25 quick team building activities you can do remotely

According to a recent study, 97% of employees and execs believe a lack of team alignment directly impacts the outcome of a task or project. It’s a pain anyone who’s worked in a badly managed team will know all too well. 

The good news is, team building exercises can bridge this gap. Multiple studies show those who engage in regular bonding activities improve their productivity and collaboration, ultimately leading to more efficient, happier teams. And the best bit? You can do them in as little as five minutes. 

To help you on your way, we’ve compiled a list of 25 quick, fun games you can play as a team, both in-person and remotely. Let’s begin! 

What are team building games?  

Team building games are activities designed to strengthen the bond between team members, with the broader goal of boosting communication and unity. Two things that are essential for productivity. 

Why are team building games useful?

By encouraging people to work together toward a common goal, team building games help hone skills like group work, planning, and decision-making, while strengthening the bond between team members. They’re also a great way to discover new talents within the group. 

• Improved communication: By breaking down barriers and creating a space for open conversation, team building games boost communication, leading to more efficient problem-solving and decision-making processes. 
• Higher levels of respect: Because team members need to rely on each other to complete team building tasks, levels of trust get a boost, which in turn raises morale and productivity. 
• Reveal hidden talents: Who knew that Claire in accounts was such a persuasive salesperson? Team building games help bring hidden talents (and weaknesses) to the fore, allowing for better role allocation and more effective collaboration. 

The 10 Cs of team building

There are 10 guiding principles for good teamwork. These Cs offer a framework for leaders and team members to enhance collaboration — keep them in mind during team building games so that every activity is geared towards improving one or more of the following:

1. Communication: Clear and open conversation is essential. By sharing ideas and listening to others during games, you can build a sense of unity.

2. Cooperation: Team building calls for flexibility and a willingness to flex to change roles or goals. Through task-based games, team members can learn to work with a shared purpose, contributing their individual skills to the team’s wider success.

3. Coordination: Good coordination is about making sure resources are used well, and no one doubles up on their efforts. 

4. Commitment: Each team member should be dedicated to the team’s goals. This shared commitment builds broader unity and accountability within the group.

5. Cohesion: Cohesive teams work well together because they trust and respect one another. Building cohesion might involve social activities or discussions that create bonds beyond the professional environment.

6. Conflict resolution: Strong teams handle conflicts constructively, making sure disagreements are addressed in a way that strengthens, rather than weakens, the group.

7. Confidence: A strong team trusts in its abilities. Recognizing achievements and strengths as a group helps to fuel this shared confidence. 

8. Creativity: An environment that supports informed risk-taking and values diverse perspectives maximizes the creative potential of the team.

9. Cultural understanding: Speaking of diversity — teams benefit from the varied skills and experiences each member brings to the table.

10. Continuous improvement: Regularly assessing processes and results is the key to long-term success.  

25 quick team building activities you can do in 5 minutes 

Now you’re sold on the benefits, let’s get into it! Here are 25 short team building activities you can do in person and remotely. Feel free to riff on these and adapt them to your own needs. 

Would you rather?

Just like the famous drinking game, minus the beer (and with questions that wouldn’t make HR squirm). Participants take turns to present two hypothetical scenarios, prompting others on the team to choose their preferred situation. 

Start by compiling a list of thought-provoking or funny questions, like “Would you rather be as wide as you are tall, or as tall as you are wide”. After posing the conundrum, allow team members to share their choices and explain their reasoning. The aim of this game is to break the ice, reveal interesting personal preferences, and ideally, get the team laughing as they defend their bizarre choices. 

Virtual vote

This one’s great for asynchronous remote teams. Essentially, you create a poll around a light-hearted topic, like a ‘would you rather question’ (see above for details), a topical question, selecting the next team-building activity, or voting on the best snack for virtual meetings. Then you create an online polling tool and let the results roll in. 

Once everyone’s voted, reveal the results and discuss why certain options stood out. This fosters a sense of inclusion and gives everyone a voice. Plus, opting for more playful topics works as a great icebreaker and helps the team bond over something fun. 

5-minute meditation

OK, now for something more serious. Meditation is a great way for the team to relax and enhance overall concentration, offering a much-needed mental reset. Although be prepared for it to potentially feel a bit weird at first! 

Begin by gathering everyone (a virtual space works, too) and asking them to find a comfortable position. With calming music in the background, guide participants through a series of deep breathing exercises, focusing on inhaling slowly through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. Encourage them to visualize a peaceful setting, like a lake or tranquil forest. Ending with a gentle stretch prepares everyone to continue their day with renewed focus.

