Summary: A classic get-to-know-you icebreaker in which each person says two truths and one lie. The goal is to figure out which statement is actually the lie!

Ages: All. Recommended # of people: 6-10. Messiness factor: No Sweat. Materials Required: None. Recommended Setting: Indoors.

Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is the classic icebreaker game in which one attempts to identify which of three statements is bogus.

Instructions: Have everyone sit in a circle. Each person prepares three statements, two of which are true and one of which is a lie. In any order, the person shares the three statements to the entire group. The object of the game is to figure out which statement a lie. The rest of the group votes on each statement, and the person reveals which one is the lie.

Variation: Two Truths and a Dream Wish. As an interesting variation to the classic Two Truths and a Lie icebreaker, people may also play a version called Two Truths and a Dream Wish. Instead of stating a lie, a person says something that is not true — yet something that they wish to be true. For example, someone that has never been to Hawaii might say: “I have visited Hawaii when I was young.” This interesting spin often leads to unexpected, fascinating results, as people often share touching wishes about their lives.

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Summary: A hilarious copycat game in which people try to imitate one leader’s actions, and the person in the center attempts to identify who is the originator of the actions (the leader).

Ages: 8 and up. Recommended # of People: One group of 8 to 16 people. Messiness factor: Might break a sweat. Materials: None. Setting: Indoors or outdoors.

Rules for Follow the Leader

Follow the Leader (also known as the Copycat Game) is an action game that serves as a good energizer or warmup activity. It can be pretty hilarious watching people mimic the leader, especially if the leader does some wacky movements. There is no preparation needed for the Follow the Leader game. Find a large open space, either indoors or outdoors, and you’re ready to go!

How to Play

Ask everyone to stand and arrange the group into a circle, facing inwards. Ask one person to leave the room for a minute. This person will be the guesser for the round. While he or she is gone, the group decides who should be the “leader.” The leader will be the one who sets the movements for that round. When this person is chosen, invite the guesser to come back. The guesser stands in the very center of the circle.

When the round begins, everyone starts swinging their arms up and down. The leader will eventually begin to do other movements, and everyone else mimics the leader’s actions, without being too obvious to reveal who the leader is. The leader can do just about anything he or she wants, such as:

• clapping
• making a kicking motion with his or her leg
• jumping up and down
• singing a line from a song
• patting his or her own head
• a dance move

Everyone in the circle should be careful to avoid prolonged eye contact with the leader, so the leader’s identity is not given away. The guesser must keep turning his or her head to try to figure out which person is the leader (the person who is starting of all the group’s movements). The guesser is allowed to make up to three guesses. If the guess is incorrect, the round continues. If the guess is correct, the leader becomes the new guesser for the next round. If all three guesses are exhausted and the leader is not correctly guessed, the round ends and you can either keep the same guesser or switch it up.

This action game tends to be hilarious, as people try to copy the leader’s silly movements.  See photos of an example of the game being played below.

Person in the middle tries to find the leader of the circle

It can be challenging to identify the leader!

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Summary: A useful icebreaker game to get people to know each other better, using specially marked straws.

Ages: 8 and up. Recommended number of players: Any number of players from 4 to 30.  Messiness factor: No mess at all! Materials required: Several straws, a cup, and a sharpie.

Straws Game

The Straws Question Game is a great way to break the ice and allow people to get to know each other better in a more comfortable way.  A question will be asked to the entire group, and then each player draws a straw.  A small number of straws will be specially marked.  Each player that draws the special straw answers the question.

Setup

Before the game begins, count out one straw for each player.  Mark the ends of a small number of straws with a sharpie marker.   The number of straws to mark depends on how many people you would like to answer the question — usually, three or four is a good number for a group of 10-20 people.  Prepare a number of questions for the group to answer.  You can ask any kind of question you like, depending on what kind of game you want.  If you want players to get to know each other better, you can ask questions like, “What is your dream job?” or “What is your favorite place on earth?”  If you’d rather ask questions that allow for more creativity or humor, you could ask questions such as “If you could be any animal, what would you be?” or “What was your worst date experience?”

Playing the Straws Question Game

Place all the straws into a cup.  Ask a question that you have prepared in advance.  Have everyone grab a straw.  The players with the specially marked straws answer the question.  Repeat this process for as many questions as you like.

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Summary:  A funny storywriting game that involves creating a story as a team.  Each player adds the next line of the story.

Ages:  8 and up.  Recommended number of players: Teams of at least six.  Messiness factor:  No mess!  Materials required: None – just a great sense of humor!

Team Story Game

The Team Story Game (also known as the “Once Upon a Time…” Game is a funny game involving creativity and a group of people making a story together.

Setup

Form teams of at least six players.  You can prepare a theme in advance if you wish.  For example, you can require all stories to be about a certain topic (e.g. Christmas, or food, or relationships).  Have everyone form a line.

