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Why Are Team Building Activities Essential for Large Group Dynamics?
Team-building activities are the secret ingredient for transforming a crew into a cohesive and productive (and happy!) team. Here’s why they’re crucial:
- They Break Down Barriers: These activities dismantle silos and promote cross-departmental collaboration. All of a sudden, teamwork starts to feel seamless. If your employees are involved in an engaging exercise, communication won’t feel forced, but genuine instead.
- They cultivate a Fantastic Company Culture: A vibrant company culture is essential especially in larger teams, as employees probably don’t have a close relationship with most people.
- They enhance employee Engagement & Productivity: Participating in fun activities brings enthusiasm into the workplace, leading to improved morale and productivity. According to Gallup, organizations with highly engaged teams see a 21% increase in profitability.
Team-building activities are the key for nurturing strong dynamics within large groups and creating a unified atmosphere across the organization. Following participation in team building activities, Flair states that 63% of leaders observed an improvement in team communication, while 61% noted an increase in team morale.
What Criterias Make Team-Building Activities the Right Fit for a Large team?
If you’re about to pick team-building activities for your large group, keep these important factors in mind to make sure they resonate with your organization:
- Scalability: Choose activities that can easily accommodate large numbers without losing their impact or excitement.
- Inclusivity: Opt for exercises that are inclusive of the diverse skills and backgrounds of your workforce, making sure everyone feels valued regardless of their ability level or age.
- Simple Logistics: Select activities that can be organized efficiently for large crowds, minimizing stress on event planners.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Pick activities that deliver high engagement and outcomes without compromising your budget—value is key!
- Alignment with Values: Ensure the activities reflect your organization’s mission and values, creating a meaningful experience for all, not a random activity just to tick the box.
- High Energy and Engagement: Choose activities designed to captivate a large audience, keeping participation levels up.
- Skill Development at Scale: Select exercises that foster relevant skills applicable across your organization, even in a large setting. These can be problem-solving skills, creativity, teamwork, etc.
- Measurable Impact: Pick activities that provide clear results to track progress and demonstrate value.
According to TeamStage's 2024 statistics, nearly 75% of employees see teamwork and collaboration as essential, which can be easily fostered through team-building challenges and activities.
What Are Some Common Challenges When Organizing Team-Building Activities for Large Groups?
While large group team-building activities can be exhilarating, they come with their own set of challenges that can trip up even the best planners. But we’re one step ahead and bring you some of the hurdles you might face:
- Complex Logistics: Coordinating events for hundreds or thousands can feel overwhelming when you don’t have a step-by-step guide or event planners working side by side with you.
- Different Skill Levels: With a diverse group comes a wide range of abilities, making it challenging to find activities where everyone can participate.
- Sustaining Energy Levels: Keeping a large crew with high levels of energy throughout the day or event is similar to maintaining momentum in a marathon: it's all about pacing!
- Forming Cliques: In larger groups, smaller cliques can easily form, making it harder to build connections across the whole team.
- Measuring Success: Gauging How effective an activity is becomes more complex when dealing with numerous participants.
- Budget Constraints: Planning large-scale events can quickly escalate in cost, which means you’ll need careful budgeting and planning.
💡 TeamOut Advice: The key is to create an experience that feels personal and impactful—even in a crowd—where every employee feels like an integral part of something greater than themselves without getting lost in the (large) numbers.
Our list of 25 best activities
Here's our list of tailored recommanded team-building activities for large group
Best Team-Building Activities for Large Groups (TeamOut top picks)
These activities are our top choices. Popular and stimulating, they will refresh your team regardless of its size.
1. 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.
How to play :
- 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.
Group size: 20-100+ participants
Materials: Multiple sets of giant Jenga blocks, tournament brackets
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Virtual Jenga apps for remote play
Why it works for teams: Enhances strategic thinking and coordination under pressure.
2. Squid Game
Squid Game is an outstanding team-building activity inspired by the hit Netflix series. Participants are divided into teams and face a series of fun, non-violent challenges that promote collaboration and strategic thinking. This activity can accommodate over 200 participants, making it perfect for large groups.
