Icebreaker ideas for large groups you can use in Zoom meetings
Many companies likely make use of icebreakers in a variety of situations.
I’m sure there are also many people who feel more nervous than usual when they’re online.
That said, icebreakers for remote work can be tricky…
For those who feel that way, here are some online icebreakers you can do that are fun even with large groups.
Since we’re talking about large groups, we’ve focused on options that don’t require any materials.
These should help everyone loosen up and relax!
- Recreation activities that large groups can enjoy on Zoom
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- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
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- A collection of icebreakers you can enjoy with a small group
- A roundup of recommended icebreakers for college students
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
- [Self-Introduction & Games] Icebreaker Ideas Collection
- [For Elementary School Students] A Collection of Games and Activities You Can Enjoy on Zoom
Large-group icebreaker ideas for use in Zoom meetings (1–10)
Word Wolf
Do you know the game “Word Wolf”? In this game, everyone is given a topic—a word—and they discuss it.
However, one person, or a small minority, receives a word that is similar but different.
The goal is to identify who is talking about the different word.
For example, if the main topic is “sea” and the minority is given “river,” you try to find the person talking about rivers—the minority.
Since being too explicit about the topic might reveal that you’re in the minority, strategic bluffing and subtlety are important in this game.
Gesture Game
A classic recreation activity: the gesture (charades) game.
It’s a game where you don’t speak and communicate only through gestures, and others guess the answer—how about trying it on an online screen? Even those who feel shy about gesturing might find it easier to participate online.
If you have a large group, splitting into teams and competing could be fun too.
Make sure your gestures fit fully on the screen! (lol)
GOOD & NEW
Let me introduce an icebreaker called “GOOD & NEW” that will lift your spirits and make you feel refreshed.
As the name suggests, this icebreaker involves taking turns, within a set time, to share something good or happy that happened recently, or something new you discovered.
If the time is too long, people might get nervous, so about 30 seconds to 1 minute per person is probably just right.
Listening to others’ happy moments and new insights can make you feel happy too, right?
Puzzle solving
Working together as a team to do or achieve something not only gives you a sense of accomplishment afterward, but it should also strengthen teamwork and lead to better outcomes.
How about uniting as a team and tackling a puzzle together? Just chatting without a set topic can be tricky online—conversations can drift, and people may not know when or how to speak up.
But with a puzzle to solve, everyone tends to get absorbed and ideas start flowing.
And that feeling of accomplishment when you finish is really satisfying.
First Impressions Game
An icebreaker called the “First Impressions Game” that you can use in many situations: when you’re meeting someone for the first time on the spot, when you’ve met a few times but only through a screen, or when you’ve known someone for a long time but never talked because they’re in another department.
For example, person A briefly announces their first impression of person B.
Only A, who wrote it, knows they’re talking about B.
Everyone else guesses whose first impression is being described.
It’s a game that gets lively with unexpected first impressions.