We’ve all been there—the start of a Zoom meeting where the silence feels heavy, and everyone hesitates to speak first.

This awkward start can drag down the mood and create a sluggish tone for the rest of the call. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

A simple, fun icebreaker can lift the energy, get people talking, and help the remote team members feel connected from the start.

Why not try something different before your next Zoom call? 

In this article, we’ll explore how icebreakers work, give you 150 fun examples, and explain why Braid’s games are the perfect icebreaker solution for your Zoom meetings.

What Are Virtual Icebreakers?

Virtual icebreakers are designed to overcome the challenges of connecting in a virtual setting, where face-to-face interactions are replaced with digital tools.

These activities replace awkward silences with fun, lighthearted moments, getting everyone ready to participate and collaborate.

Teams use icebreakers to create a relaxed atmosphere where conversations flow naturally. From quick questions to interactive games, they encourage connection and set a positive tone for the meeting ahead.

Icebreaker Ideas to Energize Your Virtual Meetings

Kick off your meetings with vibrant and engaging activities that bring your team together. The icebreakers are designed to uplift your team and create a collaborative, upbeat meeting atmosphere.

Explore these ideas to find the perfect fit for your next virtual meeting:

Quick Questions

Looking to spark engaging conversations? These quick questions are perfect for getting your team talking and sharing in no time:

1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
2. What’s your favorite childhood memory?
3. If you had a time machine, what year would you visit?
4. What’s a skill or hobby you’d love to learn?
5. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
6. If you could trade lives with anyone for a day, who would it be?
7. What’s the most recent show or movie you’ve binge-watched?
8. If you could instantly master any instrument, which one would it be?
9. What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about you?
10. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Interactive Activities

Want to inject some energy into your meetings? These interactive activities encourage creativity and foster connection in fresh ways:

11. Virtual Scavenger Hunt: Ask participants to find items around their home (e.g., something red, a favorite mug).
12. Two Truths and a Lie: Share two truths and one lie, then have others guess the lie.
13. Pictionary: Use a virtual whiteboard or drawing app for a guessing game.
14. Guess the Sound: Play sound clips and have participants guess what they are.
15. Charades: Act out phrases, movies, or books, and let others guess.
16. Name That Tune: Play a snippet of a song and see who can guess the title.
17. Would You Rather: Pose fun dilemmas like “Beach or Mountains?”
18. Emoji Check-In: Share an emoji that best represents how you feel about the day ahead.
19. Caption This: Share a funny image and let participants create captions.
20. Trivia Quiz: Host a short trivia session on pop culture, history, or team-related topics.

Team-Building Challenges

Ready to build stronger team bonds? Team-building challenges inspire collaboration and creativity while bringing meaningful connections:

21. Virtual Escape Room: Solve puzzles as a team to escape a digital “room.”
22. Team Storytime: Start a story, and each participant adds a line to continue it.
23. Hot Takes: Share a “hot take” (controversial opinion) and discuss it.
24. Bucket List Swap: Have each participant share one item from their bucket list.
25. Solve a Riddle: Present a logic puzzle and work together to find the answer.
26. Team Vision Board: Create a virtual board of shared team goals and aspirations.
27. Collaborative Drawing: Use a virtual whiteboard and have participants contribute to a team drawing.
28. Speed Networking: Use breakout rooms to pair participants for short, timed chats.
29. What’s in Common?: Find three things participants have in common in small groups.
30. Team Trivia: Create trivia questions based on team or company facts.