Speed networking

Another one that’s great for remote teams. Organize short, one-on-one virtual sessions where team members are paired randomly for one-minute time slots. Give a list of suggested conversation starters to keep conversations flowing, like “What’s something new you learned this week?” or “Share a fun fact about yourself.” 

After each round, shuffle participants to meet new partners. This fast-fire exchange format helps team members discover common interests and builds camaraderie in a dynamic setting, making network building both useful and fun. 

Daily riddle

Give the team a new riddle each day, encouraging problem-solving discussion. Choose conundrums that are tricky yet doable, like “I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have nobody, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?” 

You can discuss this in person or in your team chat as part of a morning meeting or breakout session. Work as individuals or teams, with prizes for the first to crack the puzzle.

Pet parade

Invite team members to showcase their fluffy pals in a brief segment of a meeting. Each attendee can introduce their pet, share a bit about their personality, and share fun videos or photos. Ask those without pets to substitute with a ‘pet-like’ item, like a soft toy. 

This activity not only offers a glimpse into each other’s home lives — it also injects a little fun into the work environment. 

Virtual pictionary

Gather the team on a digital platform with a whiteboard feature, and split everyone into small groups. Assign one member at a time to draw a word or phrase while the rest of their group tries to guess it within a time limit. 

To keep the competition lively, use themed categories, like movies, landmarks, or vacation spots. This encourages creativity, quick thinking, and collaboration across remote teams. Laughter is guaranteed as individuals attempt to artistically recreate sometimes obscure words.

One-minute speech

Select random topics and challenge team members to deliver a one-minute speech on them, picking from themes like “If I were president” or “The future of travel.” And just to make things really interesting, consider imposing penalties for repeat words, filler words like ‘um’, ‘like’ and ‘you know’, and hesitation. 

This exercise encourages spontaneity, quick-thinking, and public speaking skills, all of which are team must-haves. Being put on the spot tends to encourage wild and tangential speeches, so laughter is all but guaranteed with this exercise too, making it a great icebreaker.

Quick compliment round

Share the love with this game, which is all about highlighting each other’s best bits. Get everyone to put their name in a hat (paper in a tupperware box or names on a spreadsheet work best). Then, ask each person to draw out a name and give a complement to whoever pulls out their name. Keep this focused on character or personal achievements, such as a recent project handled well or a consistent display of teamwork, rather than physical attributes — we don’t want HR getting involved! 

Not only does this game uplift those being praised — it also cultivates a culture of open gratitude, encouraging everyone to recognize the value and contributions of their colleagues.

Time travel question

An oldie but a goodie. Pose the question, “If you could travel in time for just one day, where and when would you go?” to spark discussion. 

Team members can share their responses and reasons, giving insights into their interests and historical curiosity. Some may wish to witness a pivotal historical moment, while others might choose a personal or family event. This thought experiment serves as a gateway to deeper conversations as people discuss the impactful moments and reveal aspects of their identities. 

Story relay

This one’s about building something together. To start, the facilitator proposes an opening sentence, and each participant adds their sentence in turn, continuing the story. The fun lies in maintaining coherence as the plot evolves, often with hilarious results. 

It’s an exercise in quick thinking that also highlights diverse storytelling techniques within the group. And as the story unfolds with all its twists and turns, attendees get entertained in the process. 

Two-truths-and-a-lie

In a great icebreaker, each participant shares three statements about themselves — two truths and one lie. The rest of the team tries to guess which is the false statement. It’s another great icebreaker and ideal for revealing fascinating insights into each other’s lives, sparking conversations and fun. Plus, by discovering surprising facts about colleagues, this activity promotes trust within the team, making it an ideal choice for both newcomers and seasoned members alike.

Virtual scavenger hunt

For remote teams, host a virtual scavenger hunt where players scout for specific items in their home environments based on creative prompts. 

Organize the game through a video call, and set a timer for each round as participants race to present their finds on screen. Prompts might include items of a particular color, something from nature, or an object with sentimental value — let your imagination run free! This exercise introduces spontaneity and fun while offering glimpses into team members’ personal spaces and fostering a relaxed atmosphere.

Emoji art

Task teams use only emojis to tell a story or create a book/film title. Participants need to think creatively and strategically to select and arrange emojis in a way that communicates their theme. Share the final creations with the group, encouraging guesses and prizes for those who get it right. 

