What Are Team Building Activities?
Team-building activities is a catch-all term that includes everything from a social gathering, team meal, competition, game, or development workshop. All of these examples can be considered team building activities and they are all relevant in their own way.
In order to have a high-performing team, you have to build foundations step-by-step. That’s where team building comes into action, transforming the work environment, team bonds, and company culture.
Team building activities are absolutely crucial for every company’s organizational performance. With 20% of the workforce feeling lonely at work and 75% of staff saying teamwork and collaboration are crucial to corporate success, it quickly becomes clear why team building is the investment every company should make.
Companies that regularly implement team-building initiatives score higher employee retention rates (50%) and overall engagement.
The main objectives of team building are to:
- Promote trust and collaboration
- Improve problem-solving skills
- Increase motivation and job satisfaction
- Strengthen company culture and unity within the team
What Are The Benefits of Team-Building Activities?
Team-building activities’ benefits are scientifically proven to supercharge your employees and unite your team. Here’s why they are a game-changer:
- Boost problem-solving skills: Research shows that groups of 3-5 people outperform individuals when it comes to finding solutions for problems.
- Improved communication: Teams with strong communication crush their goals. According to Team Building Hub, 63% of leaders reported improved team communication after team building.
- Foster innovation: When you've got a solid group backing you up, you're more likely to take calculated risks that lead to breakthroughs.
- Builds trust and fuels creativity: Team-building activities encourage open dialogue and different perspectives, which automatically fuels creativity.
What Are The Different Types of Team-Building Activities?
Team building activities will make your crew feel more connected and able to collaborate more effectively. However, how do you choose the right activity, and where do you start?
Let’s start by explaining what the different types of team-building activities are, so that you can choose wisely the ones that better suit your company’s needs:
- Team Building Activities for Work: These are designed to improve workplace dynamics and can range from problem-solving exercises to communication games.
- Quick-Fire Activities: 5-10-15 minute team building activities that are ideal for busy teams or to implement as icebreakers before meetings.
- Fun Team-Building Activities: Lighthearted games and challenges that boost team morale and create a positive atmosphere.
- Corporate Team-Building Activities: These are more structured events whose goal is to promote teamwork but also to improve leadership skills.
- Virtual Team-Building Activities: Online games and exercises designed for remote teams, like virtual escape rooms or digital scavenger hunts.
- Team-Building Activities for Small Groups: Intimate exercises for teams of 15 or fewer, focusing on close collaboration.
- Team-Building Activities for Big Groups: Large-scale events that can accommodate 50+ participants, often involving multiple sub-teams.
- Team-Building Games for Problem-Solving: Challenges that specialize in enhancing critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving skills.
- Team Bonding Activities: Informal events that help team members connect on a personal level in or outside of the office.
- Team-Building Exercises For Purpose and Alignment: Activities that reinforce company values and goals.
- Creative Team-Building Activities: Creative exercises that encourage self-expression through art and innovation.
- Office Team-Building Activities: Games and challenges designed specifically for the workplace environment.
- Free Team-Building Activities: Cost-effective options that require minimal resources, perfect for teams on a budget.
Team Building Activities For Work
Team-building activities for work are your ultimate workplace boosters designed to transform how your team communicates, collaborates, and tackles challenges. In this category you’ll find how to break down barriers and how to truly connect with your crew.
1. Passions Tic Tac Toe
Get ready to discover your teammates' hidden passions in this interactive team-building game. Discover who you have things in common with and turn networking into a fun challenge!
Step-by-step:
- Give each participant a 3x3 grid
- Ask participants to fill each square with a different personal passion
- Encourage participants to walk around and find matching passions
- Have participants sign each other's grids when passions match
- First person to create a line of three signatures wins
Duration: 20-30 minutes
Group size: 10-50 participants
Required materials: 3x3 grid sheets, pens
Why it works for teams: Sparks meaningful conversations and helps teammates discover shared interests.
2. Cross the Circle If
Transform team bonding into an inclusive game that breaks down communication barriers! Form a circle with all participants and have one person stand in the middle to ask questions like “Cross the circle if…”. It’s a standout activity where you’ll learn more about your employees and discover new things in common!
Step-by-step:
- Form participants in a large circle
- Select one person to stand in the middle
- Middle person asks questions like "Cross the circle if..."
- Participants who can answer 'yes' must cross to the other side
- Last person without a spot becomes the new question-asker
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Group size: 10-30 participants
Required materials: List of engaging questions
Why It works for teams: Encourages spontaneous interaction and helps team members discover unexpected things in common.
3. Follow the Leader
Follow the Leader is a crowd favorite when it comes to creativity, trust, and hilarious group movement. Select a leader and have them perform random actions that everyone must mimic. Increase complexity.
Step-by-step:
- Select an initial leader
- Leader performs random movements/actions
- Entire group must mimic the leader's actions exactly
- Rotate leadership periodically
- Add complexity with music or themed challenges
- Encourage increasingly creative movements
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Group size: 10-30 participants
Required materials: Music system (optional)
Why it works for teams: Builds non-verbal communication skills.
4. 1920's Themed Party
Nothing like a great theme party to get everyone engaged and entertained. Transport your team back to the roaring twenties for an immersive, glamorous Great Gatsby-style experience that celebrates vintage style and creativity!
Step-by-step:
- Send vintage dress code invitations
- Decorate venue in Art Deco style
- Create themed cocktails/mocktails
- Play jazz music
- Host costume contest
Duration: 3-4 hours
Group size: 20-50 participants
Required materials: 1920s decorations, music playlist, costume props
Why it works for teams: Creates a memorable experience and encourages creative expression.
5. Gastronomic Adventure Race
Transform team building into a culinary challenge that combines food, strategy, and teamwork! How? Select the best diners and restaurants in town and taste the best flavors in your city. Complete tasks along the way in each stop.
Step-by-step:
- Design city-wide food-related challenges
- Create teams with mixed skill levels
- Provide map with restaurant/market checkpoints
- Assign cooking or food-related tasks at each location
- Teams document challenges with photos/videos
Duration: 3-4 hours
Group size: 15-40 participants
Required materials: City map, challenge cards, smartphones
Why it works for teams: Promotes collaboration and healthy competition.
6. Eco-Friendly Upcycling Workshop
Build team spirit and environmental consciousness in this epic team-building activity. Collect recyclable materials beforehand and prepare to unleash your team’s creative side and come up with functional objects.
Step-by-step:
- Collect recyclable materials
- Divide into teams
- Provide crafting tools
- Set upcycling challenge themes
- Create art/functional items
- Host team exhibition
- Vote on most innovative project
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: 10-30 participants
Required materials: Recyclable materials, glue guns, paint, crafting tools.
Why it works for teams: Encourages creative problem-solving, promotes sustainability, and builds collaborative skills.
Quick Team-Building Activities
These quick-fire activities are team building moments designed to energize teams in 5-15 minute bursts, targeting skills like communication, creative thinking, and active engagement. Take a look at our suggestions:
7. Flash Debate
Like the name describes, in this activity a certain topic is presented for debate. The group splits into teams and each team is assigned one side of the debate they have to prepare arguments for. It’s an effective challenge to work on your team’s critical thinking skills and to push participants out of their comfort zone.
