Get to Know You Topics: 450+ Great Questions & Games

Get to Know You Topics to Talk About

Getting to know you questions are a simple way to help people feel comfortable, seen and connected, whether you’re welcoming a new class, onboarding volunteers, kicking off a team meeting, gathering family and friends or trying to keep a coffee date going when the banter runs out. They work for meeting someone for the first time and for going deeper with someone you already love.

If you only need a subject to start with, pick one of these topics. Each links to a ready list below.

Daily life and routines: mornings, the perfect Sunday, how someone recharges after a busy day. See first meetings and great questions.
Food and drink: comfort food, favorite breakfast, the weirdest thing someone has eaten. See questions by topic.
Movies, books, music and TV: what they’re reading, the album they could play forever, the show they binged embarrassingly fast.
Hobbies, skills and hidden talents: what they’re good at, what they’d love to learn, what they’d do if money and time were no object.
Travel and places: where they grew up, where they’d live if they could live anywhere, the last trip they took.
Family, friends and traditions: favorite family recipe, holiday traditions, the person they call first.
Work and school: first job, favorite subject, how they like to receive feedback. See team questions and questions for students.
Values, goals and memories: the rule they live by, what success means to them, what they’d tell their younger self. See deep questions.
Hypotheticals and silly what-ifs: superpowers, lottery wins, pirate ship names. See silly icebreakers and would you rather.
Seasons and holidays: birthdays, favorite holiday, New Year’s Eve plans. See New Year questions.

How to Ask Good Get to Know You Questions

Posing a thoughtful question shows that you’re personable and approachable, and that you actually want to know the other person. It also runs against habit: people devote roughly 30 to 40% of everyday speech to telling others about their own experiences, and asking questions can even make people like you more.

It still doesn’t come naturally to everyone. In a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, people tended to be pessimistic about how strangers would see them. But after completing tasks that had them talk to strangers, participants felt more comfortable and confident, and their expectations became more positive and more accurate. The more conversations you start, the easier the next one gets, and even a so-so chat usually gets a second chance because the other person appreciates that you reached out.

Quick tips for using these questions with a group

Start light to lower anxiety and warm people up, then move into deeper questions.
Match the moment. A first meeting needs different questions than a group that already knows each other.
Give people a choice. Let anyone skip a question that feels too personal.
Use structure. Pair the questions with a rotation, a small-group format or a sign-up so everyone gets a turn.
Pick the right format. Use a quick poll or multiple choice for this-or-that and yes-or-no questions so you hear from the whole room, and save open-ended answers for questions that take longer.
Leave room for discussion. Instead of hopping to the next question, ask why. Why don’t they like going out? Why do they love house parties? That’s where connections are built.
Make sure everyone has a voice, whether the group meets in person, virtually or in a hybrid setup.
Never judge the answers. Criticizing or joking about a response makes people stop sharing.
Don’t overdo it. A few good questions beat so many that the room gets overwhelmed.

Be curious and ask follow-ups

Curiosity is what keeps a conversation moving, and it makes you come across as engaged, receptive and thoughtful. Try follow-ups like these:

What exactly do you mean when you say [idea]?
Why do you think [situation] upset you?
How did you learn about [concept]?
Can you give me an example?
Can you tell me more about that experience?
How did you arrive at that conclusion?

What to avoid

Rapid-fire questions. No conversation should feel like an interrogation. Ask a couple of questions to find common ground, then let the chat carve its own path. Don’t be afraid of silence: a pause gives everyone a moment to reflect on what was said.
Yes-or-no questions. Closed questions get one-word answers and shut a conversation down. Open-ended ones let people reflect and give you more to work with.
Diving into personal beliefs without asking. Political and religious topics can get heated quickly, even among friends. If you’re unsure, ask whether they’re comfortable talking about it first.
Only asking questions. Share your own thoughts and stories too. If you never open up, the other person may feel you don’t want the connection as much as they do.

Listen and build your confidence

Practice active listening: listen to understand rather than to respond, make eye contact and use your body language to show you’re paying attention. To feel less hesitant, stop comparing yourself to the naturally charismatic friend, prepare a few questions before a meeting or date (jot them on your phone, think through possible answers and follow-ups, or practice with a friend) and use positive self-talk.

