A music icebreaker for team building and onboarding
Songs are a low-stakes way to get a new team talking. Everyone has a memory attached to a chorus, and sharing it is easier than a round of introductions.
Free to try. Whoever starts the game logs in with an email code, no password. Players who join a party room need no account and no app.
Most icebreakers ask people to say something about themselves in front of strangers. This one asks them to say whether a song is from the nineties or the noughties. The risk is low, the answer is right or wrong, and the discussion that follows is the real icebreaker. New hires get to disagree with a senior colleague about a chorus and nobody minds.
Timeline is turn based, which helps in a mixed group. One person plays the song, the others may advise, and the next person is up. Nobody is forced to speak for long, but everybody has a role. Run it for twenty minutes at the start of a workshop, or as the closing round of a team day.
Best way to play it Party room: Timeline. Party room: Timeline gives small teams the most conversation: the active player places the song while the others advise, and the big screen reveals the answer.
How a game works
- 1
Pick a deck
Choose a popular public deck, or turn your own playlist into a deck.
- 2
Choose how to play
Pass one phone around the table, or open a party room where everyone plays on their own phone.
- 3
Listen and guess
A 30 second preview plays and nobody sees the year. Place the song on a timeline or lock in a year.
- 4
Reveal and score
Title, artist and year come out, the timeline grows or the points go up, and the next song starts.
The timeline in one look
A timeline is a row of songs in release order. You hear a new song, never its year, and decide where it fits between the songs already on the row. Get it right and the row grows.
How to run it
Split into groups of up to 8
One Timeline room holds 2 to 8 players. For a bigger team, open a room per table on separate screens.
Let the host set a small target
The host picks how many cards win. A low number keeps the game to about fifteen minutes.
Ask one question afterwards
After the reveal, ask who remembers where they first heard it. It turns a score into a conversation.
Tips for a better game
Mix the tables on purpose
Seat people from different teams or start dates together so the game builds new connections.
Keep stealing optional
The host can switch steal tokens off for a calm session, or leave them on for more banter.
Use it as a bridge
Start a workshop with one room, then move to the real agenda while the mood is relaxed.
Why it works at a party
No cards needed
Everything happens on screen, so there is nothing to print, shuffle or lose under the sofa.
Works in the browser
No app to install, not even for a party room. Open the page and play.
Three ways to play
One phone for a small group, or a party room with a big screen for a bigger crowd.
Frequently asked questions
Is it suitable for onboarding a new team?
It is a light icebreaker. Players pick a display name and need no account, so a new starter can join in a few seconds, before they have any company logins.
How long does a session take?
The host chooses the number of cards needed to win, so you can plan for about 15 to 30 minutes.
What does it cost to play?
Popular public decks are free to play. If you turn your own playlist into a deck, the first 100 cards of that deck are free.
Do players need an account or an app?
No app is needed. Whoever starts the game logs in with an email code, no password. Players who join a party room scan a QR code or type the 4 letter room code, then pick a name.
Ready for the first song?
Pick a deck, choose how you want to play and have the first round running within a minute.
Hitify is not affiliated with Hitster or Jumbo. Hitster is a registered trademark of Koninklijke Jumbo B.V.