get-to-know-you-games

17 Get to Know You Games to Try this Year

When it comes to some fun get to know you games for breaking the ice and enjoying each other’s company, there are 17 classic get to know you games you can try as ice breakers for team buildings or for making new friends.

In fact, there is a view that today’s electronic society has hindered such things as face-to-face human communication and the ability to relate to people in real life. Thus, there is a real need for these special-purpose “icebreaker” games for large groups or for team building activities to help facilitate communications and good times.

The common criteria for icebreaker games are linked to a view that all sharing should be fun, non-threatening, very interactive, simple, and easy to play and results-oriented. At the same time, the location for such activities should always be in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere with members wearing comfortable clothing and someone chosen to lead the group. Meanwhile, the facilitator or leader should always be concise and clear when sharing details of these 17 get to know you games with easy to follow directions.

Best Get to Know You Games to Play Right Now

At the end of the day, the view about games to help break the ice and get to know another person is they are great “facilitation exercises.” This is the view of longtime counselors and life coaches who commonly present these games to warm a group up to the idea of socialization and simply getting to know each other. It is all about “collaborative” communication, said a counselor sharing ideas on a social networking website. For this reason, such communication games and activities are suitable for many age categories and many interests. Adapted to specific situations, these games can help people overcome shyness, learn more about the others, and even build self-confidence. Here are some examples!

  • Most youth group icebreakers – in the form of questions, get to know your games, activities, etc. have the purpose of bringing the young ones together, develop a sense of belonging to a group, and help them become more open to making new friends.
  • There is also a great variety of similar games adapted to young children and meant to take kids out of their shells and unify the group.
  • Those who feel shy and dread the very idea of putting their hearts or minds on the table for other people to see can always get their inspiration from online dating icebreakers and get to know you games. Alternatively, put your gears in motion by reading these 75+ questions to ask a girl when you want to get to know her better.

17 Get to Know You Games for Everybody to Try

The common focus for each of the following 17 icebreaker facilitation game includes sharing such things as hobbies, interests, personal data and even one’s dreams.

Introduction Icebreakers

This is one of the most common ways and means for people wanting to know one another. The game is often used by human resources when helping new employees get accumulated about their co-workers and supervisors. The game begins when people are gathered in a room or around a table. A moderator kicks things off by introducing themselves and then asking others in the group to do likewise. The flow can go to the right or left; while the idea is to simply go around the room and share something personal after an introduction that includes one’s name, job title, family history, and personal interests. Now with the social isolation and distancing issues, one can only ask how can we all get to know each other since we have to keep our distance. Nothing easier, in fact, as virtual meeting icebreakers are a common thing, especially in multinational companies. You just have to adapt them to your own working environment.

Team Building

There is a longstanding point of view in the US military that an organization is only as strong as the members of its team. Thus, there is a lot of emphasis on military basic training for team building exercises that also serve as dandy icebreakers for new members of a team or group. A typical team-building exercise first involves members of a group being divided up into teams. The teams are then given tasks to build trust, aid group dynamics, and communication while also developing ways and means to work best together.

20 Questions

There is a fun party game called “20 Questions” that literally involves asking members of a group this long list of questions as a way and means for others to get to know you. For example, a member of a group is asked a series of questions that focus on the who, what, when, where, how, and why? The response to each question results in more personal data shared for greater group sharing and understanding, says counseling professionals commenting online. If you want to take a step further, you can always go for a “Never have I ever” game. Still, limit yourself to the fun and laidback questions without getting too personal with people you don’t know!

Party Icebreaker Fun

This popular party game has often been used by counselors as a sort of “fun” icebreaker. The idea is to create questions that get people to laugh and then converse freely. The party questions are always somewhat personal but not too personal. For instance, a party member is asked about their favorite or not so favorite blind date experience. The questions should enlist a somewhat humorous response; while also being opened ended so the person can elaborate on the subject. If you want inspiration for this, take a look at the “Never have I ever” game questions. Alternatively, get some inspiration from some classic “Truth or Dare” questions. With the amendment that you should never get intrusive or personal with people you barely know.