If social anxiety gets in the way, these nine habits help:

Preparation. Learn a little about the topic you plan to ask about.
Practice. Rehearse your questions alone or with a friend.
Breathing. Slow, deep breaths before and during the conversation calm your nervous system.
Positive visualization. Picture the conversation going well.
Mindfulness. Stay in the moment instead of worrying about how it will turn out.
Start small. Ask simple questions in low-pressure situations and work up from there.
Reflect on past successes. Remember the times it went fine.
Self-compassion. Many people feel anxious in social situations, and that’s okay.
Professional support. If anxiety interferes with daily life, talk to a mental health professional or a certified coach.

Easy Get to Know You Questions for First Meetings

These work for introductions, orientations and any moment when people don’t know each other yet. If you’re unsure what’s appropriate, stay with neutral topics like these: asking a new manager about their celebrity crush or their exes is a bad idea, while the same question can be fine with a best friend.

Icebreakers for first meetings

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?
Where would you live if you could live anywhere?
What’s your go-to comfort food?
What hobby do you enjoy most right now?
What’s one thing that always makes you laugh?
What’s your favorite movie or TV show?
What was your first job?
Are you more of a morning person or a night owl?
What’s your favorite holiday?
Do you prefer coffee or tea?

Conversation starters for someone new

How do you spend your free time?
What’s your favorite food?
Do you listen to any podcasts?
Have you heard of [a movie or TV show you enjoy]?
What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
Do you have any pets?
Do you have a favorite book?
What’s your favorite place to eat around [neighborhood]?
If you had to choose one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Would you rather explore the world or stay in one country?
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
What’s the funniest moment you’ve experienced?

You don’t have to open with a question at all. Share a piece of advice from a book you’re reading, mention a funny restaurant experience or comment on something around you. A personal anecdote gives the other person a jumping-off point to share their own view.

Questions you can ask anyone

What’s your latest guilty pleasure?
What was your favorite subject in school?
What’s your favorite season?
When was the last time you went to a concert?
What was your least favorite food as a kid?
Do you have a favorite childhood TV show or movie?
Do you have a favorite sport?
What’s the funniest joke you’ve ever heard?
What’s your biggest fear?

Great Get to Know You Questions

Once the small talk is done, these questions get people telling stories. Start with the lighter lists and save the personal ones for when the conversation is already flowing.

Questions to ask a new friend

What is your go-to outfit, and why?
Have you had your colors done (seasonal color analysis)? If so, what season are you?
What is your favorite thing about yourself?
What are you currently reading or looking forward to reading?
What’s your favorite podcast?
Do you have any tattoos?
What is your favorite part of your daily routine?
If you could only eat one food for breakfast for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If you had to move to another country, where would you choose?
Did you have a childhood nickname?
Do you like celebrity gossip?
What is your preferred creative outlet?
You have one whole day to pamper yourself. What do you do?
You have to choose five clothing items to wear for the rest of your life. What are they?
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Do you like sharing food?
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Do you have a favorite family tradition?
What is your preferred way to move your body?
What book do you wish you could read for the first time again?

Two new friends talking over coffee at a sunny cafe window table

Fun and lighthearted questions

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Would you rather vacation in Hawaii or Alaska?
What song do you know all the words to?
What’s your favorite fast food restaurant?
If you were an animal, which one would you be?
What’s the funniest thing that happened to you recently?
How many pillows do you sleep with?
Do you love or hate roller coasters?
What’s your favorite snack?
What’s your favorite game to play?

Fun questions for people you’ve gotten to know

At a work party, a community event or the first time you meet the in-laws, light questions make people laugh and loosen the tension.

What’s your favorite midnight snack?
If you could be friends with a fictional character, who would you choose?
What’s the best costume you’ve ever worn to a party?
What’s the best surprise you’ve ever received?
What’s the most embarrassing moment you’ve ever experienced?
If you could have any talent, what would you choose?
If you were stuck on a deserted island and had to choose one family member to be stuck with, who would it be?
If you had to be a character from a book, who would you be?
If you could live in any movie, which one would it be?
Who’s your favorite celebrity?
What’s your funniest relationship dealbreaker?

Personal questions for a deeper connection

Is there anything you dislike about your work life?
Do you have any pet peeves?
What was your dream job as a child?
If you could have dinner with anyone, who’s one person you’d pick?
Do you have a favorite childhood memory?
What’s the last thing that made you cry?
What’s your favorite season, and what does it remind you of?
What does a perfect day look like?
Do you have any hobbies?
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
If you had to teach a class on one thing, what would you teach?
If you could eliminate one thing from your daily routine, what would it be and why?
What would you like to be known or remembered for?
What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics?
What would you like to do when you retire?
What is the best perk you have ever enjoyed at a job?
What is your favorite time of the day and why?

