You found our list of fun connection games and activities!
Connection games are activities meant to encourage interactions and help build bonds among players. Examples games include personal trivia, photo challenges, and mingle Bingo. The purpose of these exercises is to make it easier for folks in large or distanced groups to get to know each other and form relationships.
These activities are similar to icebreaker games and energizer games, and work well for virtual conferences or virtual orientation weeks.
This list includes:
- picture connection games
- connection activities for adults
- connection games for students
- group connection activities
Here we go!
List of connection games
Here is a list of connection game ideas to spark communication and establish common ground.
1. Mingle Bingo
Mingle Bingo is one of the easiest ways to spark conversations and foster connections among large groups. You can play the game in person or on a video call. Simply give each group a Bingo card, and then send the teams into breakout rooms or separate areas of the room to chat.
The goal of the game is to uncover facts about group members during the course of conversation. Upon finding a team member that matches the description in the square, players mark the name in the box.
The first player to get five consecutive boxes wins. However you can continue the game and encourage teams to connect as many lines as possible. You could even play Blackout Bingo and challenge participants to mark every box on the board.
We made an example card you can use for your game:
Check out our guide to remote Team Building Bingo and this one on icebreaker Bingo for adults.
2. The Chain
The Chain is a game that links players through common bonds. To start the game, the first player in line makes a statement. Another player that relates to the statement becomes the next link in the chain. For example, if the speaker says, “I have climbed a mountain,” then the next link in the chain must be another participant who has scaled a mountain.
Traditionally, the game is played in the same room, and players race across the space to physically link arms with the speaker. However, you can play this game during video calls by using the hand raise feature. The first player to virtually raise their hand joins the chain, and you can place their name or photo on the handy template we made below:
The game continues until all players are part of the chain.
3. Group Word Association
Group Word Association is one of the best word connection games. A speaker rattles off a list of words, and participants share the first word that comes to mind. Players can either answer by typing in the chat, or can write answers on a piece of paper. Each round, pause for a moment to look at the responses, and note which players had identical answers. This game reveals which teammates’ minds work in similar ways.
You can use a random word generator to come up with prompts for the game.
Check out more vocabulary games.
4. Icebreaker Races
Icebreakers races get teams talking quickly. You can either send attendees to breakout rooms, or, if your group is small, then remain in the main Zoom room. Next, put five minutes on the clock, and work through a list of icebreaker questions. You can only move to the next question once every participant has answered. The aim of the game is to answer as many questions as possible in the time frame. The team gains one point for each question with a unanimous response. If you are short even one reply for a question, then the team receives no points.
This exercise prevents overthinking and encourages equal participation from all team members. When the timer runs out, you can take an extra couple of minutes to discuss some of the more interesting answers.
Check out our master list of icebreaker questions.
5. Common Bonds
Common Bonds is one of the simplest connection games for groups. To play this game, send groups into breakout rooms for three to five minutes. Each team must find one trait that all room attendees have in common. When groups return to the main room, teams take turns sharing their common bonds. If time allows, then you can play multiple rounds by randomizing the breakout rooms to reconfigure the teams.
6. This or That?
This or That is a game of personal preferences. Participants must choose between two related options. Since the game moves quickly and involves many questions, participants are sure to discover many similarities between themselves and other players.
Here are a few example prompts:
- Morning or evening?
- Cats or dogs?
- Coffee or cocktails?
- Pizza or Chinese?
- Rent or own?
- Beaches or woods?
- Kids or pets?
- Night in or night out?
- Introvert or extrovert?
- Cooking or takeout?
- Spending or saving?
- Talking or listening?
- Movies or TV?
- Bright colors or pastels?
- Inside or outside?
- Relaxation or adventure?
- Text or phone call?
- Sweet or savory?
- Planning or improvising?
- Messy or clean?
To play on virtual meeting software like Zoom, you can use the polling software or ask players to respond by using emoji reactions.
Check out our full list of This or That questions.
7. Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever is a game that reveals the extent of group members’ experiences. There are a couple of different ways to play the game via video call. Players can either go the traditional route by holding up ten fingers and lowering one every time a statement applies, or participants can start each round with their webcams on and stop video if they have never performed the named action.
Here is a list of starter prompts:
- Learned to ride a bike
- Traveled abroad
- Been married
- Had children
- Owned a reptile
- Had a twin
- Been mistaken for a celebrity
- Visited the west coast
- Been on a blind date
- Won a contest
- Built a piece of furniture
- Started a business
- Launched a website
- Hosted a podcast
- Dressed up as a dinosaur
Feel free to pause throughout the game and permit players to elaborate through stories. It can also be fun to target certain players you know well by picking very specific prompts.
Check out more question games.
8. Personal Trivia
Personal Trivia is a quiz game centered around players’ details. To generate questions for the game, send teammates a survey or form to fill out.
Example prompts include:
- What is your favorite food?
- What is your favorite movie?
- Where is the best place you ever traveled?
- What is one special talent you have?
- What is a fact most teammates do not know about you?
Using this data, create a tailored trivia game that tests players on their knowledge of teammates or their people-reading skills.
We recommend using Kahoot as your trivia platform. First, create the quiz. Then, invite participants to join the game during the call by providing a room code. Players will answer via mobile devices, and will receive four multiple choice options per question. You can put players’ names or pictures as the answer choices. Kahoot awards points based on the speed and accuracy of responses, and names a winner at the end of the game.
Other ways to play trivia include asking questions outloud and having players respond by typing in the chat or virtually raising their hands, or sending teams to breakout rooms to discuss and submit group guesses.
Check out our guide to virtual trivia.
