The problem with most remote team icebreakers: they weren't designed for remote teams. They were designed for in-person workshops and retrofitted for video calls, and the gap shows.
A good remote team icebreaker needs to:
- Work without a facilitator controlling a physical space
- Generate real conversation, not just completed tasks
- Leave people feeling like they know each other better, not like they completed a corporate exercise
These 15 formats are organised by setup, group size and the kind of participation they invite. Run a short trial with your own team before choosing a regular activity.
Games for shared puzzles and conversation
1. Find the Imposter
Setup: 2 min | Players: 3–15, online or on one device | Per round: 10–15 min | Cost: Free
A short social deduction option for a group that enjoys giving clues and discussing a shared puzzle. Offer an alternative to colleagues who would rather not bluff.
Most players get the secret word. The Imposter does not receive that word, but can receive a hint when the host leaves hints enabled. Players give one-word clues. The Imposter listens and tries to blend in. Then everyone votes.
Why it works for remote teams:
- The discussion phase creates natural conversation between people who haven't spoken directly before
- An unexpected clue gives the group a concrete moment to discuss afterwards
- A speaking order gives each player a turn; the host should still make space for quieter and remote participants
- Rounds are short, allow time to explain and finish one round before planning another
How to run it: Open Find the Imposter, choose Online and create a private room. Under Categories, select Office Life for 40 familiar workplace words, such as Keyboard, Meeting room and Coffee machine. Leave only that category selected for an office theme, or add others everyone knows. Office Life works in standard online games and Pass & Play, rather than Undercover's separate word-pair pool.
Zoom or Discord setup: Join the same Zoom call or Discord voice channel, then paste the game invitation or room code into the call chat. Everyone uses their own game screen for private cards and votes; the call is for spoken clues and discussion. Keep screen sharing off for roles. If colleagues do not have Discord, use Zoom instead. Its guest and browser access depend on the host's settings; see Zoom's joining instructions. Already on Discord? Join an accessible voice channel. Test phone audio while switching to the game before starting.
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For a complete host checklist, group-size limits and a suggested 30-minute schedule, use the imposter game for teams guide. Keep secret cards off the shared call screen.
2. GeoGuessr, Where in the World?
Setup: 2 min | Players: 2–10 | Duration: 20–30 min | Cost: Check the publisher's current offer
Teams are dropped into a random Google Street View location and must figure out where in the world they are. Works as a team (everyone guesses together on the call) or competitively.
Why it works: Reveals geographic knowledge, sparks travel conversations, and creates a shared problem to solve together.
Best for: Teams with international members who bring different geographic knowledge.
3. Two Truths and a Lie (Structured Version)
Setup: 5 min | Players: 4–12 | Duration: 15–20 min | Cost: Free
Each person states two truths and one lie; others guess the lie. Works best structured: everyone submits via a shared Google Form before the session, and the host reads them anonymously.
Why it works: Anonymous format lets quieter team members participate fully. The personal facts generate follow-up conversations that continue after the icebreaker ends.
4. Jackbox, Quiplash or Fibbage
Setup: 5 min | Players: 3–8 | Duration: 20–30 min | Cost: Paid; depends on the game or bundle
One person screen-shares while others answer prompts on phones. Quiplash: funny answers judged by the group. Fibbage: spot the fake fact.
Why it works: Low pressure, high laughs, prompts generate genuine spontaneous humor.
Limitation: Requires screen sharing and one person to own the game.
5. Wavelength
Setup: 10 min | Players: 4–12 | Duration: 20–30 min | Cost: Depends on the version; check the official game
A clue-giver tries to get their team to guess where a concept falls on a spectrum (e.g., "Hot, Cold"). The discussion about where "Pineapple on pizza" sits on "Universally loved, Universally hated" is surprisingly revealing about how team members think.
Activities with more preparation
6. Virtual Escape Room
Setup: 10+ min | Duration: 45–60 min | Cost: Free to ~$30
Teams collaborate to solve puzzles. Many free browser-based versions exist. Best for problem-solving cultures, better as a follow-up for teams that already know each other, not as a first icebreaker.
7. Skribbl.io, Online Drawing
Setup: 2 min | Players: 2–12 | Duration: 15–20 min | Cost: Free
One player draws a word while others guess. The chaos of watching someone attempt "helicopter" under time pressure is reliably funny. Best for creative teams comfortable with moderate chaos.
8. Custom Kahoot Quiz
Setup: 20–30 min prep | Players: Check the selected plan's participant limit | Duration: 15–25 min | Cost: Free (basic)
Build a quiz about the company, the team, or general knowledge. Works for onboarding ("Who founded the company?") or culture-building. Generic Kahoot quizzes feel hollow, personalization is everything.
Shorter conversational options
9. Trivia Night (Generic)
Reliable but splits teams by knowledge level. Works better with categories curated to your team's interests.
10. Virtual Bingo
Background activity during long meetings, adds levity but not a primary icebreaker.
11. Show and Tell (Professional)
Each person shares one item from their workspace. Works once; repeating becomes awkward.
Formats to discuss before choosing
12. Optional coffee pairs
Offer a short paired chat with a prompt such as “What made your week easier?” Let people opt in and skip personal questions. Agree on a finish time; random pairings need not become compulsory meetings.
13. A small discovery
Replace an unexpected demand for a personal fun fact with an optional prompt: “Share a useful shortcut, book or place you discovered recently.” Allow an answer in chat and a pass. This works without game accounts or screen sharing.
14. Working-preference pairs
Ask people to choose between two ordinary preferences, such as a written agenda or a spoken introduction, and explain their choice if they want. Avoid personality labels or using the answers to assess colleagues. Keep the question about how to run this meeting.
15. One small win
Give each willing participant up to 30 seconds to share something that went well, at work or elsewhere. A short chat message counts too. With ten people, allow about five minutes plus the introduction. Thank the group and move on without ranking the answers.
The Structure That Actually Works
For a 30-minute remote team session:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0–5 min | Arrival, casual chat |
| 5–20 min | Find the Imposter (one round, then another if time allows) |
| 20–25 min | One structured question: "What's going better than expected on your current project?" |
| 25–30 min | Transition to meeting agenda |
Use the closing question only if the group wants to discuss work. Otherwise, ask whether they would choose this activity again and finish at the agreed time.
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Planning for 3–10 colleagues? Compare nine team building games for small groups by time, materials and remote setup before choosing your activity.
