How to Play This Icebreaker Game
- 1Split the group into two teams.
- 2One person from a team gets a word and must draw clues for their teammates to guess within a time limit.
- 3For in-person, use a whiteboard. For virtual, use the whiteboard feature in a video conferencing tool or a dedicated online Pictionary game.
- 4Teams earn points for correct guesses.
Materials Needed
- Whiteboard and markers
- or a digital whiteboard tool
Variations
Industry Edition: Use work-specific terms (APIs, sprint, stakeholder) for added fun and relevance.
Relay Race: Each team member adds 10 seconds to the drawing in relay style.
Silent Pictionary: Guessers mute themselves and only type guesses in chat.
One-Line Challenge: Drawer can only use one continuous line without lifting the marker.
Backwards Pictionary: Guessers describe what they want, and the drawer must follow instructions.
Speed Pictionary: 30-second rounds for quick energy bursts.
Team Pictionary Relay: Tag-team drawing where each person adds to the sketch.
Categories Only: Play with themed categories like movies, food, or work jargon.
Facilitator Guide
Opening Script:
Split into two teams. One drawer per round, 60 seconds on the clock. No letters or numbers—only drawings. Virtual teams, please open the shared whiteboard. Ready?
Closing Script:
Great rounds! Notice how minimal lines plus quick iteration helped. Carry that concise communication into our work.
Why This Works
Why this icebreaker game works: Visual constraints force concise clue-giving and collaborative sense‑making. Fast turns keep engagement high while letting quieter teammates contribute through drawing.
Best For
Ideal icebreaker situations for this game include:
- Creative warm‑ups
- Hybrid meetings
- Medium groups with light competition
Important Notes
- Use a work‑appropriate word list; avoid brand/IP or sensitive topics
- Mind accessibility: prefer bold lines/high contrast; describe aloud if needed
- Timebox guessing to keep pace (e.g., 60s)
Ideas & Prompts
Easy (Good for warm-up)
Sun
Tree
Cat
House
Car
Pizza
Book
Phone
Coffee
Star
Apple
Moon
Chair
Flower
Dog
Ball
Heart
Cloud
Fish
Hat
Umbrella
Bicycle
Camera
Guitar
Rainbow
Balloon
Door
Window
Key
Boat
Airplane
Train
Bus
Truck
Watch
Glasses
Pen
Pencil
Paper
Laptop
Mountain
River
Beach
Ocean
Forest
Island
Desert
Waterfall
Bridge
Castle
Medium (Good for competitive play)
Birthday party
Camping
Skateboard
Karaoke
Marathon
Podcast
Solar panel
Telescope
Yoga
Meditation
Sushi
Barbecue
Recycling
Graduation
Wedding
Halloween
Christmas
Fireworks
Concert
Museum
Library
Hospital
Airport
Restaurant
Grocery store
Gas station
Post office
Bank
Gym
Cinema
Surfing
Skiing
Hiking
Rock climbing
Scuba diving
Bungee jumping
Zip lining
Hot air balloon
Parasailing
Snowboarding
Ice skating
Rollerblading
Bowling
Archery
Fencing
Boxing
Wrestling
Gymnastics
Ballet
Breakdancing
Hip hop
Hard (For experienced players)
Cryptocurrency
Artificial intelligence
Virtual reality
Blockchain
Cloud computing
Machine learning
Augmented reality
Quantum computing
Cybersecurity
Internet of Things
Brainstorming session
Merger and acquisition
Supply chain
Quality assurance
User experience
Return on investment
Key performance indicator
Customer relationship management
Work-life balance
Remote work
Hybrid meeting
Video conference
Screen sharing
Breakout room
Poll
Existential crisis
Déjà vu
Procrastination
Multitasking
Nostalgia
Embarrassment
Jealousy
Anxiety
Euphoria
Disappointment
Anticipation
Relief
Bittersweet
Awkward silence
Second-hand embarrassment
Imposter syndrome
FOMO
Work & Tech (Perfect for office teams)
Sprint planning
Stand-up meeting
Code review
Bug fix
Deployment
Rollback
API
Database
Server
Cloud
DevOps
Agile
Scrum
Kanban
Backlog
Stakeholder
Deadline
Milestone
Deliverable
Roadmap
Budget
Invoice
Email overload
Slack notification
Zoom fatigue
Coffee break
Lunch meeting
Water cooler talk
Team building
Onboarding
Performance review
Promotion
Pop Culture & Entertainment
Streaming service
Binge-watching
Viral video
Meme
Social media
Influencer
Selfie
Hashtag
Like button
Subscribe
Podcast host
YouTube
TikTok
Instagram story
Twitter thread
Discord
Twitch stream
Gaming
Esports
Cosplay
Comic con
Fan fiction
Spoiler alert
Cliffhanger
Superhero
Zombie
Vampire
Alien
Robot
Dinosaur
Unicorn
Mermaid
Pirate Ship
Time Machine
Game FAQ
How do we make it fair for different skill levels?
Rotate drawers so everyone tries. Emphasize fun over winning—worst drawings often get the biggest laughs.
How do we make it fair for different skill levels?
Rotate drawers so everyone tries. Emphasize fun over winning—worst drawings often get the biggest laughs.
What tools work best for virtual?
Zoom whiteboard, Miro, or dedicated Pictionary sites like Skribbl.io. Test tech beforehand.
What tools work best for virtual?
Zoom whiteboard, Miro, or dedicated Pictionary sites like Skribbl.io. Test tech beforehand.
