9 Easy Networking Game Alternatives for Professionals

Here are 9 easy networking game alternatives that get professionals talking to people they don't already know.

A green dot for 'hiring' or a blue dot for 'first-timer' tells people who someone is.

It doesn't give them a reason to walk over, or anything to say once they get there.

Most guests glance at the stickers and keep talking to the person they came with.

The emcee reads a question, and the whole room hears the same one.

People turn to the person already next to them, usually a coworker, and answer it.

It gets a few minutes of chatter, but very few new connections.

Open mingling only works for the most outgoing people in the room.

Everyone else waits for someone to approach them, or checks their phone.

An hour later, most guests have met one or two new people.

Jam Bingo is a phone-based networking game that gives every guest their own prompt and a reason to go find someone new.

Instead of a sticker that says 'hiring', a guest gets a prompt like 'Find someone who is hiring this quarter.'

Now they have a reason to walk over and the first sentence ready.

Every guest gets a different prompt, one at a time, so they spread across the room instead of turning to the person beside them.

Everyone is playing at once, so approaching a stranger feels normal, even for introverts.

At L'Oréal's sales kick off, participants met an average of 20+ new colleagues in 45 minutes.

Replace the colored dot with one line: 'Ask me about my side project' or 'Ask me about moving to Lisbon.'

It hands the other person a ready-made opener.

Instead of: colored stickers on name tags.

Each name tag has half of a famous pair or a puzzle piece.

Guests find their match and answer one question together.

Instead of: colored stickers, since the tag now gives guests a mission, not just a label.

Put a different prompt on every cocktail table, like 'What's a skill you learned this year?'

Guests who stop at a table already have something to talk about.

Instead of: an emcee reading the same conversation starter to the whole room.

Guests pair up for 4 minutes, answer one question on screen, then rotate.

The timer ends each conversation, so nobody gets stuck.

Instead of: free-for-all networking, while still feeling relaxed.

Call out a category like 'industry' or 'how long you've been in your role.'

Guests find everyone with the same answer and introduce themselves.

Instead of: free-for-all networking, since every cluster starts with something in common.

Set up a board with two columns: 'I can help with' and 'I'm looking for.'

Guests post a sticky note in each column with their name, then find people whose notes match theirs.

Instead of: colored stickers, with a much clearer reason to connect.

Each guest's mission is to introduce two people who should know each other.

It turns your most social guests into connectors for everyone else.

Instead of: free-for-all networking, where outgoing guests only meet other outgoing guests.

Seat groups of 5 or 6 with one question on the table. Every 10 minutes, half the table moves.

Guests meet 15 to 20 people without having to approach anyone.

Instead of: an emcee calling out starters to a seated room.

Small room and a tight budget? Start with 'Ask Me About' name tags or table tents.

Seated event? Use rotation tables or speed rounds.

Large group, or you want everyone to meet more than one or two people? Use one game the whole room plays at once.