Icebreakers & check-ins for remote meetings: Check-ins people talk about afterwards.
Small games to start and end every meeting – guess, bluff, say thanks. Everyone plays along on their phone: no app, no account, in within 30 seconds.
How it works
Breakarium is a free web tool for check-in and check-out games in virtual and hybrid meetings. The host shares the stage from the browser in Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet or Webex; up to 20 people play along on their own phones via QR code – no app, no account and no cookies. Rooms and answers are deleted after 10 hours at the latest, and the server is located in Germany.
- Start: One click on “Start check-in” – your room is ready instantly.
- Share your screen: Share the stage window in Teams, Zoom or Meet. Control it with the space bar.
- Everyone joins in: Scan the QR code, enter a name, go. Results appear live on the stage.
Check-in games
Check-ins are the first five minutes of a meeting: they lighten the mood, get everyone talking and turn video tiles back into people. Perfect before stand-ups, retrospectives, workshops and kick-offs.
- 🧠 Mind Reader – One clue, one secret position – how well do you know each other?
- 🐑 Herd Mind – Don't think original. Think like the herd.
- 🔢 Number Duel – One number, lots of tactics – who can outthink the rest?
- 📖 Bluff Dictionary – Invent an answer everyone believes is real.
- 🎯 Majority Bet – Answer anonymously – and guess how your team ticks.
- 💰 The Auction – 100 coins, absurd items – what will you bid on?
- 📸 Snapshot Hunt – Grab something within reach – and show it!
- 🔗 Common Ground – Who on your team thinks exactly like you?
- 🔀 Line Up! – Secret numbers, one theme – find the right order together.
- 💡 One Clue Only – One word each – duplicate clues are out.
- 🕵️ Who Wrote It? – Anonymous answers – can you tell who wrote what?
- 📏 Range Finder – Estimate a range – as narrow as you dare.
Check-out games
Check-outs close a meeting on purpose: with a takeaway, a thank-you or a laugh. They take one to three minutes and make sure the meeting doesn't just fizzle out with an awkward “Okay, bye then”.
- 📰 Headline of the Day – The meeting as a front page – the best line wins.
- 🙌 Kudos Round – A sincere thank-you at the end – and everyone leaves with a smile.
- ☁️ Word Cloud – One word per person – and the meeting has its takeaway.
- 🎬 The Meeting Movie – What genre was today? And what's the film called?
- 😶 Three-Emoji Minutes – The meeting in exactly three emojis – the world's shortest minutes.
- 🤝 Pledge Wall – One next step each – and the team keeps their fingers crossed.
Ideas & guides
- Check-in questions for meetings that actually work – Check-in questions for Teams, Zoom and in-person meetings: 40 questions by occasion, tips for hosts and free check-in games – no app, no sign-up.
- Meeting check-out activities: end every meeting on a good note – Check-out activities for meetings: one-word summary, kudos, pulse check and more – with questions, hosting tips and free check-out games, no app needed.
- Warm-up games and energizers for virtual meetings – Warm-up games and energizers for virtual meetings: quick team building for Teams, Zoom and Meet – free, no app, played in 2 to 5 minutes.
FAQ
Does it work with Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Google Meet?
Yes, with any meeting tool where you can share your screen. The stage runs in your browser, everyone else joins on their own phone or laptop.
Do participants need an app or an account?
No. Scan the QR code or open the link, enter a name – done. No sign-up, no cookies, no tracking.
How many people is it for?
For 3 to 20 people. Most games take 3 to 10 minutes – ideal to kick off a team meeting, daily or workshop.
What happens to the answers?
They are only visible in that room and are deleted automatically 10 hours after the start at the latest. The server is located in Germany.
Do I need an account as a host?
No. One click on “Start check-in” creates a room that belongs to your browser. You’ll find it under “My rooms” until it’s deleted automatically after 10 hours.
Can I try it out without participants?
Yes. Start a check-in and click 🤖 in the stage toolbar – three test players will join and play automatically. Their answers are random and not exactly clever, but you can see how a game works beforehand: from the explanation to the reveal and the leaderboard. Click 📱 to open the participant view and play along yourself.
Can I start a new room before the 10 hours are up?
Yes. In the stage toolbar, 🔄 ends the current room – all participants and answers are deleted immediately – and creates a new one with a new code right away.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. All games are free – hosts don’t need to sign up either.