Team building activities are key to building strong, collaborative teams that perform well at work. Whether you’re looking to break the ice, spark creativity, or build trust, the right activities can boost employee engagement and lift morale. At HubEngage, we see these activities as more than just fun—they help create a sense of community, improve productivity, and build lasting memories.
Here are some unique team-building ideas that will keep your team engaged, entertained, and energized!
1. Escape Room Challenge: Unlocking Team Potential
Escape rooms have become wildly popular for team building activities, and it’s easy to see why. These activities force teams to work together under pressure, using problem-solving skills, creativity, and communication to solve puzzles and “escape” within a set time frame.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Divide your employees into small groups.
- Step 2: Choose an escape room theme—whether it’s a haunted house, treasure hunt, or a detective mystery.
- Step 3: Provide clues and puzzles for the team to solve. This can be done in a physical space, or you can utilize a virtual escape room software if working with remote teams.
Engaging Employees:
To make it more engaging, offer a leaderboard and have teams compete for the fastest escape time. You can even include personalized challenges that pertain to your company’s goals or industry.
“You know your team’s bonded when you're locked in a room, and no one starts panicking... yet.”
Read more about escape rooms for team building here.
2. The Amazing Office Race: Fast-Paced Fun
Inspired by the reality show The Amazing Race, this team building activity involves employees racing around the office (or virtual workspace), completing challenges that require teamwork, communication, and quick thinking.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Set up a series of office-themed stations with mini-challenges. Think of tasks like office trivia, a paper plane flying contest, or organizing a desk as fast as possible.
- Step 2: Teams of 3-5 participants must complete each challenge before moving to the next station.
- Step 3: The team that completes all the challenges first wins the race.
Engaging Employees:
The Amazing Office Race is a great way to break up the day-to-day routine. You can mix in work-related tasks to tie into productivity goals or include quirky tasks like coffee-making competitions.
“The only time running through the office is acceptable—when there’s a trophy on the line!”
3. Office Scavenger Hunt: Discovering Hidden Talents
One of the most versatile team building activities, an office scavenger hunt gets employees moving and working together to find hidden objects or complete specific tasks within the office.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Create a list of items or clues hidden around the office (or virtually if you’re doing this remotely). Each clue should lead to another location or task.
- Step 2: Divide employees into teams and give them the list of clues.
- Step 3: The first team to find all the items or complete the challenges wins.
Engaging Employees:
Encourage team bonding by mixing employees from different departments. Consider having riddles or work-related clues to integrate fun learning opportunities into the game.
“Turns out, the printer room is the ultimate hiding spot—and no one wants to admit it.”
4. Trivia Throwdown: Flex Those Brain Muscles
Who doesn’t love a good trivia contest? This activity tests employees’ general knowledge, quick thinking, and ability to work under pressure. Trivia games are fun, competitive, and suitable for all team sizes.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Prepare trivia questions that can range from general knowledge to industry-specific topics.
- Step 2: Divide employees into teams and have each team answer questions in rounds.
- Step 3: The team with the most correct answers by the end of the game wins.
Engaging Employees:
Trivia is great because it can be tailored to suit your team’s interests. You can create rounds on pop culture, history, or industry-specific questions to make the activity both fun and educational.
“The moment you realize that obscure fact about llamas finally comes in handy.”
Learn more about how trivia can boost employee engagement here.
5. Human Knot: Untangling Teamwork
The Human Knot is a classic team building activity that requires communication, patience, and trust. It’s simple to execute, but its effectiveness in building team cohesion is unparalleled.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Have everyone in a group stand in a circle and hold hands with two different people across from them, creating a human knot.
- Step 2: The group must work together to untangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands.
- Step 3: The team that successfully untangles first wins.
Engaging Employees:
This is one of those team building activities that’s equal parts fun and awkward. It encourages team members to communicate effectively and learn to trust each other.
“If you can get out of this without stepping on someone’s toes, you’ve already won.”
6. The Innovation Hackathon: Creativity Meets Competition
Hackathons aren’t just for tech teams anymore. These events provide an open forum for employees to brainstorm and develop solutions to workplace challenges in a short period. It’s a fantastic way to foster innovation and collaboration across departments.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Choose a workplace problem or project that needs innovative solutions.
- Step 2: Give teams a set amount of time (usually a day or two) to come up with a creative solution.
- Step 3: Teams present their ideas, and a panel of judges selects the best one.
Engaging Employees:
Employees love hackathons because they get a chance to showcase their skills and creativity in a fun, competitive environment. You can encourage participation by offering awards for creativity, practicality, and presentation.
“When brainstorming turns into ‘brain-tornadoing,’ you know it’s serious.”
