When it comes to team building, there’s no shortage of activities and games that can help employees get to know each other and work together more effectively.
However, when you’re working with a large group, it can be challenging to find icebreakers in which everyone can participate.
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How do you choose the right activity for your group? And how do you make sure that everyone will be engaged and have a good time?
When you’re leading a large group, it’s important to get everyone comfortable with each other quickly. That way, you can maximize productivity and avoid any awkwardness. Large group icebreakers are a great way to do this and are especially well-suited for meetings, conferences, company workshops, and team building activities.
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We’ve put together a list of large group icebreakers that are perfect for getting employees to talk, bond, and be engaged. So whether you’re looking for team building icebreakers for new employees or ways to energize your team during a meeting, this list has you covered.
So, let’s check out the 25 best large group icebreakers for better team bonding!
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In-Person Icebreakers for Large Groups
1) Wild Goose Chase
Wild Goose Chase is an entertaining and invigorating in-person icebreaker for big groups where teams compete to find hidden items throughout the city. This game is perfect for getting people moving and conversing with one another, and it’s also a wonderful method to get everyone out of their shells and interact with one another. Additionally, this fun icebreaker for big groups may be quickly tailored to meet your group’s size and requirements.
2) Snack Time!
Kick-off your next meeting with a group trip to the office kitchen to grab a snack! This icebreaker will force all the meeting attendees to get a little exercise as you all caravan to the snack corner to grab a healthy treat to nibble on during your meeting. Plus, this icebreaker for large groups works wonders for virtual meetings as remote attendees simply need to stand up and waddle over to the kitchen. A great opportunity to shake some life into your body and give each employee a little caloric boost to take your meeting to new heights.
Pro-Tip: You can use a snack delivery service to supply your office with a bevy of healthy snack options. You can also work with a service like Caroo that offers curated employee care packages that are perfect for sending out to remote employees or attendees tuning in from home!
A Caroo snack box in action!
3) The Human Knot
The Human Knot is a classic icebreaker that is perfect for large groups. With this activity, teams will work together to untangle themselves from a human knot. This large group icebreaker idea is great for building team unity and cooperation as well as breaking the ice in a fun way. You can also incorporate this icebreaker into a large group team activity before a corporate event, retreat, or all-day conference. There really is no limit to the opportunities you can add this activity to your next meeting or work event.
4) Charity Bike Buildathon
Charity Bike Buildathon is the answer if you’re searching for a great icebreaker that will have participants contribute to a good cause. This large group icebreaker activity allows teams to build bicycles for children in need. It is a fantastic way to get employees and coworkers to collaborate for a noble purpose.
5) Happier Hour
This social activity is a great way for a slightly larger group to break the ice before a longer event, conference, or team bonding day. Unlike any happy hour you have ever been to, you and your colleagues will work with an engaging host who will lead you through a lively combination of improv games and comedy prompts, all the while learning essential communication tools that will strengthen your workplace relationships and address your mental health.
With Happier Hour you will bond with your team, laugh a little, and gear up for an event you will not soon forget. LOC also offers Laughter Workshops and Corporate Retreats.
6) Balloon Stomp
Courtesy of WayFM
This icebreaker for large groups is a lot of fun and will surely get team members moving and interacting with one another. All you need is a balloon for each person in the group. This game is perfect for any group size because it’s easy to set up and everyone can participate regardless of their fitness level. You can even work with a company like Outback Team Building which will plan and organize your entire event from start to finish.
7) Build your team flag
Building a team flag is a fun game that adds some extra team spirit to your large group! Plus, it’s a great way to motivate employees and build team cohesion. By working together to create something tangible, team members can develop a sense of pride and ownership in their team.
8) The Memory Game
To play the game, you’ll need a list of items for group members to remember. These can be anything from common objects to random facts. Once you have your list, have everyone stand in a circle and take turns saying an item on the list. The next person then has to say the previous item plus one additional item.
