15 Hybrid Team Building Activities for the Modern Workplace
Hybrid team-building activities are structured experiences that aim to foster connection, collaboration, and camaraderie between team members working in different locations. Ultimately, these activities bring together remote and in-office employees. These experiences bridge the physical divide by creating interactions that engage everyone equally, regardless of their work location.
At TeamOut, we've organized over 600 successful corporate retreats with a 95% client satisfaction rate, and we've seen firsthand how the hybrid work model creates unique challenges for team cohesion. Remote employees often feel disconnected from office culture, while in-person staff may struggle to fully include their virtual colleagues in spontaneous interactions.
In this article, we'll explore 15 proven hybrid team-building activities that create genuine connections between your distributed team members.
The rise of hybrid work has fundamentally changed how teams collaborate, creating the need for hybrid team-building activities to bridge gaps between hybrid team members, distributed employees, and those physically present. Based on TeamOut's extensive experience planning hundreds of events, retreats, and team-building exercises, intentional hybrid team building is no longer optional but essential for fostering effective communication and maintaining team morale in a hybrid model.
The Challenges of Hybrid Work Environments
Hybrid teams face unique obstacles that traditional team-building activities fail to address:
Communication barriers: Information silos develop between in-office and remote workers
Unequal participation: Hybrid employees often struggle to contribute equally during hybrid meetings
Relationship gaps: Fewer chances for spontaneous interactions that build trust
Cultural disconnection: Remote workers miss informal office experiences, requiring engaging activities like virtual tours or online art classes to bring hybrid teams closer
Technology friction: Glitches in virtual meetings disrupt collaboration
According to a Microsoft study, 43% of remote employees feel excluded from team meetings, while Gallup found teams with strong connections see 21% higher profitability. To counter this, team leaders must plan opportunities through virtual team-building activities like digital scavenger hunts, classic game nights adapted to video calls, or collaborative projects that encourage team members to develop skills while boosting active participation.
Effective team building activities blend virtual elements with in-person collaboration, ensuring all hybrid teams feel valued and connected, whether through one-off events or integrated work-related discussions.
The Business Case for Hybrid Team Building
Our work with hundreds of hybrid teams proves that team-building activities drive measurable results:
Reduced turnover: Structured hybrid team-building programs correlate with an increase of 34% of in employee engagement, reducing turnover
Increased productivity: Cohesive teams using structured hybrid activities, like those in McKinsey’s research, can achieve 20–30% better performance, while smaller hybrid teams demonstrate 36% faster task completion.
Enhanced innovation: Blending remote team members with in-person staff sparks creative problem-solving
Stronger culture: Shared experiences like virtual tours or online art classes reinforce values across hybrid meetings
Improved satisfaction: Hybrid team building activities like online multiplayer games boost employee satisfaction rates
One TeamOut client, a tech company with 150 employees across offices and remote work locations, saw engagement jump 31% after implementing our hybrid team-building program featuring scavenger hunts, video calls, and fun games played online.
Next, discover 15 hybrid team building activities—from online games to hybrid meeting fun—that enhance communication and create opportunities for entire teams to connect
15 Hybrid Team Building Activities That Work
1. Virtual Show and Tell
In this hybrid team-building activity, each team member selects a personal item and shares its story via video conference, while in-office participants gather in a meeting room with their items. This simple activity creates personal connections through storytelling and shared interests.
Implementation Steps:
📅 Schedule a 30-45 minute video meeting
🎁 Ask each participant to select an item with personal significance
🏢 In-office participants gather in a conference room with a video setup
🗣️ Each person shares their item and its story (2-3 minutes each)
💬 Encourage questions and connections between similar interests
Required Resources:
📹 Video conferencing platform with screen sharing
🧸 Personal items from each participant
🖥️ Conference room with video capabilities for in-office staff
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 30-45 minutes (depending on team size)
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Works well with 5-20 participants
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Increased personal connection, discovery of shared interests, and improved team familiarity across locations.
2. Hybrid Scavenger Hunt
Teams compete in this team-building exercise to find items or complete challenges in the traditional office setting and digital environments. Remote and in-office employees partner up to solve clues that require collaboration across locations.
Implementation Steps:
👥 Create mixed teams with both remote and in-office participants
📝 Develop a list of items/challenges requiring both physical and digital components
📤 Distribute clue sheets to all participants
⏲️ Set a time limit (30-60 minutes)
🤝 Teams collaborate via video to find items and complete challenges
🏆 Share findings in a final video call to determine winners
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 1-1.5 hours total (including setup and debrief)
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Flexible for 10-100+ participants in teams of 4-6
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Enhanced problem-solving skills, improved cross-location collaboration, and strengthened relationships between remote and on-site participants.
3. Trivia Night
Teams compete to answer questions across various categories. In-person participants gather in a common area while remote employees join via video, with mixed teams competing against each other. It's a hybrid activity that your crew will cherish for months!