Tasks Presented as Icebreaker Games

This tasks focused icebreaker technique is often used in elementary and middle/ high school to help new students get into the flow of the classroom or subject being studied and discussed. The student or individual is asked to perform some tasks so as to not only talk about something but to “show” it as well. It is one of those “don’t tell me, show me” sort of challenges that involve questions being asked and tasks being performed to satisfy the challenge. For example, a member of a group is asked to tell a story about their recent summer vacation using images drawn on a blackboard or even a piece of paper. The idea is to get the individual involved in some activity that helps communicate something personal about themselves. This is a great challenge for teens you can try this summer, as there is no improper time to boost communication skills, self-confidence, and mutual trust for the young generation.

Interviews

This game is linked to what reporters do for a living when they interview someone for news or feature story data. The aim is to get someone to open up about themselves by simply asking them a series of questions: when did you move here? What is your favorite color and why? What are your life dreams? Just make sure no question sounds like a third-degree police interrogation. And don’t tap into personal issues people are not ready to talk about yet!

Truth or Lie

There is always a very “human” need to keep certain details from family and friends. This is especially true, say most mental health experts, when people are placed in a group of strangers. The result is something that is trending online called “Truth or Lie.” The goal is to share a “truth” and a “lie” with a group so as to inform and entertain. The participants can also make several statements and then ask the group what they think is true or untrue? In turn, the true and false answers are later revealed during a fun and casual sharing meeting. If you want to get some inspiration for truth and secrets’ sharing, some “Truth or Dare” classic questions may help you start on the right foot.

My Little Known Fact

This game is popular with young people and seniors who have some “fun” or little known fact that they share in a group setting. For children, it is all about some “awesome” experience or something they discovered that is just too fun to keep to oneself. At the same time, this fun fact is a great tool when it comes to opening up a group to also share other fun stuff. There are many Baby Boomer and senior groups that often use “My Little Known Fact” as a way and means of bonding about an aging or health issue, or some data about retirement that might benefit the group.

Bounce the Ball

This game features a facilitator who gathers people in a circle where a ball is bounced from one person to another; while the game is to share something personal when the ball bounces your way. This bounce the ball game is also a great team-building exercise because it challenges each member to be creative while discussing something that will personalize each member to the group. A ball is bounced to a member of a group who is asked to share his or her views on why such and such will win during the next bowling or basketball tournament. The fun and icebreaking perks of this game are all about group involvement because each person is tasked with either bouncing the ball or receiving the ball with some question or response. The overall goal is to simply get people to share stuff when prompted to do so.

The Spider Web Challenge

The game features a leader or facilitator who uses a ball of yarn as a way and means to create a physical “spider web,” while the game is to toss the ball of yarn from one group member to another. The game gets interesting when there is this massive spider web of yarn string that has “connected” each member of a group as ONE; while the sharing is the aim. As the ball of yarn is passed, each person must share some detail of their life. The result, after playing for about an hour, is a huge connected string of yarn that is now linked to lots and lots of personal tidbits that otherwise might not have been shared. This is one of the best icebreaking games for adults, as it is both a physical fun challenge and a way to communicate information in a lighthearted manner.

The Relationship Game

This game, as the name implies, is all about one’s personal relationships. It can be about one’s brother or sister, or longtime partner or best friend. The aim is to learn something about an individual based on their personal family or friendship relationships. Meanwhile, there is a longstanding point of view that relationships between two people or a group have the makings for lots and lots in very human and interesting details that can go a long way in making people happy or more open about themselves. For more inspiration, take a look at the best Newlywed Game questions to get the conversation going!