Quirky questions

If you could hang out with any cartoon character, who would you choose and why?
If you could add a word to the dictionary, what would it be and what would it mean?
If you could meet any living person for dinner, who would you pick and why?
What is your most used emoji?
If you could bring back any fashion trend, what would it be?
If you had 25 hours a day, how would you spend the extra time?
If you had to delete all but three apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?
If you could pick up a new skill in an instant, what would it be and why?
Do you have a favorite charity you wish more people knew about?
What skill do you think everyone should have?
How would you change your life today if the average life expectancy were 400 years?

Get to Know You Questions for a First Date

A first date runs on easy, open questions that lead to stories. These keep things moving without getting too heavy too fast.

Where did you grow up?
What is your favorite local spot and why?
What does your perfect Sunday look like?
Do you have a favorite dish to cook?
Do you like spicy food?
Do you consider yourself religious or spiritual?
How do you like to recharge at the end of a busy day?
What is your astrological sign?
Do you have any pets? Or have you lost pets you’ve loved?
Do you have a morning beverage, and how do you take it?
What is something you think is totally underrated?
What is one thing on your bucket list?
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you want to go most?
Do you play any musical instruments?
What do you like to listen to when you’re in the car?
What would your dream vacation consist of?
Do you have any morning or evening rituals?
Are you allergic to anything?
Do you like to go camping?
What is the last show you watched and loved?

A couple talking across a diner booth on a date

Get to Know You Questions by Topic

Pick one topic and go around the circle, or pull one question from each.

Food and drink

If you were a vegetable, what vegetable would you be and why?
What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
How do you like your eggs?
What are your three favorite foods?
What is your favorite meal to cook and why?
What’s your favorite breakfast cereal?
What’s your favorite grocery item when you shop locally?
What is your favorite restaurant?
What is your favorite candy or treat?
What is something you are great at cooking?
What is something you can’t cook?
What is your favorite dessert?
If you could eliminate one food so no one could ever eat it again, what would you destroy?
What is your favorite breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?

Movies, books, music and TV

If you could be in any movie, what would it be and what character would you play?
Which actor would you want to play you in the movie about your life?
If you were a wrestler, what would be your entrance theme song?
If you were a superhero, what would your name be?
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be and why?
What fictional world or place would you like to visit?
What are you reading right now?
What book did you read that changed your life the most?
What movie have you seen recently that you would recommend and why?
What is your favorite sport to watch and why?
If you could see one movie again for the first time, what would it be and why?
If you had to play one album forever, which one would it be?
Which song can you listen to all day long?

Sci-fi, fiction and fandoms

Where would you time-travel, if it were possible?
If you were the captain of a pirate ship, what would you name your ship?
If you could travel to any other planet, real or fictional, where would you go and why?
Who is your favorite actor or actress?
What is your favorite TV series?
What show on Netflix did you binge-watch embarrassingly fast?
If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?
What type of music do you listen to?
What movie can you rewatch over and over again?

Hobbies and talents

What is your favorite hobby?
What is your favorite thing to do by yourself?
What is your favorite sport or physical activity?
What crazy activities do you dream of trying someday?
What is your idea of fun?
What two things do you consider yourself to be very good at?
What two things do you consider yourself to be very bad at?
If money and time were no object, what would you be doing right now?
What is something you hate doing? Why?
What is something you love doing? Why?
Do you have any hidden talents? What can you do?
What’s one new experience you tried that felt completely unknown or uncomfortable at the time?

Family and friends

Warm, inclusive questions for the dinner table, a reunion or a relaxed night in.

What’s a meal that brings back good memories?
What’s your favorite holiday activity?
What’s something you’re grateful for right now?
What’s a recent moment that made you smile?
What’s your favorite way to spend time together?
What’s something you’re looking forward to?
What’s a place you’d love to visit again?
What’s a memory you’ll never forget?
What’s something you admire about someone in your family?

Deep Get to Know You Questions

Deep questions reveal beliefs, values and past experiences, and they can build trust fast. They work best once people feel comfortable with each other, in smaller circles and when there’s time to listen. If the conversation turns serious, listen actively and let the other person know their feelings are valid.

Questions for meaningful connection

Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
What’s one rule you try to live by?
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
What’s one goal you’re working toward right now?
What does success mean to you?
What’s something you’ve learned the hard way?
What are you most grateful for?
What’s one thing you’d tell your younger self?
What’s a challenge that shaped who you are today?
What’s something you hope for in the future?