Implementation Steps:
👥 Form balanced teams mixing remote and in-office staff
🧠 Prepare diverse trivia questions (or use a pre-made trivia platform)
🖥️ Set up video conferencing with screen sharing for question display
📝 Establish a fair answering system (team captains submit answers)
🎮 Host 4-6 rounds of questions with varying categories
🏆 Track scores and announce winners
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 1-1.5 hours
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Works well with 8-50 participants
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Friendly competition, knowledge sharing, and cross-location team bonding through collaborative problem-solving.
4. Online Charades
Looking for an adaptation of a traditional recipe for team building success? Online Charades is a classic game adapted for hybrid teams where participants act out words or phrases for their teammates to guess. In-office employees perform for in-person and remote colleagues, promoting team building, while distributed workers use creative camera angles to participate equally.
Implementation Steps:
👥 Create mixed teams with both remote and in-office members
📝 Prepare charades prompts appropriate for both settings
📹 Set up video conferencing with good visibility for all participants
📏 Establish clear rules for turn-taking and scoring
⏲️ Allow 1-2 minutes per charade
🏆 Track points and celebrate the winning team
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 30-45 minutes
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Best with 6-20 participants
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 This hybrid activity generates increased comfort with video communication, improved non-verbal expression, and shared laughter that builds team rapport.
5. Bingo
Customized bingo cards feature work-related items, personal facts about team members, or challenges that participants must complete. This team-building activity works beautifully in a hybrid environment as everyone can participate equally regardless of location, in person or remote.
Implementation Steps:
🎨 Create digital bingo cards with customized squares
📤 Distribute cards to all participants before the event
🖥️ Set up a video conference for remote workers while in-office staff gather in the same room
🎯 Call out items or have participants share when they complete challenges
✅ Verify winning cards and celebrate winners
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 30-45 minutes
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Works with groups of any size
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Relaxed social interaction, increased team knowledge, and a fun shared experience that promotes teamwork across locations.
6. Geo-Guessing Game
Hybrid teams compete to identify locations around the world based on visual clues or street view images. This team-building activity creates a level playing field for both remote and in-office participants as everyone views the same digital content.
Implementation Steps:
👥 Form mixed teams of remote and in-office participants
🗺️ Use a geo-guessing platform or prepare location images
🖥️ Share screens so all participants can see the locations
⏲️ Give teams 1-2 minutes to discuss and submit their guesses
📊 Award points based on the accuracy of guesses
🌍 Reveal correct locations and share interesting facts
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 30-60 minutes
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Works well with 6-30 participants
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 This hybrid team-building activity connects to improved collaboration, cultural awareness, and enhanced problem-solving skills. At the same time, it creates a shared virtual experience.
7. Two Truths and a Lie
In this hybrid team-building activity, each team member shares two true statements and one false statement about themselves, and others must guess which is the lie. This icebreaker works in hybrid settings and helps employees get closer together by learning surprising facts about each other.
Implementation Steps:
⏲️ Give participants 5 minutes to prepare their statements
📹 Set up video conferencing so remote workers can clearly see and hear in-office participants
🗣️ Each person shares their three statements
💬 Allow time for questions and discussion
🗳️ Everyone votes on which statement they think is the lie
🎭 The person reveals the truth and shares the story behind their true statements
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 20-30 minutes for a team of 10
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Best with 5-15 participants
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Deeper understanding of team members' backgrounds, improved personal connections, and a relaxed environment for authentic sharing.
8. Language Classes
A team member with language skills leads a basic lesson in a foreign language. This activity works well in hybrid settings, as remote and in-office participants can learn and practice through video conferencing.
Implementation Steps:
🧑🏫 Identify team members with language skills willing to teach
📅 Schedule 30-minute sessions for basic lessons
📝 Prepare simple vocabulary and phrases relevant to work or travel
📄 Create digital handouts for all participants
👥 Include interactive elements like breakout rooms for practice
🎮 End with a fun challenge using the new vocabulary
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 30-45 minutes per session
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Works with 5-20 participants
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 New skill development, appreciation of cultural diversity, and recognition of hidden talents within the team.
9. Bake-Off
In this hybrid team-building activity, team members follow the same recipe from their respective locations, then share and compare results. This activity brings the physical experience of cooking into a shared virtual space, creating an interactive hybrid challenge.
Implementation Steps:
🍪 Select a relatively simple recipe accessible to all skill levels
📝 Distribute ingredient list and instructions in advance
📅 Set a specific time for everyone to bake simultaneously
📹 Connect via video so participants can chat while baking
📸 Share results and stories about the process
🏆 Vote on various categories (most creative, best presentation, etc.)
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 1-2 hours (depending on recipe complexity)
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Works with 5-20 participants
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Shared experience across locations, casual conversation in a non-work context, and celebration of both successes and failures.
10. Master Classes Hosted by Team Members
Team members take turns sharing their expertise or hobbies through virtual workshops. These hybrid team-building activities leverage the diverse skills within your team while providing creative learning experiences that work equally well for remote and in-office participants.
Implementation Steps:
📋 Survey team members about skills they could teach (cooking, photography, coding, etc.)
