Fun games recommended for making friends with people you’ve just met
There are plenty of times when you meet people for the first time, like at a new workplace or a school you’ve just entered.
Many people wonder how to get along with someone they’ve just met.
In this article, we’ll introduce games that help you become friendly with people you meet for the first time.
We’ve gathered a variety of games, including ones where you form teams and cooperate to clear challenges, and others where you open up about yourselves while having fun.
Try incorporating them at your company, school, or any other gathering where you meet new people!
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
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- [For Adults] Fun recreational games. Perfect for short breaks too!
Fun games to help you hit it off with someone you’ve just met (1–10)
Helium ring
Helium Ring is a game where the whole team lowers a hula hoop to the ground while keeping it balanced on everyone’s fingertips.
There’s a rule that you must not let your fingers leave the hoop, so the key is to cooperate with your teammates.
Once everyone’s fingers are supporting the hoop, lift it up to chest height.
Then slowly move the hoop downward until it reaches the ground.
If the speed or timing is off, fingers will come away from the hoop, so communicate and coordinate as you play.
It’s also a competitive game, so it’s fun to race against other teams to see who can finish faster.
Chanbara Battle – War IKUSA –
Chanbara Battle – IKUSA – is a game inspired by traditional sword-fighting chanbara.
Players wield foam swords and try to knock off the balls attached to opponents’ shoulders.
It’s highly competitive and enjoyable as a sport, making it perfect for deepening connections with new colleagues or classmates.
You can enjoy individual matches or switch to team battles by assigning different colors to each team.
As the heated clashes unfold, teammates naturally grow closer.
Give this sport a try to experience a taste of traditional Japanese culture.
paper tower
Paper Tower is a game where teams compete to build the tallest stack using the paper provided.
Its simple rule—make the tower as high as possible—makes teamwork essential.
Before the game starts, take some strategy time.
Discuss how to stack the paper high, and assign roles such as stackers, cutters, and folders.
The key is to divide tasks in advance.
To prevent your assembled tower from collapsing, the whole team must coordinate and work in sync.
Try this highly competitive game where calm, precise actions determine victory.
Fun, recommended games to break the ice with people you’ve just met (11–20)
Gesture Game
A gesture game where players split into a clue-giver and guessers, and the clue-giver expresses the prompt using only gestures.
It’s a widely loved game, ranging from classic themes like animals and celebrities to more challenging topics.
Because you get to enjoy the clue-giver’s unique movements, guessers can’t help but laugh, which helps bring everyone closer.
It’s recommended to take turns as the clue-giver and adjust the difficulty of the prompts.
Precisely because no voices are allowed, the effort to communicate draws attention.
Give this game a try for easy, casual communication—even with people you’re meeting for the first time.
One word
One-Word, often used in improv, is a game where all participants each add a single word, collaborating to complete a story.
Because you read out words that fit into a single utterance, it’s best not to overthink and just respond.
You can enjoy unpredictable developments—stories may veer in unexpected directions or turn out moving.
Working with people you’ve just met also lets you feel the fun and joy of cooperation.
It’s a game that can be enjoyed widely, from short stories to epic tales.
Lie or Truth Game
A lie-or-truth game where you find the fake story among three episodes.
Since each player can do it while introducing themselves, it’s perfect for meeting new people.
After the self-introductions and three episode talks are finished, think about which story is the lie.
Ask each other questions to uncover episodes that seem thin on details or show a lack of knowledge.
Finally, after the questions, say which episode you think is the lie.
It’s a game that brings people closer by talking about real things while thinking about the other person.
Fruits Basket
Fruit Basket is often incorporated in educational and childcare settings.
While it’s a familiar game for school events and play, it’s also great for team building at companies.
Participants sit on chairs arranged in a circle, and one person stands in the middle as “it.” When the person who’s “it” calls out the name of a fruit, the players seated whose fruit is called get up and move.
The person who fails to find a seat becomes “it,” and the next round begins.
With the cue “Fruit Basket!” everyone moves at once, making it a lively game.
It’s also fun to add variations, such as replacing the fruits with roles from a company or school.