Themed Icebreakers

If you need a fun twist for your meetings, themed icebreakers add a burst of creativity and seasonal joy to your team interactions:

31. Holiday-themed: Ask about favorite holiday traditions or memories.
32. Team Playlist Creation: Have everyone suggest one song for a shared playlist.
33. Favorite Memes: Share a favorite meme and explain why it’s funny.
34. Dream Vacation: Describe your dream destination and why you’d go there.
35. Guess the Desk: Share photos of desks, and participants guess whose it is.
36. Caption the GIF: Share a random GIF and let participants create captions.
37. Throwback Photos: Show childhood photos and have the team guess who’s in them.
38. Seasonal Check-Ins: “What’s your favorite thing about [current season]?”
39. Guess the Logo: Share snippets of logos and have participants guess the brand.
40. What’s Your Superpower?: Describe a unique skill or talent as a “superpower.”

Icebreakers for Large Teams

Hosting a big meeting? These icebreakers are designed to keep everyone engaged and connected, no matter the group size:

41. Word Cloud Polls: Use a tool like Mentimeter to create a live Word Cloud.
42. Lightning Rounds: Ask rapid-fire questions with quick answers.
43. Shout-Out Circle: Let participants give a shout-out to someone on the team.
44. Trivia Bingo: Create bingo cards with trivia clues related to team members.
45. Group Voting Games: Let the team vote on fun topics like “Best Movie Villain.”
46. Pet Introductions: Have participants introduce their pets on camera.
47. Random Fact Share: Share an interesting fact about yourself.
48. Virtual Dance-Off: Play music and let the team show off their moves.
49. Favorite Quotes: Share quotes that inspire or resonate with you.
50. Team Memory Sharing: Recall and share funny or meaningful team memories.

Another fun icebreaker you can try out is playing Slack games. These activities are quick, fun, and bring a new level of interactivity to virtual meetings.

Let’s discover how these games can make team bonding even better.

Why Slack Games Are the Perfect Virtual Icebreakers

Traditional icebreakers are great for setting the tone, but Slack games bring a whole new level of interactivity and engagement to your meetings.

Designed for digital workspaces, these games create a fun and inclusive environment where teams can bond before diving into the agenda.

Slack games stand out as virtual icebreakers because they:

• Encourage active participation - Games get everyone involved, making it easier for other team members to contribute during the meeting.

• Lift team morale - A lighthearted activity sets a relaxed tone, which helps the team feel more connected and motivated.

• Strengthen team connections - Collaborative games build trust and understanding among team members.

• Support collaboration - A connected team shares ideas more effectively and works together seamlessly.

• Quick and accessible - Slack games are easy to set up, require no additional tools, and fit perfectly into pre-meeting routines.

Starting with a Slack game helps replace awkward silences and sluggish starts with laughter and interaction, making sure your team is energized and ready when the Zoom call begins.

These games aren’t just fun—they’re a strategic way to build energy, engagement, and team-building that carry through the entire meeting.

How to Get Started with Slack Games for Your Team

More than being just a messaging tool, Slack is a dynamic space where teams can connect, collaborate, and have fun.

With the right app, Slack becomes a hub for engaging activities that energize your team before meetings.

One standout solution is Braid, a Slack app designed to bring laughter, connection, and creativity into your workspace.

Braid makes it easy to warm up your team with interactive games that fit perfectly into the moments before your Zoom meetings.

Here’s how to get started with Braid:

Add Braid to Your Slack Workspace

• Head to Braid’s website and click the “Add to Slack” button.

• Follow the prompts to authorize the app, and it will seamlessly integrate into your workspace.

Explore and Start a Game

• Open Slack and type /braid to access a list of available games.

• Choose a game, select your channel, and invite your team to join in the fun.

With just a few clicks, Slack transforms into a playful and engaging space, helping your team bond before hopping on Zoom.

Whether it’s racing to type the fastest message or solving a creative puzzle, Braid ensures your team starts the meeting energized and connected.

Once you’ve set up Braid, the fun begins!

Must-Try Icebreaker Games to Kickstart Your Meetings

Ready to bring your team together like never before? These Slack games from Braid are designed to make every meeting start with energy, laughter, and collaboration.  

Here are some must-try games your team will love:

1. Wordsmith – Test Your Vocabulary Skills Together!

Wordsmith puts your team’s word skills to the test.

