11 icebreaker games for a video call (no apps needed)

Why icebreaker games work so well on a video call

On a random video chat, the hardest part is the first ten seconds. You both see each other, you both say 'hi', and then there's that silence where nobody knows who should lead. A small game solves that by giving the conversation a structure for a minute or two.

An icebreaker is simply an activity designed to help people who don't know each other start talking. Games are especially good for this because they turn a vague question ('so… tell me about yourself?') into a specific, playful one that's easy to answer.

They also take pressure off. When you're playing, a pause isn't awkward — it's someone thinking. And because the rules are light, nobody feels interviewed. If you'd rather open with a plain question, our list of conversation starters for video chat pairs well with everything below.

Quick-pick table: which icebreaker game to use

Not every game fits every moment. Use this table to choose in a second, then scroll to the game for full instructions and example lines.

Quick games for the first minute

These three are fast, low-stakes and almost impossible to get wrong. Use them right after hello, before either of you has decided whether to stay.

1. This or That. How to play: you offer two options, they pick one, then they ask you one. Why it works: it needs zero thinking time and every answer gives you a follow-up. Example lines: 'Quick game — this or that? Coffee or tea?' … 'Beach or mountains?' … 'Early bird or night owl?' When they answer, ask why: 'Mountains? Have you been somewhere amazing lately?'

2. Rate It 1 to 10. How to play: name something everyday and you both rate it from 1 to 10. Why it works: numbers are universal and disagreements are funny, not serious. Example lines: 'Pineapple on pizza — rate it 1 to 10.' … 'Mondays?' … 'Your city's weather today?' A 2 versus a 9 is an instant conversation.

3. Would You Rather. How to play: give two hypothetical choices and see which one they take. The format is an old party classic — Would You Rather has been a parlour and road-trip game for generations. Why it works: it's imaginative without being personal. Example lines: 'Would you rather speak every language or play every instrument?' … 'Would you rather travel 100 years forward or 100 years back?' Keep it light — skip anything gross, political or too personal with someone you just met.

Games to actually get to know someone

Once the first minute has gone well, these games help you move from small talk to real stories without it feeling like an interview.

4. Two Truths and a Lie. How to play: you say three short statements about yourself — two true, one false — and they guess the lie. Then swap. Why it works: people share surprising facts they'd never mention otherwise, and guessing is fun. Example lines: 'Okay: I've been to Japan, I can juggle, and I once met a famous footballer. Which one's the lie?' Afterwards, ask about the true ones — that's where the stories are.

5. Desert Island Three. How to play: each of you names three things you'd take to a desert island — one object, one song, one food. Why it works: it reveals tastes and personality in thirty seconds. Example lines: 'If you were stuck on an island, what one song would you bring?' … 'Mine's a guitar, a mango and something by Queen. You?'

6. 20 Questions. How to play: one person thinks of a thing (an animal, a famous person, an object in their room); the other has up to twenty yes-or-no questions to guess it. The rules are simple and well known — see Twenty Questions for the classic version. Why it works: it's interactive, a little competitive and keeps both people talking. Example lines: 'I'm thinking of something in my room. Go!' … 'Is it bigger than a shoe?' … 'Can you eat it?'

Visual games that use the camera

Video chat has something a text chat doesn't: you can show things. These games use that, which makes them great for shy people and for chats where words are hard.

7. Show and Tell. How to play: each of you grabs one object within arm's reach and explains it in a sentence or two. Why it works: objects carry stories, and you can point and gesture even with limited vocabulary. Example lines: 'Let's do show and tell — find the most interesting thing near you. Mine's this mug from my first trip abroad.'

8. Window View. How to play: if you're both comfortable, point the camera at your window for a few seconds, or just describe what you'd see. Why it works: seeing snow in one country and sunshine in another is a fun, instant reminder you're talking across the world. Example lines: 'What does it look like outside your window right now?' Only show what you're happy to show — a view can reveal more about your location than you'd think.

9. Draw It. How to play: grab a piece of paper; one person draws something simple in 30 seconds and holds it up, the other guesses. Why it works: it's silly, it breaks the language barrier and bad drawings are the best part. Example lines: 'I'll draw, you guess. Ready? Thirty seconds…'

Icebreakers for chats across different languages

On WomChat you're matched at random with women from more than 100 countries, so sometimes you won't share a first language. Written messages are translated automatically, but voice isn't — so pick games that are easy to type or easy to show.

10. Teach Me a Word. How to play: each of you teaches the other one word or phrase in your language — 'hello', 'cheers', 'delicious' — and tries to pronounce it. Why it works: it's generous, it's funny and you both learn something. 11. Guess My Day. How to play: ask them to guess what you did today from three clues, then switch. Why it works: different time zones make it surprising — one of you might be having breakfast while the other is about to sleep.

Typing short lines into the chat keeps things clear. Here's how Teach Me a Word can look when the written chat translates for you (see how chat translation works for more):

How to suggest a game without it feeling weird

The way you introduce a game matters more than which game you choose. A light, optional tone works; a rehearsed speech doesn't.

1. Say hello and ask one normal question first — where they're from, what time it is there.
2. Offer the game casually: 'Want to play a quick game? It's easier than small talk.'
3. Go first so they see how it works, and keep your first answer short and a little funny.
4. Ask a follow-up about their answer before moving to the next round.
5. Stop the game the moment the conversation starts flowing on its own — that's the goal.

Reading the room: when to play and when to stop

Good icebreakers are about the other person, not the game. Watch their face and their answers, and adjust.

• Green lights: they laugh, give long answers, ask you the question back or suggest their own round. Keep going.
• Yellow lights: one-word answers, looking away, typing slowly. Switch to an easier game or a simple question about their day.
• Red lights: they say they're busy, tired or not into games. Drop it immediately and just chat — or say a friendly goodbye.
• Connection lag: fast games like Rate It suffer most from a delay. Switch to a typed game such as This or That in the chat box.
• Mixed energy: if they're shy, choose visual games (Show and Tell, Draw It); if they're outgoing, try 20 Questions or Would You Rather.

Mistakes that kill an icebreaker

Most failed icebreakers fail for the same handful of reasons. Avoid these and you're already ahead of most people on any random video chat.

• Rapid-fire questions with no follow-up — it feels like a form, not a conversation.
• Choosing personal or edgy topics with someone you met thirty seconds ago.
• Jokes that rely on slang or wordplay when you don't share a language.
• Insisting on finishing the game when the other person clearly wants to talk about something else.
• Forgetting to share your own answers — games only work when both people play.

After the game: keeping the conversation going

When a game has done its job, let it go. Pick the most interesting thing you learned and build on it: 'You said you'd take your grandmother's recipe book to an island — what's the best thing in it?' That single question often carries a conversation for ten minutes.

If the chat isn't clicking, that's normal too. Not every match is a good one, and you can always end the video chat politely and move on. If you're new to this, our guide to video chat with girls covers what to expect, and talking to women in other languages has its own set of tips worth reading.

Finally, make sure you look and sound clear — games rely on facial expressions and quick replies. A two-minute camera, light and sound setup makes every icebreaker land better, and if you want to chat across languages, the video chat with translation page explains how written messages are translated in real time.