7. Board Game Bonanza: Let’s Play!
There’s something nostalgic and comforting about playing board games, and they can serve as excellent team building activities. Whether it’s Monopoly, Scrabble, or a custom board game relevant to your industry, board games encourage strategic thinking, cooperation, and friendly competition.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Choose a selection of board games that can be played by small teams.
- Step 2: Allow employees to rotate between games, playing different opponents.
- Step 3: The team with the highest collective score across all games wins.
Engaging Employees:
Encourage employees to take part in lighthearted trash-talking or costume themes to add extra fun. You can also hold a “board game draft” where each team picks their preferred game.
“Nothing says teamwork like fighting over Monopoly properties.”
8. Office Pictionary: Drawing Out Creativity
This is a light-hearted, creative team building activity that requires teamwork and out-of-the-box thinking. It’s perfect for breaking up the monotony of a long workday and getting everyone laughing.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Divide employees into teams.
- Step 2: One person from each team must draw an assigned word, while the rest of the team guesses what it is.
- Step 3: The team that guesses the most drawings correctly within the time limit wins.
Engaging Employees:
Pictionary encourages teams to think creatively and communicate effectively. You can use industry-related terms for drawings to make the game both fun and educational.
“Who knew stick figures could stir up so much competitive spirit?”
9. Charity Challenge: Giving Back, Together
One of the most rewarding team building activities is a charity challenge where employees work together to give back to the community. It could be anything from organizing a fundraising event to spending the day volunteering.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Choose a charitable cause that aligns with your company values.
- Step 2: Divide employees into teams, with each team responsible for a different aspect of the charity event (e.g., fundraising, marketing, volunteering).
- Step 3: Set a goal and work together to achieve it.
Engaging Employees:
People feel good about giving back, and working together for a noble cause strengthens team bonds. You can also create a friendly competition by tracking which team raises the most money or completes the most tasks.
“We’re not just raising funds—we’re raising team spirits.”
10. Blindfolded Obstacle Course: Trust, But No Peeking
The blindfolded obstacle course is an exercise in trust and communication. Employees must navigate through an obstacle course while blindfolded, with only their teammates’ verbal guidance to help them.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Set up an obstacle course in the office or outdoor space.
- Step 2: One team member is blindfolded while the others give verbal instructions on how to navigate the course.
- Step 3: The team that completes the course fastest wins.
Engaging Employees:
This activity promotes communication, trust, and patience. It’s ideal for teams that need to improve their collaborative skills, especially in high-stress environments.
“Sometimes in life, you have to trust your coworkers… especially when you’re blindfolded.”
11. Cook-Off Challenge: Culinary Collaboration
A cook-off challenge is a delicious way to bring teams together. Employees work in groups to prepare a meal, dessert, or snack, with each team presenting their creation to a panel of judges.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Divide employees into teams and provide them with a basic set of ingredients.
- Step 2: Teams must work together to plan, cook, and present their dish within a set time limit.
- Step 3: Judges evaluate the dishes based on taste, presentation, and creativity.
Engaging Employees:
To make it more interesting, add a surprise ingredient that teams must incorporate into their dish. You can also involve employees in taste-testing for a more inclusive experience.
“The only thing better than teamwork is team-cooked food!”
12. The Marshmallow Challenge: Engineering Fun
This activity encourages creativity and teamwork by challenging employees to build the tallest structure possible using spaghetti, tape, string, and a marshmallow.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Provide teams with a set of materials: spaghetti, tape, string, and a marshmallow.
- Step 2: Teams have 18 minutes to build the tallest freestanding structure they can, with the marshmallow placed on top.
- Step 3: The tallest structure that can support the marshmallow wins.
Engaging Employees:
The Marshmallow Challenge promotes problem-solving and innovation. You can spice things up by adding constraints, such as using only one hand or no verbal communication.
“Who knew pasta and marshmallows could engineer so much fun?”
13. Lego Serious Play: Building Communication
Lego Serious Play is a creative, hands-on activity that uses Lego bricks to help teams visualize ideas, solve problems, and communicate effectively.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Provide each team with a set of Lego bricks.
- Step 2: Assign a challenge, such as building a representation of your company’s values or a solution to a specific problem.
- Step 3: Teams must build and then present their Lego models, explaining their thought process.
Engaging Employees:
This activity encourages open communication and out-of-the-box thinking. It’s particularly effective for problem-solving and strategic planning sessions.
“It’s all fun and games until someone loses a brick.”
14. Mystery Dinner: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Mystery Dinner is a social activity where employees are randomly assigned to dine together at a restaurant or someone’s home, with the location and guest list kept secret until the last minute.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Organize several dinner groups, keeping the guest lists a secret.
- Step 2: Reveal the dinner location and attendees just before the event.
