Filter:
10–15 min Activities
10 games
How to play
- Gather everyone in a loose circle. Perfect for sundowner vibes — standing or sitting, doesn't matter.
- Each person shares three quick things about their week: Rose (a highlight or win), Thorn (a challenge or low moment), Bud (something they're looking forward to).
- The rule: keep each to one sentence. No monologues. If someone goes long, the group gently clinks glasses as a 'wrap it up' signal.
- No commenting on what others share. No problem-solving. Just listening and nodding.
- The facilitator starts to model brevity: 'Rose — finally landed that client proposal. Thorn — my internet died during a presentation. Bud — this drink right now.'
- Go around the circle. After everyone shares, the facilitator says: 'Cheers to that' and everyone clinks glasses.
How to play
- Everyone sits in a circle. Each person thinks of two true statements about themselves and one false one — but the twist: all three must be work-adjacent but not boring. Examples: 'I once cried in a meeting about spreadsheets' (true), 'I have never used an emoji in a professional email' (true/lie depending), 'I named my pet after our CEO' (could go either way).
- One person shares their three statements without revealing which is the lie.
- Everyone else votes by raising their glass toward the person if they think statement #1 is the lie, #2, or #3. On the count of three, everyone points with their drink hand.
- The person reveals the lie. Whoever guessed correctly takes a sip of their drink. Whoever guessed wrong just laughs.
- The person who shared then takes a sip themselves — no matter what. Penalty for making people guess.
- Rotate around the circle. Play until everyone has gone once or twice.
How to play
- Give everyone three small slips of paper. On each slip, they write a genuine compliment or appreciation for a specific colleague in the room — but anonymously. 'You saved me on that report last week.' 'Your puns in stand-up make my day.' 'You always know the best lunch spots.'
- Fold the slips and drop them into a bowl or empty glass on the central table.
- One person pulls a slip and reads it aloud. The group tries to guess who wrote it AND who it's about.
- If the group correctly guesses both, the reader takes a sip. If they only guess one, the person who wrote it (if present) raises their hand and takes a sip.
- Keep going until the bowl is empty or time runs out.
- The person who receives the most compliments about them (by slip count) wins a 'Most Appreciated' title.
How to play
- At the sundowner, display the QR code on a phone, print it on coasters, or project it onto a wall. Ask everyone to scan with their phone camera as they grab their first drink.
- Each attendee receives a set of conversation challenges and prompts tailored to after-work vibes — things like 'Find someone who has a hidden talent that has nothing to do with their job', 'Find someone who once sent an email to the wrong person (and lived to tell the tale)', or 'Find someone who knows the best place to watch the sunset near the office.'
- Attendees move through the space, approach people they might not talk to during the workday, and have a real conversation to complete each challenge. Completing a challenge unlocks the next prompt.
- The app guides everything — no paper cards, no manual tracking. Everyone just scans, talks, and connects.
- The first person to complete all their challenges wins a prize. But the real goal is to make sure by the end of the hour, every person has talked to at least three people outside their immediate team.
- Before the sundowner, set up your Work Sundowner Icebreaker Bingo game. Mix work-related prompts ('Find someone who has been here through three different CEOs') with personal ones ('Find someone who has a pet with a weird name') and sundowner-specific ones ('Find someone who knows the best song to end the night').
How to play
- Give everyone a cheap pair of sunglasses and a marker. They have 3 minutes to decorate their glasses — anything goes. The more absurd, the better.
- Everyone puts on their decorated sunglasses. Now here's the twist: you must speak and act as if you are the person to your left for the next 15 minutes.
- The facilitator starts by asking a question to the group: 'What's something you're proud of this week?' The person answering must answer as if they ARE their left neighbor.
- If the real left neighbor thinks the impersonation is good enough, they take a sip. If it's terrible, the impersonator takes a sip.
- Keep going for 5–6 rounds of questions. Questions should be light: 'What's your go-to comfort food?' 'What's something that made you laugh today?' 'What's a skill you wish you had?'
- At the end, everyone takes off the glasses. The facilitator asks the real people: 'Did you learn anything about yourself from watching someone else be you?'
How to play
- Give everyone two sticky notes. On the first, they write a song that reminds them of a great moment at work (a win, a team celebration, a funny disaster). On the second, they write a song that represents their ideal wind-down after work.
- Someone collects the sticky notes and builds a quick playlist on the spot — one verse of each song, in the order the notes were collected.
- As each song snippet plays, the person who suggested it stands up (or raises their drink) and shares one sentence: 'This one's for the time we fixed the server at midnight and someone ordered 40 tacos.'
- After the song, everyone clinks glasses with that person. Then next song.
- The playlist keeps playing on shuffle for the rest of the sundowner. Anyone can add more songs throughout the night.
- At the end, the person whose song got the most spontaneous dancing (judged by cheering) wins a prize.
How to play
- Everyone stands in a circle. The facilitator starts a story with a classic opening: 'Once upon a time, there was a marketing team that thought they had everything figured out…'
- Going around the circle, each person adds ONE sentence to the story. No planning. No 'ummm.' Just the next thing that comes to mind.