Playing the Team Story Game

Each team will construct a story.  Each person is only allowed to say one sentence and must continue the story.  The first player in line begins the story by saying “Once upon a time…” and completes the sentence.  The next person in line must continue the story and have it make sense.  This process continues until it reaches the last person in the team’s line.  The last person in line must conclude the story in one sentence as well.

Have team create a story.  If you wish, judges can decide which story is the best. This game is a silly game that usually leads to hilarious stories!

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Summary:  A hilarious action game that involves stuffing marshmallows in your mouth and trying to yell, “Chubby Bunny!”

Ages:  10 and up.  Recommended number of players: 3 and up.  Messiness factor:  Have a trash can and paper towels ready for a marshmallow mess.  Materials required:  A few bags of medium to large sized marshmallows.

Chubby Bunny

Chubby Bunny is a simple yet hilarious game that involves adding marshmallows to players’ mouths, one at a time, and getting players to yell the words “Chubby Bunny.”

How to play:   Have three or more players go to the front of the room.  Have paper towels or a large trash can ready, as this game can end up being a bit messy.  Open up a bag of medium to large sized marshmallows.  Give a marshmallow to each player, and have them insert it into their mouth.  Do not let them chew or swallow the marshmallow.  After each player has inserted a marshmallow in their mouth, each player takes turns screaming, “Chubby Bunny!”

If each person is successful in yelling the words with the marshmallow in their mouth, they survive and continue playing the game.  Give each player another marshmallow.  They must insert this marshmallow and yell “Chubby Bunny!” again.  This process continues, and each player’s mouth will start to become full of marshmallows.  As long as the player can yell “Chubby Bunny” successfully without losing any marshmallows out of their mouth, they keep playing.  When a person is unable to yell “Chubby Bunny,” they are out of the game.

Warning: Be careful! This game can lead to choking if improperly played.  Always supervise players.  Safety first!

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Summary:  An action game that has some similarities to Duck, Duck, Goose.  It involves guessing and potentially getting a cup of water dumped on you!

Ages:  8 and up.  Recommended number of players: 5 and up.  Messiness factor:  People will get wet.  Materials required:  A large cup and water.

Drip, Drip, Drop

Drip, Drip, Drop is a simple game that involves a bit of guessing and getting aother players wet.

How to play:   Fill up a large cup with water.  Give it to one player (e.g. John).  Everyone sits in a circle.  The player with the cup (John) chooses a category and announces it to the group (for example, colors).  John then chooses a color without telling the group. The person walks around the group, stopping at each group member. The group member must guess which color the person has chosen. If they guess the wrong color, the person drops a little bit of water on them. If the group member guesses correctly, the person dumps some water on them (pours the cup of water). Then both members must run around the circle and be the first person to sit back down in that spot (just like in duck-duck-goose).

Submitted by: Katelynn Sovie.  Thanks Katelynn!

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Summary: An action-packed, fast paced, hilarious game in which the object is to be the “ultimate ninja” — the person with the quickest reflexes! Dodge the other player’s attacks and get the others out.

Ages: 10 and up.  Recommended # of people: 6-12.  Messiness factor: Might break a sweat.  Materials required: None!

Instructions for the Ultimate Ninja Game

Ultimate Ninja is a great action-based game that involves quickness, a little bit of strategy, and skill.  The goal is to be the “ultimate ninja,” or the person who has the quickest reflexes.  Players try to eliminate others by successfully hitting their hands.  The game is played clockwise, with each person taking a turn.  On your turn, you are allowed one motion: (1) an attempt to hit another person’s hand with your hand, or (2) one movement, such as taking a step in any direction.  When a player is trying to hit your hand, you are allowed one motion to dodge the strike; however, you must hold this new position once you dodge.  If a player successfully hits your hand, you are “out” and you must leave the circle.  The last person remaining wins.

Detailed Instructions:  Gather everyone and have all players stand towards the center of a room.  Have everyone say the words, “Ultimate… Ninja!” and then have everyone pose in a ninja stance.  Choose one person to begin the game.  On a person’s turn, he or she may try to strike someone’s hand with one motion, or he or she make move one step.  Once this person does his one motion, it immediately becomes the next person’s turn (following clockwise order).  The second person can immediately try to strike someone’s hand or take a step in any direction.  You are allowed to dodge in one motion when you think someone is trying to strike your hand; however, you must hold this new pose after you dodge.  For example, when a person named John tries to hit another person’s hand (e.g. Sally), Sally is allowed to move her arm backwards to dodge; however, Sally must hold this new pose until it’s her turn (or until someone else tries to strike her hand).

The Ultimate Ninja Game sounds complicated, but it’s actually quite simple.  The following photos and videos may help explain how this game works:

The start of a round

All players make an initial ninja pose

A player (in white) must contact another person's hand to get them out

That person is "out" if successfully hit

Down to the final three

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