Team building games: 14 ideas for coworkers, from 5 to 60 minutes

Mention team building and half the room rolls their eyes. Usually that is because they remember trust falls and awkward role-playing. The games that actually work are the opposite: easy to start, clearly time-boxed, and fun even for the people who did not want to be there.

Each game below lists how long it takes and whether it works in person, remotely or both. Pick based on the time slot you have, not on what sounds most impressive.

What makes good team building games

• Short rules. If the explanation takes longer than the first round, people are already checking out.
• Everyone plays. Avoid formats where one person performs and twenty people watch.
• Mixed teams. The point is to connect people who do not usually work together, so shuffle departments.
• No forced oversharing. People should be able to participate without revealing anything personal they would rather keep private.
• A clear end. Announce how long it will take, and stop on time. A game that runs over turns into a meeting.

Quick icebreakers (5-10 minutes)

Perfect for the start of a meeting, a workshop or a new team’s first week. These need no props and work just as well on a video call.

1. 01One-Word Check-In.Everyone describes their week, mood or current project in a single word. It takes two minutes and tells a manager more than a long status update.
2. 02Two Truths and a Lie.Each person shares three statements about themselves, and the team guesses the lie. Encourage work-safe facts: hobbies, travel, odd talents.
3. 03Common Ground.Small groups have five minutes to find three things they all have in common that are not obvious. "We all work here" does not count.
4. 04Silent Line-Up.The team lines up by start date at the company, or by distance from their hometown, without speaking. In person only, and always good for a laugh.
5. 05Desert Island.Everyone names the one item they would bring to a desert island and why. Quick, safe, and surprisingly revealing.

Team building games for 15-30 minutes

These fit into a longer meeting, a team lunch or the second half of a workshop. They involve a bit more competition and a bit more communication.

1. 01Charades tournament.Split into teams of 3-5 and pass one phone around. One person holds it to their forehead while teammates act or describe the word. Run three rounds of 60 seconds per team and keep a scoreboard. It is a communication exercise in disguise: you learn very quickly who explains clearly and who panics. Rules are on the how to play page.
2. 02Back-to-Back Drawing.Pairs sit back to back. One person describes a simple picture without naming it, and the other draws it. Compare the results. It is a perfect lesson in how unclear instructions can be.
3. 03Office Trivia.Prepare 15 questions about the company and the team: who has worked here longest, which office has the best coffee, what year the company was founded. Play in mixed teams.
4. 04The Marshmallow Challenge.Teams get 20 sticks of spaghetti, a yard of tape, a yard of string and one marshmallow. They have 18 minutes to build the tallest freestanding tower with the marshmallow on top. It is a classic for a reason: planning versus prototyping becomes obvious fast.

Longer team building games (30-60 minutes)

Save these for an offsite, a team day or a quarterly get-together. They need a bit of preparation but create real stories people talk about afterward.

1. 01Photo Scavenger Hunt.Teams get a list of 15-20 things to photograph around the office or the neighborhood: the whole team in a reflection, something older than the company, a stranger’s dog. Points for creativity. Works within 30-45 minutes.
2. 02Lost at Sea.Teams rank 15 items in order of importance for survival after a shipwreck, first individually, then as a group. Then compare against an expert ranking. It shows how group decisions differ from individual ones.
3. 03Charades league.The long version of the tournament: four or more teams, a bracket, and a final round with a longer timer and harder words. Easily fills an hour and ends with a clear winner.

Team building games for remote teams

Remote teams need connection more than anyone, but video calls make most party games awkward. These are built to work through a screen.

1. 01Remote charades.One person holds the phone to their forehead in front of the camera, and teammates act or describe the word on video. Everyone can see the word on the phone screen except the guesser. Turn on gallery view so the performers can see each other.
2. 02Show and Tell.Everyone brings one object from their desk or home and tells its story in one minute. A coffee mug, a souvenir, a pet that walks into frame.

Any of the quick icebreakers above also work remotely, except Silent Line-Up. For remote charades, have everyone use the same timer setting so rounds stay fair.

All 14 games at a glance

Tips for running team building games

• Lead by example. If the manager goes first and looks a little silly, everyone else relaxes.
• Make it optional, but tempting. Forced fun is never fun. A short, well-run game gets the skeptics to join by round two.
• Keep teams small. Groups of 3-5 mean everyone has a role and nobody can hide.
• End on a high. Stop while people are still enjoying it. They will remember the game better and ask for it again.
• Debrief briefly. For the longer games, take two minutes at the end to ask what worked and what did not. That is where the actual team building happens.

Planning a social event instead of a work session? Our party games list has more relaxed options, and it pairs well with an after-work get-together.

A ready-made charades tournament for your team: over 3,500 words, built-in timer and scoring, no internet needed.

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Frequently asked questions