Remote meetings don’t have to be all business. In fact, incorporating fun activities into virtual meetings is a proven way to energize participants and build team rapport. Professionals and team leaders are increasingly using brief games and icebreakers to boost engagement, banish isolation, and combat “Zoom fatigue” during online calls. Experts even recommend spending about 8% of every meeting on team-building exercises to help colleagues connect on a personal level (source: teambuilding.com).
Below, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of 19 fun activities for online meetings – from quick icebreaker games to more involved team challenges – so you can pick the best ones to liven up your next virtual meeting.
Why Add Fun Activities to Your Online Meetings?
Investing a few minutes in a lighthearted game or team activity can pay off in productivity and morale. Virtual meeting games create shared laughter and interactions that help coworkers feel more connected despite the distance. These activities encourage everyone to participate, thereby keeping people focused and alert instead of multitasking or tuning out. For example, a simple bingo or trivia game can make attendees pay closer attention to what’s happening (so they don’t miss a chance to mark their card or answer a question), which in turn fights off video-call fatigue. Fun challenges can also spark creativity and teamwork, allowing colleagues to practice communication skills in an enjoyable way.
Perhaps most importantly, adding a bit of play to your meetings helps build stronger relationships within your team. By learning new tidbits about each other and collaborating in unconventional ways, team members develop trust and camaraderie. Over time, this leads to better communication and a more positive team culture. Leaders who make space for these moments show they value employee well-being – and teams that laugh together tend to work better together afterwards. In short, a fun five-minute activity isn’t a waste of time; it’s an investment in a more engaged and cohesive team.
Below you’ll find 19 curated fun online meeting activities. This list includes a mix of quick icebreakers, games, and creative challenges suitable for professionals. Whether you lead a small group or a large remote department, you’re sure to find a few ideas to make your next Zoom or Teams call more enjoyable. Let’s dive in!
Top 19 fun activities for online meetings
- HIGH5 test for teams
- Scavenger hunt
- Buzzword Bingo
- 2 Lies 1 Truth
- Virtual escape room
- Virtual Pictionary
- Never Have I Ever
- Show and tell
- Tune trivia
- Virtual scavenger hunt
- Online office games
- Guess whose desk
- Virtual Charades
- Icebreaker questions
- Microsoft Teams Trivia
- Minute Yoga
- Something in common
- Background challenge
- Blow your trumpet
1. HIGH5 Test (Strengths Sharing Exercise)
The HIGH5 Test is a free online strengths assessment that can double as a meaningful team activity. Team members each take the HIGH5 test for teams to discover their top five character strengths, then share and discuss the results in a meeting. It’s a fun way for professionals to learn about each other’s unique talents and work styles. Over 4,000,000 people have taken the HIGH5 strengths test to identify what they’re naturally great at, making it a popular tool for team development.
During your meeting, you can have everyone briefly talk about one of their top strengths and give an example of how they use it at work. This sparks positive conversation and mutual appreciation – colleagues may say, “Ah, that makes sense, you’re always the Analyst or the Strategist on our projects!” The activity not only helps team members understand each other’s core strengths, but also sets the stage for better collaboration by leveraging those strengths. For leaders, using a strengths test like HIGH5 can boost team morale and effectiveness by ensuring each person’s natural abilities are acknowledged within the group. It’s an insightful icebreaker that goes a bit deeper than the usual small talk, yet remains professional and constructive.
- Time: 10–25 min (plus optional pre-work: 15–20 min to take the test)
- Best for: New teams, offsites, role clarity, trust-building
- Number of players: 3–20+
- How to play it: Everyone takes the HIGH5 test beforehand. In the meeting, each person shares 1–2 top strengths + a recent example. Pair people to discuss how their strengths complement and how to “trade tasks” accordingly.
2. Scavenger Hunt (Lightning Round)
Participants show off items they’ve collected during a fast-paced virtual scavenger hunt. A Virtual Scavenger Hunt is a fantastic way to get everyone moving and energized. In a lightning scavenger hunt, the meeting host calls out a category of items and gives participants, say, 30 seconds to run and find something that fits. For example, “Grab something red,” “Show an object on your desk that represents your hobby,” or “Find the weirdest item in your refrigerator.” Immediately, you’ll see coworkers dashing off-screen and returning with hilarious or interesting finds. These super-short hunts have teammates sprinting around their homes to grab objects one at a time, making the game a great energizer that also fosters personal connections.
This activity works especially well as an icebreaker because it lets everyone share a bit of their home life in a fun way. When time’s up, you can have each person briefly show their item on camera and tell the story behind it. Scavenger hunts get people out of their chairs and inject physical movement into virtual meetings, which helps reset attention and enthusiasm. They’re also very flexible – you can do one quick round as a meeting warm-up or conduct a longer scavenger hunt with a list of many items for a team-building event. For a longer version, provide a list of specific and quirky tasks (like “find something smaller than a paperclip” or “something from your 2000s nostalgia box”) and give participants a few minutes to fulfill as many as possible. Whether quick or extended, a scavenger hunt guarantees laughter and surprising discoveries, instantly livening up the online meeting.