Step-by-step:
1. Choose a fun, non-controversial topic, like the popular “Does pineapple belong on pizza?”
2. Split the group into two teams
3. Give teams 2 minutes to collect arguments to sustain their side
4. Each team has 1-2 minutes to present their arguments
5. Allow the other side to answer back
Duration: 10-15 minutes
Group size: 6-20 participants
Materials: Timer, list of debate topics
Why it works for teams: It boosts quick thinking while improving public speaking skills
8. Mystery Word
Mystery Word is a word-guessing game that tests your team’s communication skills and creativity. This activity challenges team members to describe a secret word to their colleagues without using obvious related terms, promoting out-of-the-box thinking and effective communication. It's a fun way to improve verbal skills and foster collaboration.
Step-by-step:
- Prepare a list of words or phrases
- Divide the group into pairs or small teams
- Give one person in each team a mystery word
- Set a time limit (e.g. 1 minute) for describing the word without saying it
- Award points for correct guesses and switch roles
Duration: 10-15 minutes
Group size: 6-20 participants
Required materials: List of mystery words, timer
Why it works for teams: Enhances communication skills and encourages creative thinking
9. Team Building Bingo
Team Building Bingo transforms Bingo into a dynamic team bonding experience. This activity challenges your employees to complete tasks or find team members with specific traits, encouraging interaction. It's a fantastic way to break the ice, learn about colleagues, and create a sense of shared accomplishment.
Step-by-step:
- Create bingo cards with team-building tasks or colleague traits
- Distribute cards and pens to all participants
- Set a time limit for completing the bingo card
- Participants mingle, completing tasks or finding matching traits
- The first person to complete a row, column, or diagonal wins
Duration: 15 minutes
Group size: 10-30 participants
Required materials: Custom bingo cards, pens
Why it works for teams: Promotes active engagement and helps team members discover shared interests
10. Emoji Quiz
Remember the traditional guessing games? This one is a modern twist that taps into the universal language of emojis. This activity challenges teams to guess phrases, movie titles, or even songs that are represented solely by emoji combinations. It’s a way to test your team’s pop culture and improve creative interpretation.
Step-by-step:
- Create a list of phrases or titles represented by emoji combinations
- Divide participants into small teams
- Display emoji puzzles, one at a time
- Give teams 30 seconds to guess each puzzle
- Award the winners
Duration: 5-10 minutes
Group size: 6-30 participants
Required materials: Emoji puzzles and large screen to show them
Why it works for teams: It enhances problem-solving and creative thinking
11. Salt and Pepper
Salt and Pepper is a matching game your team will love as it gets them thinking on their feet. In this activity, participants are challenged to find “the other half” by finding complementary words or phrases, creating an environment for problem-solving and entertainment.
Step-by-step:
- Create pairs of related words or phrases, such as peanut butter/jelly or salt/pepper
- Write each word on a separate sticky note
- Stick one note on each participant’s back without them seeing it
- Have everyone mingle and ask questions with yes/no answers
- Once participants find out their word, they must find their match
Duration: 10-15 minutes
Group size: 10-30 participants
Required materials: Sticky notes and pens
Why it works for teams: It boosts communication skills and creates a fun, bonding atmosphere
12. Find Someone Who
Find Someone Who is an interactive exercise where participants start conversations in order to discover shared characteristics or experiences. With the help of conversation topics, you’ll have to find “Someone who has lived in Australia” or “Someone with a snake pet”. This activity promotes social interaction and helps team members get to know each other.
Step-by-step:
- Create bingo-style sheet with traits or experiences
- Gather participants and have them mingle to find matches
- Discuss results and fun facts you found about each other
Duration: 10-15 minutes
Group size: Any size
Required materials: Bingo-style cards with fun facts
Why it works for teams: It builds a sense of workplace community and is a great way to get to know each other.
13. Speed Networking
Speed Networking is an outstanding icebreaker perfect to get to know your team in a quick, organic way. Pair up and start a conversation about your interests, hobbies, hometown, university, etc. When time runs out, move onto the next colleague and repeat the experience. To add a twist, create cards with topics of conversation, like favorite movies or holiday destinations.
Step-by-step:
- Pair up
- Engage in conversation for a limited amount of time (e.g. 2 to 4 minutes)
- Switch partners and repeat the experience
Duration: 2 minutes per round
Group size: 6 - 20 participants
Required materials: Timer (or phone)
Why it works for teams: It gives everyone a chance to interact with all team members in a quick, organic way.
14. Speed Pictionary
Speed Pictionary adds extra adrenaline to the classic game everyone loves, combining artistic expression with quick thinking. This fast-paced activity challenges participants to convey ideas through simple sketches, fostering creativity and enhancing non-verbal communication skills.
Step-by-step:
- Divide the group into teams of 3-5 people
- Prepare a list of words or phrases for drawing
- Have one person from each team draw while their teammates guess
- Set a strict time limit (e.g. 30 seconds) for each round
- Award points for correct guesses and rotate drawers
Duration: 10-15 minutes
Group size: 6-20 participants
Required materials: Whiteboard or large paper, markers, timer, list of words/phrases
Why it works for teams: Improves visual communication, encourages quick thinking, and promotes team bonding
Fun Team-Building Activities
Fun Team-Building Activities are strategic experiences designed to transform workplace dynamics through shared enjoyment. The main focus is to strengthen connections and trust in a fun, effective way. Take a look:
15. Charity Scavenger Hunt
Take your team outside and explore your local town as you give back to your local community. Compete to complete charitable tasks on treasure hunt and savor the moment with your team while helping others.
Step-by-step:
- Partner with local charities to create task list
- Divide into teams and provide task lists
- Teams complete charitable tasks around the city
- Document completed tasks with photos/videos
- Reconvene to share experiences and tally points
Duration: Full day
Group size: 20-50 participants
Required materials: Task lists, transportation, smartphones
Why it works for teams: Promotes social responsibility and strengthens community connections.
16. Lip Sync Battle
Is your team too shy to do karaoke? Don’t worry, you can still put on a spectacular performance with a Lip Sync Battle. Take your team on a musical journey where entertainment is the key and team spirit comes alive.
Step-by-step:
- Select diverse music genres and songs
- Divide participants into teams
- Allow time for choreography and costume preparation
- Set up stage and sound system
- Perform lip sync routines
- Vote for winners in multiple categories
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: 10-30 participants
Required materials: Sound system, playlist, and judging scorecards.
Why it works for teams: Builds team confidence and encourages creativity and collaboration.
17. Field Day
Gather your team and challenge everyone’s inner athlete for a day. Field Day is your ticket to an epic outdoor adventure that'll have your team competing and overcoming physical challenges together.
Step-by-step:
- Set up various game stations (e.g., egg and spoon race, water gun race)
- Divide participants into teams
- Rotate teams through different activities
- Keep score for each event
- Tally points and crown the Field Day champions
Duration: 3-4 hours
Group size: 20-100 participants
Required materials: Various sports equipment, water guns, eggs, spoons, and scorecards.
Why it works for teams: Promotes friendly competition and encourages physical activity.
18. Workday of the Undead
Zombies in the office? You bet! Transform your workplace into a survival game where trust, strategy, and quick thinking are key to staying "alive". Between zombies and survivors, may the best group win.