How to play :
- Divide participants into teams.
- Explain the rules and safety guidelines.
- Conduct a series of Squid Game-inspired challenges, like obstacle courses and eating contests.
- Teams work together to overcome obstacles and "survive".
- The last team standing wins.
Group size: 20-200+ participants
Materials: It depends on the challenges, but you might need an open space, ropes, arrows, and paintball gear for the game (it’s up to you!)
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Can be played virtually using online platforms like Teamland
Why it works for teams: Encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability under pressure.
3. 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.
How to play :
- 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.
Group size: 20-100+ participants
Materials: Bike parts, tools, assembly instructions
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Virtual fundraising can supplement the activity
Why it works for teams: Promotes teamwork, communication, and social responsibility.
4. Go-Karting
Go-Karting is an exhilarating racing experience where large groups compete against each other on a racetrack. Participants race in go-karts, driving through turns and straightaways while getting competitive (in a healthy way!). This high-energy activity encourages teamwork as participants cheer each other on and strategize for victory.
How to play :
- Choose a go-kart facility that can accommodate large groups.
- Divide participants into teams or heats.
- Brief everyone on safety rules and track etiquette.
- Conduct time trials or races.
- Award prizes for best times or positions.
Group size: 20-50+ participants
Materials: Go-kart facility with enough karts for the group
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Virtual racing games for remote teams
Why it works for teams: Encourages friendly competition and builds camaraderie.
Indoor Team-Building Activities for Large Groups
It’s not always easy to have outdoor space available for large groups, and that’s okay. These indoor team-building activities are designed to improve communication, collaboration, and team spirit without having to step outside. Take a look at our selection below:
5. 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.
How to play :
- 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!)
Group size: 5-10 people per team, multiple teams
Materials: Basic construction materials like sticks, tape, cardboard
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Can be adapted for virtual teams using household items
Why it works for teams: Enhances problem-solving, communication, and collaborative skills.
6. Egg Drop Challenge
The Egg Drop Challenge is a classic team-building game where groups design protective containers to prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a height. This is also a fantastic challenge for smaller teams. This activity promotes creativity and teamwork in a fun environment.
How to play :
- Divide participants into small teams.
- Provide limited materials like cardboard, straws, rubber bands, and tape.
- Set a time limit for designing an egg protection.
- Drop the eggs from various heights to test designs.
Group size: 4-6 people per team
Materials: Raw eggs, straws, tape, rubber bands
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Use video conferencing to allow teams to collaborate virtually
Why it works for teams: Encourages creative problem-solving and collaboration.
7. Charades
Charades is a crowd-pleasing game where participants act out words or phrases without speaking, while their teammates try to guess what they are. This popular activity promotes creativity and quick thinking as teams rely on non-verbal cues and collaboration to succeed.
Step-by-step:
- Divide participants into teams.
- Prepare a list of words or phrases.
- One team member acts out the word without speaking.
- Team members guess within a time limit.
- Teams take turns, competing for points.
Group size: 10-50+ participants
Materials: List of words/phrases, timer
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Can be played virtually using video conferencing
Why it works for teams: Promotes non-verbal communication and creativity.
8. Helium Stick
Helium Stick is a deceptively simple activity where participants must work together to lower a lightweight stick using only their index fingers. Seems way too easy? Well, the challenge lies in the fact that the stick often seems to rise instead of fall! This requires communication and coordination as teams think of the best movements to achieve success.
Step-by-step:
- Divide the group into two lines facing each other.
- Place a long, light stick on their outstretched index fingers.
- Instruct the group to lower the stick to the ground together.
- The stick must remain in contact with everyone's fingers at all times.
- Debrief on the challenges and strategies used.
Group size: 8-20 participants per stick (multiple groups for larger teams)
Materials: Long, lightweight stick (e.g., tent pole)
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Non applicable
Why it works for teams: Improves communication, coordination, and patience.