The Guessing Game

The best icebreaker games involve a question and an answer; while the classic “guessing game” has long been used by parents, educators and employers to help build group dynamics. In fact, the act of guessing something about another person is one fun way to literally “break the ice” because one is placed in a position to reveal their own values or ideas when posing a question about something. For instance, a good guess would be “are you married?” The response will be either yes or no; while it is the details of the answer that help the group when it comes to really get to know another individual.

What My Eyes Can See

This is a classic technique and a very human “game” that we all play when viewing something about another person. While it may prove embarrassing to say, “I see you are wearing that old red jacket,” the plus of “what my eye can see” as a fun icebreaker game is to simply acknowledge that someone is doing or wearing something that you question for whatever reasons. Meanwhile, it is the act of asking a question during this game that results in needed community group sharing.

What My Ears Can Hear

This is another aspect of a classic get-to-know-you technique that addresses what an individual says or shares with a group; while the aim is to offer feedback questions about what was heard. The act of listening is in play during this game that allows members of a group to really focus on what someone is saying and why.

The Story Game

This is another relationship game that is designed to enlist stories about one’s personal history, life goals or just to tell a very human story. A story is how ancient people communicated; while children and adults always enjoy a good story as the best way and means to get to know someone or something.

He Said/She Said

This game is played with males and females because there are very clear differences in the sexes when sharing details about one’s life experiences. The goal is to have a male tell a story about some event happening today, and then asking a female in the group to add to that story or tell a related tale. The idea is to share how men and women, boys and girls, may have a different take on things; while the results are always fun and helpful when it comes to knowing what others think and feel.

The Game of Life

This is a simple group relationship game or exercise where members each share their life stories as an effort to help build group dynamics through common life experiences.

Get to Know You Question Ideas

  • Which would you rather do: wash dishes, mow the lawn, clean the bathroom, or vacuum the house?
  • What two radio stations do you listen to in the car the most?
  • What did you want to be when you were a kid?
  • Which is your child’s proudest accomplishment?
  • How and where did you meet your best friend?
  • If you could go back in time to change one thing, what would it be?
  • In the evening, would you rather play a game, visit a relative, watch a movie, or read?
  • How old were you when you learned Santa wasn’t real? How did you find out?
  • What was your favorite toy when you were in kindergarten?
  • Which superhero did you like the most from DC or Marvel when you were in middle school?
  • How did you choose your current career path and what do you like most about it right now?
  • Did you have a VHS player when growing up or were you born too late and only grew up with a DVD player?
  • Would you rather go to the beach or to a snowy mountain for your ideal vacation trip?
  • If you were the ruler of your own country, what would be the first law you would introduce?
  • Are you related or distantly related to anyone famous?
  • If your hometown was a food, what food would it be?
  • What fictional television family is your real-life family most similar to?
  • What one story about your childhood best explains the person you are today?
  • If you could change the ending of any famous movie, which movie would it be? What would your new ending be?
  • What’s the weirdest thing in your parents’ or your grandparents’ home?
  • Have you ever been to another continent? If not, which continent would you like to visit and why?

Final Thoughts on Get to Know You Games

Overall, there has never been a better time to help others hooked into a machine to “unplug” for a bit to enjoy sharing personal information with others in games that help people get to know each other. Make sure you check out our big list of icebreaker games, questions, and activities to help you with your next group facilitation.

Remember that get to know you games – played as a company team-building activity – boost productivity, encourage communication, and build trust among team members. They are also amazing instruments to get kids and teens to open up, especially if they are shy. Some other excellent true-and-tested get to know you games are the “Movie Pitch,” the “Foodie,” or the “Logo Love.” You can play them during the social isolation and stay-at-home period this year or you can adapt them for a fun day in the backyard with your kids and their friends. Needless to say, if you pick the right ones, you can get to know better a new date or a potential love interest! Have fun!

3 replies
  1. Kim
    Kim says:

    I am looking for ways to introduce the kids in my new 12 year old Sunday School class to one another. This gave me lots of great ideas. Thanks so much.

    Reply

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