9. No One, Everyone
No One, Everyone is a simple game. Each player takes a turn naming one action they believe everyone in the group has done, and one behavior they suspect no one else in the group has done.
For example:
Everyone ate breakfast this morning. No one bumped into Bill Murray at an ATM.
Or
Everyone answered emails today. No one went scuba diving off the coast of Australia.
Other players either nod their heads yes or shake their heads no. If no, then other participants must guess which statement is false, and the dissenting player can elaborate with a story.
The game can reveal some surprising similarities and differences. For example, that there are three sets of triplets within the company, or that not every player knows the words to The Wheels on the Bus.
10. Photo Challenge
Photo challenges are picture connection games that ask players to share pictures based on prompts. The game leader calls for certain types of photos, and players respond by uploading pictures to an album, dropping files into the chat, or setting the picture as a virtual background during a video call.
Here are some example prompts:
- Christmas
- Prom
- School
- Vacation
- Wedding
- Halloween
- Comfort food
- Birthday cake
- Adventure
- Beach
- Pets
Players can enjoy viewing each other’s photos and noticing similarities and differences between the scenes.
11. Polly
Polly is a Slack and Microsoft Teams app that can facilitate connection between remote teammates. The app delivers customizable polls that participants can answer with a single click of a button. Players can answer existing polls or send new questions to teammates. Polly is customizable, meaning you can create personalized quizzes with questions like “how tall are you?” or “what is your favorite workday snack?” By responding to polls and viewing results, group members can learn more about each other and discover similarities or unique features of coworkers. You can also use Polly to play games like Trivia or Hot Takes.
Learn more about Polly and check out more Slack apps and Slack games.
12. Habits and Hacks
Habits and Hacks is an activity that involves teammates giving each other suggestions to try out. Each week, team members give each other recommendations. Every member of the team can contribute one suggestion per week, or you can assign teammates weeks to take turns giving assignments.
Examples of suggestions may include:
- Start the morning with a one minute meditation
- Set a reminder to take water breaks
- Try this recipe for veggie lasagna
- Listen to the new Fiona Apple album
- Do a funny walk every time you get a snack
Suggestions can be silly or serious. We recommend giving participants a few different options to choose from. At the end of the week, the group gets together to share results and discuss outcomes.
13. Group Playlists
Group playlists are one of the most fun connection activities for remote workers. To kick off the exercise, create a playlist on Spotify or Youtube and encourage each participant to add a song or two. The playlists can have themes like “Productivity Power Hour,” “Rainy Day,” or “High School Memories,” or you can ask participants to simply submit tunes they like.
You can either ask teammates to add songs directly to the playlist, or gather recommendations via form or email thread. Once the list is complete, share the playlist with the group by sending a link. To turn the activity into a game, challenge listeners to guess which group member submitted each song.
This activity helps folks get to know each other, as well as discover music and score a new work soundtrack.
14. Two Truths and a Lie
Two Truths and a Lie is one of the most popular connection games for students and coworkers. This exercise is a staple at orientations and team building events. The game asks participants to share two facts and one fiction with the group. Other players must then decide which claim is false. Telling the difference between reality and make-believe can be surprisingly difficult. Participants leave the game with a better understanding of their peers, along with fun facts and entertaining stories.
Most folks play the game out loud. However, you could also post statements in a Slack thread and ask players to vote via emoji. TeamBuilding uses Two Truths and a Lie as part of our company directory. Each staff member creates a card on a Trello board that contains a picture, description of the teammate’s role within the company, along with two true tidbits and one total fabrication.
15. People Passports
People Passports turn interactions into achievements. To create your passports, dedicate a page to each employee. The passport can either be on paper or digital. Next, give every employee or student a copy, and set a time frame to complete the activity, for instance, two weeks. You can fill the pages with questions such as, “number of siblings?” or, “strangest food combination ever tried?” Questions can be unique for each participant or standard for all, or you can leave pages blank and ask that players come up with their own questions to ask.
Players receive a stamp in their People Passports every time they speak to another participant. Each player has a unique stamp, sticker, or digital badge to give other players. At the end of the game, participants can turn in completed passports for a prize, or can keep a copy to use as a reference.
16. Speed Dating
Speed Dating is a series of coffee chats on overdrive. During this activity, participants are paired up for short two to three minute talks. When time is up, players move on to the next conversation partner. You can host this activity in person or virtually. If playing in person, then one partner switches seats every few minutes. If playing virtually, then a moderator posts new lists of pairings in a Slack channel every few minutes, and players direct message or video call each other.
These activities are an extreme version of virtual coffee breaks, which you can also hold at a more leisurely pace to foster connections between remote participants.
17. Person to Person
Person to Person is an in-person icebreaker game for large groups. Players gather in the middle of the room. An emcee shouts out a list of commands, such as elbow to elbow, finger to finger, or back to back. Participants find a partner and touch the aforementioned body parts. When the emcee shouts, “person to person,” the pairs turn to face each other and share three personal facts.
The pairs then split, players find a new partner, and the process repeats. The bodily contact breaks down barriers and eliminates jitters, and the speed of the game encourages players to share information without overthinking. Because the activity moves so quickly, participants are able to meet and learn about many other folks in a short amount of time.
Final Thoughts
In an era of technology and constant hustle, genuinely connecting with other human beings can be a struggle. When gathering in large groups, starting conversations can seem intimidating. It is often difficult to capture and maintain attention amidst the distractions of modern life. Connection games ease the friction of interaction and make it easy to discover common ground and share meaningful information in a short amount of time. These activities can be the first step to launching new relationships, or just a fun way to pass the time.
Next, check out this list of Google Meet games, and these games to play on Zoom.
We also have a list of fun problem solving games and the best communication games to play.
Angela Robinson