9. Group Cooking Class
In a Group Cooking Class, participants are divided into small teams to prepare a dish together while learning new culinary skills along the way. Each team follows a recipe collaboratively, chopping, mixing, and cooking their ingredients before sharing their creations with the entire group. The best part? You can make it a themed session: Indian Cooking Class, Tex-Mex, Italian, etc,
Step-by-step:
- Divide the large group into cooking teams.
- Assign each team a recipe (preferably from different cultures).
- Provide ingredients and cooking equipment.
- Teams work together to prepare their dishes.
- Share the meals together.
Group size: 4-6 people per cooking team, multiple teams
Materials: Cooking ingredients, utensils, recipes
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Virtual cooking classes with ingredients delivered to participants
Why it works for teams: Promotes collaboration and cultural understanding.
10. Human Knot Challenge
The Human Knot Challenge is a physical problem-solving activity where large groups must work together to untangle themselves from a human knot without breaking hand contact. This exercise requires clear communication, leadership skills, and patience as participants play through tight spaces and awkward positions.
Step-by-step:
- Form circles of 10-20 people standing shoulder to shoulder.
- Participants reach across and grasp hands with others, creating a "knot".
- The group must untangle themselves without breaking hand contact.
- Reflect on the experience after completion.
Group size: 20-100+ participants (multiple circles for larger groups)
Materials: None required
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Non applicable
Why it works for teams: Improves communication, problem-solving, and physical coordination.
11. 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.
Group size: 30-200+ participants
Materials: Office supplies, scoreboard, game materials (depending on the game)
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Adapt events for virtual participation using common household items
Why it works for teams: Encourages creativity,and promotes friendly competition.
Outdoor Team-Building Activities for Large Groups
There's nothing like stepping outside for team-building fun! These activities take up quite a lot of space, making them unique and extra engaging: a change of scenery adds to the ‘surprise factor’ and is an excellent break from the office routine. Get to know our favorite outdoor games and exercises below:
12. 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.
Group size: 30-150+ participants
Materials: Giant dice, challenge cards, materials for game board creation
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Participate in a virtual board game
Why it works for teams: Combines physical activity, knowledge-sharing, and strategy with entertainment.
13. Ropes Course
A Ropes Course is an adventurous way for large groups to build trust and teamwork through physical challenges that require cooperation and communication.The best part? It’s an adrenaline-boosting activity that will encourage your team members to overcome fears and limits together!
Step-by-step:
- Organize transportation to a local ropes course facility.
- Divide participants into smaller groups.
- Brief teams on safety protocols and course rules.
- Teams navigate through various obstacles together.
- Debrief after completing the course to discuss individual experiences.
Group size: 10-100+ participants
Materials: Access to a ropes course facility
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Non applicable
Why it works for teams: Builds trust, communication skills, and camaraderie.
14. Cross the Circle
Cross the Circle is a famous game that challenges participants to work together to cross a designated area without touching the ground inside it. The objective is to find creative solutions and strategies while encouraging communication and teamwork among all members.
Step-by-step:
- Form a large circle with all participants.
- Explain the rules of crossing the circle without touching the ground inside.
- Encourage teams to discuss strategies before attempting.
- Allow time for strategy discussion and attempts (give everyone a chance!).
- Debrief on successful strategies used by different groups.
Group size: 20-50+ participants
Materials: Optional rope to mark the circle
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Non applicable
Why it works for teams: Improves problem-solving skills and creative thinking.
15. 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.
Group size: Varies depending on chosen sports; typically 8-15 per team
Materials: Sports equipment (balls, nets)
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Virtual sports challenges or e-sports tournaments can be organized
Why it works for teams: Promotes teamwork, communication, and healthy competition.
16. Camping Experience
The Camping Experience immerses large groups in nature and is a standout opportunity for team members to bond over outdoor activities. Participants set up tents, cook meals together, and engage in team-building exercises like hiking or campfire smores. This experience promotes teamwork while allowing members to disconnect from daily stress.
