Top 10 Fun Icebreaker Activities for New Communities That Always Work

Getting people to talk in a new community is tough.

Everyone's silently lurking, wondering "Should I go first?". And no one wants to be the first one!

That’s why icebreaker activities are your best friends. They lower the barrier, spark quick conversations, and help members feel like they belong. You may make them a part of your Community Onboarding.

Here are 10 fun, simple, and effective icebreakers you can use to get things moving:

1. Two Truths and a Lie

A classic - and still a winner.

Each member shares three short statements about themselves. Two are true, one’s a lie. Others guess the lie.

It’s surprising how much you learn about people. We tested this in a technical founders group, and someone claimed they had coded their first app at 12 and once shook hands with Elon Musk. 🫢

2. Human Bingo

Make a bingo card filled with fun prompts like:

"Has a dog named after a cartoon character"
"Has lived in more than 3 cities"
"Drinks chai instead of coffee"

Members then find others who match the boxes. Great for hybrid and virtual events…just use a Google Sheet or Notion table.

Bonus: offer a small gift to the first person who gets 5 in a row.

3. Desert Island Scenario

Pose this: “You’re stranded on a desert island. You can take 3 things. What do you choose?”

Expect hilarious answers like “WiFi, Pizza, and Netflix” as well as deeply thoughtful ones like “A notebook, a solar charger, and a survival kit.”

It sparks good conversations about values, priorities, and personality quirks.

4. Speed Networking

Perfect for larger communities.

Pair people up randomly (use breakout rooms or threads), give them 2 minutes each to introduce themselves, then rotate.

Prompt them with quick questions:

What’s a skill you're learning right now?
What’s a recent win you’re proud of?

It’s quick, high-energy, and helps members find their tribe fast.

5. Photo Sharing Challenge

Ask members to share a fun photo: maybe their current workspace, their favorite meal, or a childhood memory.

It’s light, personal, and helps spark storytelling. You’ll be amazed how many connections start with “I have the same coffee mug!”

6. Common Threads

Split your members into small groups and ask them to find three things they all have in common.

Sounds easy? It’s not. But it forces people to go beyond surface-level intros.

“I found a group where everyone played the flute in school. What are the odds?”

7. This or That? Polls

Quick polls work wonders.

Ask stuff like:

Coffee or tea?
Work from home or office?
Books or podcasts?

These spark quick replies and encourage lighthearted debates. Bonus points if you turn the results into a community infographic.

8. AMA with a Twist

Instead of a boring “intro thread,” run an AMA (Ask Me Anything) for new members.

Pick 1–2 new folks every week and let the community ask fun, informal questions:

“What’s your guilty pleasure movie?”
“What’s your secret productivity trick?”

This works way better than “Hey, introduce yourself!”

9. First Post Challenge

Make it easy for people to post. Start a thread titled: “Drop your first post here 👋”

Prompt: “Tell us how you found this community or what you're hoping to get from it.”

Low-pressure. High-engagement. Also helps the algorithm learn what content to recommend.