick and easy icebreaker for virtual meetings. Ask each participant to share one word describing their feelings, goals for the meeting, or current work project.  

This can help to gauge the group’s mood and create open communication from the start. 

6. Virtual coffee break  

A virtual coffee break is an informal gathering that occurs online at the beginning or end of a meeting. It’s a dedicated time for team members to chat about non-work-related topics, similar to how they would during a coffee break in an office setting.  

This can help foster personal connections and build rapport among team members, leading to improved collaboration and communication during the meeting. 

7. Virtual tours  

Virtual tours can be a fun and engaging way to start a virtual meeting. In this activity, each participant is asked to give a quick tour of their workspace or a part of their home.  

This can provide a unique insight into each team member’s working environment and personal style, helping to foster a sense of connection and understanding within the team. 

8. Personal achievements  

Sharing Personal Achievements is a great way to celebrate successes and foster a positive team culture. In this activity, each participant is asked to share a recent personal achievement, whether work-related or personal.  

This can help to create a positive atmosphere, boost morale, and foster a sense of community within the team. 

9. Guess who  

It is a fun game that can serve as an icebreaker for virtual meetings. Before the meeting, collect interesting facts about each participant.  

During the meeting, read out these facts individually and have the team guess who each fact belongs to. This can be a fun and engaging way to learn more about each other and foster a sense of camaraderie within the team. 

10. Bucket list sharing  

It is an activity where each participant shares something that’s on their bucket list. This could be a place they want to visit, a skill they want to learn, or an experience they want to have.  

This can lead to interesting discussions, help team members find common interests or experiences, and foster a sense of connection. 

The most fun Zoom icebreakers for virtual teams 

Here is a quick list of Zoom icebreakers that your remote team members can enjoy. 

1. What’s your favorite? 

A good icebreaker is entertaining and straightforward to engage with. And this is why What’s your favorite poll is one of the most chosen. 

Rather than jumping into a zoom team meeting, you can put up polls on entertainment and non-work related topics. 

For instance: 

• If money is not a problem, what would be your ideal job? 
• Which breakfast should be called the best one? 
• What was the first thought that came to your mind when you woke up today? 

2. Waffles and pancakes 

You have to begin with waffles and pancakes. The following person will eliminate one of those options and replace it with something they like. 

So the steps involve: 

• Waffles or pancakes 
• The following person will remove the waffles and add cats. 
• Then the next person will choose between waffles and cats and replace cats with dogs. 
• Repeat the same process till everyone has played. The end answer is the winner. 

3. Rose, bud, and thorn 

The game is highly known for its mindfulness in your zoom icebreakers. 

• Roses represent optimism and the victory you experienced 
• Buds signify new ideas that you want to explore 
• Thorns are the hurdles you’re facing 

Share your personal experience to stimulate your old memories and develop rapport with your team. It is an excellent team-building activity 

4. One minute introduction 

Small introductions are an excellent option to eliminate pressure off people and help them know one another. It is good to share some good information about yourself in one minute. 

5. Name your celebrity lookalike. 

Question the members to share the celebrity they resemble the most and add a picture for reference. A zoom platform can enhance your experience and help you prove you as a convincing doppelganger. 

6. Two truths and one lie 

State three sentences about yourself; two of them should be true and one a life. Let the team members guess which is a lie and which is true. 

Share the last three emojis you used on your phone 

Given that you have thousands of emojis, this exercise is useful when describing your day or how your previous few hours were. It is suitable for clearing up any possible miscommunication across teams. 

7. Name the acronym 

It is a tremendously fun icebreaker specially designed for today’s world. Every team member shares an online acronym, and the others have to guess. The person with the maximum number of answers wins. 

8. Name the tune 

Play a song’s snippet or sing a few lyrics; the others have to guess the song. Make it difficult for everyone. 

9. Throwback pictures 

If you want everyone to walk down memory lane, play this game. Make all the attendees send the leader an image of themselves as a child; the leader can put up any image, and the others have to guess who that is. 

10. What’s making you excited? 

The future has endless possibilities for things to occur. But what’s keeping you excited for the following Sunday? Is it a sundae you have planned, or are you planning to visit your parents? Ask your team to share events that they’re looking forward to. 

11. Share your first job 

Ask every team member to share what position they were assigned in their first job. Ask them to share funny stories related to that job. It will indeed create a lot of interest. 

Would you rather 

Would you rather is a great zoom icebreaker game, but make sure you put up good questions. Some of the recommended ones are: 

• Would you eat a sandwich with a pickle or a sandwich with soy sauce? 
• Would you choose to sneeze for the rest of the day or enjoy hiccups? 

12. Team trivia quiz 

Here you can collect interesting facts about your team and then share one of them, leaving everyone else to guess who that person could be. 

Home scavenger hunt 

This icebreaker will make your team members get out of their chairs. They have 30 seconds to fetch something in red or get something softest around. 

You can also play a virtual scavenger hunt. The leader will give the team 5 minutes to fulfill ten jobs, including: 

• Click your picture of yourself and post it on your slack 
• Change your zoom background to your picture 
• Bring a product that’s older than your age. 

Seeing how many tasks the members accomplished in five minutes will be fun. 

13. Photo contest 

You can run a photo contest and ask your teammates to share a cool photo they took from their weekend. Now put the pictures anonymously and ask your colleagues to vote anonymously. Whoever gets the highest vote wins the contest. 

14. Never have I ever 

While hanging out with your virtual teammates, you can play never have I ever. Each of you can hold your hand, so your fingers are visible. 