Step-by-step:
- Distribute role cards (zombies and survivors)
- Define the playing area
- Explain infection and accusation rules
- Start the game with zombies "infecting" others
- Survivors try to identify zombies
- Play multiple rounds, shrinking the area each time
Duration: 1-2 hours
Group size: 15-50 participants
Required materials: Role cards
Why it works for teams: Enhances communication skills, builds trust and creates an exciting experience.
19. Real Life Social Media Wall
Bring the digital world into reality with this interactive, old-school cool activity that'll have your team sharing more about their lives. The best part? DIY makes it even more fun!
Step-by-step:
- Set up a large bulletin board in a common area
- Provide various art supplies
- Encourage employees to post updates, photos, and comments
- Organize themed days or contests
- Regularly refresh content to keep engagement high
Duration: Ongoing
Group size: Any
Required materials: Paper, markers, and sticky notes.
Why it works for teams: Boosts internal communication and celebrates individual personalities.
20. Giant Puzzle Construction
Think big, build bigger! This massive team challenge will put your collective problem-solving skills to the test. Visualize together and start building!
Step-by-step:
- Design or select a large-scale puzzle
- Divide the puzzle into sections for each team
- Provide materials and instructions
- Allow teams to work on their sections
- Bring all teams together to assemble the final puzzle
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: 10-50 participants
Required materials: Large puzzle pieces, art supplies, and assembly area.
Why it works for teams: Improves communication and encourages creative thinking.
Corporate Team-Building Activities
These structured experiences are designed to transform your team’s interactions but also to develop leadership potential. Corporate activities combine targeted challenges and interactive learning to help teams improve communication, collaboration, and organizational effectiveness. Here’s what we’re talking about:
21. Corporate Shark Tank
Transform your leaders into entrepreneurs and investors in this high-stakes pitching challenge known as Corporate Shark Tank. It's like the TV show, but with less investors and more team bonding.
Step-by-step:
- Divide into "startup" teams
- Teams develop product/service idea
- Create business plan and pitch
- Present to "investor" panel
- Negotiate and close deals
Duration: Full day
Group size: 20-40 participants
Required materials: Presentation tools, play money
Why it works for teams: Enhances creativity, improves pitching skills, develops negotiation tactics.
22. Leadership Style Improv
Turn leadership theory into a hilarious improv show where employees play executives and must adapt their leadership style on the fly. It's part comedy night, part management seminar.
Step-by-step:
- Introduce common leadership styles
- Create random workplace scenarios
- “Leaders” must resolve using assigned style
- Audience votes on effectiveness
- Discuss real-world applications
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: 10-20 participants
Required materials: Scenario cards, props
Why it works for teams: Develops adaptability, enhances leadership range.
23. Crisis Command Center
Transform your conference room into a high-pressure crisis management hub where participants must navigate complex emergencies. It's like being the President of the United States, but with less Secret Service and more team bonding.
Step-by-step:
- Create detailed crisis scenario and share it with your team
- Assign leadership roles
- Introduce escalating challenges that arise
- Teams make rapid decisions
- Debrief on crisis management strategies
Duration: 4-6 hours
Group size: 15-30 participants
Required materials: Crisis scenario materials, communication devices
Why it works for teams: Improves decision-making, enhances communication under pressure.
24. Cross-Functional Problem-Solving Hackathon
Cross-Functional Problem-Solving Hackathon is a high-intensity challenge where leaders from different departments collaborate to solve complex organizational challenges, breaking down traditional departmental silos.
Step-by-step:
- Identify real organizational challenge
- Create mixed-department teams
- Provide limited time and resources
- Develop innovative solutions
- Present and evaluate proposals
Duration: Full day
Group size: 20-40 participants
Required materials: Presentation tools, collaborative platforms
Why it works for teams: Encourages cross-departmental collaboration, drives innovation.
25. Leadership Shadow Day
A transformative experience where emerging leaders literally follow and observe senior executives, gaining brand new insights into high-level decision-making and organizational dynamics.
Step-by-step:
- Match junior employees with senior leaders
- Junior staff shadow executive for full day
- Document observations and learnings
- Evening debrief session
- Create actionable insights report
Duration: Full day
Group size: 10-20 participants
Required materials: Observation notebooks
Why it works for teams: Breaks hierarchical barriers, provides leadership perspective.
26. Mystery Box Challenge
In this engaging activity, teams will put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test by using random items to create a unique product or solution. This challenge encourages collaboration, innovation, and out-of-the-box thinking.
Step-by-step:
- Gather a variety of random items and place them in mystery boxes.
- Divide participants into small teams (4-6 members).
- Each team receives a mystery box filled with items and a specific challenge (e.g. "Create a new product that solves a common office problem" or "Design a marketing campaign for an imaginary product").
- Teams have 30-45 minutes to brainstorm, design, and prepare a presentation for their product or solution using only the items in their box.
- Each team presents their creation to the group, explaining its purpose, how it works, and why it’s innovative
Duration: 1.5-2 hours
Group Size: 10-30 participants
Required Materials: Mystery boxes filled with office supplies, kitchen utensils, food, toiletries, etc
Why It Works for Teams: Fosters creativity, enhances problem-solving skills, and promotes collaboration under time constraints.
Virtual Team-Building Activities
Virtual team-building activities are engineered to bridge geographical gaps between team members and to create meaningful connections for remote and hybrid teams. Virtual activities use technology to simulate in-person collaboration, using platforms like Zoom, Slack, and specialized team-building apps to engage employees.
27. Virtual Escape Room
Virtual Escape Rooms are an interactive team-building activity where participants collaborate to solve riddles and follow clues to "escape" a virtual room. These games typically feature multiple challenges, from solving puzzles to discovering codes hidden in a scenario. Teams must work together to uncover the key needed to complete the mission—whether it’s breaking out of a room, stopping a simulated art heist, or escaping from a virtual dungeon.
Step-by-step:
- Select a game with a theme that suits your group’s interests
- The host introduces the game, providing a backstory and goal for the escape
- Teams work together to solve a series of puzzles and riddles to unlock new clues
- Players must communicate and share findings to move closer to the escape goal
- The game finishes when the team "escapes" under a set time
Duration: 1 hour
Group size: Any size
Required materials: Online escape room
Why it works for teams: Stimulating teamwork and improving problem-solving skills.
28. Virtual Book Club
Starting a Virtual Book Club is a great way for remote teams to bond over their own reading experiences. It allows team members to discuss ideas, opinions, and insights that will allow them to create a sense of connection. The best part? You get to vote for the books you read on a certain week/month and they can be anything from NY Times’ bestsellers to self-help or business related literature.
Step-by-step:
- Choose the book (by vote)
- Decide on reading deadlines and meeting times to discuss the book
- Use video calls or Slack channels to share thoughts and reflections
- Encourage other members to participate
- Decide future reads - choose longer material based on engagement
Duration: 30 minutes/week
Group size: Groups of up to 30 participants
Required materials: Zoom
Why it works for teams: It sparks discussions and strengthens team bonds.
29. Virtual Talent Show
A Virtual Talent Show transforms the traditional talent show into an online event, giving team members a chance to showcase their hidden skills and have a chance to shine! From singing and dancing to magic tricks and stand-up comedy, participants can let their creativity thrive in a supportive, virtual setting.