- Time: 5–10 min
- Best for: Energy boost, large calls, quick icebreaker
- Number of players: 4–50+
- How to play it: Host calls 5–8 rapid prompts (e.g., “something red,” “your favorite mug”). 30–45s per prompt to fetch & show. 1 point per show; bonus for best story.
3. Buzzword Bingo (Conference Call Bingo)
Buzzword Bingo turns your everyday meeting into a fun competition. Before the meeting, distribute bingo cards to participants filled with common business buzzwords or phrases (think classics like “synergy,” “touch base,” “can you see my screen?” or “next slide, please”). During the call, everyone marks off their card whenever they hear one of those buzzwords used. The first person to get five in a row – BINGO! – wins a small prize or just bragging rights. This game encourages folks to pay close attention (so they don’t miss a square) and adds a layer of humor as people eagerly await someone to inevitably say, “let’s circle back.”
Buzzword Bingo is popular because it has a familiar format and fun game mechanics, yet it’s easy to implement in a virtual setting. Employees often find themselves chuckling as they silently check off phrases that normally might make them roll their eyes. The game keeps the team engaged and can even reduce meeting fatigue by injecting anticipation and lightheartedness. To make it even more interesting, you can customize the bingo squares to fit your organization’s typical jargon or inside jokes.
There are free online generators to create bingo cards, or you can use templates. Tip for leaders: Encourage honesty and don’t intentionally say buzzwords just to help people – let it happen naturally. By the end, win or lose, everyone will have had a reason to listen actively and share a laugh about how often certain phrases crop up. Buzzword Bingo (also known as Conference Call Bingo or Jargon Jackpot) is a tried-and-true way to make a routine meeting more interactive and fun.
- Time: 10–20 min (runs alongside the meeting)
- Best for: Long updates, all-hands, attention management
- Number of players: 5–200+
- How to play it: Distribute bingo cards (company jargon, common phrases). Participants mark as they hear them; the first line wins. Add a “blackout” round for longer meetings.
4. Two Lies and One Truth (Icebreaker Game)
Put a twist on the classic “two truths and a lie” game with “Two Lies and One Truth.” In this version, each person shares three statements about themselves – but instead of the usual two truths, they share two false statements and one true statement. The goal for the rest of the team is to guess which one of the three is the real truth. This guessing game is an excellent icebreaker that leads to humorous revelations and helps team members learn surprising new facts about each other.
To play, give participants a few minutes beforehand to come up with their three statements (encourage creative or funny ideas to make it challenging). Then, one by one, each person reads out their statements, and everyone else either discusses or votes on which statement they think is true. For example, a teammate might say, “I once skydived over the Grand Canyon, I have a twin brother, and I speak 5 languages fluently.” It sparks a lively debate as colleagues try to discern the truth. After the guesses, the speaker reveals which was the true one (“Actually, I do have a twin!”) and can share the brief backstory. The result is an atmosphere filled with laughter and camaraderie as people react to each reveal.
This activity is not only fun, but also promotes team bonding. Co-workers might discover shared interests or be amazed by each other’s unique experiences. For leaders, it’s a quick game you can do with small or large teams, and it requires no special equipment – just honesty (and a little deception!). By the end, you’ll have everyone chatting and feeling more connected over the surprising truths that were uncovered. (If you prefer, you can also play the traditional “Two Truths and a Lie” where two statements are true and one is false – the concept is similar and just as enjoyable.)
- Time: 8–15 min
- Best for: Warmth, humor, getting to know colleagues
- Number of players: 3–15 (larger groups use breakouts)
- How to play it: Each person shares 3 statements (2 lies, 1 truth). The group guesses the true one. Keep statements work-appropriate; set 30–45s per person.
5. Virtual Escape Room
A Virtual Escape Room is a more immersive team challenge that’s perfect for spicing up an online meeting or as a standalone team-building event. In a virtual escape room, the team is “locked” in a themed digital room or scenario, and they must work together to solve a series of puzzles and riddles in order to escape within a set time limit (often 30 or 60 minutes). These games are typically hosted on a website or via a video conferencing app, sometimes with a live facilitator guiding the story. It’s one of the most loved games to play in virtual meetings because it fully engages the group in collaborative problem-solving.
For example, your team might find themselves in a mystery mansion or a spy mission scenario. They’ll need to decipher codes, find hidden clues in images, answer trivia questions, or perform virtual tasks to progress through the story. Teamwork and communication are crucial – often, no single person can solve all the puzzles alone, so colleagues must pool their knowledge and skills. You’ll see natural leaders emerge, detail-oriented folks catching small clues, and creative thinkers proposing outside-the-box solutions. When the team eventually (hopefully!) “escapes” before time runs out, it’s an exhilarating shared victory that can be celebrated by all.
