free virtual critical thinking team building activities for adults

39 free online team building games for remote teams

Whether you’re looking for an activity to get your creative juices flowing at the start of a brainstorming session, or simply a fun activity to unwind after a long week, read on as we share 39 virtual team building games for remote teams. .

Did you know that 75% of employers rate teamwork and collaboration as very important in the workplace? With this statistic front of mind, it’s important that managers carve out time in everyone’s calendar to take part in team-building games.

How well your employees work together can be a make or break for your team.

What are team building games?

Team building games can be defined as fun activities you can do with your co-workers to improve how everyone works together.

Team building games are designed to encourage teamwork, collaboration and creativity within your company — a benefit that, in any company, would prove essential to a high-performing team .

That’s easy to do in the office, I hear you say… But what about when you have remote teams located across the country or the world? That throws a team-building spanner in the works.

Read more: The best team building activities in Sydney

Our top 5 team building games

Short on time? Here’s a quick look at our top 5 team building games, each serving as a unique way to bring your team together.

1. Best for a good laugh: Skribbl.io

Skribbl.io is a fun, easy-going drawing and guessing game that helps improve creative communication among the team.

2. Best for communication skills: Can You Hear Me Now?

Can You Hear Me Now is a game that demands clear communication and active listening, where players describe and draw images using only geometric descriptions, honing articulation, and understanding.

3. Best for cultural exchange: Recipe Share

Recipe Share is a platform where team members share their culinary creations or favourite recipes, celebrating and appreciating the diverse cultures within the team.

4. Best for building relationships: Get to Know Your Team

Get to Know Your Team is a casual space where team members answer light and fun questions, offering a chance to learn more about each other in a relaxed setting.

5. Best for Strategic Thinking: Online Escape Room

Online Escape Room is a virtual adventure that requires collective problem-solving and strategic thinking, emphasising the importance of teamwork in navigating challenges and achieving common goals.

What are the benefits of team building in a remote working environment?

Strong teamwork is at the heart of every successful and high-performing team.

At the end of the day, you want your team to do their best work, and often this involves working as part of a team. If you don’t have a culture where your team is working towards one common goal and ready to help others, that’s where it can start to fall apart.

Although remote teams are physically apart, it doesn’t mean that you can’t organise virtual team building games.

Whether it’s a short activity at the start of a virtual meeting to flex your remote team’s strategy brain or a Friday night happy hour trivia session, there are many ways you can bring the team together with online team games so you can reap the benefits such as:

Everyone getting to know their team
Encouraging everyone to work towards a common goal outside of the work environment
Improving communication
Allowing your team to be more creative
Encouraging your team to step away and have a break from work, which can lead to increased productivity

Let’s face it, the future is remote . So when your team is located all over the country or world, it’s important not to lose sight of those fun activities you’d normally enjoy in the office.

Whether you’re looking for an activity to get your creative juices flowing at the start of a brainstorming session or simply a fun activity to unwind after a long week, read on as we share 39 virtual team building games for remote teams.

39 free virtual team building activities

Free online team building games for remote teams

1. skribblo.

If you’re looking for a fun activity that will bring everyone together, Skribbl.io is your go-to drawing game. The rules follow a similar approach to Pictionary, and it’s a fun way to get your entire team involved and laughing.

How to play Skribbl.io

Each user logs on and joins the designated team room. From here, each player will take turns being the artist. When it’s their turn, they will have to choose a word from the three different options provided and draw that word in 80 seconds.

The other players will then have 80 seconds to guess what the player is drawing. The fastest player to guess the drawing gets the most points, and the player at the end of the game with the most posts wins!

One of our very own heroes Skribblo masterpieces 😄

When working remotely, it’s normal to miss the office buzz and morning coffee runs with co-workers. Donut is a great way to bring back that general office chat amongst your team with virtual coffee catch ups, even if it’s just for 15 minutes!

Donut is an app designed to integrate with Slack . On a separate Slack channel and on a recurring basis, Donut will randomly select people within your company as pairs. The app will send each pair a direct message encouraging them to meet up for virtual coffee. If you have a larger team or have new remote hires, this is a great way to get to know teammates you might not have previously crossed paths with.

Don’t use Slack for communication? Create a simple spreadsheet each week and pair up co-workers for a quick online office game or catch up.

Price : Free!

Take a look at Donut below. 👇

3. Tea and coffee tasting

When we’re in the office, it’s only natural that many office conversations will happen over morning tea and coffee. But what happens when we take away that social element?

*Cue sobbing*

Chances are, your workplace is filled with tea and coffee enthusiasts.

Send out a calendar invite to gauge interest for a tea and coffee tasting. From here, finalise numbers and start hunting for interesting tea flavours and exotic coffee blends. Round up 5 – 10 different individually wrapped tea bags and coffee sachets and place them in an envelope.

Once you’ve got your coffee and tea kit, address them to those taking part and head off to the post office.

When it comes time for the tasting, you can talk through the flavours, the background and whether or not it’s hit or miss. It’s a great way to unite the team over their love of tea and coffee!

Want to go one step further? Include a numbered tasting card with your team to write their thoughts!

Price : Low ($ – $$)

4. Wine tasting

Similar to tea and coffee lovers, chances are you have a few wine enthusiasts in your company!

When it comes to organising a wine tasting, there are a few options available. The easiest to organise is to use a service that already has the tastings, and tasting cards included.

Not sure where to look? Wyflo is an Australian-based company that has teamed up with cellar doors to create tasting kits. Simply order these for your team and get them delivered directly to their door. Easy!

On a budget? Create tasting cards for your team and a shopping list so they can get involved.

Tip : Before you set the wine varieties, make sure they are available in smaller bottles.

Price : Free to Moderate ($ – $$$)

5. Gin tasting

Tea, coffee and wine are all obvious winners, but what about gin? Gin tasting takes a similar approach to the tasting sessions above and is sure to unite those who love a good G&T.

You can provide your team with a shopping list and tasting note sheet, or choose to go for a delivery service like one from Bass & Flinders Distillery , Great Ocean Road Gin or GinTonica .

There’s nothing like a few rounds of trivia to get your team working together!

Everyone loves a fun round of trivia, especially when there are prizes involved. Trivia not only encourages teamwork but is also a chance for your team to find out more about their co-worker’s interests.

Depending on the size of your company, you could split the groups up into different teams, e.g. marketing, sales or finance. Alternatively, you could mix it up and randomly assign people to teams.

Got the budget? You can use an external service trivia provider like Oz Party Events to organise your trivia night!

Did you know that with Employment Hero you can reward your team with Hero Points ? With Hero Points, your team can access Discounts, our online marketplace with access to thousands of everyday items at a reduced price.

Price : Free to Low ($ – $$)

7. Book club

Book clubs are a great way to get those in your team together who share a love for reading.

To get started, nominate someone who will be the leader for the month. They will choose the book and lead the discussion when it’s time to meet.

Not sure where to get started? Start a Slack channel or WhatsApp group for your book club so people can ask questions as they’re reading through the book.

8. Run club

If your team is working from home, chances are they’re enjoying all of the benefits associated with remote work — like more time to spend running!

Use an app like Strava to create a running group. In this app, you’ll be able to see everyone’s times and routes and keep each other accountable.

You could have a competition for the fastest time or furthest distance and entice your team with fun prizes to keep everyone moving.

Price: Free to low ($)

Bingo is a great way to get the team together online for a bit of fun. Nominate one person as the bingo caller and the first person to mark off all of the numbers is the winner. You’ll be surprised how fun virtual Bingo can be, especially as a Friday drinks alternative!

To make it interesting, why not add some fun prizes like a day off work, a free lunch or even a gift card?

Looking for something fun ? Take a look at Drag Queen Bingo.

Find your virtual bingo cards here and take a look at a demo below.

Price : Free to Moderate ($ – $$)

10. Cutest pet competition

A fan favourite at Employment Hero is our cutest pet competition. With many remote workers looking for companionship in all of the fluffy places, chances are there’s a few pet friends in the team.

At the start of the week, share the competition with the closing date and the prize and ask your team to submit away!

If you have a company-wide staff meeting at the end of the week, use this opportunity to announce the winner and share a pic of the cutest furry friend.

Price : Free

11. Can You Hear Me Now? Game

This game is a great virtual team building activity to be played remotely. It involves everyone being in the same virtual meeting and one person given the responsibility of being the ‘speaker’ .

Everyone else in the room is known as ‘artists’ .

The speaker must pick a random image and describe it in a way that the artists are able to draw it. The speaker must only describe the image using geometric shapes, making it challenging for the artists to understand.

Example : The speaker says draw a long skinny vertical rectangle with three little horizontal rectangles of equal width of the vertical rectangle coming from the right side of the vertical rectangle to the right, with one at the top, one at the bottom, and one in the middle’, but not ‘write the letter E’.

Remember, with this game effective listening and articulating is key!

If you’re stuck for picture ideas, consider using a random picture generator.

12. Guess the emoji sentence

This fun game requires a little preparation, but the possibilities (and laughs) are endless!

To get started, you will each take turns at being the creator. The creator must come up with a sentence, but only communicate the answer in emojis.

For example, if the topic is ‘favourite movie’ you could write this to your team.

5️⃣ 0️⃣ 0️⃣ 📆 ☀️ ⛱️

The answer? 500 Days of Summer.

To keep track, you can assign a scribe and keep track, or use the format of trivia.

It can be related to your company, news events, favourite movies or anything pop culture!

Price: Free!

13. Jackbox

Looking for a fun activity that will build memories and give you those deep belly laughs? Jackbox could be the perfect virtual game for your team.

Jackbox is a series of video party games and requires one person to download the app and stream to their video call. Players can use their phone or tablet to enter their own game room via a website and their device becomes their controller.

Please note, this game is only available for up to 8 players.

Download Jackbox here.

Price Low ($)

14. Werewolf

Werewolf is a game of manipulation and deceit, making it an interesting game to play with your co-workers!

Werewolf is more complex than other games on this list, and requires the rules to be explained beforehand.

The game starts with a deck of cards that has a role on it. These roles will include:

Werewolf – eat other players
Villager – vote on who they believe is the werewolf
Medic – can rescue a player from near-death of the werewolf
Seer – reveal if a player is a wolf or not

Alternatively, you can use a random generator tool that will assign everyone a role and send it privately in a direct message.

There will be one person in charge of running the game, known as the master .

Once the master has assigned everyone a role, they will state that night has fallen. Everyone will close their eyes and gently tap on their desk or floor to cover up and sounds happening in the background of other players.

The master will make a call for the werewolf to wake up, select their prey to kill and then go back to sleep. The werewolf wants to remain anonymous the entire time, so this is where the deceit and deceptions come into the game.

From here, the master will call for the medic to wake up and point to a player to save from the werewolf and then go back to sleep.

Next, the master will call for the seer to wake up. The seer will point to one person to uncover whether or not they are a werewolf. The master will nod yes or to confirm or deny.

After this, the master will call for everyone to wake up in the morning and let the players know if a wolf ate any villagers.

The survivors discuss who they believe the werewolf is that killed a villager, and then vote together to eliminate someone. This process is continued until only villagers or werewolves remain in the game.

Note : those who are eliminated become a silent ghost. They can still play the game, however are not allowed to discuss their opinions.

Watch a quick 2-minute video on how to play werewolf here.

15. Evil apples

WARNING : This game is not for the faint-hearted. This game is suited for the more risky, rowdy and raucous workplaces.

Chances are, many of your team have played the infamous ‘Cards Against Humanity’ card game.

Evil Apples is a similar version, just online — making it a fun game to play with your teammates in a video call over a glass of wine!

Each player will use their phone or tablet as their device and use their cards to make hilarious sentences or combinations.

The game works with one topic card being selected and each player given cards to select from. Players will be required to choose the funniest or most outrageous card to present to the judge. The judge will then choose what they believe is the funniest card and the first to 7 winning cards, wins!

Download Evil Apples on IOS and Android .

16. Banana Life

Banana Life is an Australian company that was born in Queensland but services the whole of the county (and the world) with their remote online games and virtual escape rooms. They are the perfect way to connect all of your employees, no matter where they are, for a fun and different way to enjoy team building.

The best part? Banana Life offers hosts for each of their games, so even you as the business owner or manager can kick back, relax and join in the fun! One of their most popular options is the remote and virtual team building activities which are designed to keep your team engaged while bringing everyone closer together!

