A roundup of recommended icebreakers for college students
An icebreaker refers to simple activities or games designed to ease tension among participants, shorten the emotional distance between them, and facilitate smooth communication.
They’re especially effective in situations where people are meeting for the first time.
If you’re a university student, you’ve probably encountered them in first classes, group work, club activities, or even during job hunting.
In this article, we’ll introduce a range of easy icebreakers that help people get closer to one another.
We’ve focused on activities based on self-introductions and fun games that progress through mutual communication, so pick the ones that fit the situation where you want to use an icebreaker.
- [For University Students] A Roundup of Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- [Self-Introduction & Games] Icebreaker Ideas Collection
- Icebreaker Ideas and Games Collection
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for college students
- Fun games recommended for making friends with people you’ve just met
- Break the ice with intros and team battles! Party games to spice up your welcome event
- A roundup of recommended personality tests for icebreakers
- Games to Liven Up the Freshers’ Welcome Party
- A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
- [In a Short Time] Icebreakers and Fun Games That Shine at Morning Meetings
Recommended Icebreakers for College Students (31–40)
Runaway Trolley and Workers
A consensus game themed on a thought experiment proposed in 1967 by British philosopher Philippa Foot.
There are multiple workers on a railway track, and unless something is done, a major accident will occur; if you flip a switch, you sacrifice one person to save many lives.
Should you flip the switch, or leave things as they are? The key is first to consider the dilemma individually, then to reach a single conclusion as a group.
Because differences in positions and values become clear, it’s a compelling topic that sparks lively discussion.
The Runaway Trolley, the Worker, and the Fat Man
A further variation on the trolley problem is the scenario where you could stop the trolley by pushing a fat man standing beside the tracks.
If you push him, many lives would be saved, but you must make the decision to directly sacrifice that person.
The choices are simple, yet they question the value of life and the ethics of actions.
In group discussions, opinions tend to split between prioritizing outcomes and prioritizing the action itself, leading to heated debate.
It’s an idea that allows classmates to delve deeply into their individual values through discussion.
Survivors
A consensus game where you consider what decisions you would make to survive when suddenly faced with a disaster.
The theme is the real-life crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, inspired by the film “Alive.” Participants take on the role of a survivor and discuss how to respond to Roberto’s proposed actions, as well as how to overcome limited food supplies and the extreme cold.
Through discussion, players experience cooperation and differing values in a crisis, and because it tests a team’s ability to consolidate opinions and make judgments, it makes for an engaging, educational activity in schools and training programs.
It’s a theme that lets you enjoy the critical choices and viewpoints at key moments.
Escape from the Desert
This is a consensus game with the scenario: your plane has made an emergency landing in a desert where only cacti grow.
You have 12 items, such as a flashlight, a compass, a plastic rain poncho, and an aerial photo map.
Rank these items in order of importance.
First, think individually, then discuss within your group.
Consider detailed conditions—like temperatures exceeding 40°C and the nearest settlement being over 100 km away—as you work toward the optimal solution.
Captain’s Decision
Consensus is a word that means “agreement.” There are many possible situations, but in a consensus game you face a particular challenge.
In this case, while you’re at sea, visibility becomes poor, and by the time you spot another ship’s silhouette, a collision is already unavoidable.
As the captain, you must address the given items in the optimal order.
Your group discusses and decides that order.
At the end, you compare the model answer with your group’s answer and calculate the rank difference for each item.
The group with the lowest total difference wins.
Summary of Recommended Icebreakers for College Students (41–50)
Invisible Invaders
This content discusses whether, in a situation where a virus is spreading, families should gather and stay at home or go to work to make a living.
The focus is on how to address the contradiction that prioritizing safety reduces income, while attending school or working in offices increases the risk of infection.
Each member has different positions and opinions—such as the desire to protect children and the elderly and the sense of responsibility to support the economy—leading to a clash of values.
Through speaking, participants not only express their own views but also develop the ability to understand others’ thinking.
If the discussion is held in class, it becomes a deeply educational theme that allows students to simulate the challenges faced by society as a whole.
Getting lost in snowy mountains
You all joined a tour to see the aurora.
However, the plane you were on crashed due to a geomagnetic storm.
The crash site is in snowy mountains, and the nearest town is as far as 32 kilometers away.
The pilots have died, and the plane has sunk to the bottom of a lake, so you have no choice but to make your way on your own.
Besides cold-weather clothing, you only have 10 items.
To survive, discuss as a group and rank the items from most to least important.
The time limit is 30 minutes; when time is up, present your ranking.
When giving opinions about the ranking, be sure to explain your reasons, and when making decisions, reach a consensus—an agreement among everyone.