Step-by-step:
- Choose a suitable camping location.
- Divide the large group into smaller teams.
- Assign tasks (e.g., setting up tents, preparing meals).
- Organize team-building activities (e.g., hiking, kayaking, stargazing).
Group size: 20-100+ participants
Materials: Camping gear, food, water, first-aid supplies
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Non applicable
Why it works for teams: Builds trust, improves communication, and develops leadership skills.
Virtual Team-Building Activities for Large Groups
For large remote teams, it can be a challenge to keep strong bonds, high levels of collaboration and collaboration between team members. That’s where virtual team-building activities comes in. Regardless of your crew’s location, these activities ensure everyone is focused, engaged, and ready to work on their team dynamics. These are our prefered activities:
17. Virtual Escape Room
A Virtual Escape Room allows remote teams to solve puzzles together in a digital environment instead of a physical escape room, enhancing problem-solving skills while fostering teamwork among participants. The aim of the challenge is to escape the room in under 60 minutes by solving puzzles and clues as a team. This is also an excellent example of a Virtual Retreat Activities and Games your team will love!
Step-by-step:
- Choose a virtual escape room platform.
- Divide participants into smaller teams.
- Brief teams on the escape room scenario and rules.
- Teams work together to solve puzzles within a time limit.
- The first team to escape wins.
Group size: 4-8 people per team; multiple teams can participate simultaneously
Materials: Access to a virtual escape room platform
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Designed specifically for remote participation
Why it works for teams: Improves communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
18. Virtual or In-person Happy Hours
Virtual or In-person Happy Hours provide an informal setting for team members to connect and unwind after work hours while chatting and toasting to drinks, promoting relationship-building in a relaxed atmosphere (that can even be the comfort of your own home).
Step-by-step:
- Choose a video conferencing platform or location for in-person gathering.
- Plan engaging activities like quick icebreakers or conversation starters.
- Optionally arrange drink/snack delivery to virtual participants.
Group size: 20-100+ participants
Materials: Drinks/snacks; video conferencing tools if virtual
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Designed for both in-person and virtual participation
Why it works for teams: Promotes informal communication and relationship-building.
19. Wink Murder (Virtual or In-Person)
Looking for an interactive game that can be played in-person or virtually? Wink Murder is an interactive game of deduction where one participant secretly becomes the "murderer" by eliminating others with a wink during casual conversation via video call or in-person gathering. Players must observe closely to identify who among them is the murderer before being “killed” and losing the game.
Step-by-step:
- Assign one participant as the "murderer" secretly.
- Participants engage in conversation while seated in a circle or virtually via video call.
- The "murderer" eliminates players by winking at them discreetly.
- Players try to identify the murderer before being eliminated themselves.
- Game ends when either the murderer is caught or everyone else is eliminated.
Group size: Any size
Materials: Video conferencing platform like Zoom if played online; none needed if played in person
Hybrid/remote adaptations: None
Why it works for teams: Enhances observation skills while creating suspenseful interactions among players.
20. Virtual Time Capsule
Virtual Time Capsule is a collaborative online activity where remote teams create a digital archive representing their shared experiences, such as current events and predictions for the future. Participants contribute photos and videos that capture the essence of their team and the present moment.
Step-by-step:
- Set up a shared online platform for contributions, such as Google Drive or Padlet
- Divide participants into smaller groups for more focused discussions.
- Each group selects and uploads photos, videos, articles, and predictions.
- Host a virtual gathering to present and discuss contributions.
- Set a future date to revisit and reflect on the time capsule,for example in a year, two years, or 5 years.
Group size: 20-200+ participants
Materials: Online file-sharing platform, video conferencing tool
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Designed for virtual participation
Why it works for teams: Encourages reflection, creativity, and shared experiences among remote team members.
