Fun Facts
Fun Facts is a get-to-know-you guessing game in which each participant anonymously contributes one little-known fact about themselves and the group tries to work out which fact belongs to whom. It is a common icebreaker with no single originator; the facilitation agency Mischief Makers documents an online version with a chat-based and a scored whiteboard format. The value sits in the reveal, when each owner tells the short story behind their fact.
Facilitation script
- 1
Explain the game and the brief for a good fact: true, not widely known, fine to share with this group, one short sentence.
1 min - 2
Everyone posts one fact on an anonymous note on the shared board. Skip this step if you collected facts by private message beforehand.
2 min - 3
Line up and number the notes, then give silent time for everyone to write down a name against each number.
3 min - 4
Reveal fact by fact. The owner speaks up and gives the story in a few sentences while everyone marks their own guess right or wrong.
6 min - 5
Collect scores in the chat, name the winner and let them pick the celebration.
1 min
Tips
Brief the fact carefully: it should be something colleagues do not already know, that the person is happy to have discussed, and short enough to fit on one note.
Number the facts so people can write guesses as pairs of number and name.
Keep each reveal story to about 30 seconds, otherwise a 20-person round overruns badly.
If the group is new to each other, show a participant list next to the facts so people have names to guess from.
Common pitfalls
Whiteboard notes that show the author's name or cursor, which gives the answers away and ends the game before it starts; switch on anonymous or private mode and test it beforehand
A vague brief that produces facts such as 'I like travelling', leaving nothing to guess and nothing to tell at the reveal
Letting each reveal turn into a long anecdote, so the last third of the group gets rushed or cut when time runs out
Not saying that facts must be comfortable to share, which leads to an awkward moment when someone posts something too personal or a colleague guesses in a way that embarrasses them
Treating the scoring as the point; when the competition is pushed too hard, people stop listening to the stories, which are the real purpose
Variations
Drip version: collect the facts in advance and drop a single one into the session at intervals through a longer call or workshop day, with a quick guess each time. In a room, collect the facts on identical cards written in block capitals, shuffle and pin them up. For groups above 25, split into breakout groups of eight to ten so that every fact still gets its reveal. For a team that already knows each other well, narrow the brief to a theme such as first jobs or unusual skills.
Where it fits
When to use it
A remote or hybrid team is meeting for the first time and a plain round of introductions would be flat
A project kick-off brings together people from different departments who know each other by name only
An established team has new joiners and you want them to become known for more than their job title
A long online session needs a ten-minute change of pace that still builds connection
You have a whiteboard tool with anonymous notes and a group small enough for everyone's fact to be revealed
When not to use it
The group is larger than about 25 and cannot be split, because the reveals take too long; Human Bingo scales better
Participants are complete strangers without a visible name list, so nobody can guess meaningfully; use Trading Cards or a simple check-in round first
The meeting is tense or follows bad news, where a scored guessing game reads as tone-deaf; a One Word Check-In is the safer opening
You only have five minutes; a single check-in question gets everyone speaking in less time
The team has played it recently and the good facts are used up; Two Truths and a Lie or Guess the Desk gives a fresh angle
Related methods
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
What is Fun Facts?▾
Fun Facts is an icebreaker in which every participant anonymously submits one little-known fact about themselves and the group guesses who each fact belongs to. The facts are then revealed one at a time, with each owner briefly telling the story behind theirs. It takes 10 to 15 minutes and works well online with an anonymous whiteboard or private chat.
How is Fun Facts different from Two Truths and a Lie?▾
In Two Truths and a Lie each person presents three statements under their own name and the group spots the false one. In Fun Facts every statement is true and the puzzle is who it belongs to. Fun Facts asks less of each person, one fact rather than three plus an invented one, and puts the whole group's facts side by side.
How many people can play Fun Facts?▾
Around 5 to 25 people. Below five the guessing is too easy, and above 25 the reveal round takes longer than an energiser should. For bigger groups, run it in parallel breakout groups of eight to ten.
How do you collect the facts anonymously?▾
There are two usual ways. Ask people to send their fact to the facilitator by private message before or at the start of the session, or open a shared whiteboard with anonymous notes and give everyone two minutes to post one. In a physical room, identical cards written in block capitals do the same job.
What makes a good fun fact?▾
Something true, specific and not already known to the group, that the person is comfortable discussing in front of colleagues. Unusual jobs, hobbies, places lived and odd achievements work well. Ask people to avoid facts that identify them immediately, such as their nationality or current role.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Common icebreaker, online version documented by Mischief Makers.