Virtual team building is a great way to have fun and develop connections that keep everyone working together as a cohesive team. Banana Life games are perfect for teams of all sizes; whether you have 5 or 500 staff, they can work with you. We also recommend trying their Virtual Escape Room or Virtual Amazing Race for something really different next team catch-up.

Price : $-$$

17. Exciting sponge game

The exciting sponge game is a simple concept to grasp and a fun game to play virtually. It requires creativity and for players to flex their storytelling ability.

To get started, players will need to reach for one item they can grab within the room. From here, they will be required to create an exaggerated story about the item. If they can’t find anything in their room, they will have to default to creating a story about a sponge.

This game works best when everyone exaggerates their item and adds their own weird and wacky flair.

Things is a great way to get your team together to get their creative juices flowing. You can use it as an icebreaker or a quick game at the start of a brainstorming session.

This activity works by everyone submitting topics to one person via email or instant message to create a pool of topics. Examples include:

Things to take to a beach
Things to consider when moving house

One person reads out the topic and you have to go around the room and each person says their answer. You could play this as an elimination game or create a point system to decide the winner.

19. 2 truths and a lie

This team-building game is a great activity to start off a virtual meeting with. Whether that’s a team meeting or brainstorming session, it’s a great way to get your brain thinking. This game can be played in as little as 15 minutes!

To play, each person online will come up with two truths and one lie and communicate it to the team.

The team must then vote on whether or not they believe the lie or truths. Simples!

20. Guess the image

This free online game involves one person being nominated as the host and taking photos of 5 – 10 different objects up close. The trick to this game is to choose objects that are obscure or are difficult to decipher.

The players will need to guess the objects and submit to the host. From here, the host will announce the objects and the person who guessed the most correct items.

This is a fun game to play at the start of the week and post in a virtual chat channel. At the end of the week you can reveal the answers and winners. For the players, it will only take five minutes.

21. Virtual dinner party

Many remote teams often share dinner after work, however, with a remote team it’s a lot more difficult, especially if there’s a need for social distancing.

With a virtual dinner party, send around an email invite and ask everyone to join a video call over a meal and beverage of their choice. Don’t forget to come prepared with a list of icebreaker questions!

Alternatively, if you’ve got a budget, why not get pizza delivered for everyone to enjoy?

Price : Free – Moderate ($ – $$)

22. Recipe share

Chances are you have some keen cooks and bakers in your team, so why not get them all together (virtually) to share recipes?

With workplaces more diverse than ever, the opportunity to learn more about different cuisines and food has never been easier. Food can bring everyone together, even if we can’t physically be together.

It can be as simple as setting up a virtual messaging channel called #foodiefinds or #recipestoshare and getting your fellow foodies to share their delicious creations.

If you’ve gained enough interest, you could go one step further and introduce different cuisines every week and even have a virtual cooking demonstration!

23. Scavenger hunt

You might be thinking, how do I get involved in a scavenger hunt online? But there is a way!

Depending on the size of your team, you can play the scavenger hunt individually or as part of a group.

To get started, the host will need to create a list of random objects to get the players to look for. You will spotlight each group or player on the call and they will need to go and find the specific objects in under a minute.

This game works well when you get creative with your objects. The more random the object request, the better! Some examples include:

An egg cracked into a wine glass
A cup of tea with 2 spoons of sugar
Sunglasses on a soft toy
A piece of clothing with fruit on it
A pile of toilet paper taller than the person looking building it

Keep track of who can complete the requests and the one with the most points wins. If the leaderboard is tight and you want to make sure a clear winner is crowned, why not add two requests?

24. Guess the refrigerator

You can probably guess what this game entails…

Each member of your team will take a photo of their refrigerator and submit to one person. From here, the photos will be shared in a document and each player will have to put a name to the fridge.

This is a fun, quick game to share throughout the week.

25. The Words Game for Slack

For those using Slack as your primary instant messaging tool, The Words Game is a fun and easy way to get your brain going.

To get started, simply invite your team to the channel and start the game by typing ‘/wordsgame’. You’ll be given some random letters and all players will need to form as many words they can with those letters.

Each game lasts for 60 seconds and at the end of the game, they will notify the channel of the results.

Download the Words Game Slack extension here.

View a video of the Words Game in action below. 👇

Price: Free for those using Slack

26. Guess that tune

This classic game is a take on an ol’ pub trivia favourite and is a great way to bring out the competitive streak in your team.

To play, simply drop an invite in your team’s calendar and ask the trivia host to start preparing a list of songs. During this game, the trivia host will play a few seconds of each song and the players will have to write down what they believe it is.

Have a larger team? You can split your team into breakout rooms and make it a team contribution!

27. Speed sudoku

Sudoku is a well-known game, but have you ever challenged anyone else to a speed race? Speed sudoku can bring out the competitive streaks in your team, whilst encouraging some brain training in the process.

To get started, share an online sudoku game with your team and ask them to complete it as fast as they can. Once they’ve finished, ask them to screenshot their result and post it in the group chat or share their screen via the video call.

Looking for an online sudoku game? Try WebSudoku.com

28. The question game

The question game is as simple as it sounds, and it could bring a flurry of childhood memories rushing back to you. In your video call, you will nominate someone to start by calling out one person and asking them a specific question. From here, the person who the question is directed at must answer the question with another question, whilst directing it at another person on the call.

To score the question game, you can do elimination rounds or work on a negative point scoring system for those who can’t answer the question with a question.

Tip : make sure you have your video call on tile mode so you can see everyone!

29. Scattergories

Scattergories is an old favourite and one that always brings people together. It’s an easy concept to pick up and online generators make it easier than ever to get involved virtually.

Each player will be sent their own link and you’ll be ready to get started.

The game involves one letter being chosen, coupled with a list of categories. You have one minute to come up with a word that falls within the category and starts with the specific letter.

It sounds simple, but it’s more challenging than you think!

Take a look at the virtual Scattergories game here.

30. Guess the Workspace

This is a quick and simple game to bring your team together online.

To get started, ask your team to submit a picture of their workplace to one designated person. From here, the person will post the workplaces in a company-wide communication channel and your team will have to guess who’s desk it is.

Tip : Use Slack? Use the Polly integration to create a poll!

31. Get to Know Your Team

Let’s face it — joining a remote team is a different experience, and one that many may not be familiar with. Without the everyday social interactions in the kitchen or the morning coffee runs, it can be hard to learn about your team.

If you’re looking to introduce your new team members to the wider team but not sure where to start, why not create a list of icebreaker questions and send around calendar invites. You can make these sessions over morning tea with coffee or tea, or at the end of the day and invite everyone to grab a beverage of choice.

Need some question inspiration? Check out these.

Which movie have you seen recently or what are you watching on Netflix / Stan / Binge?
Do you have a pet? What’s he/she like?
What’s your favourite video/board games and why?
If you had a yacht, what would you name it?
What’s your most-used emoji?
Which fictional family would you want to be part of?
Show us the most recent photo you have in your phone.
What was your first job?
If you could only eat one dish for every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
What’s one totally irrational fear that you have?
What’s the first concert you ever went to?
What’s your favourite TV show—the one you’re always watching on repeat?

Don’t want to single out one person? Why not make it a quarterly event and invite all of your new starters to join in for a panel discussion of icebreaker questions.

If you don’t have new starters, you could also invite members from certain remote teams to be in the spotlight each week.

32. Guess the virtual background

Everyone loves a good Zoom background, so why not turn it into a fun guessing game? Ask your team to choose somewhere they would rather be right now and go around and ask people to guess.

With these activities, they can be done during a meeting or over a virtual event. Remember, the more crazy and obscure, the better!

33. Have a Virtual Pottery Night

Have you ever thought about bringing the team together for a virtual pottery night? Neither did we, until now that is….

You might be thinking, but how would this work?

You can purchase pottery kits from Crockd and send them to your teammates for a creative and memorable crafternoon!

With each Crockd kit, you’ll receive

blocks of clay
carving tools
step-by-step instructions,
clay breakers (aka convo cards)
and a personalised message from your company

Take a look at Crockd Pottery Kits for your virtual team building night here.

Price: Starting from $50pp

34. Movie Night

Netflix watch parties are a nice way to unwind virtually with your team after the working week. They’re an especially fun way to unwind for the tv series and movie buffs in your workplace!

Everyone has different tastes when it comes to movies and TV shows, so why not set a schedule? Think scary movies, comedy nights or Disney classics. You could send out a poll and set sessions up based on the poll preferences. This way, anyone can drop in whenever they see something they’d like to watch.

With a Netflix streaming party, you can add participants and all chat together to discuss what’s happening.

Interested? Take a look at Netflix Streaming Party here.

35. Virtual Cooking Class

During these times of isolation, it’s no secret that everyone has a newly found passion for cooking. Whether that’s baking or making a gourmet feast, why not ask some of your most keen foodies to share a cooking demonstration?

Prior to starting the cooking class, give your team the list of ingredients, the recipe and the opportunity to follow along. For those who’d rather just watch from the sidelines, invite them to pull up a chair with a glass of wine or soft drink.

36. Critical thinking with Flex Mami

Want to learn more about your co-workers, but not sure how to do it virtually? Pencil in some time for a virtual critical thinking session and your team will instantly know more about their co-workers. This hilarious and thought-provoking conversation card game

If you’re stuck for ideas, FlexFactory have some fun games you can purchase and share with your team.

On a budget? Create your own questions!

Price : Cards start from $39.99 or free if you DIY.

37. Online Escape Room

Escape rooms are an extremely popular team building activity and with great reason. They require skill, logic and above all, team work.

But how do you recreate an escape room virtually, I hear you ask…?

You can find a company that organises one for you like Mafia , The Insiders or The B.R.U.C.E. Project.

On a budget? Why not try designing an online escape room yourself or with a group of people in your team?

Price : Moderate ($$)

38. Virtual Drawing Class

Over the past few years, drawing and painting classes have gained huge popularity. They’re fun, creative and hilarious.

You can have one person demonstrate how to draw a specific image, or give your team free reign to draw whatever they’d like within a certain topic.

Looking for a fun Friday happy hour event? Turn it into your very own wine and drawing night!

If you’re looking to add more personalisation, send out a bundle to your team members home with a sketch pad and some pencils. If budget allows, why not find a professional art teacher to lead your session.

Price : Free – Moderate ($)

39. Team Debates

When you think of debates, you probably cast your mind back to your school days — whether you have good memories or not so, having a debate is a fun way to get your team working together.

Remember, you want your virtual team building games to be fun, so avoid bland or boring topics. Set a broad or silly topic and divide your team into 2 groups, affirmative and negative.

Need some inspo? Try topics such as:

Pizza vs. pasta
Miley Cyrus vs. Kim Kardashian
Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

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33 virtual team building games (free and easy to use!)

free virtual critical thinking team building activities for adults

Being remotely distributed doesn’t mean your team should be disconnected. It often falls to a facilitator or team leader to help virtual teams stay aligned and connected. Virtual team building games and online activities you can play on Zoom are a great place to start!

In this list of completely free online team building games, you can engage and excite your team with ease! We've picked our favourite team building games you can run online without a need for complex set-up or buying additional software.

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What is virtual team building?

Virtual team building is a process of creating connections, deepening bonds and sharing experiences with team mates in an online setting.

Virtual team building can come in many shapes in sizes. You can improve team connections in online groups by adding short games and activities to your regular meetings and workshops. You can also conduct a dedicated team building session in the form of an online game like an escape room or quiz.

Virtual team building can even be a concerted effort on a process level – creating opportunities for employees in different teams to catch up over an online coffee or introducing a shadowing scheme.

What are virtual team building games?

Trust, alignment and good communication are fundamental building blocks for a high performing team. But how can we create them?

Team building games are a fun, effective way of bringing a team together in a shared activity designed to cultivate skills and build shared bonds. These can take the form of highly involved activities with some friendly competition, or they can also take the form of party games where team members are encouraged to just hang out and get to know each other better.

Team building is especially important in virtual environments, where remote teams can somethings feel isolated or disconnected. By coming together online for something other than a meeting, you can help build bonds and create memorable moments.

Fun virtual team building games

Most of the exercises and activities you’ll facilitate during an online session will have definitive goals and outcomes in mind when you run them, such as building particular skills or solving problems.

