Check-in game
🔗 Common Ground
Coffee or tea? Mountains or sea? Early bird or night owl? In Common Ground, everyone answers a few quick this-or-that questions. Then the stage hunts for the most surprising matches: who thinks exactly like you – and which rare things in common connect two people who otherwise barely work together?
- 3–20 players
- approx. 4 minutes
- Free, no app
How Common Ground works
- Everyone answers eight quick this-or-that questions on their phone.
- The stage compares all answers with each other.
- It shows the pairs with the most in common – rare matches count more.
- Each person sees their personal “best match” on their phone.
Why Common Ground works
- Builds connections between people who otherwise rarely interact.
- No competition, no points – just great conversation starters.
- Perfect for new teams, kick-offs and cross-functional workshops.
Great for
- Kick-off
- Onboarding
- New teams
- Cross-functional workshops
Examples
- Coffee or tea?
- Early bird or night owl?
- Mountains or sea?
- Dog or cat?
- Sweet or salty?
Tips for hosts
- After the reveal, let the pairs briefly share whether they'd have expected that match.
- In large groups, follow up with a breakout session for the “matches”.
FAQ
Are there winners?
No. Common Ground is deliberately not a points game – it's all about getting to know each other.
More check-in games
- 🧠 Mind Reader – One clue, one secret position – how well do you know each other?
- 🐑 Herd Mind – Don't think original. Think like the herd.
- 🔢 Number Duel – One number, lots of tactics – who can outthink the rest?
- 📖 Bluff Dictionary – Invent an answer everyone believes is real.