Virtual escape rooms are widely available through various providers, or you can even find free DIY versions. They are excellent for improving critical thinking and teamwork under pressure. Also, since they’re narrative-driven, they tend to captivate participants’ attention fully – meaning for that hour, no one is distracted or multitasking. For professionals craving a more interactive and engaging experience than standard meetings, an escape room is a top pick. Just be sure to choose one with a difficulty level that matches your team, and debrief afterwards about what strategies worked. Your team will finish not only with boosted morale, but also with stronger collaboration skills from the intense cooperation required.
- Time: 45–75 min
- Best for: Collaboration, problem-solving, morale events
- Number of players: 4–8 per room (run multiple rooms for big groups)
- How to play it: Book a hosted escape room or DIY puzzle pack. Teams solve clues to “escape” before time runs out. Debrief: what worked, roles, comms.
6. Virtual Pictionary
Bring out your team’s artistic side with a game of Virtual Pictionary. This classic party game translates wonderfully to online meetings and is dynamic, interactive, and great for sparking creativity. To play Pictionary over a video call, use a virtual whiteboard tool (Zoom’s built-in whiteboard, Microsoft Whiteboard, or an app like Miro). Split the group into teams or play all together cooperatively. One person is the artist for each round – you can rotate this role – and they are given a word or phrase to draw (without using any letters or numbers, of course). The others must race to guess what the drawing represents.
Virtual Pictionary tends to fill the meeting with laughter and lively energy. Team members take turns drawing and guessing words or phrases in real time, which often results in hilarious scribbles and wildly creative interpretations. Don’t worry if you’re not a skilled artist – in fact, the worse the drawing, sometimes the funnier the game! You can generate random words using an online Pictionary word generator or tailor the words to your workplace (e.g., industry terms, company inside jokes, etc.). Give a time limit (e.g., 60 seconds) for each sketch.
As an example, imagine trying to draw “global marketing strategy” under pressure – your doodle might look like a confusing mess of arrows and globes, but teammates will excitedly shout guesses: “World…sales… planning? International something?” until someone hits the mark or time runs out. Each correct guess earns a point for the guesser or their team. Virtual Pictionary exercises colleagues’ communication and interpretation skills in a fun way – people must convey ideas visually and think outside the box to decipher others’ drawings. It’s an entertaining break from verbal discussion and can be a fantastic way to include a quick, creative brain-teaser in an online meeting. By the end, you’ll likely have inside jokes based on the amusing artwork that was created!
- Time: 10–25 min
- Best for: Creativity, cross-team mixing, quick laughs
- Number of players: 4–20 (teams of 2–5)
- How to play it: Use a whiteboard (Zoom, Miro). One player draws a prompt; teammates guess. 60s timer; rotate drawer; tally points.
7. “Never Have I Ever” (Remote Work Edition)
Never Have I Ever is a popular party game that can be adapted to a professional remote setting with a focus on work-life anecdotes. In the traditional version, players take turns saying “Never have I ever… [done some experience]” and anyone who has done it responds (for example, by taking a sip of a drink, or simply raising a hand or marking a point). For a team meeting, you can make it the Remote Work Edition: have team members share light-hearted statements about things they have never done in a work-from-home or office context, and see who has done them.
For example, someone might say, “Never have I ever worked in pajamas all day,” or “Never have I ever had my cat walk across my keyboard during a meeting.” Anyone who has done that would then admit to it (you could use a thumbs-up reaction in Zoom or just say “I have!”). It’s a fun, slightly silly way to compare experiences and normalize the quirks of remote work. This game promotes interaction and reveals common ground (or unique situations) among team members. You’re likely to hear some funny stories as people elaborate – “Yes, my dog jumped into a client call once!” – which humanizes the team and creates shared laughter.
To keep it work-appropriate, you can set some guidelines that the statements should be related to daily routines, technology mishaps, or mild personal confessions that are suitable for a professional setting. “Never Have I Ever” works well as an icebreaker because it encourages honesty and vulnerability in a playful way. By the end, colleagues often feel closer knowing they aren’t the only ones who’ve, say, accidentally spoken while on mute or had a child make a cameo in a meeting. It’s a lighthearted bonding activity that gets everyone talking and comparing notes on remote work life.
- Time: 8–15 min
- Best for: Empathy, shared experiences, new teams
- Number of players: 4–20
- How to play it: Players say “Never have I ever… [WFH/office moment].” Those who have done it raise a hand/react and (optionally) tell a short story.
8. Show and Tell
Sometimes the simplest activities are the most meaningful. Show and Tell isn’t just for kindergarten – it’s a powerful way for team members to share something personal and build connections. In a virtual “Show and Tell,” ask each person (or a few people per meeting if you want to spread it out) to bring an object to the call that has special meaning to them and spend a couple of minutes telling the story behind it. This could be anything: a souvenir from travels, a cherished family photo, a hobby item, or even a pet. Each participant gets about 3–5 minutes to show their item on camera and explain why it’s important.
