60 icebreaker questions for a spin the wheel game
Most icebreakers fail for the same reason: they put one person on the spot while everyone else waits for their turn in silence. A wheel changes the feel of it. The question is chosen by chance, the person is chosen by chance, and there is a few seconds of suspense that gives the room something to watch together.
Below are sixty questions sorted by setting, followed by three ways to run the game and some practical advice on keeping it short and comfortable. Copy any list straight into the wheel, one question per line.
How to set it up
- Copy one of the lists below and paste it into the wheel on the home page.
- Switch to Elimination mode so no question comes up twice.
- Open the Random Name Picker in a second tab with everyone's names, also in Elimination mode.
- Spin for a person, then spin for their question.
- Share the question wheel link in the chat if people are joining remotely, so anyone can take a turn at spinning.
Long questions are shortened on the slices so they fit, but the full text always appears in the result popup.
Quick questions for any group
These take ten seconds to answer and suit a round where everybody speaks once.
- Tea, coffee or neither?
- Early bird or night owl?
- What was the last thing you watched?
- What is your go-to comfort food?
- Beach, city or mountains?
- What song is stuck in your head?
- Sweet or savoury breakfast?
- What is the best thing you ate this week?
- Window seat or aisle seat?
- What is your most-used app?
- Cats, dogs or something else?
- What was your first job?
- What is one thing on your desk right now?
- Summer or winter?
- What would you happily eat every day?
Questions for work meetings
Safe for colleagues who do not know each other well, and useful for learning how people like to work.
- What is one thing that made your week easier?
- What is the best piece of advice you have been given at work?
- What skill would you like to learn this year?
- What does a good working day look like for you?
- What is a tool or shortcut you cannot work without?
- Which job would you try for a week if you could?
- What is something you are proud of from the last month?
- How do you like to receive feedback?
- What was the most useful meeting you ever attended, and why?
- What is one small thing that would improve how we work?
- What do you do to switch off after work?
- Who taught you the most in your career?
- What is the strangest job you have ever had?
- What is something you used to believe about work that you no longer do?
- Where do you do your best thinking?
Questions for classrooms
Written for children and teenagers. Nothing here asks about home life, money or anything a pupil might not want to share.
- If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?
- What is your favourite thing to do at break time?
- What superpower would you choose?
- What is the best book or film you know?
- If you could invent a new school subject, what would it be?
- What is your favourite game to play?
- What would you put on a pizza if anything was allowed?
- Which place in the world would you most like to visit?
- What are you really good at?
- What is something new you learnt recently?
- If you could be any age for a day, which would you pick?
- What is the funniest thing you have seen this week?
- Would you rather explore space or the deep sea?
- What would your dream treehouse have in it?
- What is one thing that always makes you laugh?
Questions for teams getting to know each other
A little more personal. Best once a group has met a few times, and always with the option to pass.
- What is a small thing that makes your day better?
- What is a hobby you would take up if you had more time?
- Which place feels most like home to you?
- What is a skill you have that most people here do not know about?
- What is the best trip you have ever taken?
- What was your favourite subject at school?
- What is something you changed your mind about?
- What is a tradition you love?
- Who would you invite to dinner, living or not?
- What is the best gift you have ever been given?
- What would you do with an unexpected free day?
- What is a film or book you recommend to everyone?
- What did you want to be when you were ten?
- What is one thing on your list for this year?
- What is the kindest thing a colleague or classmate has done for you?
Three ways to run the game
| Format | How it works | Time for 10 people |
|---|---|---|
| One each | Spin a name, then a question, until everyone has answered | 8 to 10 minutes |
| One question, everyone answers | Spin a single quick question and go round the group | 3 to 4 minutes |
| Small groups | Split into groups of 3 or 4, and each group answers three questions together | 6 to 8 minutes |
The small-group format is the kindest for shy people and the best for large numbers. The Team Picker makes the groups in one click, and on a video call you can paste the result into the chat and use it for breakout rooms.
Keeping it comfortable
- Always allow a pass. Add a "Free pass" or "Pick your own question" slice to the wheel so opting out is part of the game.
- Go first yourself, and keep your answer short. It sets the length for everyone else.
- Match the questions to how well the group knows each other. Start with the quick list.
- Stop while it is still fun. Five minutes at the start of a meeting is plenty.
- For more playful groups, the Would You Rather Wheel works the same way and needs no setting up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make an icebreaker wheel?
Copy a list of questions, paste it into the wheel with one question per line, and switch to Elimination mode so each question is used once. Spin a second wheel of names to choose who answers.
How long should an icebreaker take?
Five minutes is enough for most meetings. With more than about ten people, ask one quick question that everybody answers, or split into small groups, rather than spinning for each person.
Can I use an icebreaker wheel on a video call?
Yes. Share your screen with the wheel in full screen, or send the share link in the chat so anyone on the call can open the same wheel and spin it.
What if someone does not want to answer?
Let them pass or spin again, with no comment. Adding a "Free pass" slice to the wheel makes passing a normal part of the game.