Find Your Match
Participants receive cards with one half of a famous pair, then mingle to find their match. Once paired up, partners introduce themselves. Active icebreaker that gets everyone moving and talking.
10-20 min
6-60 people
high
basic
About This Game
Find Your Match is an energizing icebreaker that combines movement, mingling, and conversation. Each participant receives a card with one half of a famous pair (peanut butter & jelly, Romeo & Juliet, thunder & lightning, salt & pepper). Participants then circulate around the room asking questions to find their matching partner. Once they find their match, pairs spend a few minutes getting to know each other before introducing their partner to the group. The beauty of this activity is its simplicity and effectiveness: it breaks down initial social barriers through a fun, low-pressure task, ensures everyone talks to multiple people during the search, and creates natural conversation starters once matches are found. Works particularly well for groups where people don't know each other yet.
Objectives
- Get participants physically moving and interacting with multiple people
- Create natural conversation opportunities through shared task
- Ensure every person pairs with someone they might not naturally approach
- Practice introduction skills and active listening in structured pairs
- Build energy and break down initial social awkwardness
How to Run This Game
Facilitator Script:
"Everyone, please take one card as they're passed around - don't show anyone yet! Your card has one half of a famous pair. Your mission: find the person with your matching card. You can ask questions, give clues, but don't just shout out what's on your card! Once you find your match, stay together and we'll do quick introductions. Ready? Show your cards now and start searching!"
Actions:
- Pre-prepare cards with matching pairs (half the group gets first item, half gets match)
- Shuffle cards before distributing to randomize pairs
- Hand out one card per person face-down
- Explain the matching task clearly
- Set boundaries (stay in room, use inside voices if needed)
Tips:
- • Prepare extra pairs in case of odd numbers or last-minute attendees
- • Choose pairs that are well-known but not too obvious (avoid matches that are too easy or obscure)
- • Good examples: Batman & Robin, cookies & milk, macaroni & cheese, lock & key, sun & moon
- • For larger groups (40+), consider using themed sets (all foods, all movies, all cities & landmarks)
Facilitator Script:
"You have 5 minutes to find your match! Mingle, ask questions, and have fun. If you're stuck, give bigger hints. And remember - this is a great chance to meet people you don't know yet!"
Actions:
- Set a timer for 5 minutes
- Observe and ensure everyone is participating
- Help anyone who seems lost or stuck
- Give time warnings: "3 minutes left!" "1 minute left!"
- Encourage mingling, not just staying in one spot
Tips:
- • Play upbeat background music to energize the room
- • If someone finds their match very quickly, challenge them to help others
- • Watch for wallflowers and gently encourage them: "Have you met Sarah yet? She might have a clue!"
- • For hybrid: virtual participants can have digital cards and search via breakout rooms
Facilitator Script:
"Great! Most of you have found your matches. Now, spend the next 3-4 minutes with your partner. Learn three interesting things about them because you'll be introducing them to the group. Ask questions like: What do you do? What brought you here? What's something unique about you?"
Actions:
- Confirm everyone has found their match (help stragglers)
- Set timer for 3-4 minutes for paired conversations
- Provide conversation prompts if needed
- Circulate and listen to energy levels
- Give 30-second warning before time's up
Tips:
- • Offer specific questions to ask: "What's your superpower?" "What's a fun fact?" "What are you hoping for today?"
- • If odd number, create one trio instead of leaving someone out
- • For quieter groups, write conversation prompts on a slide or whiteboard
- • This is where real connection happens - don't rush it
Facilitator Script:
"Time's up! Let's hear from our pairs. I'd love each of you to introduce your partner - share their name, what you learned, and maybe why they're a perfect match for your pair! Who wants to go first? How about... [point to a pair]. Tell us about your partner!"
Actions:
- Call on pairs (or ask for volunteers)
- Each person introduces their partner (not themselves)
- Keep introductions brief (30-45 seconds each)
- Celebrate creative or funny connections
- Thank each pair enthusiastically
Tips:
- • Model the introduction format with the first pair if needed
- • For large groups (20+ pairs), do selected samples or ask for funniest/most creative matches
- • Acknowledge the matching pairs as they introduce: "Ah, peanut butter and jelly - classic!"
- • End with: "Let's give everyone a round of applause for being great sports!"
Facilitator Tips
- Test your pairs beforehand - make sure all are recognizable but not too easy
- Print cards on colored paper or laminate them for reuse at future events
- Keep a "master list" of which pairs you created in case someone loses their card
- Strategic pairing: if you know participants, you can engineer specific pairs by controlling who gets which cards
- Energy management: this activity naturally creates noise and movement - embrace it!
- Have a backup plan for stragglers: "Still looking? Find me and I'll help!"
- Consider theme-based sets: all movie pairs, all historical figures, all geographic pairs (Paris & Eiffel Tower)
- For recurring team meetings, rotate themes: this month food pairs, next month animal pairs
Common Challenges & Solutions
Variations & Adaptations
Use pairs related to your industry or meeting theme. Tech teams: "Bug & Fix", "Code & Coffee", "Frontend & Backend". Teaching conference: "Teacher & Apple", "Pen & Paper", "Question & Answer".
After finding matches, instead of one longer conversation, do 3 rounds of 90-second partner rotations. Each pair splits and partners with another "half" for quick conversations before reuniting.
Instead of famous pairs, use trivia questions and answers. One person gets "What year did WWII end?" another gets "1945". Finding your match requires asking/sharing and creates more challenge.
Send cards via private message. Participants update their Zoom names to show their item. Use breakout rooms to create random 2-3 person rooms. Pairs must find each other across multiple room rotations.
teams have used this game