Back

Icebreaker

Desert Island

Also called Stranded, Three Things on an Island, Desert Island Picks

Each person names the three things they would bring to a desert island and why; the group debates the best kit.

people
3–40
time
15 min
energy
Calm
materials
No materials
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Watch it played
How to play4

Before you start

Seat people in groups of 4–6. Announce the scenario and give everyone one quiet minute to choose before anyone speaks.

  1. 1Everyone picks three items (or one book, one song and one food) to bring to a deserted island.
  2. 2Each person shares their picks with a one-line reason.
  3. 3The group then agrees on just three items for the whole group to survive with.
  4. 4Each group presents its final three to the room; the room votes on the group most likely to survive.
Cards for this game25

Edit them now. Host mode deals them one at a time, big enough for the room.

25 cards
  • Pick three items you would bring to a deserted island.
  • Pick one book, one song and one food for the island.
  • Which one person from this room would you bring, and why?
  • Which famous person would you bring for company?
  • Which one skill would you want to have on the island?
  • Which one app would you keep on a phone with no signal?
  • You can bring one kitchen item. What is it?
  • You can bring one drink. What is it?
  • What one movie would you watch on repeat?
  • Pick one outfit to wear for a year.
  • Pick one animal to have as a pet on the island.
  • You get one luxury item. What is it?
  • What one thing from home would you miss most?
  • Pick one sport or game to play every day.
  • What one tool would be the most useful?
  • What would you name your island?
  • Pick one holiday tradition to bring with you.
  • Pick one comfort food you cannot live without.
  • You can bring one piece of furniture. What is it?
  • What is the first thing you would build?
  • Pick one song for the island's theme.
  • Pick one mode of transport to escape with.
  • What job would you take in the island's team?
  • What rule would you add to the island?
  • You can bring one memory. What is it?
What to say3
  1. 1“Your plane just went down. You're on an island. You get three things. Go!”
  2. 2“Now agree as a group — only three things for all of you!”
  3. 3“Group two, convince us you'd last a week!”
Host tips3
  • Someone always says “a boat” or “a phone with signal”. Ban rescue items at the start or the game ends in one line.
  • The group-agreement step is where it gets lively; the solo round alone is flat. Do not skip it to save time.
  • Quiet people say “same as him”. Have everyone write their picks first so they commit before hearing others.
Variants2

  • Survival ranking

    Give each group the same list of 12 salvaged items and ask them to rank them for survival. Works as a teamwork exercise rather than an icebreaker.

  • Moon base

    Same game, different setting — a space station, a long bus trip, a typhoon brownout.

Good for

Occasions

Team buildingRetreatSchoolReunion

Venues

Indoor, smallIndoor, largeOfficeChurch hallOnline
If this one dies early2