Using a set of seven letters, players work together to create as many words as possible.

Longer words score higher, and forming a word with all seven letters earns a bonus.

What you need:

• A Slack workspace with Braid installed.

• At least 2 players (4 or more works best).

• A set time limit for the game.

How to start:

1. Open Slack and select the Wordsmith game in Braid.

2. Pick the channel where the game will be played.

3. Set the number of teams and the time limit.

4. Start the game, and each team receives their letters in a private message.

Fun factor:

This game thrives on collaboration and quick thinking. It sparks creativity as players race to find words and strategize for the bonus.

The quick nature of the game keeps the energy high, making it a great way to get the team talking and laughing before the meeting begins.

2. Typing Test – Who Has the Fastest Fingers?

Typing Test adds excitement and competition to your team’s warm-up.

Players race to type a provided text with both speed and accuracy, earning points for their performance.

What you need:

• A Slack workspace with Braid installed.

• At least 1 player (works well for small or large teams).

• A willingness to test your typing skills under pressure.

How to start:

1. Open Slack and select the Typing Test game in Braid.

2. Pick the channel where the game will be played.

3. Start the game to receive the text prompt.

4. Players type the text as quickly and accurately as possible and submit their entries.

Fun factor:

This game is all about energy and competition. It gets hearts racing as players compete for the title of fastest typist.

The combination of speed and accuracy creates a lively atmosphere, and the leaderboard adds an extra layer of excitement.

It’s a great way to wake everyone up and get the conversation flowing before the meeting.

3. Picture Puzzle – Solve the Visual Riddle!

Picture Puzzle challenges your team to think creatively and solve a riddle based on a visual clue. It’s a fun and interactive way to get everyone’s brains working.

What you need:

• A Slack workspace with Braid installed.

• At least 2 players.

• A competitive spirit and sharp thinking.

How to start:

1. Open Slack and select the Picture Puzzle game in Braid.

2. Pick the channel where the game will be played.

3. Start the game to receive a picture and a category hint.

4. Players guess the word or phrase represented by the picture.

Fun factor:

This fun game encourages creativity and problem-solving.

Teams love the “aha!” moments when someone cracks the riddle, and the hint adds just enough challenge to keep it exciting.

Picture Puzzle creates a shared sense of accomplishment and laughter, which makes it the perfect activity to energize the group.

4. Word Link – Keep the Chain Going!

Word Link tests your team’s vocabulary and quick thinking as players take turns creating words that start with the last letter of the previous word.

What you need:

• A Slack workspace with Braid installed.

• At least 2 players (up to 10 works well).

• A set number of turns or time limit.

How to start:

1. Open Slack and select the Word Link game in Braid.

2. Pick the channel where the game will be played.

3. Set the number of turns or a time limit for the game.

4. Start the game, and players take turns adding words to the chain.

Fun factor:

Word Link is a mix of strategy and creativity.

The game creates moments of laughter as players get stuck with tricky letters, and the competitive edge keeps everyone engaged.

It’s simple, fun, and perfect for getting the team in a collaborative mindset.

5. This or That – Make the Tough Choices!

This or That sparks conversations and laughter as players choose between two options, like “Ice cream or Candy?” or “Instagram or TikTok?”

What you need:

• A Slack workspace with Braid installed.

• At least 2 players.

• A few minutes for lighthearted fun.

How to start:

1. Open Slack and select the This or That game in Braid.

2. Pick the channel where the game will be played.

3. Start the game to receive a series of fun “this or that” questions.

4. Players make their selections and compare answers in the thread.

Fun factor:

This game is quick, easy, and great for sparking conversations.

The quirky prompts get everyone talking and sharing opinions, which helps the team feel more connected. 

It’s perfect for breaking the ice and setting a relaxed tone for the meeting.

