Online team building games can be the perfect solution for remote teams to connect.
Fun, easy to play, and engaging, games offer an interactive environment for your team to explore.
Working remotely requires a conscious effort to foster the 3C’s (communication, collaboration, and connection).
As leaders of remote teams, it is essential to create rituals and space for social events. What’s more, encouraging communication between team members who are not directly working on a project together is essential to encourage inclusivity.
Looking for inspiration beyond games? We’ve written about virtual team gifts, virtual team building activities, and diversity and inclusion ideas.
Furthermore, as a team leader, it can be a daunting prospect to create and host a virtual event for your team.
We’ve compiled 10 awesome online team building games for you to try out in your next team social.
Online Team Building Games
Pac Team
With a nod to nostalgia, Pac Team is a retro-inspired team game that requires collaboration.
There is no upper limit to the total number of players. What’s more, each team can compare scores in a leaderboard at the end of play.
Players are put into teams of 4-6 and required to navigate the map to collect points. This is a great opportunity for departments to compete against each other and compare scores!
Pac Team is played on a web browser so no need to download any software.
What’s required: Web browser, meeting platform of choice (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)
Time: Game formats available for 30 mins or 60 mins
Hosted? Yes, with self-facilitation option available
Number of players: up to 100
Price? From $10 /player
Project Avatar: The Metaverse Grand Escape
Inspired by Black Mirror and Love Death Robots, this high action and adrenaline pumping for teams, this live virtual escape room requires the team to clearly communicate in order to stack up points.
With a POV camera, you will be navigating a real-life avatar (a real actor) through an abandoned building to escape the metaverse he is trapped in.
Actions and gestures are completely controlled via voice and group votes, so reaching a consensus about strategy is vital.
What’s required: Accessibility to Zoom
Time: Game formats available for 60 mins or 90 mins
Hosted? Yes
Number of players: up to 40
Price? From $23 /player
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Mission Earth (No Planet B)
This game is perfect to celebrate Earth Day and sustainability in a fun & engaging way.
As an added bonus, the total number of points collected by each team will go towards planting real trees in Indonesian Rain Forests.
This adventure game will take your team on a mission to save our planet and foster team connection and collaboration along the way.
Collect mushrooms, dodge threats, and work together to maximize team points!
No download is needed to play this game.
What’s required: Web browser, meeting platform of choice (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)
Time: Game formats available for 30 or 60 minutes
Hosted? Yes, with self-facilitation option available
Number of players: up to 100
Price? From $10 /player
Among Us
Complete tasks as a team whilst trying to uncover who the imposter is. The role of the imposter is to sabotage the team’s tasks whilst trying not to get caught.
The game has wonderful graphics and sound effects which make gameplay a joy.
Beware, servers are geographically based, and thus, we only suggest this game for players located in the same country.
We recommend playing on a mobile device (app store).
What’s required: Smartphone
Time: 30 or 60 minutes
Hosted? No
Number of players: up to 20
Price? Free
Skribbl.io
Drawing has the uncanny knack of making people laugh. Skribble is a quick and easy game to get your team in the creative spirit.
Bring your team together to play this charming drawing and guessing game.
After playing this game, we realized there is a whole world of funny game moments available on YouTube. Here is a clip to see just how fun this game can be.
What’s required: Web browser, meeting platform of choice (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)
Time: 30 or 60 minutes
Hosted? No
Number of players: up to 12
Price? Free
Gartic Phone
Sticking with the artistic theme, Gartic Phone is a game focused on creativity and communication.
Players will be required to create prompts for others to draw (and visa versa). This game is sure to uncover the hidden artistic genius within your team.
What’s required: Web browser, meeting platform of choice (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)
Time: 30 or 60 minutes
Hosted? No,
Number of players: up to 30
Price? Free
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Every team is unique, we'd love to get to know yours to build a unique team bonding experience for them!
Mafia/ Werewolf
The classic social deduction game goes by many names.
Werewolf is highly compatible with being played virtually and thus a great choice for teams between 6-10 members.