Guess the sound

Sharpen listening skills with this short challenge. Facilitators play audio clips featuring common or unusual sounds, tasking team members with identifying the sources. As participants compete for the right answers either as individuals or teams, let the entertainment unfold. This game has the added bonus of building camaraderie and breaking the ice. 

Speed puzzles

Puzzles, but fast! Create a frenzy where team members tackle quick problem-solving challenges. These can include riddles, logic problems, or brain teasers in a competitive format. Players race against the clock to find solutions, which stimulates mental agility and promotes collaborative brainstorming. Often resulting in lively debate and laughter, it’s a great way to stretch cognitive skills while fostering team spirit through fun and camaraderie.

Talent show-and-tell

Invite team members to show off hidden talents or hobbies through an informal show-and-tell session. 

Ask participants to give quick demos or share memorable experiences related to their abilities. Whether they’re playing a musical instrument or narrating a story, this activity encourages a wider appreciation of diverse skills and passions within the team. It’s also a great icebreaker and bonding activity, potentially sparking conversations between members once the game has finished. 

Quick trivia challenge

Begin your meeting with a quick-fire trivia session designed to engage your team. Choose a theme or relevant topic that resonates with your group to keep the trivia challenging yet fun. Prepare a set of questions in advance, mixing easy and tricky ones to accommodate different knowledge levels. This activity gets the mind whirring while fostering friendly competition among participants. Plus, it works as a great icebreaker for new teams or projects. 

5-minute brainstorm sprint

Organize a five-minute brainstorming sprint to tap into the collective creativity of your team. Select a topic beforehand that’s relevant to your meeting agenda, then invite everyone to contribute ideas spontaneously. 

The strict time limit not only compels attendees to focus, but also guarantees a high-energy, productive session. This collaborative approach creates an open environment where every idea is valued, laying the foundations for stronger trust and creativity within the team. Another great one for remote teams.

Emoji status update

This one doubles up as a general check-in exercise as well as an icebreaker. Ask each participant to select an emoji that best represents their week so far and accompany it with a short explanation. It takes just five minutes yet offers a revealing glimpse into everyone’s week, highlighting personal highs or challenges in a quick and fun format. 

Toot your own horn

This game is all about boosting self-esteem and team knowledge. Invite participants to share one of their proudest achievements along with a brief narrative explaining why it matters to them. As an exercise, it promotes a culture of recognition while also helping attendees discover new facts about one another in a supportive setting.

Origin stories

Understanding a colleague’s background can offer insights into their character and journey. Begin by using a shared digital map where each team member places a pin on their birth city. As pins populate the map, participants discuss patterns or surprises that arise from this visual representation. Additionally, for smaller teams, participants could share stories about the various cities they’ve lived in throughout their lives. 

Throwback photos

Bring some fun into your remote meeting with dodgy haircuts and providing most of the laughs. Before the meeting kicks off, ask each person to submit a childhood photo. Display the photos and get the group to guess the identities of those in the photos. It’s fun, it’s nostalgic, and it’s guaranteed to break the ice. 

Virtual room tour

Virtual backgrounds often don’t tell the whole story. Enter virtual room tour. Announce this activity in advance so participants can prepare, then Invite them to pan their camera around their workspace, pointing out interesting items or anecdotes associated with them. This offers a deeper understanding of team members’ personalities and hobbies, fostering connection. Variations might include sharing other personal spaces like bookshelves or desks.

Snack sneak peek

Find out who’s snack game is the strongest.  Participants take snapshots of their fridges or cabinets and share them with the group. As you play a guessing game on who owns each stash, it breaks the ice and helps the team bond through shared cravings and inspiring snack ideas. It’s a fun conversation starter and great for remote team bonding.

Keep the collaboration going 

So you bonded over the games. Now what? Keep the camaraderie going with tools built for collaboration. 

With Backlog, our project management tool, teams can track progress, set tasks, and manage projects, all from one place. This keeps everyone on the same page and working as one. It also streamlines work processes, making it a breeze to set priorities and meet deadlines. 

Then incorporate Cacoo into your routine to visualize ideas collaboratively. Whether it’s flowcharts, mind maps, or wireframes, Cacoo makes it easy for teams to brainstorm and communicate complex ideas with ease. Reinforce the collaborative spirit with tools built for teams of all stripes. Try both for free today!