When designing workshops, remember that improving team connection is a viable and worthwhile outcome. Having fun and connecting with your teammates is a vital part of being a productive team member, and it’s worth remembering that there is value in having some enjoyable exercises with your team to de-stress, connect and get to know each other a little better.

Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Working towards shared goals and demonstrating team values in the course of an exercise is great practice for tackling complex business projects – if you can have fun while doing so, even better! The Virtual Scavenger Hunt is a great team activity for Zoom and an online whiteboard – encouraging teams to be creative, gently competitive and work together to get the best possible result. Start by creating a list of items to be found online. You can see an example in the method below. Then, split your team up into groups to go and find those items and collect them in the allotted time. Bonus points for encouraging the use of different tools, forms and media, and to allow teams to be creative in finding the items for the online scavenger hunt. We’ve found that having a debrief section and also creating a list that is almost undoable in the allocated time frame helps keep the stakes high and ask that a team prioritizes and communicates effectively. It’s also fun to see what different groups came up with at the end!

Virtual scavenger hunt #energiser #teambuilding #remote-friendly A fun team-building energiser that encourages groups to recreate the scavenger hunt experience in a fully remote environment!

Story Around the Circle

Human beings are naturally born storytellers. With this online energizer, you’ll take some time to connect with one another through telling a shared story and be encouraged to have fun while improvising too!

The organiser starts with a line like “Once upon a time, in a land far away, 5 people got together to solve all the world’s problems. Everything seemed easy, until one day, one of the people saw on the horizon…” and invites the next person in the group to continue the story and add the next line. This keeps going until everyone’s contributed to the story.

When it comes to recording the story – do so either in Google Docs or in your online whiteboard tool. If someone wants to draw images to go with the story, that’s great too! Remember that creative team activities that encourage personal responses are absolutely worth adding into your toolbox!

If you want to keep participants on their toes, add rules like the lines have to rhyme in couplets, or have a word that people can’t use or must use. You could even choose who creates the next line, rather than going around in order. We love this exercise as it’s simple, engaging and can be easily amended to your needs.

Story Around the Circle #team #storytelling #teampedia #remote-friendly Creating a story together can be merely for fun, or it can help the team imagine its future or recall its past.

Sharing knowledge, experience and skills is something good teams do by default. Finding time to let your team share what they’re passionate about outside of a work context is also valuable when it comes to building a cohesive, connected team.

With Skillshare, you can invite members of your group to share a hobby, passion or skill with the rest of the team and teach them something. This can take the form of a practical session – a keen artist might take the team through a drawing exercise – or a person with an interest in jazz might talk about why they love the genre. You can go as big or as small as you want, though the key is to let your team lead the way and share a passion or skill that is close to them. Building team bonds through this kind of experiential exercise can really help bring a team together over distance.

Remote-friendly skills that are easy to teach over video chat are a bonus, though, with some creativity, you can share all kinds of skills online in a fun way – whether those skills include cooking, sculpting, writing, yoga or anything else!

Guess the Desk

A challenge all online teams face is the feeling of disconnection and distance from your group. Finding ways to feel connected to one another and build team bonds when working remotely should be a priority for managers of virtual teams.

Guess the Desk is a fun online team activity that can not only help teams get to know one another but share best practices for remote working too! In Guess the Desk, start by having each participant take a photo of their desk or remote working set-up and send it to the facilitator who then puts them into a shared whiteboard or Google Doc. Don’t tell anyone whose desk is whose!

During the first round select one member to be the Desk President: they cast the vote on whose desk is whose after a group discussion. After each round, the previous Desk President elects the next and the group moves on to guess the next desk. Here’s the fun part. If your desk is up it’s your job to convince everyone that it belongs to someone else: if the group votes incorrectly on your desk, you get a point! If you successfully guess the right desk while you are Desk President, you also get a point.

After all the desks have been guessed, debrief and point out any particularly good remote working set-ups and best practices you notice and want to share!

Guess the desk #remote-friendly #energiser #teambuilding An energiser game for remote teams where participants share images of their work set-up and attempt to guess opponents’ desks while bluffing their own!

Virtual Trivia

Every organization has a history filled with unique stories, in-jokes and memorable events. Creating a company quiz and inviting your team to see how well they know the organization can be a fun way of celebrating your history, what you’ve achieved and have some fun along the way!

A pub quiz format where one person asks questions that teams or individuals answer in a Google Doc, the text channel or in a Zoom session works great for energising and engaging your participants. Have a prize for the winning team and be creative with your questions to make your online office trivia sessions a release valve for your team and to create a relaxed, fun atmosphere.

When choosing the questions for your virtual trivia game, it can be useful to get input from different heads of department and have themed rounds. Pair with a virtual happy hour and a treat of your team’s choice to make this a memorable experience!

GIF challenge

Team members often have fun and idiosyncratic ways of communicating with each other, and finding ways to share your personality is an important factor when connecting with others. In an online environment, having fun and creative outlets that help your group communicate and get to know one another really helps build effective, happy teams.

For this remote team game, set-up an online whiteboard or shared Google Doc and post a phrase or statement that participants then have to search for a suitable GIF in response. It might be something as simple as, “That Monday morning feeling,” or “Good management looks like this.” You can have a couple of questions just for fun, then include some that invite people to creatively respond to organizational challenges and prepare them for the next exercises.

After each round, you can invite everyone to comment or vote on their favorites, and have additional rounds to crown a winner if you wish. One great way to use this exercise is by sprinkling several rounds of questions throughout the workshop to keep energy levels up and create some moments of fun and creativity as counterpoint to other exercises.

GIF challenge #energiser #fun #remote-friendly Create space in your agenda for a fun online energiser where participants are encouraged to find creative GIF-based responses to your questions.

Team Eurovision

Music is a universal language, and sharing music we love as a group can create some interesting conversations and facilitate team bonding – even the music we like is very different! In Team Eurovision, invite everyone in your group to select a song made by an artist from the country where they were born and add the song to a shared Spotify playlist. Want to make it more interesting? Have a rule where everyone’s song had to come out in the year 2000, or from the year they were born. Play the songs in a dedicated after work session (alcohol, treats or snacks encouraged!) and invite each team member to introduce each song and tell the team why they should vote for it. Collect the votes at the end and crown a winner!

You can use the Team Eurovision method as a standalone virtual team activity, or have the shared Spotify playlist playing in the background of a remote working session. Remember that the purpose of the exercise is to have fun and start conversations that can help your team get to know each other, so don’t worry if it falls apart!

Virtual Cribs

Remember MTV Cribs? In that TV show, celebrities invited a film crew into their homes and gave them a guided tour. In Virtual Cribs, you invite a volunteer from your team to give us a guided tour of their home over Zoom and share part of their lives with the group. Invite the other members of the group to ask questions and comment on what they love. Seeing how other people live and work in their remote set-ups can help virtual teams get to know one another and feel more connected.

Want to spice things up? Have your team find a place they love on Google Street View or a virtual museum tour and give the rest of the team a guided tour as if it was their home. This can be a fun way to explore new places virtually, while also encouraging your group to be creative. Visiting the National Gallery of Australia and trying to explain why you put a statue of a crocodile in your front room can make for a fun team activity!

Virtual Bingo

Even a regular team meeting can be made a little more fun with a game of virtual bingo. Start by distributing your bingo cards to everyone in the virtual meeting. We recommend customizing your own to make the items resonate with your company culture or to share (nice!) jokes with your co workers.

As you go through your meeting, ask participants to keep track and announce when they’ve filled their card! This is a great way to keep your team engaged throughout a virtual team building event, and you can even offer prizes to the winners too!

Virtual Bingo #team #skills #remote-friendly #group game A bingo game that is played throughout a live session using common virtual session occurrences.

Bad Movie Night

Watching movies as a group is always a great way to spend time together. With online services like Netflix, it can be easy to get your remote team to collectively watch a film together and de-stress with company. Watching any film out of hours with a virtual team can be a nice way to spend time together outside of work and feel connected, but how can we make this even more fun and include a competitive element?

In Bad Movie Night, have each member of your group suggest a “so bad it’s good” film and vote on which you should watch together. Cult films, old horror movies or schlocky B-movies are a great place to start! Your team will likely have some suggestions but if you need a hand, Rotten Tomatoes and Buzzfeed have some good examples. If in doubt, try The Room ! After you’ve watched the terrible/great film together, have everyone write a one sentence review of the film and post it anonymously into a shared document or whiteboard. Encourage everyone to be as savage, critical and creative as possible, then vote on whose review is the funniest!

In an office environment, it’s easy for team members to do nice things for one another in order to show their appreciation: you might get your colleague a coffee or a cake they love, or help out with a tough piece of work. For remote teams, making these kinds of gestures is difficult and while it’s not a necessary part of having an effective team, taking the time to show your colleagues you appreciate them is a lovely way of saying thank you!

With Gift Chain, invite your online team to send a small, personal gift to a team member in appreciation. You can use a secret Santa like system to pull names out of a hat, or have each person choose someone they’d like to say thank you to once they received a gift to keep the chain going. Set a small price limit or alternatively, have each gift be a handwritten letter that is sent in the post. It can feel really special to receive a thoughtful gift or letter from a colleague and it’s a great way of bringing positivity and appreciation to remote teams during difficult periods.

Breakout Room Tag

Recreating a sense of fun and possibility for remote employees is tough. This virtual team building game is a fun and easy way to bring the high-energy of a game of tag to your online meeting.

Start by setting up Zoom breakout rooms and giving participants the option to move between them. Next, invite someone to be “it”. That person needs to enter a breakout room, count to ten and then say someone’s name to make them “it”. Randomly assign the entire team to breakouts and then let the fun begin!

We particularly like this online game for teaching remote team members how to use your video call software while also energizing the group! Try running a few rounds of Freeze Tag too, where people must hold a pose until someone else sings happy birthday to unfreeze them, if you want to up the ante.

Break-out Room Tag #large group #virtual #zoom #remote-friendly #energizer #high energy #ericamarxcoaching Everyone plays tag, using breakout rooms in Zoom

Team Gallery

Whether you’re an expert photographer, proud parent or amateur snapper, most of us regularly take photographs on our phones. In Team Gallery, set a weekly photograph prompt and invite your team to take a photograph and anonymously submit it into a shared online whiteboard. You might ask your team to take a photograph of some natural beauty or an image to go with a phrase like, “How I spent my summer vacation” or “This is me in a nutshell.” Your prompts or questions can be fun, creative, or ridiculous but should encourage everyone to respond creatively!

As a facilitator, you can make it into a competition where everyone votes on their favorite image or caption, or have your gallery be a place to share and connect asynchronously. Whatever you go with, ensure the photographs stay up and are collected and shared. Think of all the great stories and images you’ll have after a few months of running this activity! It can be a lovely shared resource for new team members getting to know everyone and is a great way to connect and engage with one another outside of a work context.

The Exciting Sponge Game

In this improv game, team members each have a minute to find a random object in their space and return to their desk. The more humdrum or ordinary the object, the better!

Next, invite everyone to spend another minute brainstorming an idea for a story that elevates that ordinary object (a sponge, for example!) into an exciting one. Finally, invite your group to take turns telling an improvised story featuring the object for sixty seconds on zoom.

This team building game is an opportunity for your group to be creative, share something personal and create memorable moments on the spot! Bonus points for taking screenshots of each person with their exciting sponge and adding it to your Mural or company handbook!

Virtual team building games to get to know each other

Online meetings can take time to get comfortable with, particularly for teams who are just transitioning to remote working. Communicating with colleagues in an online environment can be challenging because of the lack of physical cues, non-verbal communication and all the potential distractions one might have when working from home or in a remote office. And just like any skill, it needs practice. Breaking the ice and getting people comfortable with interacting with each other is a vital part of any effective working session. This is particularly important if you have a new or freshly formed team to deal where people don’t yet know each other as much.

One of the first barriers many people face in online meetings is speaking up – by starting with an inclusive online team games, you can get everyone over this hurdle right at the beginning. Furthermore, helping your team get to know one another and become comfortable working together virtually helps lay the foundation for deeper team development exercises. Let’s take a look at some of our favourites!