This activity allows colleagues to peek into each other’s lives outside of work. For example, one team member might show a guitar and share that they’ve been learning to play for 5 years; another might hold up a cookbook that inspired their love of baking. As these stories emerge, coworkers find points of empathy (“I play music too!”) and gain appreciation for one another’s passions and backgrounds. It’s a structured way to encourage personal storytelling in a group that might otherwise stick to work topics. In an online meeting, you can do Show and Tell in a round-robin style or even break into small groups if the team is large (so everyone gets a chance to speak).
Show and Tell fosters trust and team bonding through openness and empathy. It’s ideal for smaller teams or departments where people are comfortable talking about themselves for a short bit. Leaders can model the way by presenting their own item first – showing that it’s okay to share something personal. This activity often results in heartfelt moments and discoveries of common interests. By the end of a session, expect your team to feel a little closer, having learned new “fun facts” about each other that wouldn’t typically surface in a normal workday conversation.
- Time: 10–20 min
- Best for: Trust, human connection, hybrid teams
- Number of players: 3–15 (or spotlight 5 people per large call)
- How to play it: Participants bring a meaningful item and share a 60–90s story. Rotate who presents each meeting.
9. Tune Trivia (Name That Tune Challenge)
If you want to add a musical twist to your meeting, try Tune Trivia, a “Name That Tune” style game that tests your team’s knowledge of songs. It works like this: the meeting host prepares a playlist of popular or themed songs and plays a short snippet of each track. Participants must guess the song title (and you can also ask for the artist for extra credit). The twist in Tune Trivia is to gamify how much of the song needs to be played: ask one player how many seconds they’d need to identify the song, then ask another player if they can do it in fewer. The person who bids the shortest time gets to hear that many seconds of the track and attempt to name the tune. If they guess wrong or can’t get it, the other player gets a chance.
For example, Player A might say, “I can name that tune in 5 seconds,” Player B says “I only need 3 seconds,” so you play 3 seconds for Player B. If they correctly identify the song, they win that round; if not, Player A hears a bit more and tries. The first person to guess correctly wins the round and perhaps continues to challenge a new opponent. This structure adds a fun “bidding” element and friendly competition to the game. Of course, you can simplify by just playing ~5-second clips for everyone at once and see who types the correct answer first in the chat, if that’s easier for your group.
Tune Trivia brings energy to the meeting by incorporating music – you’ll see people bopping their heads or humming along to tunes. It also caters to diverse knowledge: you can include different genres or decades to give everyone a chance to shine (one person might nail an ’80s rock song while someone else knows the latest pop hit). It’s a great way to include a sensory break (listening to music) during a long video call, and it often triggers fun nostalgia or discussion: “I can’t believe you chose that song – I love it!” or “Wow, I haven’t heard this in ages.” By adding Tune Trivia to your meeting, you infuse some melody and excitement, and colleagues get to show off their music savvy in a playful way.
- Time: 10–20 min
- Best for: Energy reset, end-of-week fun
- Number of players: 4–50+
- How to play it: Host plays 3–5s song clips; first to name the title (and artist for bonus) scores. Add bidding (“I can name it in 3s”) for extra drama.
10. Virtual Scavenger Hunt (Extended Version)
While we covered the quick lightning scavenger hunt earlier, you can also organize a more elaborate Virtual Scavenger Hunt as a full team game. In a longer format, you’ll provide a list of items or tasks and give the team a set amount of time (say, 5–10 minutes) to find as many as they can. The list can be tailored to a theme or just a collection of fun challenges. For instance, your scavenger list might include: “Something that’s alive (e.g., a plant or pet), something older than 10 years, your favorite mug, an item from your fridge that starts with the letter B, etc.” Participants then scramble to collect these items from around their home and share them via webcam when time is up.
This extended scavenger hunt can also involve taking quick photos to share on a Slack channel if an item can’t be easily carried (e.g., “your bookshelf organized by color – snap a pic!”). It’s lively and interactive – folks are actively searching their space and laughing as they present the eclectic assortment of objects they gathered. To add competition, you can award one point per item found or have judges vote on the most unique interpretation of each prompt. For example, if the task was “find something that represents your country,” you’ll get a variety of creative answers that can spark conversation when everyone reconvenes and explains their pick.
An extended virtual scavenger hunt is awesome for team engagement and creativity. It encourages people to think outside the box (“Does my childhood teddy bear count as something older than 10 years? Absolutely!”). It’s also fully inclusive – there’s no special skill required, and everyone’s home or environment becomes part of the game. By the end of the activity, participants not only feel energized (maybe a little winded from running around!) but also more connected, having shared personal aspects of their home life with colleagues. This deeper form of scavenger hunt essentially serves as a virtual team outing, achievable right within a regular meeting slot.