Reflective questions for established groups

What’s something that has shaped who you are?
What’s a value that’s important to you?
What’s a challenge you’ve learned from?
What’s something you’re proud of overcoming?
What helps you feel grounded?
What’s a lesson you’ve learned recently?
What’s something you’re working on personally?
What does balance look like for you?
What’s one thing you want more of this year?
What’s something you hope others understand about you?

Two friends talking quietly on a porch step at night with mugs

Deep questions to know someone better

Do you ever feel lonely?
Is there anything you’re afraid you won’t accomplish?
Do you have any regrets in life?
What’s one thing you wish you could change about your past?
Is how you define success different today than it was when you were younger?
What’s the most meaningful relationship you’ve ever had?
What’s one thing you’re deeply passionate about?
Do you ever think about your beliefs and how they’ve changed over time?
What’s a personal motto that you live by?
What’s one thing you’re most proud of accomplishing?
Do you have any toxic traits you’re not proud of?
What are some difficult lessons you’ve learned from past relationships?
What’s number one on your bucket list?
What’s your favorite memory?
What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you were younger?
What’s your favorite memory with your grandparents?

Vulnerable icebreakers

When do you feel most cringe? (For example: realizing you’re overexplaining yourself when no one asked.)
Do you know your attachment style? If so, what is it?
What is your Enneagram number?
When you feel dysregulated, how do you get grounded?
What is your earliest memory?
When have you felt most alive?
When you’re looking for comfort, who is the first person you call?
What are you struggling to let go of?
Who was your first kiss?
If you didn’t have any responsibilities, how would you spend your days?
Do you enjoy solo travel?
If you could go on a personal retreat, what would you do?
In which area do you need rest: physical, mental, spiritual or something else?
What do you need to forgive yourself for?
What do you love most about yourself? (Be generous!)

Silly and Random Ice Breakers

When the room needs a laugh, reach for these random icebreakers.

Silly icebreakers

Do you sleep with a top sheet?
What is your guilty pleasure?
What is your Roman Empire (something you think about a lot)?
If you won the lottery, how would you spend your winnings?
If you could only watch one show for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If you had the chance to go to outer space, would you do it?
Do you have any secret talents?
Do you know what your parents would have named you if they hadn’t chosen your name?
Have you ever egged someone’s house?
Have you ever pooped your pants? (Hey, lots of us have been there.)
Do you believe in aliens?
Have you ever laughed so hard you spit out your drink?
Have you ever met a celebrity?
Did you have an imaginary friend as a child?

Have you ever?

Quick yes-or-no questions to go around the room. Ask for the story behind every yes.

Have you ever been out of the country?
Have you ever ridden on a motorcycle?
Have you ever lived in another state?
Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World?
Have you ever planted a garden?
Have you ever experienced a natural disaster like a hurricane or tornado?
Have you ever won a contest?
Have you ever eaten a whole pizza by yourself?
Have you ever done any extreme sports like skydiving or bungee jumping?

RoomPlay game Turn “have you ever” into a game

Never Have I Ever on everyone’s phone: read a prompt, see who has done it, and ask for the story.

Play Never Have I Ever

Multiple Choice Get to Know You Questions

Most get to know you questions are open-ended, but almost any of them can be turned into multiple choice. A quick poll or multiple choice format gets an answer from the whole room at once (use a show of hands, a polling app or an online survey). Then leave room for discussion and ask a few people why they picked their answer.

Which of these traits best describes you: funny, thoughtful, caring or outgoing?
How do you most like to connect with your friends: through social media, talking on the phone or texting, or meeting up in person?
What’s your favorite way to learn: by talking with others, by listening or by reading?
How do you prefer to be contacted when you’re learning or working online: by email, a messaging app, a video call or by phone?
Are you sunrise, daylight, twilight or night? Share why you picked your time of day.
Are you summer, fall, spring or winter? Share why.
Sweet, savory, salty or sour?
Silver, gold or both?
Cats or dogs?
Crunchy peanut butter or smooth?

Friends at a cafe table pointing left and right at two options

Any open question from the lists above works the same way: write three or four answer options for “What is your favorite season?” or “How do you like your eggs?” and let the group vote. The this or that and would you rather questions below are already two-option multiple choice, and every “have you ever” question works as a quick yes-or-no poll.

RoomPlay game Guess each other’s answers

In How Well Do You Know Me, one player picks an answer about themselves and everyone else guesses it on their own phone.

