Fun Games to Get Teens Talking

Why talking games work with teenagers

Getting teenagers to open up in a group setting can feel like an uphill task. Left to their own devices, most will drift into pairs or small clusters with people they already know, barely glancing at anyone else in the room.

This is completely normal behaviour. Teens are often self-conscious and wary of looking foolish in front of their peers. The challenge is creating situations where interaction feels like a natural part of what's happening rather than something forced upon them.

Games that prompt conversation work because they shift the focus away from the person speaking. Instead of asking someone to share something about themselves out of nowhere, you give them a framework. A question to answer. A task to complete. Something to react to. This takes the pressure off and lets conversations happen more organically.

These activities can be useful in several situations: when a youth group meets for the first time, when energy levels are low, when cliques have formed and need breaking up, or simply when you want to inject a bit of life into a session. They work equally well for church youth groups, Scouts and Guides, youth clubs, and school extracurricular activities.

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Games that get conversations started

The following games are straightforward to set up and run. Most need minimal equipment, and all are designed to encourage teenagers to talk to one another rather than just answer questions from a leader.

Coloured sweets questions: Give each person a small pack of Smarties (the UK chocolate variety) or similar coloured sweets. Ask them to eat all but one colour. Once everyone has a single colour left, reveal that each colour corresponds to a different question. Rather than having everyone answer publicly, which can feel exposing for shyer members, consider letting people pair up to discuss their answers first. Prepare your questions beforehand and make sure they invite proper answers rather than yes or no responses. This game often works well because the element of chance takes the awkwardness out of being selected to speak.

Two truths and a lie: Each person shares three statements about themselves. Two are true and one is false. The rest of the group tries to guess which is the lie. This classic game encourages people to share interesting facts about themselves while keeping things light. It also sparks follow-up conversations as people ask about the true statements.

Would you rather: Pose a series of "would you rather" questions and ask people to physically move to different sides of the room based on their answer. Those who pick the same answer then have a minute to discuss why they made that choice. This gets people moving around and talking to different members of the group.

Speed meeting: Arrange chairs in two rows facing each other. Each person has one minute to chat with the person opposite them before one row shifts along. You can provide conversation prompts or let people talk freely. This ensures everyone speaks to multiple people in a short space of time.

Desert island picks: Ask each person to name three items they would take to a desert island and explain their choices to the group. The explanations usually reveal something about the person's priorities, sense of humour, or interests, and often prompt questions from others.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Tips for running these games well

The way you introduce and manage these activities matters as much as the games themselves.

Keep your explanations brief. Teenagers will tune out if you spend too long on instructions. Demonstrate if needed rather than over explaining.

Join in yourself where appropriate to show support and encourage participation. If young people see leaders taking part, they are more likely to engage fully. It also signals that the activity is meant to be enjoyable rather than a chore.

Read the room. If a game is falling flat, move on rather than forcing it. Not every activity will land with every group, and that is fine.

Avoid questions that could embarrass or single out individuals in uncomfortable ways. Steer clear of anything too personal or that might touch on sensitive topics without warning. Be mindful that teenagers come from varied backgrounds, so questions about family situations, finances, or cultural practices may land differently depending on your group. Questions about hobbies, preferences, hypothetical scenarios, and light opinions tend to work best.

Give quieter members space to contribute without putting them on the spot aggressively. Some teenagers need a moment to gather their thoughts before speaking.

Making it a regular habit

One session of games will not transform a group overnight. Building genuine connections takes time, and these activities work best when used regularly rather than as a one off.

Consider starting each meeting with a quick five minute game to warm people up. Over several weeks, you will likely notice members becoming more comfortable with one another and more willing to chat outside of structured activities.

Vary the games you use so they stay fresh. You can also ask group members for suggestions once they are familiar with the format. Giving teenagers some ownership over the activities can increase their investment in the group. It's worth checking in occasionally to find out which games people actually enjoyed and which fell flat, so you can adjust accordingly.

If your group ever meets online or in hybrid settings, many of these games can be adapted. Would you rather questions work well in video calls, and two truths and a lie translates easily to any format.

The goal is not to force friendships but to create conditions where they can develop naturally. A relaxed atmosphere where talking to new people feels normal is the foundation for any successful youth group.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Youth Group Game Finder lets you match games to your specific group needs by filtering across age, group size, space, and activity type. Try it now →