Best Ice Breaker Games for Remote and Virtual Teams

I'll be honest with you. When I first ran virtual ice breakers on Zoom, it was... a disaster.

People had their cameras off. The silence was painful. And I could practically see everyone checking their email in those tiny video squares.

But here's what I discovered: virtual ice breakers aren't harder than in-person ones. They're just different. And when you nail them, they're actually more engaging because they level the playing field.

What Makes Virtual Ice Breakers Different?

Virtual ice breaker games are activities specifically designed for video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet. Unlike in-person games that rely on physical space and movement, virtual ice breakers work through digital interaction—chat features, polls, breakout rooms, and screen sharing.

The best part? They eliminate the awkward standing-in-a-circle feeling that some people hate about traditional ice breakers. Everyone's in their own space, which actually makes many people more comfortable participating.

Read On to Discover

I'm sharing 15 virtual ice breaker games that actually work, organized by time commitment and group size. You'll learn which games work best for different situations, plus my hard-won tips for running them smoothly without technical disasters.

#1 Start with Cameras On (But Make It Optional)

This might sound counterintuitive, but here's my secret: I always start by saying "cameras are optional, but I'd love to see your faces."

Then I turn my camera on and wait.

Nine times out of ten, people follow your lead. When they see you're genuinely engaged and smiling, they turn their cameras on too.

Games like [Two Truths and a Lie](/games/two-truths-and-a-lie) work beautifully here because people naturally want to see reactions. The facial expressions are half the fun.

**Pro tip:** For truly camera-shy teams, try [Emoji Pictionary](/games/emoji-pictionary) first. It's text-based but still engaging, and once people are laughing, they're more likely to turn cameras on.

Check out our guide on [ice breakers for difficult situations](/blog/ice-breakers-difficult-situations) if your team is particularly resistant.

#2 Use Breakout Rooms Like a Secret Weapon

Breakout rooms changed everything for me.

Instead of 30 people sitting silently on a call, I split them into groups of 3-4. Suddenly everyone's talking.

[Speed Networking](/games/speed-networking) is perfect for this. I set 5-minute timers, rotate people through breakout rooms, and watch connections form in real-time.

Other breakout-room winners:

The magic number? 3-5 people per room. Small enough that everyone talks, large enough that there's energy.

For more strategies on virtual team building, read our article on [the complete guide to ice breaker games](/blog/complete-guide-ice-breaker-games).

#3 Leverage the Chat Feature

The chat box is your best friend for virtual ice breakers.

I learned this running [Word Association](/games/word-association). Instead of people shouting over each other, everyone types their response. It's fast, visual, and hilarious when 20 responses appear at once.

Other chat-friendly games:

Bonus: introverts often prefer chat. They can process and respond without the pressure of speaking immediately.

#4 Screen Sharing Opens New Possibilities

Screen sharing lets you run games you couldn't do otherwise.

I use it for [Human Bingo](/games/human-bingo) by sharing a bingo card everyone can see. People use chat to claim squares, and we track who gets bingo first.

Other screen-share games:

The key is keeping it simple. Complicated tech kills momentum.

#5 Time Management Is More Critical Online

Virtual fatigue is real.

I never run virtual ice breakers longer than 15 minutes anymore. Online attention spans are shorter, and people are often stacked with back-to-back meetings.

My go-to quick games (5-10 minutes):

For longer sessions (15-20 minutes):

Anything longer? Save it for virtual retreats, not regular meetings.

Read our guide on [measuring ice breaker effectiveness](/blog/measuring-ice-breaker-effectiveness) to optimize your timing.

#6 Asynchronous Options Respect Time Zones

Here's a game-changer for global teams: not every ice breaker needs to be live.

I started using Slack channels for ongoing ice breakers:

Works for:

People in Singapore and San Francisco can both participate without anyone waking up at 3 AM.

Check out our article on [cultural considerations for ice breakers](/blog/cultural-considerations-ice-breakers) for more global team tips.

#7 Poll Features Create Instant Engagement

Zoom polls, Microsoft Teams Forms, or tools like Slido make everyone a participant.

I use polls for [Would You Rather](/games/would-you-rather):

Polls work great for:

The visual feedback is powerful—people see they're not alone in their answers.

#8 Audio-Only Options for Camera Fatigue

Some days, everyone's Zoomed out.

On those days, I run audio-only games:

I tell people explicitly: "Cameras off today, just voices." The relief is palpable.

For more facilitation tips, read our [complete guide to facilitating ice breaker games](/blog/game-facilitator-guide).

#9 Show and Tell Works Brilliantly Online

This surprised me: [Show and Tell](/games/show-and-tell) is better virtually than in-person.

Why? People can grab items from anywhere in their house and hold them up to the camera. No passing things around a circle.

Prompts that work:

Everyone gets 60 seconds. Set a timer. Keep it moving.

#10 Virtual Backgrounds Add Fun Without Pressure

Zoom's virtual background feature is an ice breaker goldmine.

I run "Virtual Background Themes":

People share for 30 seconds each. It's low-pressure, high-fun, and you learn about people's interests.

Works well with [Desert Island](/games/desert-island) discussions too.

#11 Games for Huge Virtual Groups

Running ice breakers for 50+ people on Zoom? Here's what works:

[Human Bingo](/games/human-bingo) with chat - people hunt for answers in chat

The key: activities where not everyone needs to talk, but everyone can participate.

For more strategies, read our guide on [ice breakers for large groups](/blog/ice-breakers-for-large-groups).

#12 Technical Prep Prevents Disasters

I learned this the hard way: always test tech first.

My pre-game checklist:

One technical hiccup can derail the whole thing. Five minutes of prep saves you.

Use our [Timer tool](/tools/timer) to keep activities on schedule.

#13 Mix Familiar and Novel

Don't run the same game every week.

I rotate through a variety:

People appreciate variety, but also like having one or two favorites they can count on.

Browse our complete [games collection](/games) for 50+ options.

#14 Recording? Set Expectations

If your meeting is recorded, tell people upfront.

Some ice breakers involve personal sharing ([Never Have I Ever](/games/never-have-i-ever), [The Four Questions](/games/the-four-questions)). People deserve to know if it's being recorded.

I usually pause recording during ice breakers, or make them pre-meeting activities before recording starts.

For sensitive situations, check our guide on [psychological benefits of ice breaker games](/blog/psychological-benefits-ice-breaker-games).

#15 Follow-Up Matters More Online

After virtual ice breakers, connections fade faster than in-person.

I always follow up:

The ice breaker plants seeds. Follow-up helps them grow.

Read our article on [top 10 mistakes when running ice breaker games](/blog/top-10-mistakes-ice-breaker-games) to avoid common pitfalls.

Plus: Tools That Make Virtual Ice Breakers Easier

Beyond Zoom/Teams, these tools help:

**For engagement:**

**For creativity:**

**For connection:**

But honestly? Most games work great with just Zoom and its built-in features.

My Favorite Virtual Ice Breaker Combinations

**For new teams (first meeting):**

**For established teams (weekly meeting):**

**For team building sessions:**

**For large all-hands:**

Check our [Timer tool](/tools/timer) to keep everything on schedule.

Conclusion

Virtual ice breakers aren't just possible—they're powerful when done right. Start with simple games like [Would You Rather](/games/would-you-rather) or [Two Truths and a Lie](/games/two-truths-and-a-lie), use breakout rooms liberally, and keep sessions short. Your remote team will thank you.

Browse our full collection of [50+ ice breaker games](/games) and start building stronger virtual connections today. And if you're facilitating for the first time, read our [complete facilitation guide](/blog/game-facilitator-guide) for more tips.