Step-by-step:
- Announce the talent show and set a date
- Have team members sign up with their act
- Create a running order
- Host the show on a video conferencing platform
- Allow time for applause and comments after each act
- Vote for favorites in different categories
Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Group size: Any size
Required materials: Zoom and online talent show questions
Why it works for teams: Builds confidence, encourages self-expression, and helps team members see each other in a new light.
30. Virtual Coffee Date
Virtual Coffee Dates are an excellent way to start conversation among team members, even from a distance. These casual video call sessions allow colleagues to step away from their work and have relaxed conversations, just like in a traditional office setting. Participants can chat about non-work topics or discuss everyday issues, creating a friendly atmosphere.
Step-by-step:
- Set a consistent day and time each week
- Use calendar tools for reminders
- Use Zoom or Teams for video calls
- Suggest light, non-work conversation
- Use icebreakers to set the mood
- Limit sessions to 15-30 minutes
Duration: 15-30 minutes
Group size: Up to 30 participants
Required materials: Zoom or similar
Why it works for teams: It helps create a cohesive remote work environment.
31. Online Trivia Night
Set your team up for an Online Trivia Night and put their knowledge to the test! Compete in rounds of questions and brain-bending puzzles, from pop culture and history to geography and cinema. It’s an opportunity for teams to outsmart each other and get a little competitive! Just grab your team, divide into groups, log in, and get ready to quiz your way to victory!
Step-by-step:
- Choose a good online trivia platform, such as TriviaHub or Jackbox Games
- Divide your group into teams
- Let the games start!
- Award the winners
Duration: 1 hour
Group size: Up to 35 participants
Required materials: Online trivia app or website like Crowdpurr
Why it works for teams: It engages teams in friendly competition while promoting communication and strategy among colleagues.
32. Virtual Charades
Virtual Charades is a new take on the popular party game. This activity is an online experience where participants act out words or phrases using only physical gestures while teammates attempt to guess the answer through a video call.
Step-by-step:
- Prepare a list of words or phrases to act out
- Use a random selection method to choose the performer
- Mute the performer so they can't give verbal hints
- Set a time limit for guessing (typically 2-3 minutes)
- Performer uses only physical gestures to communicate
- Team tries to guess the word or phrase
Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Group size: 5-15 participants
Required materials: Zoom or other video call platform
Why it works for teams: Develops non-verbal communication skills and helps team members think creatively.
Team-Building Activities For Small Groups
Team-building activities for small groups are tailored exercises for teams of 20 or fewer, given extra attention to close collaboration and personal connections. These activities encourage open communication and teamwork, allowing members to build trust in a more intimate (and personal) setting.
33. Egg Drop Challenge
Egg Drop Challenge is an engineering and problem-solving team activity where groups must design a protective container that prevents an egg from breaking when dropped from a height. Teams collaborate in a creative and fun way, using limited materials to construct a structure that will keep the egg intact, testing their innovation, teamwork, and strategic thinking skills.
Step-by-step:
- Provide teams with limited materials like straws, tape, rubber bands, and paper
- Give teams a specific time limit (usually 30-45 minutes) to design their egg protection
- Provide an egg for each team to use in their design
- Teams construct their protective container using only the provided materials
- Drop the eggs from a predetermined height to test the designs
- Winners get awards
Duration: 1 hour
Group size: 4-6 people per team
Required materials: Raw eggs, straws, tape, rubber bands, scissors, paper
Why it works for teams: Encourages creative problem-solving, collaboration, and innovative thinking
34. Memory Wall
Memory Wall is a nostalgic team-building activity that lets colleagues geek out over shared workplace experiences. Think of it as a visual trip down memory lane that actually makes work feel fun. How can it be done? Through collages, polaroid photos or simply notes employees share between each other (birthday cards, Christmas cards, etc).
Step-by-step:
- Give everyone paper and markers
- Ask participants to write down positive team memories
- Have them draw those memories creatively and add some photos or cards they got in the past
- Tape all the materials on a wall
- Take turns sharing stories behind the drawings
Duration: 30 minutes - 1 hour
Group Size: 6-10 participants
Required materials: Paper, markers, tape
Why it works for teams: Boosts team spirit, celebrates shared experiences, and reminds everyone how great it is to be working together
35. Geocaching Adventure
Geocaching Adventure is a tech-savvy treasure hunt that takes team bonding to the next level! It’s an effective outdoor activity your team will love. Using GPS devices, groups divide into teams and race to find hidden caches, testing their problem-solving, navigation, and decision-making skills along the way. Explore, come up with a strategy, and enjoy friendly competition, with each discovery promoting teamwork and spatial awareness. This dynamic adventure gets everyone moving, thinking, and working together as they conquer challenges and build stronger bonds!
Step-by-step:
- Divide participants into small groups
- Provide each team with a GPS unit or mobile app.
- Explain how to find caches and the time limit for the hunt
- Teams search for hidden caches using clues and GPS coordinates.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Group size: 4-10 participants
Required materials: GPS devices or smartphones with geocaching apps, hidden caches (small containers with items or notes) and maps or clues
Why it works for teams: Encourages teamwork and communication through collaborative problem-solving
36. Chalk Murals
Chalk Murals is a creative team-building activity that lets participants unleash their inner artists without any pressure. Teams collaborate to create large-scale chalk art on sidewalks or walls, encouraging teamwork while adding some colorful ambiance to the workspace.
Step-by-step:
- Gather your team at an outdoor location with chalk supplies
- Divide into smaller groups and assign mural themes
- Set a time limit for creating the murals (usually 1-2 hours)
- Teams work together to design their artwork
Duration: 1 hour
Group size: 6-10 participants
Required materials: Chalk in various colors, large surfaces (sidewalks or walls)
Why it works for teams: Encourages creativity and promotes collaboration
37. Compliment Circle
Compliment Circle is like a feel-good merry-go-round where everyone gets a turn to bask in praise and show appreciation. It’s actually an effective gratitude activity your team will cherish. It's a quick morale booster that turns everyone’s day into a good one.
Step-by-step:
- Form a circle (virtual or physical)
- Each person compliments the person to their right
- Keep compliments genuine and work-related
- Go around until everyone's ego is sufficiently stroked
Duration: 15-30 minutes
Group size: 5-15 participants
Required materials: No materials required
Why it works for teams: Boosts morale, encourages positivity, and reminds everyone how good they are at their jobs
38. Cooking Challenge
Cooking Challenge is a hands-on culinary competition where teams prepare delicious dishes while racing against the clock. This activity fosters teamwork and creativity as participants collaborate to create a meal to share with the team.
Step-by-step:
- Divide participants into teams and assign a cooking challenge
- Reunite all ingredients and cooking tools
- Set a timer for the cooking session
- Teams cook, present their dishes, and taste each other's creations
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: 5-15 participants
Required materials: Ingredients, cooking utensils, judging criteria
Why it works for teams: Promotes collaboration and enhances communication skills
Team Building Activities For Big Groups
These activities are especially tailored for groups of 50+ employees, even though some of them can happen with groups of 20+. They encourage healthy competition and help strengthen communication and team bonds in larger groups.
39. Giant Jenga Tournament
A Giant Jenga Tournament is a supersized version of the block-stacking game, scaled up for large group participation. Teams compete to carefully remove and replace blocks from a towering structure without causing it to topple. This activity tests steady hands, strategic thinking, and team coordination in a high-stakes environment.