How to Choose the Right Virtual Icebreaker

After exploring Braid’s fun and interactive games, selecting the right one for your team is key to starting your meeting strong. The right icebreaker sparks engagement, builds connections, and sets a positive tone for the rest of the call.

Consider your team’s personalities and comfort levels. A game like This or That works well for lighthearted conversations, while Wordsmith and Picture Puzzle encourage team members to collaborate and think creatively during more dynamic sessions.

Match the energy of the meeting. For quick check-ins, try a fast-paced game like Typing Test. If you want to boost teamwork, Picture Puzzle or Word Link can get everyone working together and laughing.

Think about the time available. Braid’s games fit into a 5–10-minute window, keeping the meeting on track while energizing the team. Their simple rules make it easy for everyone to participate without hesitation.

With the right game, you can create the perfect mood, helping your team connect and engage before diving into the agenda. Braid’s games make this process seamless and fun.

What Not to Do During Icebreakers

Even the best icebreakers can lose their impact if they’re not executed well. To ensure your team enjoys and benefits from the activity, it’s important to avoid these common mistakes:

Overcomplicating the Activity

Icebreakers should be simple and easy to follow. Complicated rules or elaborate setups can confuse participants and take the fun out of the experience.

Choose straightforward activities like Braid’s Slack games, which require minimal preparation and are ready to play instantly.

Choosing Games That Don’t Match the Team’s Energy Level

Every team has its own rhythm, and selecting an activity that doesn’t align with it can backfire. A low-energy activity might bore an excited group, while a high-energy game could overwhelm a tired team.

Pay attention to the team’s mood and meeting context—games like This or That work well for a quick warm-up, while Wordsmith is ideal for teams looking to collaborate.

Taking Up Too Much Meeting Time

Icebreakers should enhance the meeting, not overshadow it. Spending more than 5–10 minutes on an activity can derail the agenda and frustrate participants.

Opt for concise options like Typing Test to keep the energy high without cutting into valuable meeting time.

Start Your Zoom Meetings with Laughter Using Braid!

Setting the right tone for your Zoom meetings is easier when you begin with energy and connection. Braid’s games are the perfect way to warm up your team before the virtual meeting even starts.

Whether it’s collaborating in Wordsmith or sparking laughter with This or That, these games make it simple to break the ice and get everyone engaged.

Don’t let awkward silences slow your team down. Hop into Slack before your next Zoom meeting, play a quick game with Braid, and watch your team connect and collaborate effortlessly.

FAQs About Icebreakers for Zoom Meetings

What is a good icebreaker question for a Zoom meeting?

A good icebreaker question sparks conversation and allows participants to share something fun or personal. Examples include:

• “If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?”

• “What’s the most unusual job you’ve ever had?”

• “What’s a movie or book you’ve recently enjoyed?”

Questions like these help break the ice and get everyone talking.

What are the 4 C's icebreakers?

The 4 C’s of Zoom icebreakers focus on Connection, Collaboration, Communication, and Creativity. These elements ensure the activity builds relationships, encourages teamwork, and promotes engagement. Examples include virtual icebreaker games like Braid’s Wordsmith for creativity and Word Link for collaboration.

What is the best icebreaker for virtual meetings?

The best icebreaker depends on your remote teams and meeting goals. For quick laughs, Braid’s This or That is a great choice. For team collaboration, Wordsmith works well to bring people together. Braid offers a variety of Slack-based games that fit different team dynamics and needs.

How do you start a Zoom meeting in a fun way?

Begin with an activity that gets each team member engaged before the agenda. Hop into Slack and play Braid’s Typing Test to energize your virtual team. For variety, use breakout rooms for smaller group interactions, try a virtual scavenger hunt to get everyone moving, or incorporate a virtual whiteboard for a visual, interactive icebreaker.

How can a virtual escape room help new team members?

A virtual escape room helps new team members feel included by creating an interactive space for collaboration and conversation. It breaks down barriers and allows participants to connect in a fun, low-pressure environment.