What is Amoeba?

Amoeba puts the whole group into one unbroken circle, hands locked, with a single object sitting in the middle. From there, everyone has the same job: get someone else to touch that object, without letting go of the hands on either side of you. Touch it, and you're out; let go of the circle, and the whole game stops working.

It works because the tension is physical, not verbal. Every pull you feel is a two-way negotiation with your two neighbors, and there's no bench to hide on — the circle only holds together if everyone stays in it, right up until one player is left.

Skip it for remote teams — the whole game runs on hand-in-hand contact, so there's no video-call version. And think twice for a group that's new to each other or uneasy about that much touch; the second-amoeba variation below keeps more people in the game longer, but it doesn't solve the contact question.

The rules

Everyone holds hands and forms one large circle — the link can't break, on purpose or by accident.
Place a safe, durable object in the center of the circle.
Pull, push, or maneuver your neighbors toward the object, without letting go of their hands.
Touch the object and you're out of the game.
The game ends when one player remains in the circle.

Before you start

Group size: 10–20 players. A full circle gives everyone room to maneuver. Fewer players and there's nowhere to hide; many more and reach gets limited.
Any space with room for one big loop. Indoors or outdoors both work — you just need enough open floor for everyone to form a single unbroken circle.
One safe, durable object for the center. A small ball or a hula hoop works well. Set it where it's visible and reachable from any point in the circle.
Ages: 10 and up. The pulling and pushing is real contact — this one's built for players old enough to handle it safely.
Designate a referee. Someone watching for accidental touches and enforcing the no-letting-go rule keeps disputes to a minimum.

How to run it

Set the ground rules 1–2 min
Explain it in one breath: hold hands, don't let go, touch the object and you're out, last player in the circle wins.
Form the circle and place the object 2–3 min
Gather everyone into one large circle with hands joined, then set the safe object in the center where it's reachable from any point.
Play 10–20 min
Players pull, push, and maneuver their neighbors toward the center while trying to avoid it themselves — all without breaking the link.
Track eliminations 30 sec
Anyone who touches the object steps out immediately, or joins the second amoeba if you're running that variation.
Declare a winner 1 min
Play continues until only one player remains in the original circle.

← nobody wants to be the one who lets go.

Facilitator tips

Set the boundary before anyone locks handsWalk the group through the play area first — where the circle can safely stretch, what's off to the sides. It heads off collisions before the pulling starts.

Call out the negotiating, not just the rulesPoint out early that every pull is a two-person conversation with whoever's on your other side. Naming it gets quieter players strategizing instead of just holding on.

Swap in the second amoeba for anxious groupsIf elimination makes people tense, run that variation from the start — nobody actually leaves the game, they just change circles.

Debrief the touch, not just the winThe more useful conversation happens after — ask what people noticed about their own instincts, not just who won.

Variations

Second amoeba

Instead of leaving outright, anyone who touches the object joins a second circle forming around the first. They try to avoid the object themselves while still working to eliminate players from the original circle.

Negative points

Pair the second amoeba with scoring: players there take a negative point each time they touch the object again, instead of being cut from the game entirely.

Why it works

Reads as one continuous negotiationEvery pull or twist is felt by the whole circle at once, not just the two people involved — players end up tracking the group's strategy through their hands, not just their eyes.

Elimination doesn't have to mean sitting outThe second-amoeba variation keeps anyone who touches the object in play instead of on the sideline — nobody spends the second half of the game just watching.

HELLO, MY NAME ISJon

"This is the one where nobody can hide behind a phone or a coffee cup — you're holding hands, so you're in it. The second-amoeba variation is the detail I like most: nobody actually leaves the game, they just start scheming from a new angle."

Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker

Reflection questions

For groups that want to talk it through — a few minutes of these turn a physical game into a real conversation about trust and teamwork.

What was your experience with physical contact during the Amoeba game?Surfaces comfort levels with touch and close proximity — useful context before you run this one again.
How did you communicate and work together with your teammates to avoid touching the object in the center?Points at how much of the game hinges on communication, not just physical maneuvering.
What strategies did you use to maintain the circular formation while pulling or pushing others away from the object?Gets at the on-the-fly problem-solving the physical negotiation demands.
How did you feel when you, or someone else, accidentally touched the object in the center?Opens space for empathy around the elimination moment.
Did you notice any differences between your own actions and those of others during the game? If so, what were they?Builds self-awareness and perspective-taking from what people just watched each other do.
How can the lessons learned from this icebreaker be applied to real-life situations where teamwork and collaboration are necessary?Bridges the game back to how the room actually works together.
What changes would you suggest to make the Amoeba game more inclusive or accessible for people of varying ages, abilities, or backgrounds?Turns the group into co-designers of a more inclusive version.