- The rule: your sentence must start with 'And then…' or 'But suddenly…' or 'Because of that…' — classic story spine structure.
- If someone can't think of anything or freezes, the group gently chants 'Next!' and they pass. No shame, no spotlight.
- The story ends when the facilitator calls time or when someone naturally lands on '…and they all lived happily (or not so happily) ever after.'
- The group cheers for the most unexpected plot twist. The person who contributed that twist gets a point.
How to play
- Everyone stands in a circle. One person starts by giving a genuine compliment to the person on their right — but delivered as if it's a backhanded compliment, then revealed as sincere. Example (said with a smirk): 'I guess you're okay at Excel. …Honestly though, you're the reason I understand pivot tables.'
- The person who received the compliment then turns to the person on THEIR right and does the same.
- The twist: the compliment must be about a work skill or trait, not appearance. 'You're not terrible at calming down angry clients. …Actually, you're the best on the team at it.'
- Keep going around the circle. If someone can't think of one, they can say 'I owe you one' and the next person goes. They'll come back to them.
- After the full circle, the facilitator asks: 'Who received a compliment that genuinely surprised them?' People raise hands. That person gets to cheers with the person who surprised them.
How to play
- Gather everyone facing the sunset (or the direction of the setting sun). If there's no view, gather facing a window or just in a circle.
- The facilitator asks three questions, one at a time. After each question, everyone answers simultaneously — all at once, chaotically, no turns.
- Question 1: 'One word for how you're feeling right now.' Everyone shouts their word at the same time — 'Tired!' 'Relieved!' 'Hungry!' 'Good!'
- Question 2: 'One thing you're leaving behind this week.' Everyone shouts together — 'That deadline!' 'The printer drama!' 'Nothing, I'm carrying it all!'
- Question 3: 'One thing you're taking into the weekend.' Everyone shouts together — 'Rest.' 'That win we had.' 'Making pancakes.'
- After the chaos, the facilitator says: 'Now look at the person to your left. Nod once. That's it.' Everyone nods.
- Then: 'Look at the person to your right. Nod once.' Everyone nods.
- Facilitator raises their glass: 'To leaving it behind.' Everyone responds: 'To leaving it behind.' Clink. Done.
How to play
- Everyone takes out their phone and finds a photo of their desk — messy, clean, doesn't matter. If no photo, they draw a quick sketch on a napkin.
- In pairs (or small groups of 3), each person shows their desk photo and answers three questions: 'What's the weirdest thing on this desk?' 'What's something on this desk that has a story?' 'What would I never guess about you from looking at this desk?'
- After 5 minutes of pairing, everyone comes back to the full group. The facilitator asks: 'Who heard something that genuinely surprised them?' People raise hands and briefly share what they learned — about someone else's desk.
- The person whose desk inspired the most 'surprised me' comments wins a prize.
- Optional: take a group photo of everyone holding up their desk photos. Send it to the team the next morning with the caption 'We're more than our desks.'
~30 min Activities
1 game
How to play
- At the sundowner, display the QR code on a phone, print it on coasters, or project it onto a wall. Ask everyone to scan with their phone camera as they grab their first drink.
- Each attendee receives a set of conversation challenges and prompts tailored to after-work vibes — things like 'Find someone who has a hidden talent that has nothing to do with their job', 'Find someone who once sent an email to the wrong person (and lived to tell the tale)', or 'Find someone who knows the best place to watch the sunset near the office.'
- Attendees move through the space, approach people they might not talk to during the workday, and have a real conversation to complete each challenge. Completing a challenge unlocks the next prompt.
- The app guides everything — no paper cards, no manual tracking. Everyone just scans, talks, and connects.
- The first person to complete all their challenges wins a prize. But the real goal is to make sure by the end of the hour, every person has talked to at least three people outside their immediate team.
- Before the sundowner, set up your Work Sundowner Icebreaker Bingo game. Mix work-related prompts ('Find someone who has been here through three different CEOs') with personal ones ('Find someone who has a pet with a weird name') and sundowner-specific ones ('Find someone who knows the best song to end the night').
~1 hour Activities
1 game
How to play
- At the sundowner, display the QR code on a phone, print it on coasters, or project it onto a wall. Ask everyone to scan with their phone camera as they grab their first drink.
- Each attendee receives a set of conversation challenges and prompts tailored to after-work vibes — things like 'Find someone who has a hidden talent that has nothing to do with their job', 'Find someone who once sent an email to the wrong person (and lived to tell the tale)', or 'Find someone who knows the best place to watch the sunset near the office.'
- Attendees move through the space, approach people they might not talk to during the workday, and have a real conversation to complete each challenge. Completing a challenge unlocks the next prompt.
- The app guides everything — no paper cards, no manual tracking. Everyone just scans, talks, and connects.
- The first person to complete all their challenges wins a prize. But the real goal is to make sure by the end of the hour, every person has talked to at least three people outside their immediate team.