Play How Well Do You Know Me

Would You Rather and This or That Questions

Two-option questions are fast, low-pressure prompts for any group when time is limited.

This or that

Early bird or night owl?
Work from home or in person?
Personal driver or personal chef?
Lifetime free travel or lifetime free food?
Silence or background noise?
Going out or staying in?
Minimalist or maximalist?
Saver or spender?
Cocktail or mocktail?
Vacation or staycation?
Sparkling or still?
Window or aisle seat?
Sweet or salty snacks?
Texting or calling?
Beach or mountains?
Movies or books?
Early riser or sleep in?
Big group or small group?
Plan ahead or go with the flow?
Teleportation or flying?

Would you rather

These work in class too: students can ask each other to reconnect, discover similarities and learn new things about one another.

Would you rather read a book or watch a movie?
Would you rather eat pizza or ice cream?
Would you rather do a school project by yourself or with friends?
Would you rather play a video game or play outside?
Would you rather have a dog or a cat?
Would you rather have chocolate or vanilla?
Would you rather go to the beach or go camping?
Would you rather eat salty or sweet snacks for the rest of your life?
Would you rather win the lottery or be famous?
Would you rather dance or sing in front of a group of people?
Would you rather be the oldest sibling or the youngest sibling?
Would you rather give a presentation or write a long paper?
Would you rather do your homework or do chores?
Would you rather travel back in time or travel to the future?
Would you rather live in snow or rain for the rest of your life?
Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?
Would you rather live without Netflix or without YouTube?
Would you rather be invisible or be able to read minds?
Would you rather be the funniest or the smartest person in the room?

For hundreds more, see our lists of this or that questions and would you rather questions.

RoomPlay game Pick a side, then guess the room

Everyone chooses on their own phone, then tries to predict how the rest of the group voted.

Play Would You Rather

Get to Know Your Team Questions

Unlike friends, you don’t choose who you work with, which can make it hard to find common ground outside of work. A few good questions help a lot: knowing each other’s likes, dislikes and stories (a favorite childhood TV show, a pet) builds empathy and team cohesion, brings different perspectives into the room, makes conflicts easier to resolve and lifts job satisfaction and morale. Read the room, though. The questions you’d ask on a first date aren’t the ones you’d ask your boss, and when you’re unsure, stick to work-life balance, hobbies and passions.

Icebreakers for work

What is your favorite thing on your desk and why?
What time of day are you most fresh and productive?
Where was the last place you traveled?
If you had to eat the same thing for lunch for the rest of your life, what would it be?
When is your birthday, and how do you like to celebrate?
If you could choose an afternoon pick-me-up to be delivered to your desk every day, what would it be?
What is the last book you read?
What is one thing you are looking forward to?
Do you speak any languages other than English?
If you could be fluent in a language you don’t know, what would it be?
Do you have any dietary restrictions?
What is your screensaver or lock screen photo?
What is your commute like: drive, carpool, public transit or walk?

Coworkers laughing during a team icebreaker in an office break room

Questions for groups and teams

These fit classrooms, youth groups, volunteer teams and staff meetings.

What motivates you to work hard?
What’s something you’re proud of accomplishing?
What’s your favorite way to relax?
What’s one skill you’d love to learn?
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
What’s your favorite tradition?
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
How would your friends describe you?
What’s your favorite way to spend time with others?
What’s your favorite subject or topic to learn about?

Questions for meetings, retreats and onboarding

What’s one thing that helps you stay focused?
What does a productive day look like to you?
What’s a skill you want to improve this year?
How do you like to receive feedback?
What’s a small win you’ve had recently?
What’s your preferred way to communicate?
What helps you feel supported at work?
What’s something that helps you reset after a busy day?

Questions to ask coworkers and managers

What’s your favorite part of your job?
Do you have any side hustles or projects?
When you work remotely, do you work in a cafe or from home?
What’s one thing you’re passionate about in your career?
If you could describe your ideal work-life balance, what would it look like?
What’s one thing that motivates you at work?
What’s something valuable you’ve learned during your career?
Are there any upcoming projects you’re excited about?
Did you ever think about trying a different career before this one?
What made you want to work for [company]?
Did you go to school to become a [job role]?
Do you have any tips for time management?
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?

Get to Know You Questions for Students

Students learn best when they feel safe, valued and connected to classmates and adults. These questions help teachers learn about students’ lives outside school and fit small-group brain breaks, icebreaker games, morning meetings or circles, advisory periods and one-on-one check-ins, in person or virtually. In an online class, use breakout rooms for small-group sharing or an online survey to collect answers.