- Step 3: After the dinner, participants share their experiences with the rest of the company.
Engaging Employees:
This activity helps employees from different departments get to know each other in a relaxed setting. It’s a great way to break down silos and build camaraderie.
“Dinner’s ready… and so is your social life!”
15. Office Talent Show: Unleashing Hidden Talents
An office talent show is a fun and entertaining way for employees to showcase their skills and hobbies outside of work.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Announce the talent show and allow employees to sign up with their act.
- Step 2: On the day of the event, set up a stage and allow each participant or team to perform.
- Step 3: Judges or the audience vote on the best performance.
Engaging Employees:
Encourage participation by offering prizes for the most creative, entertaining, or unique talents. You can even make it a themed event.
“Who knew your colleague could juggle spreadsheets AND flaming torches?”
16. Reverse Brainstorming: Flip the Script
Reverse brainstorming is a technique where teams think of ways to cause a problem instead of solving it, and then reverse-engineer solutions.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Identify a common workplace challenge.
- Step 2: Ask teams to brainstorm ways to make the problem worse.
- Step 3: Once ideas are listed, reverse them to create solutions.
Engaging Employees:
This activity encourages lateral thinking and can reveal new perspectives on persistent problems. It’s especially useful for tackling complex issues.
“Let’s break it to fix it—reverse psychology at its finest.”
17. Improv Workshop: Thinking on Your Feet
Improv workshops help teams build communication skills, think creatively, and adapt quickly to new situations.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Hire an improv instructor or have a team member lead the session.
- Step 2: Participants engage in improv exercises, such as “Yes, and…” or role-playing scenarios.
- Step 3: Reflect on how improv techniques can be applied to work situations.
Engaging Employees:
Improv workshops are a great way to build confidence and spontaneity. They’re also a lot of fun, with plenty of laughs guaranteed.
“There are no mistakes in improv… just ‘happy accidents’ that everyone will remember!”
18. Minute to Win It: Quick Challenges for Quick Thinking
Inspired by the TV show, this activity consists of quick, 60-second challenges that require agility, coordination, and a sense of humor.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Set up a series of simple tasks, such as stacking cups or balancing pencils.
- Step 2: Teams compete to complete each task within one minute.
- Step 3: The team with the most tasks completed wins.
Engaging Employees:
Minute to Win It is fast-paced and easy to organize. It’s perfect for injecting some quick fun into a busy workday.
“One minute, one task, one epic failure—or success!”
19. Office Olympics: Let the Games Begin
Create your own Office Olympics with a variety of mini-games and challenges that test both physical and mental skills.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Design a series of office-friendly events, such as chair racing, paper toss, or a typing speed contest.
- Step 2: Teams compete in each event, earning points based on their performance.
- Step 3: The team with the highest total points wins the Office Olympics.
Engaging Employees:
Encourage team spirit by allowing participants to create team names, uniforms, and mascots. You can also have an opening ceremony to kick things off.
“Who needs the real Olympics when you’ve got stapler relays and chair marathons?”
20. Corporate Survivor: Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Inspired by the TV show Survivor, this activity challenges teams to complete physical and mental tasks to “survive” in the workplace.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Create a series of challenges, such as puzzle-solving, obstacle courses, or team trivia.
- Step 2: Teams compete in each challenge, with one team being “voted off” after each round.
- Step 3: The last team standing wins.
Engaging Employees:
This activity builds teamwork and resilience. To add more excitement, include surprise twists, such as “immunity idols” that protect teams from elimination.
“Survive the day, thrive as a team!”
21. Storytelling Circle: Crafting Team Narratives
In this activity, team members create a collaborative story by contributing one sentence or idea at a time.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Gather teams in a circle.
- Step 2: One person starts a story with a sentence, and each subsequent person adds to it.
- Step 3: Continue until a complete story is formed.
Engaging Employees:
This activity encourages creativity, listening, and quick thinking. It’s particularly useful for creative teams or those involved in marketing and communication.
“And that’s how we ended up with a dragon in the break room…”
22. Wellness Challenge: Healthy Competition
A wellness challenge encourages employees to adopt healthy habits through a series of daily or weekly tasks, such as drinking more water, taking the stairs, or meditating.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Create a list of wellness activities and assign points to each one.
- Step 2: Employees or teams track their progress over a set period.
- Step 3: The person or team with the most points at the end wins a prize.
Engaging Employees:
Wellness challenges not only promote health but also foster a sense of community and mutual support. Consider offering incentives, such as gym memberships or wellness kits.
“When wellness becomes a team sport, everyone’s a winner.”
23. Build a Bike for Charity: Working Together for a Cause
In this activity, teams work together to assemble bikes that are then donated to local charities or children in need.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Provide teams with bike parts and tools.