Step-by-step:
- Set up multiple giant Jenga towers in a tournament area.
- Divide participants into teams of 4-6 players.
- Explain the rules and safety guidelines.
- Conduct tournament rounds with teams competing at the same time.
- Award the winning team.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Group size: 20-100+ participants
Required materials: Multiple sets of giant Jenga blocks, tournament brackets
Why it works for teams: Enhances strategic thinking and coordination under pressure.
40. Charity Bike Build
Charity Bike Build combines teamwork with social responsibility while helping out your team’s local community. Large groups collaborate to assemble bicycles that will be donated to children in need, fostering a sense of purpose and community impact.
Step-by-step:
- Divide the large group into smaller teams.
- Provide each team with bike parts and assembly instructions.
- Teams work together to assemble the bikes.
- Conduct quality checks on completed bikes.
- Arrange for the donation of the bikes to local charities.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Group size: 20-100+ participants
Required materials: Bike parts, tools, assembly instructions
Why it works for teams: Promotes teamwork, communication, and social responsibility.
41. Bridge Build
Bridge Build is an activity where strategy is the key to success; teams construct bridges using only a limited number of materials, which promotes creativity and collaboration while fostering problem-solving skills.
Step-by-step:
- Divide the large group into smaller teams.
- Provide each team with identical building materials.
- Set a time limit for bridge construction.
- Teams design and build their bridges.
- Test each bridge's strength and stability (and declare the winner!)
Duration: 1 hour
Group size: 5-10 people per team, multiple teams
Required materials: Basic construction materials like sticks, tape, cardboard
Why it works for teams: Enhances problem-solving, communication, and collaborative skills.
42. Office Olympics
Office Olympics transforms the workplace into an arena of competition with a series of office-themed challenges. From chair races to paper airplane contests, teams compete in various events that require creativity, teamwork, and a good sense of humor. Need more suggestions? Check out our TeamOut article featuring the 15 Best Office Olympics Ideas for 2025.
Step-by-step:
- Design 5-7 office-themed Olympic events: check out our TeamOut article for inspiration.
- Divide participants into teams.
- Host an opening ceremony with team presentations.
- Conduct the Olympic events, keeping score for each team.
- Award the winning team.
Duration: Half day to full day
Group size: 30-200+ participants
Required materials: Office supplies, scoreboard, game materials (depending on the game)
Why it works for teams: Encourages creativity,and promotes friendly competition.
43. Human Board Game
Human Board Game is a life-sized, interactive board game where teams play a giant game board laid out in an outdoor space. Participants face physical challenges, trivia questions, and team tasks as they move from square to square, creating a dynamic experience for large groups. Who’s up for a real-life Trivial Pursuit?
Step-by-step:
- Create a large game board using chalk or rope in an open area.
- Prepare challenge cards for each square (physical tasks, trivia, etc.).
- Divide participants into teams of 5-8 players.
- Teams take turns rolling giant dice and moving across the board.
- Complete challenges on each square to advance.
Duration: 1 hour
Group size: 30-150+ participants
Required materials: Giant dice, challenge cards, materials for game board creation
Why it works for teams: Combines physical activity, knowledge-sharing, and strategy with entertainment.
44. Outdoor Sports Tournament
An Outdoor Sports Tournament encourages friendly competition among large groups through sports like soccer, basketball, kayaking, or archery, promoting teamwork and physical activity.
Step-by-step:
- Choose sports suitable for large groups, like soccer, volleyball, and/or kayaking.
- Divide participants into teams.
- Create a tournament schedule with matchups.
- Conduct matches with clear rules.
- Award prizes to winning teams at the end.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Group size: Varies depending on chosen sports; typically 8-15 per team
Required materials: Sports equipment (balls, nets)
Why it works for teams: Promotes teamwork, communication, and healthy competition.
45. Random Act of Kindness
Random Act of Kindness is an uplifting activity where large groups perform good deeds within their community, promoting teamwork while making a positive impact on others' lives. It’s also one of TeamOut’s 25 Best Gratitude Activities Games & Ideas for a healthier workplace. This can be spending a day volunteering for their local Food Bank or working for Habitat for Humanity for one day.
Step-by-step:
- Divide the large group into smaller teams.
- Brainstorm potential acts of kindness, like helping seniors or volunteering at the Food Bank.
- Share experiences and celebrate contributions made.
Duration: Half day to full day
Group size: 3-5 people per team; multiple teams can participate simultaneously
Required materials: Optional supplies needed for acts of kindness (e.g., food donations)
Why it works for teams: Fosters empathy, teamwork, and community engagement.
Team-Building Games For Problem Solving
These interactive challenges are crafted to sharpen critical thinking and promote collaboration among team members. These activities often simulate real-world scenarios where the main challenge is to have participants work together to come up with creative solutions, enhancing their ability to tackle complex issues.
46. Blindfolded Maze Navigation
Transform your office space into a complex maze using furniture and obstacles. Alternatively, host the activity at a nearby park or parking lot. Teams must guide their blindfolded members through the maze using only verbal instructions.
Step-by-step:
- Create a maze in the office using desks, chairs, and safe obstacles.
- Divide into teams of 3-4 people
- Blindfold one team member
- Others guide the blindfolded person through verbal cues
- Switch roles until everyone has been guided
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Group size: 12-24 participants
Required materials: Blindfolds, office furniture
Why it works for teams: Enhances communication, builds trust, develops leadership skills
47. Silent Puzzle Assembly
Silent Puzzle Assembly has proven to enhance your team’s collaboration and communication skills. Challenge teams to assemble complex puzzles without verbal communication, forcing them to develop alternative problem-solving strategies.
Step-by-step:
- Provide each team with a different 500-piece puzzle
- Impose a strict no-talking rule
- Teams must develop non-verbal communication methods
- Set a time limit for completion
- Discuss strategies used after the activity
Duration: 90-120 minutes
Group size: 15-30 participants
Required materials: Complex puzzles, timers
Why it works for teams: Improves non-verbal communication, encourages creative problem-solving.
48. Reverse Engineering Challenge
Choose an object or machine for inspiration and get working! In this activity, teams must recreate a complex object or machine using only basic materials, fostering analytical thinking and teamwork.
Step-by-step:
- Show teams a complex object (e.g. a toy with moving parts)
- Provide basic materials (cardboard, tape, strings, etc.)
- Teams analyze the object and attempt to recreate its functionality
- Set a time limit for construction
- Test and compare recreated objects to the original
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Group size: 12-20 participants
Required materials: Complex objects, basic crafting supplies
Why it works for teams: Develops analytical skills, encourages innovative thinking.
49. Survival Scenario Simulation
Survival Scenario Simulation presents teams with a hypothetical survival scenario, challenging them to prioritize resources and make decisions under pressure. This game opens space for dialogue and critical thinking.
Step-by-step:
- Present a detailed survival scenario (e.g., stranded on a deserted island)
- Provide a list of available resources
- Teams must prioritize items and create a survival plan
- Present plans to the group
- Expert evaluates and provides feedback on each plan
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Group size: 10-30 participants
Required materials: Scenario descriptions, resource lists
Why it works for teams: Improves decision-making skills, promotes strategic thinking.
50. Code-Breaking Relay
Code-Breaking Relay is a challenging one! In this exercise, teams work together to decipher a series of increasingly complex codes, promoting logical thinking and collaboration. Start nice and easy and move on to more difficult codes. Watch how teamwork makes all the difference!