📅 Schedule 30-60 minute sessions
🧑🏫 Help presenters prepare materials and interactive elements
📹 Set up video conferencing with appropriate viewing angles
🎥 Record sessions for team members who cannot attend live
🎯 Follow up with practice challenges or applications
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 30-60 minutes per session
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Flexible for any team size
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Skill development, recognition of team talents, and improved respect among team members.
11. Virtual Escape Room
Similar to your traditional escape room experience, teams solve puzzles and riddles to "escape" from a virtual room, with hybrid teams working together across locations. This virtual team-building activity promotes problem-solving and communication while creating an exciting experience.
Implementation Steps:
🔍 Book a virtual escape room designed for remote teams
👥 Form mixed teams of remote and in-office participants
📹 Set up video conferencing so team members can collaborate
🏢 For in-office participants, provide a physical space where they can gather
🔐 Complete the escape room challenge together
💬 Debrief afterward about strategies and teamwork
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 45-90 minutes
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Best with teams of 4-8 people
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Enhanced problem-solving skills, improved communication under pressure, and strengthened team bonds through shared challenges.
12. Team Art Show
Team members create artwork based on a theme, then present their creations in a virtual gallery. This is a creative team-building activity that allows for personal expression while building team appreciation across locations.
Implementation Steps:
🎨 Select an accessible art medium and theme (company values, future vision, etc.)
📦 Distribute supplies to remote workers if possible
⏲️ Set a deadline for creation (could be during a meeting or as homework)
🖼️ Host a virtual gallery opening where each artist presents their work
💾 Create a digital album of all submissions
🏢 Consider displaying physical pieces in the office
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 30-45 minutes for creation, 30 minutes for sharing
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Works with any team size
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Creative expression, personal sharing in a new context, and appreciation of diverse perspectives within the team.
13. Office Jenga with a Twist
A physical Jenga game is set up in the office, while remote team members direct in-person players on which pieces to move. This team-building activity creates a physical connection between locations and generates shared excitement.
Implementation Steps:
🧱 Set up a Jenga tower in a central office location with good camera visibility
📹 Position a camera to provide a clear view for remote participants
👥 Create teams mixing remote and in-office staff
🗣️ Remote players direct which pieces to move
📝 Add challenges written on pieces that players must complete when pulled
📸 Document the inevitable collapse for shared memories
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 30-45 minutes
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Best with 6-12 participants
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Shared excitement, cross-location direction and trust, and a fun physical activity that actively engages both remote and in-office team members.
14. GIF Wars
In this GIF Wars activity, teams compete to find or create the most appropriate GIFs in response to work scenarios or prompts. This virtual activity creates equal participation opportunities for all team members regardless of location.
Implementation Steps:
📝 Prepare work-related scenarios or prompts
👥 Divide participants into mixed teams
💼 Present a scenario and give teams 2 minutes to find the perfect GIF
🖼️ Teams share their selections and explain their choices
🏆 Award points based on creativity, humor, and relevance
📁 Create a collection of the best GIFs for future team communications
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 20-30 minutes
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Works with 6-30 participants
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Shared humor, creative thinking, and the development of team-specific cultural references that can be used in future communications.
15. Virtual Wine Tasting
Book a guided tasting experience or a virtual wine tasting class where the same wines are delivered to all participants, creating a sophisticated sensory experience across locations. It's such a fun, engaging activity for in-person and remote employees.
Implementation Steps:
🍷 Select 3-5 wines that pair well together
📦 Arrange delivery of identical wine selections to all participants
👨🍳 Hire a sommelier or knowledgeable team member to lead the tasting
📝 Distribute tasting notes and food pairing suggestions in advance
📹 Set up video conferencing with good lighting to see wine colors
🥂 Progress through each wine with guided discussion
Time Requirement: ⏱️ 60-90 minutes
Team Size Recommendation: 👥 Best with 5-20 participants
Expected Outcomes: 🌟 Sophisticated shared experience, relaxed social conversation, and team bonding in a more elegant setting than typical virtual happy hours.
Wrapping up
Successful hybrid team building is an investment in your organization's culture, communication, and collaboration capabilities. By implementing thoughtfully designed experiences that engage remote and in-office team members, you spark the connections that drive real business results.
The 15 activities we've shared are just a starting point. The most successful hybrid teams continuously experiment with new approaches while measuring what works for their unique team dynamics.
At TeamOut, we've helped hundreds of companies transform their hybrid team culture through expertly facilitated retreats and ongoing team-building programs. Our clients save an average of 50+ hours in planning time and 30% on venue costs while planning outstanding experiences that elevate their teams.
Ready to take your hybrid team building to the next level? Explore how TeamOut can help you design and implement a tailored program that meets your goals and needs. From one-time virtual events to comprehensive retreat planning with access to 4,000+ worldwide venues, we're here to help your team thrive in the modern workplace.
Thomas Mazimann, a French entrepreneur and former international kayaking athlete, transitioned from sports to tech after moving to the U.S. He co-founded TeamOut, revolutionizing team gatherings.
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