- Time: 15–30 min
- Best for: Team socials, onboarding cohorts
- Number of players: 6–100 (teams of 3–6)
- How to play it: Share a list of 15–25 quirky items/tasks. Teams collect, snap pics, and present. Judges award points for speed/creativity.
11. Online Office Games (Office Olympics)
“Online Office Games” refers to a series of fast-paced virtual team challenges – essentially a mini office Olympics conducted via video call. In fact, one popular version by a team-building company is described as a virtual take on “Office Olympics,” featuring high-energy competitions and trivia challenges. You can create your own DIY version by combining a few different quick games into one session, or use a service that hosts it. Typically, Online Office Games might include rounds of general trivia, a lightning scavenger hunt (as mentioned above), simple puzzles, and fun mini-games like “Can You Hear Me Now?” (where one person describes a shape and others draw it). Participants compete either individually or in teams, and you keep score across the games.
This format keeps everyone on their toes because the activities switch up frequently – if someone isn’t great at one game, they might shine in the next. For example, you might start with 10 questions of Zoom Trivia, then a buzzword bingo round, then a quick word puzzle. The variety ensures broad engagement. Online Office Games are designed to be lively, competitive, and highly engaging, making them perfect for boosting morale. In fact, some companies report that their employees said it’s “the most fun they’ve ever had on Zoom” when participating in such an event.
If you don’t want to invent the games yourself, you can find vendors who run these multi-game sessions. But even without a budget, a team leader could put together a slide deck with trivia questions, use a free bingo card generator for a round of bingo, and prepare a list for a scavenger hunt – voila, you have an hour of Online Office Games ready to go. The friendly competition element tends to bring out lots of laughter, teamwork, and good-natured banter. By the end, not only will you determine the “Office Games Champion”, but you’ll have given your team a memorable experience that breaks up the monotony of regular meetings with some much-needed fun and excitement.
- Time: 30–60 min
- Best for: Larger groups, quarterly culture boosts
- Number of players: 8–200 (squads of 4–6)
- How to play it: Mix 3–5 micro-games (trivia, mini scavenger, drawing, emoji decode). Keep a running leaderboard; crown champions.
12. “Guess Whose Desk” (Workspace Whodunit)
Here’s a clever game that gives your team a peek into each other’s workspaces: Guess Whose Desk. Before the meeting, ask team members to anonymously send a photo of their home office or work desk setup to the organizer. Compile these photos into a slideshow or just have them ready to screen-share one by one. During the meeting, show each desk photo to the group and have everyone guess which colleague that workspace belongs to. You can make it multiple choice (especially for larger teams) or just have people call out their guesses.
This activity is surprisingly effective as an icebreaker – it’s essentially a mix of “Who’s Who?” and a virtual house tour. Teammates will have fun seeing the variety of setups: some desks might be super tidy and minimalist, others cluttered with notes and gadgets, some with personal touches like family photos or quirky collectibles. As guesses roll in (“I think the desk with the Star Wars mug is Alex’s!”), people often reveal small things about themselves: “Nope, that’s not my desk, but I wish mine was that neat!” After the big reveal of whose desk it is, that person can tell a short story about something in their photo (e.g., “I love that plant on my desk – I’ve kept it alive for 2 years!”).
This lighthearted game builds connection and camaraderie by letting coworkers see a bit of each other’s daily environment. It humanizes remote colleagues – now you can picture where your teammate is sitting when you talk to them. It may also spark discussions: “How do you like that split keyboard I saw in your picture?” or “I noticed a guitar in the corner of your office – do you play?” Guess Whose Desk is simple to set up and works with groups of various sizes. It invariably leads to some laughs (especially if someone’s desk has an unexpected item or is messier than people assumed) and brings the team closer by sharing a slice of everyone’s work-from-home life.
- Time: 10–20 min
- Best for: Cross-team familiarity, light humor
- Number of players: 6–50
- How to play it: Collect anonymous desk photos pre-call. Screen-share each; group guesses the owner. Reveal and invite a 30s backstory.
13. Virtual Charades
Classic Charades can easily be played over a video call, providing a lot of laughs and an opportunity for teammates to get a bit silly. In Virtual Charades, one person acts out a word or phrase without speaking, while the others try to guess what it is. Because everyone’s camera is on, the “actor” can use facial expressions and body language, but no sound, which, over a glitchy internet connection, makes it even more humorous at times! You can use a random charades idea generator to get prompts, or prepare a list of work-themed phrases for extra relevance.
This game is familiar, fun, and easy to play online, requiring virtually no props. Split into teams or play as one group, taking turns. For example, someone might have to act out “coffee break” – you’d see them miming sipping from a cup and yawning, and the frantic guessing begins: “Drinking coffee! Taking a break! Coffee break!” The first to guess correctly either wins a point or becomes the next actor. Charades works well on platforms like Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet; you might need to spotlight the video of the actor so everyone can see them clearly.