Now one of the members will read questions like “Never have I ever been to jail.” If someone has done it, they will put their finger down. It is an excellent way to know one another. 

15. Rock paper scissor 

Start the game with a duel between the leader and a team member. Whoever wins the game can challenge the other members of the team. And it will continue till the final winner emerges. 

16. What are you thankful for? 

It can be played before thanksgiving or as a morale booster. Ask people to mention what they are grateful for and if they want to thank someone from the team. 

Display the submissions on the screen and let everyone know who wrote what. It is an excellent way to bond. 

17. Guess the desk 

You can know your colleague better by looking at their home workstation. Collect pictures from your colleagues of their home desks and develop a slide. Now ask the team members to guess whose desk it is. 

18. Virtual wine tasting 

Even if you’re far away from one another, you don’t need to give up an old wine or beer-tasting event. Of course, it will be tough. Just pick a brand or type and ask everyone to buy it. Then you can begin tasting on a zoom call for a great team bonding experience. 

19. Binging shows 

Working from home has enhanced people’s ability to binge-watch. So, you can use this to your benefit. Ask your team members to recommend a movie, show, or documentary that everyone should see. And discuss it later. 

20. Riddles 

Riddles are more straightforward and an excellent way to keep the mental charts high. Ask funny and brainstorming riddles and see who can answer the most. 

21. Storytime 

You can make funny stories which this team. Every person should share three lines, and the next person shall continue. Imagine how funny the story would turn out to be. 

22. Fortunately/ unfortunately 

Mention something fortunate and unfortunate that has happened to you lately. Share your experience with others. It is an excellent opportunity to know the good and bad things that have occurred with your teammates. 

Icebreaker questions for team meetings 

Icebreaker questions can be a great way to start a team meeting. They can help team members get to know each other better and create a relaxed atmosphere.  

Here are a few examples 

 1. “If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?”  

This question can reveal a lot about a person’s interests and values. 

2. “What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever visited?”  

This can lead to fascinating stories and discussions about travel. 

3. “What’s one thing about you that would surprise most people?”  

This question encourages team members to share something unique about themselves. 

Remember, the goal is to ask open-ended questions that are light-hearted, and enjoyable questions. 

How to make the most of icebreakers? 

If you have a big team working remotely, it is essential to plan accordingly. It will ensure that every member participates rather than some watching silently from their screens. Here are a few things to consider to make the most of your zoom icebreakers: 

1. Always play simple 

Make it as simple as possible so that more and more people can participate. Do not include complex preparations of pros and focus on trivia, guessing games, or personal opinions. You can perform icebreakers without working out a lot. For instance, try asking the members to select a zoom background of a country on their travel bucket list. 

2. Understand the objective of the game 

Whether it is a new game or reorganization, it is essential to identify the goal of the activity. A few instances of icebreaker goals involve developing higher collaboration, learning about each other deeply, and boosting team engagement. 

3. Start light 

The next step is to ensure every participant has a positive experience. Icebreakers work well when they are practiced with a fair question which is simpler to answer. 

4. Appoint a zoom manager for icebreaker games 

It is good to appoint a person to virtual zoom icebreaker games. You can choose a person who can responsibly pick a game, conduct sessions, and share the needed information with members. It is recommended for small and big teams. 

5. Conduct poll sessions 

When you conduct polls for feedback, you find out about the interest of everyone and narrow down the type of activity your team will love. It will ensure higher engagement, increase the chance for everyone to join these sessions, and boost the fun. 

6. Take time and team size into consideration 

It is essential to ensure that you choose a suitable icebreaker game for Zoom. It is crucial to assess the size of your team as things may not go as decided during the game. Plan those activities which are suitable depending on your team size. Sometimes the budget is limited, so it is suggested to go for free resources. 

How Empuls can help with ice breakers for meetings 

Empuls by Xoxoday is designed to transform employee engagement—and that includes energizing your meetings. Here's how Empuls supports your team-building efforts through ice breakers: 

1. Pre-built icebreaker templates 

Empuls offers a suite of pre-designed, ready-to-use icebreaker templates for virtual and hybrid meetings—perfect for managers looking to engage distributed teams without extra prep. 

2. Polls, quizzes & challenges 

With Empuls, you can run live polls, trivia quizzes, or quick challenges that double as icebreakers. These tools are fun, easy to launch, and excellent for sparking interaction at the start of meetings. 

3. Social intranet features 

Empuls’ community wall and shout-out features allow teammates to share personal wins, weekend highlights, or fun facts—natural ways to kick off meetings with a personal touch. 

4. Analytics on engagement 

Measure what works. With built-in analytics, Empuls shows you which icebreakers spark the most interaction, helping you fine-tune for future sessions. 

5. Celebrations and recognitions 

Use Empuls to start meetings with recognitions, such as employee birthdays, anniversaries, or kudos, fostering a culture of appreciation right from the get-go. 

Empuls makes it easy to add meaningful, fun, and effective icebreaker moments into your meetings. With tools for polls, quizzes, social interactions, and real-time feedback, Empuls empowers teams to connect deeply—no matter where they are. 

Looking to energize your next meeting? Start with an icebreaker—and let Empuls do the rest. 

Conclusion 

Icebreakers, when used effectively, can greatly enhance collaboration, morale, and creativity in meetings—whether you're in the same room or scattered across time zones. The key lies in choosing the right format, being respectful of boundaries, and keeping things engaging without being disruptive.