Step-by-step:
- Create a series of coded messages using various ciphers
- Divide teams into smaller sub-groups
- Each sub-group tackles a different code
- Teams must combine deciphered information to solve a final puzzle
- First team to crack the final code wins
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Group size: 15-30 participants
Required materials: Coded messages, cipher keys, puzzle pieces
Why it works for teams: Enhances problem-solving skills, encourages information sharing and collaboration.
51. Domino Effect Engineering Challenge
Transform your team into a group of engineers and problem-solvers with this high-stakes mechanical challenge. Teams will design an intricate chain reaction machine that tests spatial reasoning, collaborative engineering, and innovative thinking, using simple materials to create a complex, goal-oriented mechanism.
Step-by-step:
- Provide engineering materials like dominos, marbles, cardboard, string, and tape
- Design domino chain reaction
- Create mechanism meeting specific requirements
- Test and refine design
- Demonstrate final chain reaction
- Evaluate team's performance
Duration: 90 minutes
Group size: 10-20 participants
Required materials: Dominos, marbles, cardboard, string, tape, wooden blocks
Why it works for teams: Develops spatial reasoning, encourages collaborative engineering, and tests problem-solving under time pressure.
Team Bonding Activities
These games and challenges are meant to improve team relations and foster camaraderie. They focus on building trust and creating a positive team culture. Here are our favorite ones:
52. Improv Storytelling Challenge
Nothing like an Improv Storytelling Challenge to keep your team sharp. Turn your group into master storytellers with this off-the-cuff narrative adventure. It's like a group project, but actually fun.
Step-by-step:
- Form a circle
- First person starts a story with one sentence
- Each person adds a sentence, building the tale
- Set a timer for added pressure
- Act out the final story as a group
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Group size: 6-15 participants
Required materials: Timer
Why it works for teams: Enhances creativity, improves active listening, builds on others' ideas
53. Archery Tag Battle
Here’s a crowd-pleaser for adrenaline lovers: an Archery Tag Battle. Head to an archery tag center (indoors or outdoors) and prepare to make a day of it! Combine the precision of archery with the thrill of competition in a safe, controlled environment.
Step-by-step:
- Professional instructor provides safety briefing
- Teams compete in elimination-style matches
- Use foam-tipped arrows in designated arena
- Implement strategic team-based objectives
- Rotate team compositions between matches
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: 10-24 participants
Required materials: Archery equipment, protective gear
Why it works for teams: Develops communication, strategic planning, and trust.
54. Go-Kart Team Adventure
It’s field trip time! Adrenaline enthusiasts or not, every team appreciates a go-kart challenge. Transform competitive racing into a team-building experience that gets adrenaline pumping.
Step-by-step:
- Divide into teams with mixed skill levels
- Conduct qualifying rounds
- Host team relay race
- Award points for fastest times and team collaboration
- Host awards ceremony with humorous categories
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: 12-30 participants
Required materials: Go-kart track, racing equipment
Why it works for teams: Builds camaraderie and encourages healthy competition.
55. Ropes Course Extreme
Challenge teams to navigate complex aerial obstacles that require trust and communication. Choose a course that welcomes all-skill levels and watch your team thrive as they engage in this challenging - yet rewarding - outdoor activity.
Step-by-step:
- Professional safety briefing
- Pair team members with different skill levels
- Navigate multi-level obstacle course
- Implement team-based challenges
- Reflect on overcoming fears together
Duration: 3-4 hours
Group size: 10-25 participants
Required materials: Professional ropes course, safety equipment
Why it works for teams: Builds trust, overcomes individual limitations.
56. Paintball Strategic Warfare
Take your team out for an extreme outdoor adventure and enjoy a day of Paintball Strategic Warfare. Design a team-building experience that combines strategy, communication, and controlled chaos.
Step-by-step:
- Professional safety and strategy briefing
- Create complex mission-based scenarios
- Rotate team compositions
- Implement strategic objectives beyond elimination
- Debrief on team communication and tactics
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: 12-36 participants
Required materials: Paintball equipment, protective gear
Why it works for teams: Enhances strategic thinking and communication under pressure.
57. Secret Handshake Challenge
Transform team connection into a creative, collaborative experience where members design and share unique handshakes with each other. The goal is to create increasingly complex group interactions through handshakes and keep everyone focused, yet engaged in this creative activity.
Step-by-step:
- Divide team into pairs
- Each pair creates a unique handshake
- Pairs combine handshakes, creating increasingly complex group interactions
- Final goal: Create a full team secret handshake
- Perform final handshake as a group
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Group size: 8-20 participants
Required materials: None
Why it works for teams: Builds creativity and develops non-verbal communication.
Team-Building Exercises For Purpose And Alignment
A team that is aligned and shares a purpose has major chances of achieving top results. These activities are exactly for that, to align everyone with shared goals, build a shared vision, and build momentum.
58. OKR Goal-Setting Throwdown
As you know, Objectives and Key Results are an effective goal-setting and leadership tool for communicating what you want to accomplish and what milestones you'll need to meet in order to accomplish it. Turn boring goal-setting into a high-energy brainstorming session that'll make your team feel like they're on a game show.
Step-by-step:
- Split into small groups
- Each group brainstorms OKRs for 15 minutes
- Present ideas in rapid-fire pitches or in an engaging presentation
- Team votes on top OKRs
- Refine and finalize as a full group
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Group size: 8-20 participants
Required materials: Whiteboards, markers
Why it works for teams: Aligns everyone on shared goals, encourages creativity and collaboration.
59. Vision Board Battle Royale
Vision Board Battle Royale transforms your office into a creative warzone where teams compete to visualize the company's future. This can be turned into a DIY workshop or simply be something your team does as a group online. Our TeamOut advice: Allow participants to add personal goals of their own.
Step-by-step:
- Divide into small teams
- Provide magazines, scissors, glue
- Teams create vision boards for company's future
- Present and explain visions
- Vote on most inspiring board
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Group size: 10-30 participants
Required materials: Magazines, scissors, glue, poster boards
Why it works for teams: Builds shared vision and encourages creative thinking about company goals.
60. Daily Huddle Hackathon
Supercharge your daily stand-ups by turning them into a week-long alignment challenge. By focusing on a shared weekly goal and gamifying the problem-solving, you're basically tricking your team into better alignment and collaboration.
Step-by-step:
- Set team-wide goal for the week
- Organize daily 10-minute huddles
- Each person shares top priority and potential blockers
- Team problem-solves blockers on the spot
- Track progress towards weekly goal
Duration: 10 minutes daily for a week
Group size: 5-15 participants
Required materials: None
Why it works for teams: Increases daily alignment, improves problem-solving, builds momentum.
61. Shared Learning Showdown
Turn lessons learned into a competitive sport that'll have your team retaining knowledge like champions. How? By preparing catchy presentations about recent learnings and sharing them with everybody! This is also a fantastic way for team members to feel connected and included in everyone’s experiences.
Step-by-step:
- Teams prepare presentations on recent project learnings
- Present in engaging, creative formats (skits, songs, etc.)
- Audience scores presentations on usefulness and creativity
- Winning team gets bragging rights (and maybe donuts)
- Compile all learnings into a shared knowledge base
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: 10-30 participants
Required materials: Presentation tools
Why it works for teams: Encourages knowledge sharing, makes learning fun and memorable.