Break the Ice with The Four Quadrants Activity

The Four Quadrants activity is a creative, visual exercise that is a great way to help your group get to know each other and encourage personal responses. You can use this with any four questions that will help a virtual team align, get to know one another, or outline challenges or working opportunities. It’s super flexible and works with teams of any makeup.

In an online environment, this exercise works well using an online whiteboard like Mural or Miro to collect responses and have people participate in real time. You can use digital drawing tools or invite participants to draw on paper and upload photos to the shared whiteboard.

Break the Ice with The Four Quadrants Activity #team #icebreaker #get-to-know #teambuilding The Four Quadrants is a tried and true team building activity to break the ice with a group or team. It is EASY to prep for and set up. It can be MODIFIED to work with any group and/or topic (just change the questions). It is FUN, COLORFUL and works every time!

Happiness Exercise

Sharing personal experiences and generating positivity can help groups bond and improve team relationships. The Happiness Exercise is a great, remote-friendly team activity to build trust and help people share honestly and openly.

Start by asking members of the group to share an occasion when they were happy. Join in yourself to give your team the idea! Once everyone has spoken, ask everyone to give an example of a time they made someone else happy. Choosing just one can be a challenge, but you’ll be surprised at how much you can learn and share with these very simple prompts. If you’re using an online whiteboard or collecting notes in a shared document, it’s fun to collect these experiences for later reflection and sharing!

Happiness exercise #teambuilding #icebreaker #warm up #remote-friendly This exercise is a simple application of the principles of Appreciative Inquiry.

Icebreaker: The Group Map

Many great remote team activities were born in live workshops with large numbers of people and big open spaces. Translating some of those activities into an online workshop can be tricky, though it’s no reason not to do them! With a little creativity and the right tools, many existing exercises can be reworked for remote environments successfully.

The group map is a fun virtual icebreaker for Mural, Miro or any other online whiteboard. By creating a virtual space with either an imaginary or virtual map where participants can position themselves and add images, you can foster an environment of sharing and reflection that can be fun to interact in too! Encouraging participants to be creative can also lead to great shared resources and team boards to reflect on and share later!

Icebreaker: The Group Map #get-to-know #icebreaker #remote-friendly Ask people to place themselves on an imaginary map laid out in the room representing the country according to where they grew up. Ask them to share one internal value they got from that place, and why is that important for them. Encourage people to share a short story if they want

Three Wishes

Simplicity is your friend when it comes to remote team building. Facilitating structured conversations around concepts people are familiar with can make the virtual team building process a little easier and help drive quick results. Three Wishes is a flexible virtual icebreaker that can work well in a video conferencing tool like Zoom or Google Meet, or can be expanded to use images and GIFs in an online whiteboard tool. We recommend adjusting this activity based on the flow of your session: if your agenda is discussion heavy, encourage participants to share their three wishes in the forms of images, memes, songs, or GIFS. The opportunity to do a little solo-work before sharing can be a welcome change and as with any online icebreaker, the opportunity for humour helps too!

Three wishes #get-to-know #icebreaker #remote-friendly The activity serves as a brief energiser during a workshop, and helps to get creativity flowing. At the end of this method, each team member will be a little more familiar with each other.

Magic Box is a great team workshop activity but with a collection of images and some creativity, it can be an ideal icebreaker for Mural or team workshops using an online whiteboard. In the live version of Magic Box, the facilitator brings a collection of items to the workshop and invites participants to choose an object. In turn, each member of the team then gets to explain who they are, why they’ve chosen the object, and also talk about the connection between the topic of the workshop and the object.

In an online setting, you get to go one step further and include items, concepts or even people that you could not possibly fit in a real box. You might ask participants to choose someone to join the team from a group of world leaders or fictional characters. You might include pictures of objects that are directly related to the workshop or your company. Whatever you choose, ensure you include a mix that allows for varying personal tastes and gives people the chance to express themselves.

Magic Box #team #icebreaker #get-to-know #teambuilding #remote-friendly Ice breaking at the beginning of the workshop/meeting

Snapshot of my life

We all know that one aspect of effective virtual team building is giving your group the opportunity to get to know each other as individuals and form personal connections. Trust, team awareness and good working practices are almost always better with people we really know. Snapshot of my life asks participants to bring an image to the team workshop that says something about their life and upload it into an online whiteboard or shared workspace. It might be a great memory, something that is important to them or a dream they have. Sharing these kinds of personal experiences with your online team can help sow the seeds for your online team building session and can help people feel seen and heard by sharing what they find most appropriate. You can also do this exercise asynchronously and invite participants or team members to continue adding to the board after the meeting! Team games and exercises that are flexible and malleable are great methods to add to your toolbox.

A snapshot of my life #remote-friendly #energiser #teambuilding This exercise is great for building empathy amongst team members, and giving each participant a deeper understanding of their colleagues’ backgrounds (particularly great for international or remote teams). It’ll also set a casual atmosphere for the workshop ahead.

Starting your video call with an exercise that builds trust and helps your group get to know each other is a wonderful way to build team morale. In this game, ask everyone in the virtual meeting to cover their cameras and then invite one person to make a statement that is true of them. Everyone that the statement is also true of then shows themselves, gives a way and then covers their camera.

Go around the group so everyone has a chance to share their voice and have a quick moment with some of their colleagues. Follow this online team building game with breakout rooms to help people get to know each other even better!

True of Me #virtual #group exercises #connection #zoom #remote-friendly #trust #energizer #ericamarxcoaching #opening #psychological safety #group game #large group Everyone covers their camera and one person makes a statement that is true about themselves. If it is true for others on the call, they show their face to the camera as well. The initiation for the next prompt is passed to another person in the group.

Virtual dance party

You don’t need a dancefloor to have fun with your team, do you? This is a quick game designed to get people moving, lower inhibitions and let people show their personality – all without leaving Zoom!

In Dance, Dance, Dance, ask participants to create some space so they can move around. Next, put on a playlist of popular songs and kick-off with a dance that everyone else in the team has to follow. Change songs every so often and give everyone in the group a chance to be the leader. Bonus points if your video conferencing platform allows a gallery view so you can all see each other and follow accordingly!

Dance, Dance, Dance #hyperisland #energiser #remote-friendly In this short and physically active energizer, participants dance playfully in small teams. Periodically, the music changes and members take turns leading the dance. The aim is to generate fun energy and playfulness in a group, often as a counter-balance to more “serious” group work.

Virtual team building activities to improve collaboration

Great teams make it a habit to reflect on projects, group processes and how they work together as a team. Unstructured discussions on subjects like working processes or team dynamics can escalate in the wrong direction if not properly framed and facilitated.

Using team games, exercises or activities to facilitate the team reflection process can help ensure your team moves forward productively. In an online environment, taking the opportunity to reflect as a group is imperative to building bonds and improving the awareness of each member of the team.

Strength Building Exercise

The members of a team will invariably get to know one another as a by-product of working together, but is this enough to build the kinds of bonds and relationships that can make a successful remote team? Dedicated time to encourage participants to share, reflect and celebrate success should be a part of your virtual team workshop.

With the Strength Building Exercise, you’ll encourage positivity, mutual appreciation and respect among your team and help build a productive team culture. This method is great for boosting positive energy and creating space for your virtual team to celebrate one another and build a confident, self aware group. Many of the best remote team activities have benefits that extend beyond the workshop and this exercise is up there with the best of them!

Strength Building exercise #team #appreciation #self esteem #remote-friendly #values People develop confidence and self esteem as they discover that their achievements and skills are valuable. This is an exercise for team building and for increasing self esteem and mutual trust.

9 Dimensions

Even the best groups and online teams will face challenges. Discussing and resolving those challenges and reflecting on how the group is performing can take many forms though it’s important to create spaces where all opinions are heard, and dominant voices are tempered with those of less vocal group members.

The 9 Dimensions Team Building Activity is a great, remote-friendly approach to structuring a team discussion. Begin by distributing or having your team create a 3 x 3 grid with nine areas for discussion. Invite each team member to fill in the grid with a colour based on their feelings about that area. They might feel that an area needs improvement and add a red dot, or use a green dot to show they think the team is nailing that area.

The facilitator then asks the team to share some of their results before focusing on what areas of improvement the team is aligned on and where perspectives differ. This approach allows people to contribute as they feel able and keeps the process running smoothly.

9 Dimensions Team Building Activity #icebreaker #teambuilding #team #remote-friendly 9 Dimensions is a powerful activity designed to build relationships and trust among team members. There are 2 variations of this icebreaker. The first version is for teams who want to get to know each other better. The second version is for teams who want to explore how they are working together as a team.

Trust Battery

Trust is one of the foundations of a healthy, effective team. Creating a team culture where everyone feels seen, heard and valued while also able to reflect on their interpersonal relationships should be a priority.

With Trust Battery, you invite your team to reflect on their relationships with one another, be open and grow together. In an online environment where face time is limited, checking in and encouraging honest, constructive reflection is essential for healthy teams. While it can be useful to think of your team as a single organism, it’s important to remember that any group is composed of individuals, all of whom have complex and differing interpersonal relationships.

Using an exercise like Trust Battery can help bring areas to improve to the fore and allow you to work on them as a team in a structured, thoughtful manner; creating a stronger, more open team as a result. Bonus!

Trust Battery #leadership #teamwork #team #remote-friendly This self-assessment activity allows you and your team members to reflect on the ‘trust battery’ they individually have towards each person on the team, and encourages focus on actions that can charge the depleted trust batteries.

Leadership Coat of Arms

Ask two members of your team what makes a good team and you’ll likely get two answers that are as different as they are the same. Using a remote-friendly exercise like Leadership Coat of Arms is a great way to encourage a creative exploration of the subject that also creates room for different ideas. Why can’t we do the same thing for teamwork? In this creative virtual team exercise, participants are asked to draw their own coat of arms symbolising the most important elements of their teamwork philosophy. The coat of arms drawings are then debriefed and discussed together with the group. What items are consistent for the whole team and what stands out? Being asked to condense complex ideas into a simple visual format can be refreshing and also creates a gallery that can be shared and ideated upon in the future!

Your Leadership Coat of Arms #leadership #leadership development #skills #remote-friendly #values In this leadership development activity, participants are asked to draw their own coat of arms symbolising the most important elements of their leadership philosophy. The coat of arms drawings are then debriefed and discussed together with the group. After the exercise you may prepare a coat of arms gallery, exhibiting the leadership approach and philosophy of group members

Team Self-Assessment

All teams develop a default way of working together over time. Most of these working practices are dictated by necessity (online meetings for remote teams, for example) or organically as people work together on projects. While this approach can work in the short term, a deliberate and considered assessment of team working methods can help your team be more effective and happy. The Team self assessment method from Hyper Island is a team activity which asks your group to think of their team as a system with interlocking parts, much like the model of a computer’s Operating System. By thinking of your team in this new way and assessing it thoroughly, new things can come to light and your team can then make the necessary changes. This method also encourages your team to take ownership over creating this change – which is a great way of helping team members feel connected, valued and a part of the process.

Team Self-Assessment #team #hyperisland #remote-friendly This is a structured process designed for teams to explore the way they work together. The tight structure supports team members to be open and honest in their assessment. After reflecting as individuals, the team builds a collective map which can serve as the basis for further discussions and actions. The assessment is based around 6 dimensions. Each one encouraging the team to reflect and analyse a different and crucial element of their behaviour.

Virtual team building games for communication

Anyone working in a team knows how important communication is: when it’s good, your team works like clockwork and you feel like you can achieve anything; when it’s bad, tasks take twice as long, things get missed and people get frustrated.

Virtual teams whose primary method of communication might be Slack or email especially need to consider how they communicate and work together. Some things which may come across easily with verbal communication might not be clear in text, and when working together online, good standards of communication are important to keep things moving effectively.

Proper and transparent documentation, kick-off meetings and retrospectives are only one part of the puzzle. Combine these with experiential learning and remote-friendly communication exercises in order to get real results. Team communication activities like the below are great for helping virtual team members think about how they might better communicate. Let’s dig in!

