How to Play This Icebreaker Game
- 1Divide everyone into smaller groups of 3-4 people.
- 2Challenge each group to find three things they all have in common, excluding obvious things like 'we work here'.
- 3Give them 5-10 minutes to chat.
- 4Bring everyone back to the main group and have each breakout room share their three commonalities.
Variations
Visual Things in Common: Players must find 3 physical items they all have with them (e.g., a black pen, a watch, a receipt).
Deep Dive: Challenge groups to find things in common that are 'deep' (e.g., fears, dreams, childhood memories) rather than surface level.
Speed Round: Give groups only 2-3 minutes to find their 3 things in common to ramp up the energy.
Theme Constraint: 'Three things about your weekend' or 'three work tools you all use'.
Competitive Mode: Teams race to find the most unique commonalities—winning team presents.
Facilitator Guide
Opening Script:
In groups of 3–4, find three non‑obvious commonalities. Skip surface items like ‘we work here’. Be concrete.
Closing Script:
What prompts uncovered deeper overlaps? Save them for future intros or buddy programs.
Why This Works
Why this icebreaker game works: Finding things in common creates immediate psychological safety and 'similarity-attraction' bonds. It forces players to move past superficial small talk (weather, traffic) and discover genuine shared experiences or traits.
Best For
Ideal icebreaker situations for this game include:
- Onboarding cohorts
- Cross‑team mixers
- Breakout sessions
Important Notes
- Define ‘non‑obvious’ up front
- Rotate a note‑taker so all voices are heard
- Allow skips to maintain comfort
Ideas & Prompts
Quick Discovery Prompts
A place you've traveled to that surprised you
A hobby you picked up in the last 5 years
Your go-to comfort food
A book or show you've rewatched/reread
A skill you wish you had
Your morning routine essential
A podcast or YouTube channel you follow
Your favorite way to unwind after work
A place you'd live if you could live anywhere
Your preferred work environment (music/quiet/cafe)
A childhood memory that shaped you
Your favorite season and why
A hidden talent or party trick
Your coffee/tea order (or go-to drink)
A celebrity you'd want to have dinner with
Work & Career Topics
First job you ever had
Best career advice you've received
Your favorite project you've worked on
A work tool you can't live without
Your productivity hack
How you prefer to receive feedback
A professional goal for this year
Your ideal work schedule
A skill you're currently learning
Your favorite thing about your current role
Deeper Connection Topics
A value you won't compromise on
A cause you care deeply about
A defining moment in your life
Something you're grateful for today
A fear you've overcome
A risk you're glad you took
A lesson you learned the hard way
Something you've changed your mind about
A person who influenced your path
A tradition you maintain
Fun & Lighthearted
Your guilty pleasure TV show
A food you refused to try until recently
Your karaoke song
A weird habit you have
Your phone's most-used app
A celebrity lookalike people say you have
Your go-to emoji
A conspiracy theory you half-believe
Your Hogwarts house / Zodiac sign / Enneagram
A meme that describes your life right now
Can wiggle your ears
Have no tattoos
Have won a contest or lottery
Dislike sleeping with socks
Can cook a full meal
Game FAQ
What if we can't find anything in common?
Don't give up! Use our list of 50+ prompts. The best connections are often hidden in details like "loves cilantro" or "afraid of spiders."
What if we can't find anything in common?
Don't give up! Use our list of 50+ prompts. The best connections are often hidden in details like "loves cilantro" or "afraid of spiders."
What counts as "non-obvious"?
Skip visible things (hair color) or known facts (we work here). Dig deeper into hobbies, childhood memories, or weird habits.
What counts as "non-obvious"?
Skip visible things (hair color) or known facts (we work here). Dig deeper into hobbies, childhood memories, or weird habits.
How to play virtually?
Use Breakout Rooms in Zoom or Teams. Groups of 3-4 work best. Bring everyone back to share their most surprising match.
How to play virtually?
Use Breakout Rooms in Zoom or Teams. Groups of 3-4 work best. Bring everyone back to share their most surprising match.
