Library of teambuilding games & icebreakers

How to play Restaurant pricing

“Price” is one of the four Ps of marketing, but is an often overlooked element. An exercise that helps your team to come up with a pricing strategy and see how it impacts overall revenue can be really helpful. This game takes about 45 minutes and you’ll need someone who is an Excel whiz to document the numbers portion. To begin, come up with a menu of items for your “restaurant”. You’ll also need an Excel or Google Sheet that has rows for each item, and columns to place cost of goods, price, number sold, and margin.

The goal of your group is to come up with pricing for each item that nets a great profit. However, they need to be realistic about things like the cost to make each item and how many people will buy it. If the price gets too high, they should plan to have less customers. This can start a great conversation on pricing strategy overall. How high does the price need to be before customers turn away? How low can you keep prices while still getting a decent margin? Using a template that has formulas built in means your team can just plug in different numbers to come up with several scenarios. This is a great way to drive home the point that even small price changes can make a big difference on the bottom line.

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Did you ever play this game on roadtrips as a kid? Capture some of that magic by playing it with your work pals. You can actually play this game anywhere, which makes it perfect for an office or conference room event.

How to play ABC game

However, since the game uses letters, you will need to make sure there are sufficient posters, papers, or other documentation around. To play, split the group into two or more teams.

The groups should have even numbers and also be relatively small - bigger groups make the game too easy and then it ends faster. Instruct every team to go around the space and find items that begin with the letters A - Z. For example, for “A”, someone might find a desk plate for “Adam”, for “B”, someone might see a “Suite B” sign, and for “C”, someone might find a paper that says “checklist” on it. The first team to run through the entire alphabet wins.

Kick off a healthier routine with run & recharge! Form an office running club and go for group runs after work to promote both physical and mental well-being. It’s a low-pressure way to get everyone moving, destress after a long day, and bond as a team.

This activity is perfect for boosting morale, increasing fitness, and recharging your mind—while enjoying the fresh air.

How to play:

• Set a regular time for post-work group runs.
• Run as a team, encouraging each other along the way.
• Track progress together and celebrate small fitness wins!

Birthday Line-up is a quick team-building activity that requires very little setup and no equipment. If it’s early in the morning and your team is drowsy, this is the perfect warm-up for the body and mind.

Great for: Problem-solving, decision-making, communication

Duration: 10 minutes

Players: 6-20

You’ll need: Nothing

How to play Birthday Line-up

Setup: Ask your group to form a line, standing shoulder to shoulder.

To play: When the timer starts, players must arrange themselves into order from the earliest birthday to the latest birthday (month and day only). Under normal circumstances, this would be a simple task, but there’s one problem: Players cannot speak. Instead, they can use only hand signals and body movements to communicate their birthday.

How to play What I admire most in others…

Yet another version of the most straightforward style of icebreaker, this one involves answering the question “What do you most admire in others?” In this way, you can find out what matters most to the people you work with, which makes for a much more pleasant and cooperative work environment. For example, if trust is most important to someone, then you’ll remember that doing what you say you will is crucial. If someone says being accountable is very admirable, then you know that you can count on them for help with projects.

How to host Creativity contest

If you really want to encourage creativity, pick a theme and ask everyone to make something related to it. There’s so many directions people can go in, which makes this extra fun! You may decide to give people supplies in advance or pick one type of material for them to use. If you have a large group, perhaps you want to take a team-based approach to increase collaboration and bonding. Allow everyone to come up with their own work of art, and have a panel of judges pick the one that is most creative.

How to play Word crush

There aren’t many people in the world who haven’t heard of the game Candy Crush. Word Crush is a video game crossover that uses a column-stacking system while challenging the player’s word-building skills.

Each person can play individually, or record high scores and go head-to-head with multiplayer. The game is available for Apple and Android, so download and share on a screen for a competitive, word-building challenge!