Blind Drawing

Whatever the organisation, teams invariably have members with different skill sets and knowledge bases. One of the challenges of team communication comes when one team member tries to explain an unfamiliar concept to another team member. If teams aren’t great at communicating, this process can be frustrating for both parties. In Blind drawing, one person has to describe an object while another has to accurately draw it from this description alone. The rule is that the person describing the object cannot say anything which clearly gives away what the object is or is closely related. For example, if describing a tree, you might say, “It’s a tall cylinder with lightning coming out of each end, one set of lightning spreading out into the air, the other going into the ground. It has rough, weathered skin, and at the ends of each fork of lightning there are hundreds of children that grow until they’re ready to fall.” It’s a fun exercise to see how people interpret abstract instructions, but it also shows how what might be obvious to one person is not obvious to another, and underlines the need for clear, effective communication.

Blind Drawing #teambuilding #communication #creative thinking #remote-friendly Test your communication and interpretation skills with Blind Drawing!

Humans are storytellers by nature. Sharing stories of where we’ve come from, what’s happened to us and how we feel about the world is part of being alive, and by tapping into this instinct, you can enable perspectives to come to the surface and encourage meaningful exchanges that can help your team grow together.

Begin by creating a word cluster in a shared online space as triggers for the session. These might include company specific words, or more general terms like: partnership, venture, first day, work travel, fun project, opportunity, and so forth.

Invite your participants to look over the collected notes and have a volunteer take one of those words and move it to the campfire space and share a connected work story. This works most effectively in an online whiteboard where you can clearly delineate the working areas.

Continue to share stories connected to words from the wall or the previous participant’s story until everyone has shared a work-related story. Sharing experiences in this way can help teams feel connected, communicate their perspectives and practice sharing work related thoughts in a positive, considered manner.

Campfire #gamestorming #team #remote-friendly #storytelling Campfire leverages our natural storytelling tendencies by giving players a format and a space in which to share work stories—of trial and error, failure and success, competition, diplomacy, and teamwork. Campfire is useful not only because it acts as an informal training game, but also because it reveals commonalities in employee perception and experience.

Team of Two

Regardless of the size of an organisation, most business communication actually takes place as an exchange between two people: a manager asks for something from an individual, or a customer support agent liaises with a customer, for example. While teams might be composed of many people, it’s vital to remember that each of those people is an individual and those individuals all have different working relationships with one another.

Team of Two is a focused team communication activity designed to help two individuals work better together and ensure they each are contributing to the process. This one works great in Zoom breakout rooms or private sessions though it’s worth noting that this activity might also benefit from a moderator.

While this technique is highly effective, it’s not suitable for all situations, particularly if communication has broken down completely. Attentive team managers will want to deploy this exercise when challenges arise and to help teams move past communication issues.

Team of Two #communication #active listening #issue analysis #conflict resolution #issue resolution #remote-friendly #team Much of the business of an organisation takes place between pairs of people. These interactions can be positive and developing or frustrating and destructive. You can improve them using simple methods, providing people are willing to listen to each other. “Team of two” will work between secretaries and managers, managers and directors, consultants and clients or engineers working on a job together. It will even work between life partners.

Feedback: Start, Stop, Continue

Giving regular, thoughtful feedback is one of the most important ingredients in building meaningful relationships and ensuring teams can communicate effectively. While team members might give feedback on an ongoing and ad-hoc basis, creating a space for a structured online feedback exercise can help a group give more thoughtful feedback in a constructive way.

The Start, Stop, Continue exercise encourages groups to reflect on group dynamics from three angles and create actionable steps to improve communication in their remote team. By having these guiding principles, you can ensure the feedback given is constructive and that the session is productive: a must for any online team workshop!

Feedback: Start, Stop, Continue #hyperisland #skills #feedback #remote-friendly Regular, effective feedback is one of the most important ingredients in building constructive relationships and thriving teams. Openness creates trust and trust creates more openness. Feedback exercises aim to support groups to build trust and openness and for individuals to gain self-awareness and insight. Feedback exercises should always be conducted with thoughtfulness and high awareness of group dynamics. This is an exercise for groups or teams that have worked together for some time and are familiar with giving and receiving feedback. It uses the words “stop”, “start” and “continue” to guide the feedback messages.

Seven Words

When online team communication isn’t working or has broken down, it’s often because of miscommunication or differing interpretations of an email or message. Considering how we use words and how they can be interpreted can really help improve interpersonal communication and make us more efficient, considerate communicators.

In Seven Words, begin with a seven word sentence and ask your group to list some possible interpretations – it can be really interesting to see all the different ways even a simple sentence can be interpreted depending on the individual receiving it! Moving into pair work afterwards means that each participant gets to see how their sentences are interpreted in action. For distributed teams who might primarily communicate over email or on Slack, this kind of focused reflection on team communication can lead to meaningful improvements very quickly!

Seven Words #thiagi #communication #skills #remote-friendly Ever heard the cliché, “It’s not what you say, but how you say it”? The Seven Words jolt dramatically demonstrates this principle. You demonstrate how the meaning of a sentence changes as you emphasize different words. Later, you invite pairs of participants to explore this concept.

Powerpoint Karaoke

Presenting a slide deck is a fairly common aspect of office life, but what about presenting a powerpoint you’ve never seen before?

Start by creating a Powerpoint deck of random slides, images, words – try and get other team members involved where you can! Next, invite a player to be the first to share a slide and try to “sell” or “explain” whatever appears on the slide. This virtual game can be so much fun, while also helping remote workers get more comfortable with presenting material online.

Powerpoint Karaoke #improv game #communication #presentation skills #skills #remote-friendly Powerpoint Karaoke is an improv game where volunteers take turns presenting slide decks that they’ve never seen before, in front of a live audience.

As the world changes and more teams turn to remote work and distributed workforces, the need for thoughtful approaches to virtual team building rises. It’s not enough to hope for the best – find time and space to develop your team and find better ways of working together in this new online environment. Not only will your team be happier and more productive, but you’ll find new ways of working and feeling connected.

We hope the above exercises give you plenty of food for thought and lots of ways to bring your remote team together for fun and productive team activities online. Have a virtual team exercise or game that’s worked well with your team or want to see more? Get in touch in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!

James Smart is Head of Content at SessionLab. He’s also a creative facilitator who has run workshops and designed courses for establishments like the National Centre for Writing, UK. He especially enjoys working with young people and empowering others in their creative practice.

Great post!

Having attended a few online icebreakers recently and not being inspired by them, I decided to go away and create my own :-)

https://www.ThinkLinks.cards

Hopefully it will be helpful to some.

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What Are Problem-Solving Activities?

Problem-solving activities are tasks that require participants to use logical thinking and follow a set of rules to resolve problems and overcome challenges.

These activities require problem-solving skills, which help find solutions for difficult situations.

Like any other skill, these tactics are best learnt through practice.

To make problem-solving activities worth the ride, participants have to be open-minded, listen to others, and accept alternative ideas and solutions.

An agile mindset can also be beneficial when participating in such activities because they’re based on understanding, collaborating , learning and staying flexible.

As problem-solving games are group activities, participants must be willing to collaborate and embrace agility and flexibility.

Another critical aspect is creating the mindset that there are no winners or losers.

The goal of these activities is to share strategies and learn from each other, rather than compete against one another.

The Four P’s to Problem-Solving

While all problems are unique and require different solutions, they share one generic attribute: they’re cyclic.

By following the four P’s in the problem-solving guide, one can resolve almost any problem that comes along.

Problem-solving activities begin with a discovery phase, where the problem is identified.

This is the step where you understand, dissect, and learn about the problem you’re trying to solve.

Until the problem has been well defined, you can’t move forward and prepare to form the right solution.

After you’ve analysed the problem, you have to develop several courses of action to solve the issue.

This is the phase where you generate several possibilities to ultimately decide on the best course of action for your problem.

After the problem has been defined and resolutions have been listed, it’s time to take action.

This is the step where you find the best approach and implement a plan that needs to be followed with precision.

You need to first visualise your plan and then execute it.

When the problem has been solved, you need to evaluate the plan and assess whether it could be improved for future situations.

While you should do your best to solve the issue, the truth is that there is always room for growth.

Reviewing and checking for room for further improvement is essential because it can help you achieve even greater results in the future.

Benefits of Developing Problem-Solving Skills in the Workplace

Now that we’ve defined problem-solving activities, you may be wondering how team members could benefit from developing problem-solving skills.

Employees are often asked to think outside the box for projects or find alternative solutions for work problems.

Problem-solving tactics are a great way to practice valuable skills relevant in the workplace.

There are a lot of situations where processes and workflow in organisations need improvement. Or, when deadlines are tight, team members have to find ways to deliver on time.

These are the exact scenarios that can be overcome if the team is able to turn problems into actionable solutions.

After all, performance is closely related to employee efficiency as achieving companies’ goals on time is crucial to success.

Having team members with good problem-solving skills means they can use critical thinking to make better decisions and ultimately increase business productivity and growth.

There are a wealth of advantages that problem-solving activities can bring to teams.

Here are a few benefits you can expect from employees well equipped with problem-solving skills:

Better risk management

Simply put, risk management skills help people know what could go wrong, assess risks, and finally take action to solve an issue.

Some people are very good at handling risk, while others are afraid of risky situations.

Whichever way your team members are naturally inclined, problem-solving techniques are here to help.

Participating in problem-solving tasks trains the mind to handle stressful situations better.

It’s impossible to avoid risk, and this is why it’s essential to be confident that your team knows how to handle risk and turn it into opportunity.

Better thinking

During team problem-solving sessions, participants are asked to work together as a group to find answers and solutions for particular problems.

Team problem-solving techniques stimulate better thinking by pushing people to find progressive alternatives.

Better thinking also develops analytical skills, which help people find logical explanations for problems and identify practical solutions.

Better communication skills

As mentioned earlier, problem-solving activities are group tasks that can only be performed if participants work together.

Humans are competitive by nature which can be problematic when trying to create a cohesive team. Problem-solving skills nurture understanding and collaboration within a company.

By solving problems together, employees learn how to better communicate and listen to others.

Having transparent and effective communication improves engagement and productivity and leads to better relationships .

Increased team cohesion

If your team already has good communication skills , this will likely lead to increased team cohesion .

Regardless of your business’s profile or size, success comes from having a united team.

Team cohesion reduces anxiety, brings motivation, and increases employee satisfaction.

Being on a cohesive team means that employees work together for the same goal, and everyone contributes to the group’s overall success.

People are social creatures, so it’s imperative that everybody feels heard, understood, and included.

Efficiency / increased productivity

Exercising problem-solving activities can boost performance and workplace productivity, leading to overall growth and profits.

Having solid problem-solving skills equips employees with the ability to find efficient solutions promptly.

By reducing the time spent solving specific problems, companies benefit from improved workplace productivity , leading to better profit margins.

Problem-solving activities foster creativity and encourage team members to express their ideas.

Creative thinkers know how to find the balance between analytical skills and innovative solutions, thus providing new perspectives.

No matter how well-established company processes are, there are always situations that require alternative ways of thinking.

Creative thinking skills boost people’s confidence in putting forth unique ideas.

List of the Top 22 Virtual Problem-Solving Activities

Virtual problem-solving activities for teams are meant to challenge participants to think outside the box and find solutions to problems while also having fun. Remember that these exercises should be playful and enjoyable.

Here is a list of virtual problem-solving activities that teams of any size can play:

Dumbest Idea First
Brainstorm Ideas
End in Mind
Stop, Start, Continue
Idea Mock-Ups
Be a Character
Crossword Puzzles
Online Escape Rooms
Murder Mysteries
Virtual Hackathons
Treasure Hunts
Moral Challenge
Improv Games
Poem/Story Challenge
What Would You Do?
Lost at Sea
Coworker Clash
Virtual Code Break
War of the Wizards
Ultimate Game Show

Online problem-solving activities can be played through video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Webex, etc.

Let’s take a closer look:

1. Dumbest Idea First

Dumbest Idea First, as the name suggests, is a problem-solving exercise in which participants are asked to think of the dumbest possible solutions to the problem presented.

After all ideas have been presented, look through the list.

You might be surprised to find that some ideas are not as dumb as first thought!

Helps with : creative problem-solving .

2. Brainstorm Ideas

One of the most common problem-solving activities is brainstorming ideas with your team.

Brainstorming ideas’ objective is to generate as many ideas as possible.

After the list is complete, team members review them and decide which is most suitable for the given scenario.

There are a lot of methods to aid the brainstorming process.

You can play word games, create a mood board, play improv games, or even doodle.

Helps with : lateral thinking.

3. End in Mind

The End in Mind technique is an excellent activity for solving group problems that require participants to start with the end.