What makes charades especially beneficial for a remote team is that it encourages folks to be observant and interpret non-verbal cues, a useful skill given that so much of virtual communication is via video. It also lowers inhibitions – seeing a manager or colleague do a funny pantomime can break down formalities and let people relax together. Moreover, it’s very adaptive: you can do a quick 5-minute round as an energy booster, or a longer session if time allows. Expect a lot of laughter and maybe some facepalm moments when the phrase is finally revealed (“Oh, THAT’s what you were doing!”). By incorporating Virtual Charades, you create a shared experience that’s light-hearted and refreshingly different from standard meeting talk. It’s a great way to inject team spirit and playfulness into your online meetings.
- Time: 10–25 min
- Best for: Non-verbal comms, energy, mixed cultures
- Number of players: 4–20 (teams of 2–6)
- How to play it: Use a prompt list. Actor mimes; team guesses within 60s. Rotate actors; award points.
14. Icebreaker Questions
Sometimes a structured game isn’t needed to get the conversation flowing – a round of Icebreaker Questions can do the trick. Starting your meeting with one fun or thought-provoking question for everyone to answer is a quick way to learn new things about your colleagues. It could be work-related (“What’s a skill you’d love to learn in the next year?”) or completely random (“If you could teleport anywhere for an hour, where would you go?”). Even teams that have worked together for years can discover “there are always more interesting tidbits to learn about each other” with the right icebreaker prompts.
To run this, the meeting leader poses a question and either goes around the virtual room or uses the popcorn method (each person tags another to go next). It only takes about 5 minutes, and it sets a friendly tone for the meeting. Atlassian’s team, for example, has used questions like “Who was the last artist you searched for on your music streaming service?” or “What was something that always frightened you as a child?” in their distributed team meetings. These simple queries often lead to surprising answers and quick stories that help the team bond. One person’s answer might trigger another to say “Me too!” or “I never knew that about you.”
The key is to keep the questions positive or neutral – avoid anything too controversial or personal. There are plenty of resources online listing great virtual icebreaker questions. You might even rotate the responsibility, letting a different team member bring an icebreaker question each week. Even a small question-and-answer ritual can have outsized benefits: it helps everyone speak up early in the call, it warms up the room, and it reminds us that our colleagues have rich lives and personalities beyond just work tasks. For professionals and leaders, this is one of the easiest and most reliable tools in the toolbox for making online meetings more engaging and inclusive from the get-go.
- Time: 5–10 min (start of meeting)
- Best for: Regular cadence, inclusive participation
- Number of players: 3–200 (breakouts for >12)
- How to play it: Pose 1 question (work-safe, thoughtful). Go round-robin or in breakouts with a scribe who shares highlights.
15. Microsoft Teams Trivia
If your organization uses Microsoft Teams (or any similar platform with app integrations), hosting a Teams Trivia game is a fantastic option. Trivia quizzes are among the most popular remote team-building activities, beloved for injecting friendly competition and a chance to show off random knowledge. Within Microsoft Teams, you can use apps like Kahoot!, Polly, or Forms to facilitate the trivia. For example, the Kahoot! Integration allows everyone to join a quiz with a pin, and they can answer on their own devices while you display questions via screen share.
To play Microsoft Teams Trivia, prepare a mix of questions. You can tailor them to your team (some personal “who said this?” or company history questions) or stick to general knowledge categories (geography, sports, pop culture, etc.). Launch the quiz during the meeting and let the fun begin – players will have a limited time to click their answers, and many platforms show a leaderboard between questions to amp up the excitement. Trivia is universally loved because it challenges the mind and lets different people shine in different categories. One coworker might ace all the movie questions while another is a whiz at science and history.
On Microsoft Teams specifically, you could use the built-in Forms to create a quick trivia form that everyone fills out, or use Polly’s trivia feature for live polling. Some companies even run weekly trivia as a recurring team event because it’s so easy and effective at engaging people. As a leader, you can boost the appeal by offering a small prize to the winner (even if it’s just a fun certificate or virtual high-five). The key benefit here is that trivia gets everyone participating and thinking together, and often sparks fun conversations after a question is answered (“I can’t believe none of us knew that fact!” or “Wow, you really know your sports!”). It’s a perfect activity to break up a long meeting or to close out a week on a high note.
- Time: 10–25 min
- Best for: MS Teams orgs, fast engagement
- Number of players: 4–500+ (tools scale)
- How to play it: Use Forms/Kahoot!/Polly. 10–20 questions; auto-scoring; real-time leaderboard. Add 2–3 company-specific questions.