How to play:

Write down various safety-related terms (e.g., "fire drill," "first aid kit," "slippery floor") on slips of paper and place them in a container. Divide employees into teams, and have them take turns drawing a term and illustrating it on a whiteboard while their team guesses.

This quick team-building game combines creativity with learning, making it an enjoyable way to reinforce safety concepts. It breaks up the monotony of regular training sessions, and the abstract drawings often lead to plenty of laughs.

How to play Instant win games

Instant gratification is a powerful motivator for most people. If you want people to buy more of your product, try putting together a game where they can find out if they won or lost immediately. For example, having people scratch to win, spin a wheel, or pull a lever on a slot machine are all simple actions that could result in an exciting prize for your customers.

It can be as simple as a retail store putting together a wheel to spin that has various prizes or discounts attached, and asking each customer if they want to give it a whirl. If you put it near the front of your store, you may be surprised how many people stop in. Make sure to promote it (and the winners) on social media for even more traction.

You’ll need quick reactions if you want to stand a chance at winning this game! Ninja is a quick, light-hearted activity that’s great for energising your team.

Great for: Energising your team

Duration: 5-10 minutes

Players: 3-8

You’ll need: Nothing

How to play Ninja

Setup: Arrange your group in a circle, facing inwards, with about a metre distance between each player.

To play: The game starts when the players scream “ULTIMATE NINJAAA!” in unison. Upon hearing this, all players strike a dramatic, ninja-like pose. The first player then has two options: try to strike the hand of the player next to them, or make a movement (e.g. move their arm above their head). If a player attempts to strike your hand, you are allowed to evade the attack. If your dodge is successful, you must remain in the position you landed in until your next turn. If you are struck, you are eliminated from the game. The last person remaining is the winner and is awarded the coveted title of “Ultimate Ninja.”

How to play Budget balance

For all the math geeks out there! Give each participant a word problem describing an individual’s income and spending habits, such as regular bills and discretionary spending. Does the imaginary individual have a balanced budget? Or perhaps they have a serious spending problem. Who can figure it out first? This is a fun little math competition that can be done independently. Make sure to provide calculators.

Extreme rock, paper, scissors takes the traditional playground game to a new level. This time, Instead of battling it out in pairs, your employees will attempt to overthrow the competition in teams.

Great for: Energization

Duration: 10 minutes

You’ll need: Plastic hula hoops (approx. 15)

How to play:

• Lay the hoops in a line on the ground and leave a gap of 50cm between each one.
• Divide your group into two teams and position them at either end of the line of hoops.
• When you shout “Go!” one player from each team starts hopping through the hoops towards the opposition.
• When they meet in the middle, they play rock, paper, scissors.
• The loser exits the hoop and jogs back to their team. Meanwhile, the winner continues hopping forward towards the opposition and a player from the other team steps in to replace their fallen comrade.
• When the two players meet, they play rock, paper, scissors again.
• Play continues until a player reaches the opposing team’s starting hoop. The first team to land in their opponent's starting hoop wins.

How to play:

Similar to traditional charades, but with a creative twist. Instead of acting out specific words or phrases, participants must convey abstract concepts, emotions, or even entire stories through gestures and expressions.

Example: Team is given a well known, short story that they need to act out without using words.

Materials needed: None

Benefits:

• Emotional intelligence development: Take a deep dive into the vast ocean of human emotions. This game pushes your team's creativity to the limit as they express complex feelings through movement and nonverbal cues, making them emotional intelligence champions.
• Enhanced nonverbal empathy: Unlock the secrets of nonverbal communication and boost your team's ability to empathize with others. As they interpret and respond to their colleagues' charades, bonds will be formed and connections will be strengthened

In 3-question showdown, you’ve got a mission: mingle around the room and ask open-ended questions to get to know your teammates—fast. It’s speed-dating, but without the awkwardness, and way more about finding out who loves pineapple on pizza.

It’s a fun way to break the ice and discover fun facts about people you usually only see in meetings. Plus, who doesn’t love finding out who the office cat person is?