- Before the sundowner, set up your Work Sundowner Icebreaker Bingo game. Mix work-related prompts ('Find someone who has been here through three different CEOs') with personal ones ('Find someone who has a pet with a weird name') and sundowner-specific ones ('Find someone who knows the best song to end the night').
Incentivize People to Talk & Interact With Each Other.
Jam Bingo
No Prep, Easy Icebreaking Activity
Display.
Guests scan.
Prompts.
Get People Talking.
How to Host a Work Sundowner That Doesn't Feel Like a Team Meeting
Start with the Icebreaker Bingo App before the first drink is finished
Put the QR code on coasters, napkins, or a small sign at the bar. As people arrive and grab their first drink, they scan and start. The app gives them a reason to move around and talk before they settle into their usual cliques. Run it for exactly 20 minutes, then let the games flow naturally.
Read the room — adjust energy up or down
A sundowner is supposed to be low-pressure. If people seem tired, skip high-energy games like Sunglasses at Night and lean into Rose, Thorn, Bud or Sunset Check-In. If people are buzzing, run Colleague Compliment Bingo or Two Truths, One Drink. The facilitator's job is to watch, not to force a schedule.
Keep it moving — 10–15 minutes per game max
People are here to unwind, not to commit to a 45-minute team exercise. Time every game and cut it when the timer goes off, even if it's mid-round. 'We're stopping there — let's grab another drink' is always the right call. Better to leave people wanting one more round than checking their watch.
Make the drinks part of the game mechanic, not the point
In Two Truths, One Drink and Sunglasses at Night, sips are signals, not chugging contests. Emphasize that. The goal is connection, not hangovers. Offer non-alcoholic options and make sip = any beverage. The mechanic works exactly the same with sparkling water.
Never force participation — ever
This is after work. People have given you their whole day. If someone wants to just sit, drink, and watch, that's a win. For every game, announce: 'If you don't want to play, just hang out and enjoy the vibes.' The people who opt out often rejoin later once they've watched and feel safe. And if they don't, that's fine too.
End with Sunset Check-In 15 minutes before last call
Close the organized portion with the simultaneous shouting and nodding. It brings everyone back together, creates a shared moment, and signals 'we're shifting to pure hangout now.' After that, turn the music up and let people just be people. The best connections often happen after the games are over.
Post a visible 'House Rules' sign near the drinks
Keep it simple and friendly: (1) No work talk unless someone brings it up first. (2) What's shared here stays here. (3) Sips are optional. (4) If you're not feeling a game, just pass. This sets the container for the night without feeling like a lecture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many games should we run at a 2-hour sundowner?
Run 2–3 games max, plus the Icebreaker Bingo App as people arrive. A good rhythm: Icebreaker Bingo App for 20 minutes (arrival/drinks), then Rose/Thorn/Bud (15 minutes), then either Colleague Compliment Bingo or Two Truths/One Drink (15–20 minutes), then close with Sunset Check-In (10 minutes). That's plenty. After that, just music and mingling. Don't over-program a sundowner — it's supposed to feel like a party, not a workshop.
What if people just want to talk and not play any games?
Great! That's the goal. The games are just a ramp. If people naturally start connecting without them, let the games go. Announce at the start: 'We have a few optional things if you want, but no pressure.' Then read the room. If everyone is already talking, cancel the games and be a hero. You succeeded.
How do we handle alcohol and still make everyone feel included?
Every game here works with any drink. In the instructions, say 'sip of your beverage' not 'sip of your beer.' Have visible non-alcoholic options — sparkling water, juice, soda — and put them in the same kind of glass as the alcoholic drinks so no one feels singled out. Never make drinking a requirement to play. The game mechanic should work exactly the same with water.
What if our team is fully remote and we're doing a virtual sundowner?
Icebreaker Bingo App works perfectly — everyone scans the QR code on their own screen. Rose/Thorn/Bud works great over Zoom with raised hands. Two Truths, One Drink works with reactions (🍷 for truth, 🙊 for lie). Desk Drink is actually better remotely — everyone screenshares their desk photo. Avoid physical games like Sunglasses at Night unless everyone has props at home. The key for virtual sundowners: shorter games (8–10 min max) and a clear 'opt out and just chat' breakout room.
What if someone shares something too heavy or personal?
It happens, especially after drinks. The facilitator's job is to gently redirect without making the person feel bad. 'Thanks for sharing that — maybe we save the deep stuff for another time and focus on the fun tonight?' Then pivot to a lighter prompt or the next game. Also, before the sundowner, remind the team: 'Keep it light. This is for unwinding, not therapy.' But if someone does share something vulnerable, thank them privately afterward and check in the next day.
Do we need to buy anything special for these games?
Almost nothing. For Icebreaker Bingo App, you just need a QR code printed or on a screen. For Sunglasses at Night, cheap sunglasses ($1 each online) and markers. For Desk Drink, people use their own phones. For everything else: nothing but people and drinks. The most expensive item is a speaker for Playlist Pavilion — but someone's phone works fine. A sundowner should feel thrown-together, not over-produced.