16. “Minute to Win It” Stretch or Yoga Break
Don’t forget activities that refresh the body as well as the mind. A One-Minute Yoga or Stretch Break can do wonders in the middle of a long online meeting. In fact, building in a 5-minute wellness activity like basic yoga poses or stretches is increasingly common as a way to alleviate stress in virtual meetings. You don’t need a yoga mat or any experience – just guide everyone through a couple of gentle stretches or deep-breathing exercises on camera. For instance, you might lead the team in rolling their shoulders, doing neck stretches, reaching arms overhead, or a quick chair twist. If someone on your team has fitness expertise, they could volunteer to guide a mini-session, or you can play a short YouTube clip of “desk yoga.”
Even a brief yoga or exercise break helps people relax and recharge, which can improve focus for the rest of the meeting. It also shows that you value employee well-being. A fun variant is “Deskercise Dice”: roll a (virtual) dice where each number corresponds to a quick exercise (1 = 10 jumping jacks, 2 = 5 desk push-ups, etc.) and have everyone do it together. Or simply the classic: “Alright, everyone, let’s stand up for 60 seconds and stretch however you like – reach for the sky!” Sometimes teams turn on some upbeat music during this break to make it more enjoyable (perhaps even tying it with the Tune Trivia game – play a song while people stretch).
Another idea is Minute of Meditation – turning off cameras, closing eyes, and breathing quietly for one minute to reset. Whether it’s movement or mindfulness, these mini breaks improve blood circulation and reduce meeting fatigue. They’re especially appreciated in long strategy or planning meetings that run for hours. By incorporating a minute of yoga or stretching, leaders send the message that it’s okay to pause and take care of ourselves during work. After the break, expect to see smiles and hear comments like “Wow, I needed that.” It’s a simple activity that yields a big payoff in keeping your team alert, healthy, and ready to tackle the agenda.
- Time: 1–5 min
- Best for: Long meetings, focus, wellness
- Number of players: Any
- How to play it: Leader guides seated stretches/breathwork (shoulders, neck, spine) or plays a 60–120s desk-yoga clip. Cameras optional.
17. “Something in Common” Breakouts
Something in Common is a quick team exercise that helps colleagues discover shared interests or experiences, building instant connections. It’s hailed as one of the easiest virtual icebreakers because the instructions are simple: split everyone into small breakout groups (ideally 3–5 people) and give them a few minutes to chat and find the most unique thing they all have in common. This could be anything not immediately obvious – perhaps everyone in the group has a sibling, or they all love camping, or coincidentally all visited the same country last year. The more unusual the commonality, the better!
After a few minutes, bring everyone back to the main meeting and have each group share what their common trait was. You might hear something delightful like, “Turns out all four of us have broken the same bone at some point in our lives” or “We discovered that we’re all huge fans of The Office and can quote every episode.” The key is encouraging groups to dig past the surface (e.g., exclude obvious things like “we all work at Company X” or “we’re all in this meeting”). The game works best when players uncover interesting and unexpected tidbits that spark stories or laughter.
To make subsequent rounds more challenging, you can add restrictions: for example, in round two, they must find something in common, excluding their job or physical traits. This pushes people to explore hobbies, childhood experiences, etc., to find a link. “Something in Common” is effective because it ensures that everyone speaks and interacts in the breakouts, and it yields positive feelings of “hey, we’re not so different after all.” It’s particularly great for larger meetings or cross-department gatherings where not everyone knows each other well. By the end, you’ll have a list of quirky commonalities that often lead to follow-up conversations (“You play guitar too? We should jam sometime!”). In short, this activity helps spark new connections and camaraderie in a very short time.
- Time: 8–15 min
- Best for: Fast bonding, cross-functional groups
- Number of players: 6–100 (breakouts of 3–5)
- How to play it: In breakouts, find the most unique trait all members share (non-obvious). Share back to the main room; vote for the most unexpected.
18. Virtual Background Challenge
In the age of Zoom and Teams, Virtual Backgrounds have become a canvas for creativity. The Background Challenge turns this feature into a game: before your meeting (or at the start), announce a theme for virtual backgrounds and have everyone set an image that fits the theme. It could be “your favorite movie or TV show,” “dream vacation spot,” “something that makes you happy,” or even something funny like “the messiest room you can find.” When the meeting begins, all participants will appear with their chosen backgrounds, and you can spend a few minutes having everyone explain their choice or even vote on the best one.
For example, in a theme of “favorite movie,” one person might be sitting in front of a Star Wars spaceship scene, another in the Hogwarts castle, and another at the Friends sitcom coffee shop. Immediately, you’ve got a conversation starter (“I love that movie too!” or “What scene is that from?”). Seeing each other’s backgrounds will break the ice and give you something to talk about in the first minutes of the call. It often leads to humorous moments – someone’s head might accidentally align with a funny part of the image, etc. Plus, virtual backgrounds have the added benefit of masking any real-life clutter behind you, so even those working from a messy kitchen can join in confidently.
