1 Minute Life Stories

In this game, participants work in pairs. One person tells their life story for one minute without interruption, and the listener then repeats back as much as they remember. This exercise helps people get to know each other and demonstrates active listening skills.

1 to 5 (One Minute to Five Seconds)

Players start the game playing a 1 minute scene. The scene is repeated but compressed down to 30 seconds, then 15, 10, 5.

1,2,3

This is a surprisingly fun and simple game where two people face each other and count to three, alternating who starts the count. Variations can include replacing “2” with a clap and “3” with a jump. It improves focus, rhythm, and quick adaptation to changing rules.

10 Fingers

Participants form a circle and hold all ten fingers high in the air. They ask yes/no questions, and if a question can be answered with “No,” the player reduces their fingers by one. The person who remains at the end wins.

3 Lines / Three Line Exchange

This exercise involves two players. One player starts with an action, and the other delivers the first line. The second line is delivered by the second player, and the final line goes back to the first player. In these three quick lines, the goal is to establish the who, what, and where, and give characters attributes they can work with.

3 Series

Players form a circle and pick a category (e.g., car makes, girls’ names). The first person states an example and points to someone else. This continues with different items in the category until everyone points at one person. The pattern is then repeated with a second category, eventually running multiple categories simultaneously without pointing. The idea is to listen for the item right before yours to know when it’s your turn.

3 some

This is a fun warm-up game. One player offers something (e.g., “I am a slice of cheese”). A second player jumps in and adds something to the offer (e.g., “I am a slice of bread”). A third player jumps in and adds again (e.g., “I am a pickle”). The first player then leaves, taking one of the others with them, and the remaining player restarts by saying what/who they are.

8 Things

In this game, someone is given a category and must quickly name 8 things within that category. Their partner shouts encouragement for each one, and there’s applause at the end. It encourages rapid-fire idea generation, builds group trust and support, and helps overcome self-censorship.