Game · 20-30 minutes
Two truths and a lie
A classic icebreaker where each person shares three statements and the group guesses which one is false.
Read more All team quizzes & games
Icebreakers
Find five things in common
Small groups discover five things they all share that are not obvious - building links between colleagues.
- Players
- 8-60, in groups of 3-5
- Duration
- 15-20 minutes
- Energy level
- Calm
- Works online
- Yes
How to play - step by step
- 1
Form groups of three to five people who do not usually work together.
- 2
Give each group paper and ask them to list things they all share.
- 3
Set a ten-minute timer; groups look for five things in common.
- 4
Rules: it cannot be about work, clothing, or body (“we all work here”, “we all have two eyes”).
- 5
Each group reads their list; others cheer the surprising ones.
- 6
Award a prize to the most creative or surprising list.
Benefits
- Helps new and quiet people open up quickly.
- Builds trust and breaks down hierarchy between teams.
- Creates shared stories and inside jokes that last.
- Needs little or no preparation or budget.
What you need
- Paper and pens, or a shared document per group.
- A timer and a small prize for creativity.
Rules
- Obvious facts do not count.
- Everything must be true for every person in the group.
- Keep it respectful and inclusive.
Scoring and winning
- One point per valid item; a bonus for the most unusual commonality.
Variations
- Raise the target to ten for longer sessions.
- Find one thing that is different about everyone as well.
- Mix leaders into groups to flatten hierarchy.
Playing it online
- Use breakout rooms and a shared online document.
- Reconvene to share only the most surprising discovery.
Tips for the host
- Hint at categories: hobbies, food, travel, school memories.
- Move around to give each group a nudge when stuck.
Mistakes to avoid
- Allowing obvious answers that end the game early.
- Grouping close friends together.
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