In this exercise, you have to backtrack, finding solutions for the issue.

It challenges team members to think of the “what,” “why,” and “how” of a problem, thus coming up with alternative approaches.

Helps with : analytical thinking.

4. Stop, Start, Continue

“Stop, Start, Continue” is a technique used for delivering or requesting feedback.

This problem-solving activity consists of a list of three categories that each member has to think about:

Stop: three things that the team should stop doing
Start: three things that the team should start doing
Continue: three things that the team should continue doing

This exercise aims to solve problems in new ways while also having fun.

Helps with : team cohesion, critical thinking.

5. Idea Mock-Ups

Idea mock-ups are processes in which solutions to problems are found via mock-ups.

It’s a virtual solving problem activity as you can use images from the internet that can be easily shared with the team members.

This exercise aims to have players try out a bunch of different scenarios until the perfect match for the problem is found.

6. Be a Character

One of the funniest problem-solving techniques is putting yourself in a character’s shoes while finding the answer to a problem.

Have you ever dreamed of being a character from a movie or a book? Then this is the perfect exercise for you.

By playing this group game, participants impersonate a character and approach problems through that person’s mindset.

Helps with : creativity , thinking outside the box.

7. Idea Trial

The Idea Trial is another fun virtual problem-solving activity that encourages participants to find solutions for a particular problem.

Players need to present their ideas to the “court.”

They can go through the entire process, such as opening and closing statements, and call witnesses to support their ideas.

Helps with : risk management, communication skills.

8. Crossword Puzzles

Everybody has heard of crossword puzzles, but not everyone has thought of transforming them into a virtual problem-solving activity.

All you have to do is use an online crossword puzzle to create a custom puzzle for your team.

To make it more exciting and engaging for your team, you should consider your company’s niche and your teammates’ interests.

Helps with : critical thinking.

9. Online Escape Rooms

Like in-person escape rooms, their online counterpart requires participants to escape rooms and work together to solve puzzles virtually.

Digital escape rooms provide two alternatives for players: either a Zoom room led by a host or from a specialised website.

These are significant virtual problem-solving activities that are both fun and challenging.

Helps with : cooperation, communication.

10. Murder Mysteries

Murder mysteries are story-based problem-solving activities that require participants to take on the roles of suspects and detectives.

The aim of the game is to identify the killer by searching for clues and occasionally solving small puzzles.

These group exercises are complex because they require players to be observant and search for hidden clues using logic.

Luckily for you, there are many options for playing murder mystery games online .

Helps with : observation, logical thinking.

11. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where a group of people pitch a product or service in a given period.

Even though it originated in the programming world, hackathons can be easily applied to any industry.

Virtual hackathons refer to the online version of these events, where participants work together via online meeting software to design solutions.

These are great virtual team problem-solving activities because they don’t require much organisational work.

You just have to announce the event’s theme, explain the problem when the hackathon begins, and set a timeline.

Helps with : efficiency, cooperation.

12. Treasure Hunts

Like escape rooms or murder mysteries, treasure hunts are group games that require players to find hidden objects by following a trail of clues.

Treasure hunts are fun problem-solving activities that teach participants how to collaborate and communicate with each other.

They can have specific themes or be a more general hunt.

Helps with : communication, cooperation.

13. Moral Challenge

While most group problem-solving activities focus more on finding alternative problem resolutions, moral challenges lean more towards ethics.

These group techniques are just as important as the others as not all problems are factual; some are ethical.

Moral challenge exercises are better played in a group because each participant can represent a different opinion or moral belief.

The moral issue becomes harder to resolve and implicitly forces team members to find common ground.

Moral challenges are equally important in decision-making processes as rational thinking.

Some of the most well-known moral challenges online are the Moral Machine or the Dilemma .

Helps with : communication skills.

14. Improv Games

Improv games have their roots in acting and comedy and are group activities designed around participants’ acting without a script, or improvising.

These problem-solving activities force players to keep the story going in an entertaining and logical way.

This kind of group exercise helps build collaborative skills while boosting team members’ confidence.

Helps with : collaboration, imagination.

15. Poem/Story Challenge

If most of the problem-solving activities mentioned are based on logical thinking, the poem/story challenge revolves around writing skills.

While not all businesses rely on this, it’s still an excellent exercise for groups, as it stimulates the imagination and improves public speaking.

All you have to do is ask participants to create a story or a poem using a limited word bank.

After they have crafted their stories, they read them aloud in front of the group.

Helps with : creativity, public speaking.

16. What Would You Do?

“What Would You Do?” is a hypothetical problem-solving activity that challenges your team to brainstorm ideas and react to different scenarios.

To play this game with your team members, prepare some problem-solving stories in advance, then read them one by one.

Participants have to say what they would do in these circumstances.

Helps with : lateral thinking, imagination.

17. Lost at Sea

Lost at Sea, also known as Stranded at Sea, is a team-building activity that encourages interaction and teamwork.

Give participants a scenario where they’re stranded on an island with just a handful of objects.

To increase their chances of survival, they need to rate the objects based on their utility.

Players should work individually first and then together to decide which objects are most important.

If multiple groups play this game, the moderator can ask each group to compare their individual and collective rankings.

They should also consider why any scores differ.

At the end of the game, players reflect and feedback on their choices.

Helps with : decision making, collaboration, critical thinking.

18. The Hunt

The Hunt is an online social team game that uses different types of puzzles, images, and word problems.

Its purpose is to challenge players to collaborate under pressure as they compete for glory.

This is a virtual problem-solving activity suitable for a business of any size.

It works best played in small teams of four or five, so players have the opportunity to interact with one another.

Helps with : team decision making, lateral thinking, creativity.

19. Coworker Clash (formerly Coworker Feud)

Coworker Clash is a virtual problem-solving activity perfect for playing with colleagues.

This game is a new take on the classic game show Family Feud, and it consists of multiple rapid rounds.

The players are asked to provide fast answers to a fun assortment of questions the host presents.

The aim is to guess the five most popular answers to win points for the round.

The team with the most points is declared the winner of the game.

Helps with : fast-thinking, communication.

20. Virtual Code Break

Virtual Code Break is a virtual team-building activity specially designed for remote players.

Its purpose is to challenge players to think outside the box, improve problem-solving skills, and leverage their own and each other’s skills.

This game uses an intelligent video conferencing solution so that teams of all sizes can play from anywhere globally.

Players compete against each other by answering trivia questions and solving riddles and puzzles.

Helps with : better thinking, collaboration.

21. War of the Wizards

War of the Wizards is a 90-minutes virtual team-building activity that promises to be both fun and creative.

To play this game, participants roleplay as powerful wizards to conquer evil forces through the power of storytelling.

They have to play mini-games and competitions, develop their characters, and make decisions together to win.

Helps with : teamwork, imagination.

22. Ultimate Game Show

If you’re looking for high-energy virtual problem-solving activities for competitive teams, then the Ultimate Game Show is the perfect fit.

In this 90-minute virtual event, players bond together as a team while playing different quizzes to win the final prize.

This competition works for hybrid teams, as well as for fully remote teams.

Helps with : collaboration, fast-thinking.

Plenty of organisations face daily challenges that affect team productivity and get in the way of attaining business goals.

While it’s impossible to avoid those situations, there are many ways to train team members to work collaboratively to resolve problems effectively.

Problem-solving activities act as educational tools that bring all participants closer as a team and help them develop problem-solving skills. By nurturing solution-generating capabilities, your team learns to communicate better, act fast in risky situations, and find creative solutions.

The virtual problem-solving activities listed in this article are excellent practices for real-life conflict resolution that can benefit everyone within an organisation.

Stefan is a Co-Founder and a President of Brosix. His many years experience as a programmer, give him an unique perspective to lead the team and build Brosix in a way to best serve the customers.

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Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults

By: Angela Robinson | Updated: February 13, 2024

Here is our list of the best problem solving games, activities and exercises for adults.

Problem solving games are activities that require players to use critical thinking skills to solve puzzles. Example activities include escape rooms, Sudoku, and murder mysteries. The purpose of these exercises is to sharpen reasoning and decision-making skills in group settings and to do team building with employees.

These activities are a subset of remote team games , found in problem solving books , and are similar to team puzzles , team building brain teasers and team riddles .

This article contains:

team building problem solving activities for employees
free problem solving games for adults
virtual problem solving activities for students
group problem solving activities
problem solving team builders

Here we go!

List of problem solving games & activities

From word and number puzzles to role-playing games, here is a list of inexpensive and free problem solving team builders that help groups practice the art of critical thinking and compromise.

1. Espionage! (Team Favorite)

For an exciting game of social deduction, check out Espionage! This thrilling experience will put your team’s wits and instincts to the test.

Espionage! offers the following:

a 90-minute session led by an experienced host
undercover teams of agents and spies
challenging puzzles, tasks, and maneuvers
team conversations to help uncover secret identities

The best part is we will bring all the necessary game materials to your preferred location. If you are interested in boosting communication and critical-thinking skills within your team, then consider Espionage!

Learn more about Espionage!

2. Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh (Hosted)

You can turn your team into skilled detectives with Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh! In this captivating mystery, participants will locate the stolen artwork, The Bedroom .

Key features of this experience include:

a 90-minute adventure led by a world-class host
detailed puzzles, clues, and mysteries to unravel
trails of evidence and hidden secrets
group discussions to find the art

Additionally, you can include a cocktail kit to spice up your event. Through Art Heist, you will enhance your team’s ingenuity and problem-solving skills!

Learn more about Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh .

Get our free team building toolbox

icebreaker games
bingo cards

3. War of the Wizards (Popular)

With War of the Wizards, teams roleplay as minions of powerful wizards to vanquish forces of evil. Participants will play thrilling games and go on a quest to restore harmony to the realm!

War of the Wizards offers the following:

a 90-minute journey guided by a distinguished host
immersive storytelling that transports players into a magical realm
engaging activities like world-building, role-playing games, and storytelling
opportunities for forming alliances, facing challenges, and going on quests

Through the power of imagination and teamwork, your team can overcome tasks and participate in an epic fantasy battle. To improve communication and bonds, include War of the Wizards in your agenda!

Learn more about War of the Wizards .

Sudoku is one of the most popular free problem solving games for adults. The objective of this game is to fill each box of a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. The puzzle makes a great team challenge. To play Sudoku on Zoom, screen share the game board. Then, turn on the annotation features. Using the add text functions, participants can fill in the numbers on the grid.

We made a starter puzzle you can use in your next meeting or virtual team bonding session:

Here are more online Sudoku puzzles .

5. Crossword puzzles

Crossword puzzles are word games that ask players to fill in words based on clues. Words interconnect, and players must think critically about the surrounding words to select the right phrase for the space.

You can use an online crossword puzzle maker to create a custom puzzle. Here are a few themes you may want to consider:

teammates’ tastes and interests
company knowledge and history
industry terms and trends

Or, create a miscellaneous puzzle just for fun.

We made a sample puzzle you can use for your game:

To complete puzzles during online meetings, you can use the share screen function and add text through annotations.

Or, subscribers can play the New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle virtually . Dictionary.com also offers a free daily online crossword puzzle .

Check out more vocabulary games .

6. Online Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are timed games that get groups working together to solve puzzles. Traditionally, players enter a locked room and must complete all puzzles in an hour or two to unlock the door. However, groups can also play escape rooms online.

Digital escape rooms typically come in one of two forms: in a Zoom room and led by a host, or in a choose-your-own adventure format via Google Forms or websites. To play escape rooms virtually, enter a video meeting and follow the prompts, or screen share the Google Form and work out the puzzles together.

Check out our full list of online escape rooms .

7. Murder Mysteries

Murder Mysteries are story-based games that ask players to take on the roles of suspects or detectives while trying to identify a killer. These games often involve reading lines from a script, searching for clues, and occasionally solving puzzles to get hints.

These games make participants pay attention to conversations, analyze other characters’ behavior, and search for hidden meaning in the script. Players must use their powers of observation and logic to unravel the mystery.

Check out our list of Zoom murder mystery games .

8. Treasure Hunts

Treasure hunts are scavenger hunts with intention. While virtual scavenger hunts often ask players to collect random items, treasure hunts require participants to locate clues that lead to other prompts and hints. The game typically ends with players finding a treasure or solving a mystery, sometimes both.