- Step 2: Teams must assemble the bikes within a set time limit.
- Step 3: Once completed, the bikes are donated to a charity.
Engaging Employees:
This activity combines teamwork with corporate social responsibility. It’s a meaningful way to give back to the community while building strong team bonds.
“Nothing says teamwork like a bike with all its wheels on!”
24. Puzzle Race: Piece by Piece Collaboration
In this simple yet effective team building activity, employees race to complete jigsaw puzzles.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Provide each team with a jigsaw puzzle of equal difficulty.
- Step 2: Teams race to complete the puzzle within a time limit.
- Step 3: The team that completes the puzzle first wins.
Engaging Employees:
Puzzle races encourage attention to detail and teamwork. You can customize the puzzles with company-related images for an extra personal touch.
“Piece by piece, the team comes together… literally.”
25. Flash Mob: Spontaneous Team Spirit
A flash mob is a spontaneous performance by a group of people in a public space. Organize one as a surprise for the rest of the office or at an external event.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Secretly choreograph a dance or performance with willing participants.
- Step 2: At a designated time, perform the flash mob in a common area.
- Step 3: Capture the moment and share it with the company.
Engaging Employees:
Flash mobs are a fun and creative way to showcase team unity. They’re also great for boosting morale and injecting some energy into the workday.
“The most coordinated we’ve been all year… and it’s for a dance!”
26. Office Mad Libs: Filling in the Blanks with Laughter
Mad Libs are fill-in-the-blank stories where teams supply random words without knowing the context, leading to hilarious results.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Prepare Mad Libs templates with missing words.
- Step 2: Teams take turns providing nouns, verbs, and adjectives without knowing the story.
- Step 3: Read the completed story aloud and enjoy the laughter.
Engaging Employees:
This activity is a fun, lighthearted way to get teams laughing and working together. It’s perfect for a quick break or an icebreaker during meetings.
“When ‘CEO’ becomes ‘dancing unicorn,’ you know it’s a good day at the office.”
27. Giant Jenga: Building Stability Under Pressure
Giant Jenga adds a twist to the classic block-stacking game, with the added tension of a life-sized tower.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Set up a giant Jenga tower with oversized blocks.
- Step 2: Teams take turns pulling out blocks and placing them on top of the tower without causing it to collapse.
- Step 3: The last team standing before the tower falls wins.
Engaging Employees:
This game is all about patience, strategy, and communication. You can increase the difficulty by adding questions or tasks to certain blocks.
“Teamwork is about pulling the right block… and not being blamed when it all falls down.”
28. Team Charades: Acting Out for Team Bonding
Charades is a classic guessing game that requires teams to act out words or phrases without speaking while their teammates try to guess what it is.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Divide employees into teams.
- Step 2: One person from each team acts out a word or phrase while their teammates guess.
- Step 3: The team with the most correct guesses wins.
Engaging Employees:
Team Charades is a great way to break the ice and encourage creativity. You can add work-related terms to make it relevant to your industry.
“When in doubt, just mime your way through it.”
29. Trust Fall: Falling into Teamwork
The classic trust fall exercise involves team members taking turns falling backward, trusting their teammates to catch them.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Pair up employees or form small groups.
- Step 2: One person stands with their back to the group and falls, while the others catch them.
- Step 3: Rotate so everyone has a chance to fall and catch.
Engaging Employees:
Trust falls build confidence and trust among team members. It’s a simple yet effective way to reinforce the importance of teamwork.
“Because nothing says ‘teamwork’ like willingly falling backward into someone’s arms.”
30. Snapshot Challenge: Capturing Team Moments
In this photo-based challenge, teams are tasked with taking creative photos that represent certain themes, such as teamwork, innovation, or fun.
How to Play:
- Step 1: Provide teams with a list of themes or prompts.
- Step 2: Teams have a set amount of time to take creative photos that represent each theme.
- Step 3: The best or most creative photos win.
Engaging Employees:
This activity promotes creativity and collaboration while also providing some great content for your company’s social media or internal communications.
“Say ‘cheese!’ Or better yet, say ‘team spirit!’”
Wrapping It Up: Why Team Building Activities Matter
Incorporating team building activities into your workplace is essential for boosting employee morale, increasing productivity, and enhancing communication. These activities foster relationships that go beyond the office, creating a positive company culture that employees want to be a part of.
Remember, it’s not just about fun and games—team building activities lay the foundation for a thriving workplace. So, whether you’re planning an epic scavenger hunt or organizing a trivia throwdown, don’t hesitate to inject a little fun into your workday.
“Teamwork makes the dream work… and sometimes, it makes the coffee run smoother, too!”
For more creative ideas to engage your employees, visit HubEngage.