To make it competitive, you can create a poll and have the team vote on whose background is the most creative or on-theme. The Background Challenge encourages participants to think creatively and share a bit of personality. It’s especially useful for large, all-hands meetings or town halls where not everyone can actively speak – at least they can participate visually. This activity typically results in some laughs and a relaxed atmosphere to kick off the meeting. And if someone doesn’t have the capability to use virtual backgrounds, no worries – they can simply show something on their real background or even hold up a drawing. The point is to spark joy and conversation through visuals, turning the often-underutilized background space into a talking point.
- Time: 5–10 min
- Best for: Large calls, themed socials
- Number of players: 5–300
- How to play it: Announce a theme (movie, dream trip, hobby). Everyone sets a virtual background; do a quick tour and vote on “most creative”/“funniest.”
19. Blow Your Trumpet (Brag Bucket)
End on a high note – literally – by encouraging your team to “Blow Your Trumpet.” This refreshing activity invites everyone to take a turn bragging about one of their proudest achievements or recent wins, which is something we don’t do often enough at work. Many people feel awkward talking about their accomplishments, but this game creates a supportive space for it. In a virtual meeting, you might say: “Alright, it’s time to blow your own trumpet! I want each of you to share one accomplishment – big or small – that you’re proud of, and tell us why it matters to you.” It could be work-related (like finishing a project ahead of schedule or acing a presentation) or personal (like running a marathon or mastering a new recipe).
One by one, team members “toot their horn,” and the rest of the team can give virtual snaps or applause in response. This activity fosters self-expression and mutual appreciation. Often, colleagues will chime in to celebrate each other (“We’re lucky to have your expertise!” or “That’s awesome, congratulations!”). It’s a fantastic confidence booster for the individuals and builds positive vibes team-wide. For leaders, it’s also an insight into what each person values as an achievement, which can be useful to know for recognition in the future.
“Blow Your Trumpet” aligns with building a culture of recognition and psychological safety. By explicitly encouraging team members to share achievements, you normalize celebrating success rather than downplaying it. In a judgment-free environment, people may reveal things you weren’t aware of (“I got my Master’s degree while working full time” or “I’ve been mentoring and volunteering on weekends”). As the game description suggests, it transforms hesitation into an opportunity for team bonding and personal growth. Everyone leaves the meeting feeling seen and appreciated, not just for their work, but for whatever they’re proud of in life. It’s an uplifting way to conclude a meeting or series of activities – with the team essentially giving a round of applause to each of its members.
- Time: 5–12 min
- Best for: Recognition, psychological safety, retros
- Number of players: 3–20 (spotlight 5–8 on big calls)
- How to play it: Each person shares one recent win (work or life) in 30–45s. Team reacts with emojis/applause. Optional: add a kudos wall/sheet.
FAQ
What is a fun Zoom activity for adults?
Great options that work with grown-up teams include lightning scavenger hunts, Buzzword Bingo, Virtual Pictionary/whiteboard drawing, Name-That-Tune trivia, and virtual escape rooms. These leverage Zoom features like screen share, reactions, breakout rooms, and the whiteboard for fast, low-prep engagement. For variety, add an improv-style “Five Things” round where participants rapidly list five items in a category.
How do you have a fun virtual team meeting?
Use a tight agenda plus 5–8 minutes of an icebreaker/game up front, then keep momentum with interactive tools (polls, whiteboards, quick quizzes) and small breakouts. Rotate facilitation, add a micro-wellness break (1–2 minutes), and end with recognition (like shout-outs). These practices reliably lift energy, participation, and morale across remote/hybrid teams.
What games can you play virtually on Microsoft Teams?
Popular, easy wins on Teams: Trivia via Kahoot! integration, poll/quiz games (Microsoft Forms, Polly, Poll Everywhere), virtual bingo, scavenger hunts, and whiteboard Pictionary/Sketch-it. Kahoot! runs natively inside Teams, and communities report large-group viability with poll apps and quizzes.
What is the “5 Things” game in Zoom?
“Five Things” is a fast improv warm-up: one person prompts another with a category (e.g., “five things you’d pack for a desert trip”). The player rapidly lists five items while the group counts them off. On Zoom, call on participants in turn or pass with chat emojis; it’s quick, energizing, and low-prep.
Conclusion: Bringing fun to (virtual) work
Incorporating these fun activities into your online meetings can dramatically improve the remote work experience for your team. A short game or icebreaker elevates engagement, improves communication, and makes meetings more enjoyable and productive. Professionals and leaders who dedicate a bit of time to team bonding will find that attendees come back from these activities refreshed and more connected to one another. Building a regular cadence of virtual team fun gives people something to look forward to and reinforces a positive, inclusive team culture.
Ultimately, the best activity is one that suits your team’s personality and energy. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ideas from the list. You might rotate through several of these activities to keep things fresh. Your team of professionals will thank you for the chance to learn, laugh, and bond – and you’ll likely see the positive effects carry over into your everyday collaboration and productivity. Happy team-building!
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