How to play:

• Mingle and ask each teammate three open-ended questions.
• Share fun facts you learned after the showdown.
• Walk away knowing way more about your coworkers (like who’s secretly a karaoke pro).

Silent signals is a fun, in-office game where players pass a series of mime gestures down a line, trying to keep the message intact. Think of it like a game of telephone but without speaking—just silent, exaggerated gestures that often get hilariously misunderstood along the way.

It’s a great way to get everyone laughing and focusing on non-verbal communication. Plus, the confusion at the end is always worth the effort!

How to play:

• The first person mimes a gesture to the next person.
• The mime gets passed down the line.
• The last person tries to guess what the original gesture was!

How to play Lego builders

If you have enough space to spread out a bit, try some lego construction. Give everyone the same set of lego pieces, and print out brief instructions for creating a certain project. Who can complete the project in under one minute?

How to play Suggestion box raffle

If you’re looking for ways to improve morale and enhance communication, try having everyone write down some thoughts. Many times, people don’t want to take the time to do so (or they’re nervous to share their real opinions). Incentivize idea-sharing by holding raffles on various entries. Have everyone write their idea, question, or discussion item down on a piece of paper and put them all in a box. Pick a few entries at random and hand out prizes accordingly.

Instructions:

1. Divide people into small groups representing different cultures or countries.
2. Encourage each group to share their cultural values, leadership practices, and challenges. Emphasize the importance of open-mindedness, respect, and active listening.
3. Allow time for each group to ask questions and learn from one another.
4. Encourage people to take note of key insights and learnings.

By diving into diverse cultures and sharing insights, this game unearths hidden gems of wisdom from around the world. Discover unique leadership practices, tackle cross-cultural challenges, and become a culturally savvy leader. Buckle up for a leadership journey that transcends borders and unlocks a treasure trove of intercultural leadership know-how.

How to play Emotional status

One person assigns an emotion to another person, and they must act out that emotion. You can choose the emotions off the cuff or write down several and tear them into little slips that you draw from. It’s extra fun if you choose more obscure emotions aside from the usual “anger”, “happy” - try “envious” or “in love”.

How to play Suddenly” story

This is a fun game that brings out lots of creativity and improves communication. Have your team sit in a circle and instruct everyone that they will get to share 3 sentences only. Choose a person to start, and they’ll share their 3 sentences. Once finished, they should say “suddenly!” and then the next person in the circle takes their turn.

This cycle continues until you reach the last person in the group, who should conclude the story. For a twist, you can have people make up a completely fictional story, or include real-world information to form a realistic narrative. This makes it amusing but also helps with overall story-telling, which is a key part of effective marketing

If your team members work with each other daily, they probably already have a good system of teamwork. However, crafting a relay activity can really amplify and broaden the way teams function together. A cross-team relay involves “handing off” completed stages of a larger project. Here’s how to set it up:

Set up:

Create teams of 5 or 6 members. Each team member needs one hypothetical role in a shared project. An example could be designing a product feature. Introduce or reinforce the concept of a “sprint,” which is extremely important to agile working. Use a timer for this “short sprint” period, where each person completes their segment, then “hands off” their work to the next member. After a few rounds, bring everyone together to review the finished product, and reflect on each step of the handover. The aim is for seamless collaboration between each handover.

Going back to the schoolyard days. This exercise is playful and gets people moving and communicating non-verbally.

How to play:

‍People start walking slowly around the yard or where the game takes place. A person in the crowd is designated to start moving, and the rest must follow suit. They let people meander for a while and then shout “freeze” randomly. A designated person in the group starts walking again, and other players follow suit; players that are last to move to leave the game.

The last person standing is the winner.

Materials you’ll need: Just your team and enough space

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

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!

How to play Pick The Plot

This is an easy activity that doesn’t require much, so it makes a nice addition to any team event. Start with a moderator that will narrate the plot of a movie. Players that are grouped into teams will listen and then try to guess which movie is being described. Just try to keep it a movie that’s safe for work!