Interests and hobbies

What are your favorite hobbies?
In your free time, what do you like to do?
Have you volunteered in your community?
What is your favorite book?
What is your favorite TV show?
What is your favorite movie?
What is your favorite color?
What do you like to eat for breakfast?
What is your favorite sport, if you have one?
If you could be an animal for a day, what would you be and why?
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
What is something you like to do outside of school?
Outside the classroom, what type of learning do you enjoy most?
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
What are three awesome things about yourself?
What is something people don’t know about you that you wish they knew?
What is a unique talent you have?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What is a big world problem that you would like to change?
What is your biggest dream or goal in life?

Students talking before a group activity

Relational and social

What is your superpower?
What is one thing your teacher can do to get to know you better?
How can your teacher help you if you are feeling down?
What is one thing you want to know about your teacher?
What do you think is the most important quality for a teacher to have?
Who is an adult at school that you know you can count on?
Who is a friend at school that you know you can count on?
When you are stressed, what do you do to relax?
What makes you feel the most appreciated and understood?
How would your friends or a relative describe you?
What is something that you are thankful for?

Family and cultural background

Where do your family members work?
What does dinnertime look like at your house?
What are some family items or artifacts that represent your culture and identity?
Which languages do you speak, even just a little bit?
Who is someone in your family that you look up to?
What is a favorite memory you have with a family member?
What do you like most about your family?
Does your family have pets? If not, would you like a pet? What kind?
What is your favorite family recipe?
Do you have siblings? If not, would you want siblings, or do you like being an only child?

School, subjects and learning

What is your favorite subject and why?
What is your least favorite subject and why? What is the best way I can support you in that subject?
What is one thing you think you do well as a student?
What is one thing you would like to do better as a student?
What do you like most about school?
What do you like least about school?
What would be your dream field trip?
Would you rather do schoolwork as a group or by yourself?
What is the best school project or lesson you can remember?
What is the best way I can support you outside of class?
How would you like to be recognized if you get a good grade on an assignment or project?
What’s something new you learned recently?
Who is someone you look up to?
What’s your favorite school memory?
If you could start a club, what would it be?
What’s one thing you’re really good at?
What’s something you’d like help with?
What makes a class fun for you?

Back to school and the first day

What is one thing you are looking forward to this school year?
What is something you learned over the summer?
What is something you would really want to learn about this year?
What is one thing you would like your classmates or teacher to know about you this year?
What is one thing you want to know about your teachers this year?
What was the best part of the past week for you?
What was the hardest part of the past week for you?
What can teachers or other adults at school do to better support you?
How much did you enjoy class today?
How included did you feel in class today?
What was your favorite part of class today?

Virtual learning

What is the best part of virtual learning?
What is the most challenging part of virtual learning?
How is your internet connection at home?
Where do you do your schoolwork?
What is something your teachers could do to improve virtual classroom time?
What is your favorite Zoom background?
When you take breaks from school at home, what do you like to do?
What is your favorite way to get in touch with your classmates and friends online?
What would help you feel more connected to your classmates and your school?

New Year Icebreaker Questions

The end of the year is a natural time to celebrate milestones, share lessons and set intentions, whether you’re at a New Year’s party, wrapping up the year with coworkers or kicking off a new course. Start with the lighter holiday questions and move on to the reflective ones.

Celebrating the holiday

Do you stay up until midnight?
Do you prefer to go out or stay home on New Year’s Eve?
Do you enjoy watching the ball drop on TV?
Does your hometown or current city have a unique item it “drops” on New Year’s Eve?
Do you have any traditions to say goodbye to the past year?
Do you have any traditions to bring luck in the coming year?
Would you rather celebrate New Year’s Eve somewhere cold or warm?
Where is the best fireworks display for New Year’s Eve?
Do you prefer New Year’s house parties or formal events?
Do you like to dress up for the holiday or keep it casual?
Do you do any New Year’s fitness challenges, like a 5K or a polar bear plunge?
Do you eat any special meals on New Year’s?

Friends in party hats chatting on a sofa before midnight on New Year’s Eve

Making resolutions and keeping them

Did you stick to your resolutions from this year?
Do you share your resolutions with others or keep them a secret?
Do you have any resolutions for the coming year that you’d like to share?
Do you have any professional (or academic) resolutions you’d like to share?
What is the best way for you to make sure you keep your resolutions?