This continues until someone makes a mistake or forgets an item. If someone makes a mistake, they are out of the game. The last person standing is the winner! This large group icebreaker is fun and a good way to test everyone’s memory!
9) The Question Game
The game is simple: each person asks a question and the person who answers it must then ask another question. This continues until someone can’t think of a question to ask. These get-to-know-you icebreaker questions for large groups are perfect for sparking conversations and allowing participants to learn more about their coworkers.
This quick icebreaker activity can also be paired with other icebreaker games to get everyone in your group loosened up for the main event. You can also incorporate an icebreaker box or team building kit to gift to attendees to open during the icebreaker portion of your event.
10) The Name Game
The Name Game is a fantastic approach to teaching everyone else’s names and getting people to know each other better. Plus, it’s always good to brush up on your team’s name recognition skills. To play this fun game, have everyone in the group stand in a circle. Go around the circle and have each person say their name and an adjective that describes them (e.g., “I’m John and I’m outgoing.”). After everyone has introduced themselves, have the group try to remember as many names and adjectives as they can. Perfect as a hybrid team event where employees can bond over shared skills and interests without having to dedicate all day.
Bonus: Human Scavenger Hunt
Courtesy of Let’s Roam
Team members are given a list of random and specific items that they must find on other people in the room. For example, finding someone who has green eyes and asking them what their favorite animal is. The first person to complete the scavenger hunt wins! This scavenger hunt exercise is active, engaging, and will definitely break the ice!
Virtual Icebreakers for Large Groups
11) Virtual Taboo
Why settle for traditional team building exercises when you can have a ton of fun with Virtual Taboo? This online game is great for group bonding and generating laughs. The rules are simple – teams take turns guessing the word at the top of each card without using any of the related Taboo words listed underneath. The opposing team will be able to see these phrases to make sure no one is cheating. This zoom icebreaker for large groups is suitable for teams interested in an entertaining and light-hearted experience.
12) Virtual Pictionary
If you’re looking for a fun and interactive way to liven up your next team building event or large group gathering, look no further than Virtual Pictionary! This online drawing game is perfect for getting everyone involved and engaged, and it’s sure to get some laughs along the way. Players will be given Pictionary words to portray from a random word generator, and each correct guess will earn a point for their team. At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins.
13) Coworker Feud
Virtual Coworker Feud is a team building game that adds a new twist to the classic game show format. This interesting team building activity is perfect for large groups and can be easily adapted to any team size. Virtual Coworker Feud is a fantastic method to boost team morale and break the ice with new workers or members of your company.
14) Virtual Escape Room
Does your team have what it takes to solve the ultimate escape room challenge? Gather your employees and coworkers and put their problem-solving skills to the test with a virtual escape room experience. Employees have to work together to solve brainteaser puzzles and think outside the box to recover the stolen gems. This large group icebreaker activity increases employee engagement and stimulates employees’ creativity.
15) Virtual Charades
In this virtual charades game, participants will compete to see who can guess the most target words and phrases. With no talking allowed, players will have to get creative with their moves to communicate the clue to their teammates.
16) Virtual Trivia
Courtesy of Water Cooler Trivia
This game is a great virtual large group icebreaker for remote teams that want to have some friendly competition. Put together a list of trivia questions and run through multiple rounds. You can even base each round on a different theme to truly test your guests on their range of useless knowledge. You can even schedule the trivia in advance if creating the questions proves too time-consuming. They’ll arrive in your guests’ email inboxes and each one will be able to answer as your icebreaker gets underway!
17) Virtual Lunch Party
Virtual Lunch Party allows employees to bond and get to know each other without leaving the comfort of their own homes. To make things even better, each team member will receive an invitation with instructions and a secret promo code to choose any meal they want — customized to their preference. This is an effective large group icebreaker if you’re looking to connect with your team or simply want to enjoy a good meal!