62. Start, Stop, Continue Olympics
Create Start, Stop, Continue categories and let the games begin! Brainstorm ideas for each category and allow the group to vote for the best ones.Turn reflection into a high-stakes game where teams compete to improve processes.
Step-by-step:
- Create Start, Stop, Continue categories
- Teams brainstorm ideas for each category
- Present ideas in rapid-fire rounds
- Full group votes on best ideas
- Implement top-voted ideas immediately
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Group size: 8-20 participants
Required materials: Sticky notes, voting dots
Why it works for teams: Aligns team on process improvements, encourages critical thinking.
63. Culture Design Throwdown
Transform your company culture into a collaborative art project that'll make your values even more unforgettable! Gather in groups to design what your ideal company culture is, present and defend your ideas. Discuss afterwards!
Step-by-step:
- Introduce Culture Design Canvas
- Break into small groups
- Each group designs ideal company culture
- Present and defend culture designs
- Merge best ideas into unified culture canvas
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: 10-30 participants
Required materials: Culture Design Canvas printouts, markers
Why it works for teams: Aligns team on company values, encourages ownership of culture.
Creative Team-Building Activities
Art team-building activities are the creativity boosters and vehicles of self expression every team needs. These events help your team spread their imagination and go beyond the obvious solution. Check them out:
64. Sculpting Session
Get ready to get your hands dirty with a clay sculpting session. Watch your teams work together to create sculptures, and challenge participants to think three-dimensionally and problem-solve while they bring their ideas to life. Because this is a tactile activity, it can be both relaxing and engaging.
Step-by-step:
- Introduce basic sculpting techniques (hire a professional if you have the budget for it)
- Divide into small teams
- Brainstorm and sketch ideas
- Create sculptures together
- Present the finished pieces
Duration: 1-2 hours
Group size: Up to 20 participants
Required materials: Clay, sculpting tools, work surfaces, aprons.
Why it works for teams: This activity improves communication and develops problem-solving skills.
65. Landscape Painting Excursion
Take your team outdoors for a landscape painting session. This activity combines the benefits of being in nature with the creative process of painting. Besides stimulating creativity, this is a great way to reduce stress and bond while working together.
Step-by-step:
- Choose a scenic outdoor location
- Set up easels and materials
- Provide a brief tutorial on landscape painting techniques (or hire a professional for this effect)
- Allow time for individual painting
- Share finished works
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: Up to 20 participants
Required materials: Portable easels, canvases, acrylic paints, brushes, water containers, paper towels.
Why it works for teams: Combines teambuilding with stress relief and encourages mindfulness.
66. Glassblowing Workshop
Introduce your team to the ancient art of glassblowing. Under the guidance of skilled instructors, participants can create unique glass objects while learning about teamwork and precision. This activity offers a memorable, hands-on experience that many may never have tried before.
Step-by-step:
- Safety briefing and demonstration by instructors
- Practice basic techniques
- Work in pairs to create simple glass objects
- Cool and finish the creations
- Reflect on the experience
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: Up to 20 participants
Required materials: Professional glassblowing studio with all necessary equipment and safety gear
Why it works for teams: Builds trust, improves communication, and provides a unique experience.
67. Ice Sculpting Workshop
Treating your team to an ice sculpting workshop is probably one of the best creative activities for winter time! Transform blocks of ice into sculptures with a guided workshop where professionals will teach participants the basics of ice carving. Teams can work together as a whole or split into groups to promote healthy competition. This activity fosters teamwork and enhances communication.
Step-by-step:
- Gather all necessary materials and set up a designated workspace, preferably outdoors or in a well-ventilated area
- Conduct a safety briefing on proper tool handling and safety precautions
- Have participants sketch their design ideas on paper
- Choose simple shapes for beginners, such as geometric forms
- Let the professionals demonstrate how to use chisels and hammers
- Guide participants in smoothing edges and adding details to their sculptures
- Assist participants in polishing their sculptures by melting surface areas for a smooth finish.
Duration: 2 hours
Group size: Up to 20 participants
Required materials: Ice blocks, chisels, hammers, safety glasses, and gloves.
Why it works for teams: You’ll learn a new skill while experiencing a unique activity as a team.
68. Lego Building Challenge
Put your creativity and art skills to the test with a Lego Building Challenge, a popular in-person activity that’s all about collaboration and artistic thinking. In this exercise, groups collaborate to construct a model based on a specific theme, such as a bridge or cityscape, using only Lego bricks. But what’s the catch? Only one team member has seen the design and must describe it to the builders without touching the bricks.
Step-by-step:
- Divide participants into small teams and explain the challenge.
- Provide each team with a set of Lego bricks and a design diagram to one member.
- The designated describer studies the diagram for a few minutes without touching the bricks.
- Teams collaborate to build their model based on the describer's instructions.
- Present creations and judge them based on creativity and adherence to the design.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Group size: Up to 30 participants
Required materials: Lego bricks, design diagrams, tables for building.
Why it works for teams: This activity enhances communication skills, fosters collaboration, and encourages innovative thinking.
69. The Emotional Play
The Emotional Play is a dynamic team-building game that helps build emotional intelligence and empathy. Participants draw emotion cards, pair up, and act out scenarios reflecting those feelings within a time limit. The rest of the group then guesses the emotions portrayed, encouraging creativity and originality. This exercise fosters an environment where team members can connect on a deeper level while improving their emotional awareness. It’s a great activity that can take place in-person or in a virtual setting.
Step-by-step:
- Divide participants into pairs
- Each pair draws emotion cards
- Pairs act out scenarios based on their emotions
- Group guesses the emotions portrayed
- Discuss insights and experiences as a team
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Group size: Up to 20 participants
Required materials: Emotion cards, timer.
Why it works for teams: Improves emotional intelligence, promotes empathy, and strengthens connections.
Office Team-Building Activities
Office team-building activities, similarly to office olympics, are events that take place in the office, most of them recurring only to materials you can find in your workspace. They bring a fresh atmosphere to your workplace and are a break from routine everyone needs!
70. Office Chair Grand Prix
Transform your office into a racetrack for the most epic chair race of 2025. In this competitive exercise, everyone gathers to conquer the obstacle course. One thing is certain: Your team will feel like Fast and Furious, but with more swivel and less Vin Diesel.
Step-by-step:
- Map out a course using office supplies as obstacles
- Divide into teams and assign drivers and pushers
- Time trials to determine starting positions
- Race in heats, with finals for the top teams
- Award trophies to the winners
Duration: 1-2 hours
Group size: 10-30 participants
Required materials: Office chairs, stopwatch, obstacles
Why it works for teams: Encourages collaboration, strategic thinking, and healthy competition.
71. Meme Battle Royale
Everyone loves memes and they are certain to lighten every office mood. Put your team’s imagination to the test and create your own! After all, nothing says "we're a modern workplace" like utilizing internet humor for team bonding.
Step-by-step:
- Split into small groups
- Assign each team a work-related topic
- Give teams 20 minutes to create original memes
- Present memes to the group
- Vote on the dankest memes in various categories
Duration: 1 hour
Group size: Any size, split into teams of 3-5
Required materials: Computers/smartphones, meme-making software or apps
Why it works for teams: Sparks creativity, encourages inside jokes, and helps identify the office meme masters.