Looking back on the past year

What was the most notable event around the world this past year?
What was the most notable local event in your community this year?
What was the most notable event in your personal life that you’d like to share?
What was the most popular song of the year?
What was the best movie released this year?
What was your favorite place you visited this year?
What skills did you gain this year at work or school?
What hobbies did you pick up this year that you now enjoy?
What is one moment from this year that you will cherish in the next?

Looking ahead to the coming year

What trends would you like to see end next year?
What fashion trends would you like to see go out of style?
What trends do you hope come into style this year?
What skills would you like to grow this year?
Where do you hope to travel this year?
What excites you about the year ahead?

Ice Breaker Bingo: How to Play

Ice breaker bingo, also called people bingo, the autograph game or “Did you know?”, works like regular bingo, except the squares hold facts about people instead of numbers. Players walk around the room collecting signatures from people who match the squares. It’s simple to organize and even easier to explain, there’s no pressure on anyone, and it fits a new hire’s first day or the start of a new school year.

How to set it up

Write 25 squares. If you know the group fairly well, turn 25 things you know about them into bingo entries, such as “lived in Sweden,” “can speak two or more languages,” “plays the guitar” or “has a red Porsche.” If you don’t know the group, use general traits like “has brown hair” or “works on the HR team.” Easy squares make a short game; harder ones make it last longer.
Make the cards. Print a 5×5 grid on a regular printer or use an online people bingo card maker.

Coworker signing a square on a colleague’s people bingo card

How to play

Hand out the cards. Every player gets a bingo card and a pen. Keep it to about 30 people; split a bigger crowd into smaller groups of equal size.
Mingle. Give the group 30 minutes to introduce themselves to each other and find people who match the squares.
Collect names. When a player finds a match, they write that person’s name in the square or have them sign it.
Call bingo. The first player to fill five boxes across or down yells “Bingo!”
Award a prize. A nice bottle of wine or a gift card makes it more exciting.

Make it longer. Offer several chances to win: the first full horizontal line, then the first vertical line, then the first full card. You can also ask the group at the start what they think a completed game should be.

Wrap it up. Ask everyone to introduce themselves and share one interesting thing they learned about someone else, or to say how they feel now that they know each other a bit better.

Play it virtually. Start a video call and make sure everyone has a card and a pen. From there it plays just like the in-person game.

Play it with kids. Simplify the squares and the rules, or have children play in teams.

Ice breaker bingo also works as a birthday party or bridal shower game, and some teachers use it in special education and English language arts classes. The game itself goes back a long way: bingo is traced to an Italian lottery from 1530, and in the United States it was first called “beano.”

Large Group Ice Breaker Games

Getting a big group of people who don’t know each other to relax is no easy feat. Large group icebreakers build rapport, cut the awkwardness, draw quieter people in, reveal skills and personalities that help when you form teams, set a positive tone and speed up learning names. They work best when they are inclusive, have clear rules, scale to the size of the group so everyone takes part equally, stay short, and get people moving or talking. Skip anything too physically demanding or embarrassing, and if you can, tie the game to the theme of the event.