The treasure hunt can have a specific theme such as secret agent missions or a hunt for pirate treasure, or you can run a more general hunt. Teammates can either compete simultaneously via Zoom call, or can play the hunt on an app individually and compete to beat each other’s scores.

Check out our list of treasure hunt apps .

9. Poem or story challenge

Most team building problem solving activities for employees revolve around science, math, and logic. Poem/story challenges rely on writing skills and are sure to appeal to the language lovers on your team.

Each player receives a limited word bank to use to create a story or poem. Then, players have a few minutes to craft their pieces. Afterward, everyone reads out or screen shares their creations.

Here are a few word challenge activities you can do remotely:

Found poems or stories : Participants make poems or stories out of words they find by visiting websites, searching emails, glancing out the window, or taking a walk or drive around the neighborhood.
Random word generators : Teammates use a random word generator to populate a word bank, and must use each word in the poem or story.
Poetry magnets : Group members make poems using poetry magnets. You can send poetry magnet sets to employees and assemble the verses on a cookie pan during a Zoom call. Or, teammates can play with poetry magnets online .
Page poems: Participants receive one page of a book or magazine, and must make a poem or story by blocking out other words so only the chosen text remains visible. This activity is part storytelling, part art, since story crafters can illustrate the pages as part of the design.
Ransom note stories or poems : Players cut out letters from magazines and must form new words to make poems and stories. Or, players can receive a mix of random letters, form words, and run the text through a ransom note generator .

These activities are suitable for teams and individual players.

10. Moral challenge

Some problems are ethical rather than factual. Moral judgment plays just as important a role in the decision-making process as technical prowess. Players can flex their moral problem-solving skills by tackling ethical dilemmas or social puzzles.

Here are some social problem solving games online:

Moral machine
Scruples – the game of moral dilemmas
Morality play

To play these games, either download the apps, or pull up the website and then screen share the prompts. These games are best played when discussed as a group, because the more belief systems and opinions, the harder an issue is to resolve. These exercises provide practice for real-life conflict resolution.

You can find similar challenges on our list of online personality tests .

11. Frostbite

Frostbite is a group game that hones team leaders’ communication skills while sharpening teammates’ listening and cooperation skills. The premise behind the game is that a group of explorers gets caught in a snowstorm and must build a shelter. Frostbite has paralyzed the leaders’ hands and snow-blinded the rest of the team. The leader must give the team instructions to build a tent that can resist arctic winds.

To play Frostbite, each teammate wears a blindfold. Then, the leader gives directions. Once the structures are complete, players turn on a fan to test whether tents can withstand the wind.

Frostbite is usually an in-person game, however you can also play virtually. In the remote version of the game, teammates construct tents out of cards and tape, while the leader surveys the scene on screen.

This exercise demonstrates the challenges of leading remotely, as teams need to operate with minimal oversight or supervisor observation. Therefore, instructions need to be clear and direct to be effective.

Check out more team building games .

12. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where participants have a set amount of time to design and pitch a new product or solution. This type of event originated in the programming world and is often used to create new apps, however you can apply the game to any industry or school subject.

Virtual hackathons are online versions of the event. Teams enter the competition, then work with each other via virtual meeting software or remote work communication platforms to design the solution. At the end of the competition, teams pitch ideas to a panel of judges and a winner is decided.

To run a virtual hackathon, first announce the theme of the event and collect sign-ups. So that no teams work ahead, hint at the general idea of the issue, and only explain the precise problem when the event begins. Then, give teams anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete the project.

Discover more virtual hackathon ideas .

13. Improv games

Improv games are excellent problem solving activities. These exercises force participants to think and respond quickly to keep scenes moving in a logical and entertaining way.

Here are some good problem solving improv games:

Banned words : Performers cannot say certain words. Scene partners will conceive of situations that encourage the actors to use those words, and the actors must find alternatives, such as using synonyms or taking the scene in a new direction.

Scenes from a chat : Audience gives a suggestion for a scene, and players act the scene out. Though it’s a fictional and often ridiculous scenario, actors must react to the situation and solve the problem in order for the scene to end.

Miracle cure : Miracle cure is a quick-moving exercise that follows a simple format. One player declares, “I have a problem.” Another player responds, “I have a….[random object.]” The first player then replies, “great! I can use the [random object] to….” and describes how they will solve the problem.

Check out more problem-solving improv games .

14. Spaghetti Tower

The spaghetti tower is a classic team building game. Participants gather uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows, and must construct the tallest freestanding tower.

During the in-person version, players must construct one tall freestanding tower. However, for the virtual version of the game, players construct individual towers. You can send groups to breakout rooms for the build, then reconvene in the main room for judging. Teams are judged on three main factors: number of towers, height, and uniformity.

This version of the game not only tests the structural integrity of the tower, but also consistency and quality control. This exercise teaches teams to align and collaborate remotely, and produce a consistent product even when far apart.

15. What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? is a simple situational game that challenges participants to react to different circumstances. To play this game, read prompts one by one, and then ask participants to respond with gameplans. You can use the polling or raise hand feature to vote for the best option.

Here are some problem solving scenarios for adults or kids to use in the game:

Zombies attack and you have to find a place to hide.
You are at the zoo and the animals escape. Which one do you try to corral back into the pen first?
After waiting in line for hours, someone cuts in front of you last minute. The person appears to be visually and hearing impaired, and doesn’t notice your protests. An official announces that due to diminishing supply, this individual will be the last in line to be served.
You are eating a meal with important clients and/or your partner’s parents, and you want to impress. The individuals make you a dish that does not fit within your dietary restrictions, but you do not speak the same language and cannot explain why you do not want to eat.
An imposter has infiltrated the organization, who looks, speaks, and behaves exactly like you. How do you convince your peers that you are the original?

For similar dilemmas, check out this list of Would You Rather? questions.

16. Desert Island Survival

Desert Island Survival is a game that challenges players to prioritize. The premise is that players have been stranded on an island, and must decide what order to perform survival steps.

Here are the possible actions:

Set up shelter
Explore the island
Try to signal for help
Make weapons for self-defense
Build a raft to escape the island
Start a fire
Choose a group leader
Search for other survivors

All group members must agree on the order of the steps. Players should explain the reasoning for the order of each step while ranking the actions.

Another version of the game involves players receiving a list of 15 to 20 items, and selecting five or so to bring to the island. You can also vary the location of the game, substituting remote islands for destinations like outer space or the distant past.

17. Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure stories enable readers to determine the outcome of the story by making decisions. Each action has a consequence that takes the tale in a different direction. Participants can try to guess how the story may unfold by talking through the different choices. When completing the activity in a group setting, the majority of the team must agree on an action before moving forward in the story.

There are a few ways to facilitate these activities online:

Play an online role playing video game
Watch an interactive movie like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Read from a Choose Your Own Adventure book on Zoom
Click through a Choose Your Own Adventure platform
Create your own story using a Google Form

Whichever way you choose to do the exercise, you can use the screen share feature in your virtual meeting software so that listeners can more easily follow along.

18. MacGyver

MacGyver is a show where the hero escapes sticky situations by improvising tools out of unlikely materials. For example, in one episode the hero makes a telescope out of a newspaper, magnifying lens, and a watch crystal.

To play MacGyver, you can either list three to five objects participants can use, or challenge players to use items that are within arms reach.

Simply state a desired end result, such as “a way to open a locked door,” or “a getaway vehicle,” and then ask teams to explain what they will build and how they will build it. To make the activity more collaborative, you can give teams five or ten minutes in breakout rooms to strategize and design a prototype.

19. Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a roleplaying game where players pretend to be magical figures and creatures. One player serves as the dungeon master, who guides the game, while the other players pick characters and make decisions to move the story forward. Upon choosing a course of action, players roll a twenty-sided die to determine whether or not the plan succeeds. The game is story-based, the possibilities are nearly limitless, and truly creative problem solving options arise. Also, since gameplay is mostly verbal, Dungeons & Dragons is an easy activity to do over Zoom.

Here are the basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons .

20. Pandemic

Pandemic is a game that pits players against the forces of nature in a race to contain and control disease outbreaks. At the beginning of the game, each player receives a role such as containment specialist or operations expert. Participants must carry out the duties of their roles by choosing appropriate actions. Pandemic is a great game for groups because each team member has a clear part to play, and players must collaborate and work together instead of competing against each other.

To play the game online, you can use a Pandemic game app , or talk through the exercise while one attendee moves and displays pieces on the board.

Note: The subject of this game might hit too close to home for some players, considering recent history. You can find games with similar mechanics that deal with different subject matter, such as Forbidden Island.

Check out more team building board games .

21. Model UN

Model UN is one of the best virtual problem solving activities for students. This exercise casts participants in the role of international diplomats who must negotiate to solve realistic problems. Each player assumes the role of a country ambassador and must form alliances and propose solutions to solve crises.

Here are some sample Model UN scenarios:

Human rights violation by powerful country
Food shortage
Disease epidemic
Technology privacy violations
Civil war branching into surrounding countries
Natural disasters

Depending on the size of the group, participants either take on the part of an entire government of a country, or play a certain role within the government. To carry out the activity on Zoom, players can take turns giving speeches, message other countries privately via the chat, meet in breakout rooms to form alliances or have more intimate discussions, and use the polling feature to vote on propositions.

If politics does not resonate with your group, then you can alter the exercise by applying the same activity structure to a different theme, such as the Justice League, movie characters, business board members, or reality TV stars.

The main purpose of the exercise is to research, talk through problems, and compromise. As long as these elements are present, then the specifics of the setup do not matter.

There are many types of problem solving activities for adults. You can do online problem solving games, which require a different skill set than in-person problem solving. For instance, communication must be much clearer and more abundant when group members are far apart and unable to demonstrate or pick up physical cues.

Though many problem solving games include props and in-person elements, there are many games you can play together online. These exercises work well as educational tools as well as team bonding accelerators. Upon completion, participants are likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence. These games are also great practice for real life conflict resolution, creative thinking and team building.

Next check out this list of connection games , this collection of crime-solving games , and this post with conflict resolution games .

We also have a list of the best decision making books and a list of team building problems for work .

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FAQ: Problem solving activities

Here are common answers to questions about group problem solving activities.

What are problem solving games?

Problem solving games are challenges that ask players to think critically and use logic to overcome issues or answer riddles. Examples include sudoku, murder mysteries, and spaghetti towers. These games are also known as “problem solving exercises”, “problem and solution games” and “group problem solving activities.”

What are the best problem solving games for groups?

The best problem solving games for groups include online escape rooms, moral challenges, and improv games.

What are some good problem solving team building activities for students?

Some good problem solving activities for students include crossword puzzles, choose your own adventure stories, and model UN.

How do you play problem solving games online?

The best way to play problem solving games online is to join a video call meeting to talk through the issue. Using the screen sharing and digital whiteboard features helps participants visualize the problem more clearly. Breakout rooms give teams the chance to discuss the issue more intimately.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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26 (Actually Fun) Virtual Team Building Games for Work

What can we do to team build and actually have fun with our remote team? Virtual team building might sound awful, but it doesn’t have to be.

We’ve run distributed teams for years, and we know exactly how to get people talking, laughing, and connecting, even while we’re all on Zoom. We’ve put together a list of some of the best team building games and activities to play virtually, focusing on ones that are easy to set up, simple for your team to understand and play, and (most importantly) are FUN.

Interactive Team Building Games

Combine team building with fun with these interactive, pro-social games. Each one has a different focus and is plug-and-play so you can get started quickly.

Team Building Questions Game for Work - A 10 to 20-minute slide deck that uses word clouds, image sharing, and polls to get to know the group better.

Mini Activity: Team Building Game - A 5 to 10-minute warm-up or mid-meeting break game that gives space for the group to share something about themselves and then debate a fun question.

Team Shenanigans Team Building Game - A 20 to 30-minute game that combines polls with trivia so the group gets to know each other better and compete a little.

Good Morning, Team - A 5 to 10-minute slide deck that prompts the group into sharing about themselves, including sharing a picture of something cute.

No matter which game you pick, your whole team will leave having learned more about each other.

Trivia Team Building Game

Keep things light and fun with 3 quick rounds of trivia in this slide deck. Copy the slide deck to your account and customize what you want.

Or just click and go! It's got the questions, points, and timers all set up for you.