Interested in playing? Here is a comprehensive rule overview.
What’s required: Web browser, meeting platform of choice (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)
Time: 30 or 60 minutes
Hosted? No
Number of players: up to 10
Price? Free
Office Olympics
Office Olympics is a highly interactive game where the group is broken into smaller teams. Each team will compete under the flag of an assigned nation and attempt to take gold.
A sequence of three games will be completed in order to score points.
Game rounds include trivia, creativity, and physical challenges – something for everyone on the team.
It’s always fun to turn up the intensity by offering prizes to the winners.
What’s required: Web browser, meeting platform of choice (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)
Time: 60 or 90 minutes
Hosted? Yes
Number of players: up to 80
Price? From $20 /player
JackBox
Jackbox offers several game packs which can be purchased and downloaded.
Games range from thematic trivia to guessing challenges.
Player’s points are shown in real-time to keep the excitement levels high!
What’s required: App download, meeting platform of choice (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)
Time: 30 or 60 minutes
Hosted? No
Number of players: up to 8
Price? From $25 /pack
Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Virtual scavenger hunts are a fun and flexible game that is loved by all.
If playing in a small team, players can compete individually. However, for larger groups, we recommend breaking into smaller teams to enable team collaboration.
The format is flexible and thus is well suited for a range of themes or diversity & inclusion topics.
The role of the facilitator is to set the topic, decide which items should be ‘hunted’, and keep score. We recommend setting a timer at the beginning of each round to constraint the search time given to players.
Virtual scavenger hunts are also a fun asynchronous option for teams who cannot meet at the same time. Simply using Slack or your communication tool of choice, ask players to upload their submissions and reward creativity rather than speed.
What’s required: Web browser, meeting platform of choice (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)
Time: 30 or 60 minutes
Hosted? No
Number of players: up to 40
Price? Free
Why Play Online Games for Team Building?
Team building games serve an important function to boost morale and create new points of connection for team members.
Games create a safe and fun space for colleagues to build trust with each other in a low risk environment.
Combining dedicated time slots to playing games together away from work tasks.
Surprisingly, it is common for unique skills or hobbies to be uncovered in the process of playing together.
Collaborating in a new and fun way gives teammates plenty to laugh about long after the game is finished.
Online vs. In-Person Team Building
With the shift toward remote work, companies are struggling to bring the same events from the physical to the digital world.
In-person team building is often done over dinner and drinks. However, simply switching to a virtual happy hour will likely fall flat.
Online team building requires more thought and intentionality in order to be a success.
As a team leader, finding ways to participate rather than facilitate is the best way to remove hierarchy from the dynamic.
When to Play Online Team Building Games?
We recommend scheduling team game sessions bi-weekly or at least monthly.
Keeping a regular cadence will build a ritual that is critical to team harmony.
Games are also a great idea when onboarding new employees remotely.
Creating an environment for new members to hang out with their teammates socially can reduce churn. TINYpulse research suggests employees are 40% less likely to churn if they think favorably about company culture. This becomes critical in the first 1 to 6 weeks of a new hire’s onboarding experience.
Teams that play together, stay together.
Looking for a Skilled Game Host?
If you’re looking for experienced game hosts & event facilitators to come in add a spark of joy and clarity to your team experiences, you’re in luck!
Our game facilitators have extensive game knowledge and experience hosting hundreds of virtual team games and icebreakers.
From creating a welcoming atmosphere, explaining the rules clearly to tech & event flow facilitation, our professional hosts are here to help so you can:
- Play your chosen game with professional facilitation
- Ensure smooth & organized event flow that is inclusive and interactive
- Avoid tech issues and confusion
- Participate each experience like the rest of your team
Game hosts start from $100/event. Simply enquire here to learn more!
In Conclusion
We hope the above has given you ample inspiration for online games to play with your team.
Remember, team building games should be conducted in a safe space for participants to feel comfortable and relaxed. The participants should not feel examined or tested. The game is a mechanism to spark new conversations and create stronger team bonds.
Go ahead and share some laughs!