Free Team-Building Activities for Large Groups
Planning team-building activities doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, we know a few free activities that require no budget at all and are completely free! Don’t let the misconception of “quality team building equals big expenses” mislead you. Here are a few activities that your big crew will love to try:
21. City Hunt
City Hunt is an engaging scavenger hunt that encourages large groups to explore their local city while completing challenges together, enhancing teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Step-by-step:
- Organize participants into smaller teams.
- Provide each team with a list of challenges or items to find around the city.
- Set a time limit for completing the hunt.
- Teams explore different parts of the city while taking photos of their findings.
- Reconvene to share experiences and award prizes based on completed challenges.
Group size: 4-200+ participants
Materials: List of challenges/items; optional prizes
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Can be adapted as an online scavenger hunt using apps or platforms
Why it works for teams: Encourages exploration, collaboration, and creativity.
22. 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.
Group size: 3-5 people per team; multiple teams can participate simultaneously
Materials: Optional supplies needed for acts of kindness (e.g., food donations)
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Can be done individually with virtual sharing sessions afterward
Why it works for teams: Fosters empathy, teamwork, and community engagement.
23. Team Beats
Team Beats is an energizing activity with a great rhythm where participants collaborate to create music using percussion instruments like drums or homemade items such as pots, pans, and cans. This experience focuses on synchronization and communication as they explore music and sounds together.
Step-by-step:
- Provide various percussion instruments or household items as makeshift instruments.
- Assign a simple rhythm pattern that all groups will follow initially.
- Start with one group playing their rhythm before gradually adding others until everyone is involved.
- Encourage improvisation by allowing individuals or subgroups to showcase their unique beats or solos during playtime!
- Reflect on how individual contributions come together harmoniously as one cohesive sound!
Group size: 20-100+ participants
Materials: Percussion instruments
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Can be adapted using online music-making tools
Why it works for teams: Improves synchronization skills while fostering non-verbal communication among team members.
24. Massive Mural Creation
Massive Mural Creation is an art-inspired collaboration where large groups work as one to paint a giant mural representing their company’s goals or company culture. This activity allows for individual expression within a collective work of art, resulting in a visual representation of the team.
Step-by-step:
- Prepare wall space for the mural.
- Divide the mural area into sections for different teams.
- Provide a theme or central concept for the mural.
- Allow teams to plan and sketch their sections.
- Teams paint their sections, working to create a cohesive overall image.
Group size: 30-200+ participants
Materials: Blank wall, paints, brushes
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Create individual pieces that form a digital collage
Why it works for teams: Fosters creativity, collaboration, and a sense of shared accomplishment.
25. Human Pictionary
Human Pictionary is a large-scale, interactive version of the drawing game everyone knows and loves where teams use their bodies to form shapes and spell out words. This energetic activity combines physical coordination, quick thinking, and non-verbal communication in a fun competition.
Step-by-step:
- Divide participants into teams of 8-12 players.
- Prepare a list of words or phrases for teams to act out.
- One team forms the word using their bodies while others guess.
- Set a time limit for each round.
- Rotate through teams, keeping score of correct guesses.
Group size: 40-200+ participants
Materials: List of words/phrases, timer, scoreboard
Hybrid/remote adaptations: Use gestures and charades-style acting for virtual play
Why it works for teams: Enhances non-verbal communication, creativity, and quick problem-solving.
Final Thoughts
And here you go: 25 epic team-building activities that will transform your large group from a group of individuals into an example of success when it comes to communication and teamwork!
These experiences are designed to break down barriers especially in large teams, where employees often don’t interact with workers from other departments. These games and challenges spark creativity and strengthen relationships without falling into the trap of dull corporate events.
Regardless of your team’s style —gathering to build bridges, embarking on city-wide hunts, or competing in Squid Game challenges,— these activities will leave your team feeling connected and ready to conquer any challenge in the new year.
Ready to turn your next team event into an outstanding adventure? TeamOut is your ultimate partner in crafting experiences that'll have your colleagues talking for months!
Schedule a free call with our TeamOut experts, and let's design an experience that'll make your large group feel like a tight-knit crew!
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