Virtual Team Scattergories

Like the classic game, with virtual Scattergories the goal is to come up with words starting with the same letter for different categories.

While you can have your team come up with their own categories, we recommend using this Virtual Scattergories Prompt , which randomly selects the letter, presents a list of prompts, and times the group.

To start your game:

Gather the group on Zoom and have them each open the chat function.
Pull up the Scattergories Prompt and share your screen.
Adjust the time on the prompt, if needed.
Press 'play' and have everyone type out their answers until the timer stops, when they have to send the answers to the chat.
Compare answers and award 1 point to those who got correct, unique answers.

Two Truths and a Lie - 2 Ways!

Encourage your team to get to know each other better by sharing 2 truths and 1 lie about themselves.

If you have a smaller group or are meeting in person, you can facilitate the game by going around the room and having each person share 2 real things about themselves and 1 lie.

Or, if you'd like to play this game virtually, use our ready-made deck and get started. It's simple to set up:

Request your team members to each send you two facts and one falsehood about themselves, via email or on Slack.
Duplicate the deck above in your account. You’ll be able to insert each person’s facts and lie, onto each slide.
Launch the slide deck event (similar to starting a PowerPoint presentation) and come together with your team via Zoom or video conference call.
Your team can join the game using their smartphones.
Play! Scores will be automatically recorded.

Either option is fun and will help your team learn more about each other in a low-stakes way.

Just like the real-life version, in a virtual game of Heads Up! one person has to guess what word a teammate is describing on their phone, without seeing it themselves.

To get started:

Download the Heads Up! app and create an account (it's free!).
Create teams of 4-5 people, with each team member joining on Zoom.
Start the game in the app and assign one person as the guesser. They must put the phone to their head so they can't see the word.
The rest of the teammates take turns describing the word until the guesser figures it out.
Once everyone's had a chance to be the guesser, tally up the points at the end and declare a winning team.

If you don't have enough people for teams, you can always base the points on how many words individuals guess and have the entire group give clues together.

Virtual Pictionary

It's the classic game of 'Guess what I'm Drawing' and thanks to so many free online drawing tools, you can now play Pictionary virtually.

Get your team on Zoom.
Have everyone open Sketchpad on Sketch.io .
Send a prompt (you can find them at Pictionary Generator ) in the chat to the assigned drawer and have them share their screen.
Start guessing!

Assign points either to the drawers whose work is successfully guessed or to whoever guessed the drawing correctly.

Virtual Scavenger Hunt

With this virtual scavenger hunt, you and your team get to share pictures according to the prompts, giving a little peek into each other's lives. And the deck is very easy to run:

Copy this slide deck to your personal account.
Edit any of the photo-sharing prompts you want - Or leave them as is!
Send out the invitation to your team and launch the deck on Zoom.
Have the team join in on their devices and start sharing!

You can also add a poll at the end to vote for everyone's favorite image!

Would You Rather?

The best parts about the game 'Would You Rather?' are it's extremely easy to play (in-person or virtually) and it immediately lowers barriers and gets the group talking. You can play Would You Rather? 2 different ways:

If in-person, say the prompt and have people go to the side of the room that matches their answer.
If meeting virtually, use a poll slide deck and have the group vote on their answers.

Find an expansive list of Would You Rather or This/That questions in our 101 This or That Questions for Work or Students article.

Guess the (Baby) Team Member

To play 'Guess the Team Member', simply:

Have the team send you a baby picture of themselves.
Share them on Zoom.
Everyone takes turns trying to guess which baby is who.

The winner gets a virtual high-five!

Virtual Typing Competition

A low-key way to kick off team building is with a virtual typing competition. As long as you can share your screen on Zoom and have a program everyone can log on to, the whole group can show off their typing skill together.

Some of our favorite typing speed competition sites include:

They all work great as lightly competitive team building games .

Tea vs. Coffee

Seeing where your teammates line up on SFW, important topics (like tea vs. coffee) works as a great icebreaker and a way to get to know each other better. Play this easy-to-launch slide deck by:

Copying the deck to your free or pro account.
Make any adjustments you want to the deck to make it just right for your group.
Launch the deck and see where you and your group line up on 10 this/that questions.
The deck also includes a little trivia for an added competitive component.

Guess the Emoji Keyboard

A quick and easy game to play, with Guess the Emoji Keyboard, have your team send in a screenshot of their - you guessed it! - emoji keyboards.

Then share each one with the group on Zoom and see who can guess the most correctly.

Virtual Escape Room

While a virtual escape room will cost you a little money, the engagement and teamwork that comes from finangling your way out of the experience is well worth it.

The best part about a virtual escape room: You book it and someone else does all the work.

Some of our favorites include:

The Escape Game
Alice Escapes Wonderland
The Escape Experience
Virtual Escaping

Word Blurt!

A quick word association game, Word Blurt gets your team talking, even the introverts (we see you! we love you!).

Want to know where to start?

Create a free or pro Slides with Friends account.
Copy our Word Blurt! slide deck to your own account - Now you're free to use it as-is or easily make adjustments to tailor it to your group.
Send out invitations and launch the slide deck on Zoom.
Find out what your team is really thinking with fun prompts.

And like all the best team building games , Word Blurt keeps things light and fun.

Virtual Murder Mystery Experience

With an online murder mystery game, someone else does all the heavy lifting - You just invite your team and book the session.

Not sure where to start?

The Murder Mystery Co
We are Wild Goose

With full casts of characters and prompts, your team will be fully involved and engaged with these murder mystery team building games.

Online Team Bingo

Liven up any work day or meeting with a game of online team building bingo. Our favorite resource to use is the Team Building Bingo Cards , which allows you to use a ready-made card or create your own.

Have your team pull up their cards (click 'new card' to shuffle the phrases) and then shout out the Bingo calls to the group.

First one to Bingo gets a prize!

Virtual Pet Fashion Show

Virtual pet fashion shows are a great way for your team to share their beloved pets with the group, which in turn encourages non-work conversation.

Simply ask your teammates with pets to send in their favorite picture of their decked-out pets and share them with the group.

To add a layer of competition, have the team vote on their favorite at the end.

Cocktail Convos

You and your team can test your cocktail knowledge (while sipping on cocktails, if you want) with this game that combines trivia with a few prompts for sharing.

How to play:

Schedule a time your whole team can join you for a little end-of-day happy hour. Let them know it's BYOC (bring your own cocktail).
Duplicate our Cocktail Convos slide deck into your own account and adjust any of the prompts or trivia questions you want.
Gather on Zoom and launch the slide deck, having the group join on their phones.
Click through the deck and compete to see who knows most about cocktail ingredients!

While this is heavy on the trivia slide deck, it also includes polls and chances for people to have their turn on the 'mic'.

Online Storytelling Workshop

Let the experts handle things with a storytelling workshop that will help your group learn to communicate better, give them more sales tools, and boost employee loyalty.

Museum Hack offers a 2-hour Virtual Storytelling Workshop with games, as well as storytelling training.

Water Cooler Trivia

Team building games don't have to be a one-and-done experience, as Water Cooler Trivia proves. Water Cooler Trivia allows you to send your team weekly trivia quizzes through email, Slack, or Teams.

The scoreboard is shared with the whole team every week, with the top 10 responses as well as superlatives to keep things fun.

Guess the Song Emoji Challenge

Have your team show off their musical chops with a simple game of Guess the Song Emoji Challenge. The best part is you can just use one of the below options to launch the quiz in a few seconds.

Beano Emoji Quiz
Brightside Emoji Quiz
Emoji-Songs

Just pull up the above quizzes and share your screen. Then have your group guess the answers out loud or type it into the chat.

Hot Takes: The Game

Let your group pretend to be reporters with the game Hot Take . Pull up the game on your screen and have one person pitch to the editor an article idea based on an AI-generated phrase.

It's a hilarious game that will have your group filibustering as best they can.

Harry Potter Themed Trivia Game

Before HBO ruins all of our childhoods, have a little fun testing your team's Harry Potter knowledge with this easy-to-launch slide deck.

Create or log into your free or pro Slides with Friends account.
Copy our Harry Potter Trivia slide deck to your own account - Now you're free to use it as-is or adjust any of the prompts or trivia questions you want.
Invite your team via Zoom and launch the deck on the platform, having people join in from their phones or computers - In their house colors, of course.
Click through the slides and find out who's up to speed on all things Harry Potter!

The deck includes polls and chances for people to sound off too - it's a great way to get people talking and laughing.

Virtual Werewolf Game

Test your team's detective skills with a virtual take on a classic favorite, One Night Werewolf. The easiest way to play this game as a group is to use Wolvesville . The website will prompt you to:

Make an account.
Add your friends.
Create a game with your friends.

After you've started the game, it will assign roles and prompts to lead you through finding out who the werewolf in your group is before all the villagers are killed.

Five Finger Showdown

There are 2 ways to play Five Finger Showdown, in-person and virtual. The good news is, both are super simple and both get your team talking and sharing.

For an in-person game, stand in a circle and hold up 5 fingers.
On Zoom, people hold up 5 fingers so everyone on the screen can see.

Then, you just go through a 'put a finger down' list, like the ones offered by Ice Breaker Ideas or Ponly .

The winner is either the person who puts all their fingers down first or the last one standing.

War of the Wizards

Tell stories, solve puzzles, and compete to win magical items with this fully facilitated game. War of Wizards is designed to be a fun, interactive virtual experience for work teams.

Each player will receive a welcome package with materials to create their own wizard or witch.
The facilitator will guide your team through the game as they attempt to find magical artifacts hidden around the world.
You all work together to bring the wizard war to a peaceful end.

The game is designed to encourage collaboration, communication, and team building skills.

The ‘Why’ Behind Team Building Games

We've given you plenty of team building games to get your team started, but these games are much more than just for fun. In the State of Remote Work , it was found that the second biggest struggle remote workers had was loneliness, with the third being collaborating and communication.

Playing team building games addresses both the fostering of friendships between co-workers and improving communication, which leads to better collaboration.

So while these may just look like games, these team building activities have a real impact on the success of your team.

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20 Virtual Team Building And Wellbeing Activities

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COMMENTS

43 Free Virtual Team Building Activities & Games
A list of the best free virtual team building activities to do at work. Includes DIY games and ideas that will create joy and bonding.
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In this list of completely free online team building games, you can engage and excite your team with ease! We've picked our favourite team building games you can run online without a need for complex set-up or buying additional software.
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Looking for virtual problem-solving activities to strengthen your team? Check out the top team building activities for remote and hybrid teams.
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From word and number puzzles to role-playing games, here is a list of inexpensive and free problem solving team builders that help groups practice the art of critical thinking and compromise. 1. Espionage!
26 (Actually Fun) Virtual Team Building Games for Work
Mini Activity: Team Building Game - A 5 to 10-minute warm-up or mid-meeting break game that gives space for the group to share something about themselves and then debate a fun question. Team Shenanigans Team Building Game - A 20 to 30-minute game that combines polls with trivia so the group gets to know each other better and compete a little.

39 free online team building games for remote teams

What are team building games?

Our top 5 team building games

1. Best for a good laugh: Skribbl.io

2. Best for communication skills: Can You Hear Me Now?

3. Best for cultural exchange: Recipe Share

4. Best for building relationships: Get to Know Your Team

5. Best for Strategic Thinking: Online Escape Room

What are the benefits of team building in a remote working environment?

Free online team building games for remote teams

How to play Skribbl.io

3. Tea and coffee tasting

4. Wine tasting

5. Gin tasting

7. Book club

8. Run club

10. Cutest pet competition

11. Can You Hear Me Now? Game

12. Guess the emoji sentence

13. Jackbox

14. Werewolf

Watch a quick 2-minute video on how to play werewolf here.

15. Evil apples

16. Banana Life

17. Exciting sponge game

19. 2 truths and a lie

20. Guess the image

21. Virtual dinner party

22. Recipe share

23. Scavenger hunt

24. Guess the refrigerator

25. The Words Game for Slack

26. Guess that tune

27. Speed sudoku

28. The question game

29. Scattergories

30. Guess the Workspace

31. Get to Know Your Team

32. Guess the virtual background

33. Have a Virtual Pottery Night

34. Movie Night

35. Virtual Cooking Class

36. Critical thinking with Flex Mami

37. Online Escape Room

38. Virtual Drawing Class

39. Team Debates

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