18) Virtual Beach Staycation
This online team building adventure is a unique and fun way to get everyone out of their comfort zones and into the spirit of summer. Participants will compete against one another and share laughs while taking part in virtual staycation activities. The yacht captain will make sure everyone’s fully immersed in an unforgettable experience and a well-deserved vacation from work.
19) Virtual Magic & Mentalism Show
Add a little magic to your next team building event with Virtual Magic & Mentalism Show. Bring in a professional magician to perform an exclusive, interactive show via Zoom for your employees as well as wow them with impossible tricks and leave them laughing with hilarious icebreakers.
20) Summer Mixology Class
In this virtual cocktail-making class, participants will learn how to mix some delicious summer-inspired cocktails, learn about cocktail making, and practice mixology skills. This is a great class for those who want to learn more about mixology and impress their friends at their next get-together.
Take team building to the next level with the Happy Hour Box.
Hybrid Activities for Large Groups
21) Laughter Workshop
You’ve played trivia, tasted wine and possibly even baked bread with your teams, but you know what’s even more effective for helping people feel connected? Laughing together. Better still is a highly interactive laughter workshop run by professional, compassionate comedians who get even the most introverted in the room feeling a part of the group.
Using Improv games, stand up prompts and a legit physical warm-up, the Laughter On Call experience is a mind/body/spirit workout like no other. LOC started in the healthcare space helping people isolated by Alzheimer’s and remain passionate about mental wellness which they always address. While excited to run workshops in person, they are also still available for virtual and hybrid events.
22) Two Truths and a Lie
To play, each person in the group writes down two truths and one lie about themselves on a piece of paper. Then, everyone takes turns sharing their three statements in front of the group. The rest of the group has to guess which statement is the lie. This icebreaker is perfect for team building because it allows employees to learn new things about their coworkers and bond over shared interests or experiences. Plus, it’s just plain fun!
23) This or That
This icebreaker is an easy-to-set and entertaining hybrid activity for large groups. The point is to get to know coworkers better, and it’s similar to the game “Would You Rather?” in which participants must choose between two hypothetical scenarios. By playing the “This or That” game, you can learn a lot about your team’s preferences, dislikes, and sense of humor.
24) “What’s on your phone?”
“What’s on your phone?” is a popular ice-breaker for big groups. Hand your team a game card and tell players that they will have a set amount of time to go through their cell phones and find as many items from the game card as they can. The player with the most points wins.
25) Name That Tune
The Name That Tune game is a classic team building icebreaker that can be easily adapted to work with large groups. Teams of employees compete to see who can correctly identify the most songs in a timed competition. The team that correctly identifies the most songs in a set amount of time wins the game. Not only is this game a fun way to engage employees, but it also helps promote team bonding and build team morale.
Bonus: Meditation Class
By taking a meditation class, employees can learn how to focus their attention and improve their concentration. This can help them communicate more effectively with each other and work more efficiently as a team. In addition, meditation can help reduce stress levels, which can further improve team productivity. As such, taking a meditation class is an excellent way to build team trust and morale.
People Also Ask These Questions About Large Group Icebreakers
Q: What are some good icebreakers for large groups?
- A: Some good icebreakers for large groups include introductions (casual and formal), fun facts, common interests, and asking everyone to name one thing they’re looking forward to in the next week. You can also try riddles, trivia, or other games. The important thing is to get everyone interacting and having fun!
Q: What are the benefits of icebreakers for large groups?
- A: Icebreakers for large groups help participants get to know each other, break the ice, and create a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Additionally, icebreakers can help reduce anxiety, increase employee engagement and promote communication.
Q: What are some tips for leading a large group icebreaker?
- A: Some tips for leading a large group icebreaker include making sure everyone has a chance to participate, keeping the activities moving briskly, and ensuring everyone is engaged. Be encouraging and enthusiastic, vary the activities so that there’s something for everyone, and be prepared with a variety of materials and props if needed. Finally, modify the activities as needed to fit the group dynamics and have fun!