72. Corporate Time Capsule Challenge
It’s time for some DIY at the office! Use magazines, newspapers, and photos from your staff and team events to create a vision board that represents your crew. Remember: nothing says "team bonding" like collectively predicting the future of your company (and possibly being hilariously wrong).
Step-by-step:
- Break into small groups
- Brainstorm predictions for the company in 5 years
- Create physical representations of predictions
- Present and explain choices to the larger group
- Seal items in a time capsule to be opened in 2030
Duration: 1-2 hours
Group size: Any size, split into teams of 4-6
Required materials: Box for time capsule, art supplies, random office items
Why it works for teams: Encourages long-term thinking and creativity.
73. The Great Office Bake-Off
Turn your break room into a baking haven and host The Great Office Bake-Off. Hire an instructor or chef and prepare to get your hands dirty. May the best baker win!
Step-by-step:
- Announce the competition and theme in advance
- Hire an instructor/host for the event
- Everyone learns the same recipe
- Organize your team into smaller groups
- Time to bake!
- Everyone tastes and votes on various categories
Duration: 1-2 hours for tasting and voting
Group size: Any size
Required materials: Plates, utensils, scoring cards
Why it works for teams: Celebrates hidden talents and is a great communication booster.
74. Reverse Mentoring Roulette
There are no limits to team building, and this one is one of our top suggestions. Flip the script on traditional mentoring. Junior employees and senior staff pair up and the first are given a topic to teach to the latter. It's time for the interns to teach the CEOs how to use TikTok.
Step-by-step:
- Pair junior employees with senior staff
- Juniors choose a modern skill or topic to teach
- Give pairs 30 minutes for a crash course
- Senior staff demonstrate their new skills
- Vote on most successful knowledge transfer
Duration: 1.5-2 hours
Group size: Even number, up to 30 participants
Required materials: Whatever is needed for chosen topics
Why it works for teams: Breaks down hierarchical barriers and values diverse knowledge.
75. Office Escape Room Challenge
Transform your office into a live-action puzzle-solving adventure where teamwork isn't just a buzzword, it's survival. Allow 1 hour for your teams to crack codes and decipher clues in order to “escape” the office. Prepare yourselves: Things are about to get competitive.
Step-by-step:
- Design office-wide puzzle circuit
- Create storyline, like "Save the Company from a Fictional Cyber Attack"
- Hide clues in different office zones
- Divide into mixed-level teams
- Set strict time limit (60 minutes)
- Require teams to solve interconnected puzzles
- Use actual office equipment as puzzle components
- The first team to “escape”, wins
Duration: 1.5-2 hours
Group size: 15-30 participants
Required materials: Locks, hidden clues, puzzle-making creativity
Why it works for teams: Promotes cross-departmental communication and reveals problem-solving skills under pressure.
Free Team-Building Activities
Team-building activities shouldn’t be subject to a fancy budget. These are effective experiences that bring your team together without spending a dime. Take a look!
76. Silent Line-Up Challenge
Welcome to Silent Line-Up Challenge, a deceptively simple communication puzzle that tests non-verbal coordination and team synchronization. Participants must arrange themselves in a specific order without speaking, using only gestures and eye contact.
Step-by-step:
- Select a sorting criteria (birthday, height, shoe size)
- Announce the order requirement
- Team must arrange themselves without verbal communication
- Use only hand signals and facial expressions
- Verify accuracy of final lineup
Duration: 20-30 minutes
Group size: 8-20 participants
Required materials: None
Why it works for teams: Develops non-verbal communication, patience, and collaborative problem-solving.
77. Human Puzzle Challenge
Time for the Human Puzzle Challenge, a physical and mental exercise where teams must create complex human formations using minimal communication and maximum creativity. The more out-of-the-box, the better!
Step-by-step:
- Define specific formation goal
- Provide limited communication rules
- Team must create formation
- Time and evaluate attempts
- Discuss strategy and collaboration
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Group size: 8-20 participants
Required materials: None
Why it works for teams: Develops non-verbal communication, spatial reasoning, and collective problem-solving.
78. Random Skills Showcase
Random Skills Showcase is just the excuse your team needed to be spontaneous and bring something new to the office atmosphere. This is an impromptu talent exhibition where team members share unexpected skills or knowledge in entertaining performances.
Step-by-step:
- Announce activity with short preparation time
- Each participant prepares 3-minute skill demonstration
- Skills can be serious or humorous
- Group provides supportive feedback
- Vote on most interesting/surprising skill
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Group size: 6-15 participants
Required materials: None
Why it works for teams: Reveals hidden talents, encourages vulnerability, builds mutual respect
79. Blind Drawing Challenge
Blind Drawing Challenge is a communication and interpretation game where teams must recreate complex images using only verbal instructions, testing precise communication skills. Above being a great artist is being a great listener!
Step-by-step:
- Divide into pairs
- One person describes image
- Other person draws based on description
- Compare original and recreated image
- Discuss communication strategies
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Group size: 8-20 participants
Required materials: Paper, pencils
Why it works for teams: Improves verbal communication, active listening, and interpretation skills
80. Urban Photo Safari Challenge
This is a free, creativity-driven activity where teams explore their local environment through photographic missions using only smartphone cameras and a set of instructions. Divide your team into smaller groups and get ready to explore your surroundings!
Step-by-step:
- Create list of quirky photo challenges, like “capture unexpected symmetry" or "take a photo that represents teamwork"
- Set 60-minute time limit
- Teams explore nearby area
- Share and discuss photos afterward
- Vote on most creative interpretations
Duration: 1-2 hours
Group size: 4-16 participants
Required materials: Smartphones
Why it works for teams: Encourages creativity, explores local environment, builds collaborative skills
81. Community Impact Micro-Challenge
Time to give back to your local community and get your team to strengthen bonds while you do it! Transform team building into a meaningful local contribution by completing quick, impactful community service tasks.
Step-by-step:
- Research local community needs
- Divide team into small groups
- Select micro-projects (park cleanup, neighborhood beautification)
- Complete projects within 2-hour window
- Document and share results
- Reflect on collective impact
Duration: 2-3 hours
Group size: 8-25 participants
Required materials: Basic cleaning/gardening tools
Why it works for teams: Builds social responsibility, creates shared purpose, generates positive community impact.
Putting It All Together
The best team moments often come from the simplest activities. It could be an outdoor challenge where your quietest employee suddenly becomes everyone's go-to problem solver. Or an office icebreaker that suddenly has everyone finding out common interests.
Sometimes, team building is just giving people permission to be human at work. Try a 15-minute game during your next team check-in. Watch what happens when people loosen up and forget about their projects for a minute.
Pay attention to who lights up during outdoor corporate activities, who steps up to lead, and who comes up with creative solutions.
And remember - if an activity flops, try something else. The whole point is building connections, not achieving perfection.
At TeamOut, we transform your corporate event dreams into reality. Whether you aim to plan a team-building adventure, a company celebration, or a corporate retreat, we have the expertise to make it happen seamlessly.
Our mission? To take stress out of event planning and deliver an experience that exceeds your expectations. We're your all-in-one event solution!
Ready to shake things up with your team? Book a free call with us today and prepare to take team-building to the next level with TeamOut.
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