Active games for big groups

Pass the Buck (20 to 500 people, 5 to 8 minutes). Everyone holds a $1 bill in the air (or any bill they have) and has 10 to 30 seconds to find someone nearby holding the same amount. Partner one shares a piece of information they think is valuable. If partner two agrees, they hand over the money; if not, they keep it or ask for more until the information seems worth it. Then the partners switch.
Repeat Performance (60 to 500 people, 3 to 5 minutes). For a speaker opening a meeting: pick two words or phrases you want people to remember, such as “yes” and “no.” The audience shouts one when you point with your right hand and the other when you point with your left, while you ask questions throughout the speech. Do a practice round first.
Simon Says (10 to 200 people, 5 minutes). Everyone stands. Players follow a command only when it starts with “Simon says.” After each command, anyone who got it wrong sits down. Try this sequence: Simon says lift your right hand; Simon says lift your left hand; put your right hand down; Simon says put your left hand down; Simon says point up with your right hand; Simon says point down with your left hand; Simon says point both hands at yourself; point both hands at your neighbors; Simon says stop pointing and sit down; Simon says stand up. Whoever is still standing wins. It also makes a good break in a long meeting.
Air Balloons (20 or more, 5 minutes). Split into teams of three to five, give each team an inflated balloon and name a timekeeper. Teams have three minutes to keep the balloon in the air; every time someone touches it or it hits the ground, the stopwatch goes back to zero. The longest time wins.
Blanket Game (5 to 10 minutes). Split into teams of five to ten. You and a volunteer hold up a very large blanket at the front, and one member of team one sits behind it so team two can’t see who it is. On the count of three, drop the blanket: the first player on the other team to name the person scores a point.
Frozen T-Shirt Race (15 to 50 people, 10 to 15 minutes). The night before, soak large T-shirts, wring them out, fold them flat into freezer bags and freeze them. Teams of four or five use whatever they can to thaw a shirt enough to wear it, and the first team with a shirt on wins. Play it on a hot day.
Line Up Game (10 to 20 people, 5 to 20 minutes). Ask the group to line up in order of something that isn’t obvious, such as birthdays from January 1 to December 31. When they think they’re done, they call out their birthdays from one end. If the line is wrong, try again with another trait, like shoe size.
Scavenger Hunt (15 to 40 people, 10 to 15 minutes). Break into groups of four or five, hand each group a short list of things to find in the office (a hole punch, tea bags, a pink pen) and set a five-minute timer. The group with the most items wins, and a small prize adds motivation.
Marshmallow Toss (10 or more, 5 to 10 minutes). Partners stand on opposite sides of two lines marked with masking tape. Pairs toss marshmallows across, either taking turns or with one designated thrower and one catcher. In two minutes, the pair that catches the most marshmallows in their mouths wins. Watch out for choking.
Human Knot. Stand in a circle, reach across and grab the hands of two different people, then untangle the knot without letting go.
Web of Yarn. Sitting in a circle, one person holds the end of a ball of yarn and tosses the ball to someone else. The catcher introduces themselves, keeps hold of the string and tosses the ball on, until the group has built a web.
The Shoe Game. Everyone tosses one shoe into a pile, picks up a random shoe and finds its owner. When they meet, they introduce themselves and share a fun fact.
The Island Game. Small groups are stranded on an island and can bring only a few items from a list you give them. They have to negotiate and agree on what to take.
Bingo. Hand out cards with traits, skills and experiences, and let people mingle to find matches. Full rules are in the ice breaker bingo section above.

Large group playing an outdoor team game

Conversation starter games

These fun conversation games and question games to play with friends or a big group turn the lists above into something people actually play. For deep conversation games, use the questions from the deep section as prompts.

Two Truths and a Lie. Each person shares two true statements and one lie about themselves, and the others guess the lie. See our full guide to two truths and a lie.
Would You Rather? Read out a choice like “Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?” and have people move to one side of the room or the other based on their answer.
Musical Chairs, question version. It plays like the classic, but when the music stops, the person left standing answers a fun question about themselves.
M&M Game. Everyone takes a handful of M&Ms and shares one fact for each candy. Each color stands for a type of fact, for example green for hobbies and red for family.
Paper Plane Introductions. Everyone writes an interesting fact about themselves on paper, folds it into a plane and launches it at the same time. Each person picks up a random plane, reads it aloud and guesses whose it is.
The Wind Blows For… Everyone sits in a circle with one person in the middle, who says, “The wind blows for everyone who…” plus something they’ve done or a trait. Everyone it’s true for stands up and finds a new seat, and the person left standing goes to the middle next.

For more ideas, see our list of icebreaker games, or put a group on their phones with How Well Do You Know Me?, Would You Rather or Never Have I Ever.

Get to Know You Questions (FAQ)

What are good get to know you topics?
Daily routines, food, movies and music, hobbies and hidden talents, travel, family traditions, work or school, and values and goals. Hypotheticals like superpowers or a lottery win are an easy way in.
What are some great get to know you questions?
Open questions that lead to a story: what your perfect Sunday looks like, what book you wish you could read for the first time again, what you think is totally underrated, or what you would do if money and time were no object.
How do you make get to know you questions multiple choice?
Give three or four answer options, such as “funny, thoughtful, caring or outgoing,” and let everyone answer with a show of hands or a poll. Then ask a few people why they picked their answer.
What should you avoid when asking get to know you questions?
Rapid-fire questioning, yes-or-no questions, jumping into politics or religion without asking first, and only asking without sharing anything about yourself.
How do you play ice breaker bingo?
Each player gets a 5×5 card of traits and a pen, then mingles to find people who match the squares and collects their names or signatures. The first to fill five squares across or down yells “Bingo!”
What are good ice breaker games for large groups?
Pass the Buck, Simon Says, Air Balloons, the Line Up Game, a scavenger hunt, Human Knot, the Shoe Game, The Wind Blows For… and people bingo all scale to big crowds. For very large groups, split into smaller teams.