All methods
EnergiserBeginner

Dicebreakers

Dicebreakers is a getting-to-know-you activity in which people in small groups take turns rolling a die and answering whichever of six prepared questions matches the number rolled. Chance decides the question, which takes pressure off the speaker and keeps the sharing light. The format is generic and widely used; the version referenced here is by Mark Collard of playmeo.

Duration
5m–10m
Group size
3+ people
Materials
One die per small group, or an online dice roller, Sheet with six numbered questions per group
Origin
Generic practice; version described by Mark Collard (playmeo)

Facilitation script

  1. 1

    Form groups of four to six, hand out dice and question sheets, and explain the rule: roll, answer the matching question, pass the die.

    2 min
  2. 2

    Groups play. Walk round, listen in, and remind people that one re-roll is allowed.

    6 min
  3. 3

    Call time and ask a few groups for one thing they learned about someone that surprised them.

    2 min

Tips

  • Write questions that anyone in the room can answer in under a minute and that lead somewhere slightly beyond small talk.

  • Tell people they may re-roll once if they land on a question they would rather skip or have already answered.

  • Groups of four or five keep waiting times short and give everyone several rolls in ten minutes.

Common pitfalls

  • Writing questions that are too personal for a first meeting, which makes people guarded for the rest of the session

  • Writing questions that are too bland, so answers are over in five seconds and groups finish in two minutes

  • Making groups too large, so each person rolls once and spends most of the time waiting

  • Giving no re-roll rule, which means some people answer the same question three times while other questions never come up

  • Skipping any link to what follows, so the activity feels like a filler and not like the start of the session

Variations

Online, share the question list on screen and have people use a dice roller or simply call out a number between one and six, in breakout rooms of four. For a check-in or check-out, make all six questions about the session topic or about what people are taking away. With two dice and eleven questions the pool is larger, though the middle numbers come up far more often. In a large plenary, the facilitator can roll one big die and everyone answers the same question with a neighbour.

Where it fits

Getting-to-know-you in a new groupLow-threat sharing at the start of a sessionTopic-specific check-inTable conversation starter at a larger eventCheck-out with reflection questions

When to use it

  • A new group needs a first conversation and you want it to happen in small groups, not in plenary

  • You have a large number of people at tables and want every table busy with the same simple activity

  • Participants are hesitant, and a question chosen by chance feels less personal than being asked directly

  • You want to steer the opening conversation towards the workshop topic through the questions you prepare

  • You have five to ten minutes and can bring a handful of dice

When not to use it

  • You want everyone to hear the same answers from each person, for example in a small team kickoff. Use Check-In Questions in plenary

  • You have under five minutes. A One Word Check-In gets every voice in faster

  • The group knows each other well and has done many question rounds. Choose something with more play in it, such as Two Truths and a Lie

  • You want people to move and meet many others. In Dicebreakers they stay with one small group, whereas 3 Question Mingle mixes the room

Related methods

Team BuildingCheck-In Questions
EnergiserCard Talk
EnergiserToilet Paper Icebreaker
Team Building3 Question Mingle

Frequently asked questions

What is Dicebreakers?▾

Dicebreakers is an icebreaker in which small groups take turns rolling a die and answering one of six prepared questions, according to the number rolled. The random element removes the pressure of choosing what to talk about and gives each person a clear, short turn.

What questions work well for Dicebreakers?▾

Questions that everyone can answer briefly and that reveal a little about the person, such as a place they would return to or a skill they would like to have. Mix lighter and slightly deeper questions, and add one or two linked to the workshop topic.

How big should the groups be?▾

Four to six people per die works best. Each person then gets two or three turns in about six minutes. Any number of groups can play in parallel, so the total group size has no real upper limit.

Can Dicebreakers be run online?▾

Yes. Put the six questions on a slide or in the chat, send people to breakout rooms of four and let them use an online dice roller or a physical die at home. The rest runs exactly as in the room.

What if someone rolls a question they do not want to answer?▾

Offer one free re-roll or let them pick a neighbouring number. Saying this at the start keeps the activity safe, and people rarely need to use the option once they know it is there.

🪡

Plan your next workshop with AI

Workshop Weaver helps you combine methods like Dicebreakers into a complete, timed agenda in minutes.

Try it free

Method descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Generic practice; version described by Mark Collard (playmeo).