Top 24 Remote Employee Team Building Activities & Ideas

Remote and hybrid work are now common, but building team camaraderie without face-to-face interaction can be challenging. As a manager or team leader, you might be looking for effective ways to keep your remote employees engaged and bonded. The good news is that with the right activities, even distributed teams can foster trust, improve communication, and maintain a fun, cohesive culture. Below is a comprehensive list of 24 of the best remote team-building activities for professionals to bring their teams closer together, no matter where everyone is located.

Why Team Building Matters for Remote Teams?

Team-building activities are just as essential for virtual teams as they are for in-person teams. In fact, they might be even more important when colleagues don’t see each other in person. Here are some key benefits of prioritizing remote team-building:

• Strengthens bonds and trust: Allows team members to connect and have fun beyond work tasks, helping them build personal bonds.
  
• Improves collaboration and communication: Enhances teamwork and the way colleagues communicate with each other on projects.
  
• Boosts morale and engagement: Makes employees feel included and valued as part of the team, which improves morale, well-being, and engagement.
  
• Builds a positive team culture: Fosters a healthy company culture where remote team members feel connected despite differences in location and time zone.
  

When done right, virtual team-building activities can lead to more engaged, productive, and happy teams. Now, let’s dive into the top activities you can implement.

Quick remote icebreaker games

• Virtual Scavenger Hunt
• Remote Team Bingo
• Virtual Icebreaker Games
• Two Truths and a Lie
• Never Have I Ever (Work Edition)

Growth and skill-building team activities

• Take a Personality Test (HIGH5 Strengths Test)
• Learn a New Skill Together
• Virtual Book Club
• Grill the Seller (Q&A Game)
• Make Hitting Quotas a Team Sport

Wellness and mindfulness activities for remote teams

• Virtual Fitness Challenge
• Shake It Off (Dance Break)
• Guided Meditation

Social and connection-based team activities

• Virtual Coffee Chat
• Virtual Show and Tell
• Give Kudos
• Share One Win
• Virtual Happy Hour

Fun and creative remote team activities

• Online Games
• Virtual Escape Room
• Virtual Campfire
• Virtual Art Class
• Volunteer Virtually
• Harness VR Technology

1. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

A virtual scavenger hunt sends team members scurrying around their homes to find specific items or complete fun mini-challenges. For example, you might challenge everyone to “find something blue” or “grab an item that represents one of your hobbies,” and then share it on camera. It’s a chaotic yet creative way to energize the group and get everyone laughing. Remote scavenger hunts work well as icebreakers and encourage friendly competition in a low-stakes setting, all while helping people learn quirky facts about each other.

• Time: 15–30 minutes
• Best for: Icebreaking, energizing the team, sparking creativity
• Number of players: 4–20+
• How to play it: Create a list of items or prompts (e.g., “find something blue,” “show your favorite coffee mug”). Team members race to find and present them on camera. Give points for speed, creativity, or uniqueness.

2. Remote Team Bingo

Bring some humor into remote work with a game of virtual bingo tailored to your team’s daily experiences. Create bingo cards filled with common remote-work happenings – for instance, “dog barking on a call,” “someone says ‘you’re on mute’,” or “Wi-Fi glitches at an awkward moment”. Team members can check off squares throughout the week or during a long meeting, and the first to get bingo wins a small prize or bragging rights. This lighthearted game helps everyone bond over the shared quirks of working from home and adds a bit of levity to the workday.

• Time: Ongoing during a meeting or 15–20 minutes as a standalone
• Best for: Humor, shared experiences, long meetings
• Number of players: Unlimited
• How to play it: Make bingo cards with remote-work scenarios (e.g., “dog barking,” “you’re on mute”). As events occur, participants mark their cards. First to get bingo wins bragging rights or a prize.

3. Take a Personality Test for Team Building (HIGH5 Test)

Understanding your team’s unique personalities and strengths can significantly improve how you work together. Consider having each team member take a personality or strengths assessment – for example, the HIGH5 team building test, which reveals an individual’s top five strengths. After everyone completes the test, come together in a session to share and discuss the results. This exercise is an eye-opener: it helps colleagues appreciate each other’s traits and learn how to support one another better. In fact, teams that embrace a strengths-based approach have reported higher engagement and productivity levels. Incorporating a tool like HIGH5 can turn self-discovery into a powerful team-building activity that boosts empathy and cooperation.

• Time: 20–30 minutes to take, 30–45 minutes for discussion
• Best for: Self-awareness, improving collaboration, and leadership development
• Number of players: Any size team
• How to play it: Have each member take the HIGH5 test to discover their top 5 strengths. Then schedule a session where everyone shares their results, discusses how strengths complement each other, and brainstorms how to work better together.

4. Host a Virtual Coffee Chat

Recreate those informal breakroom conversations by scheduling regular virtual coffee chats. For example, you can set up an optional 15-minute video call each week where team members hop on with a cup of coffee (or tea) to talk about anything except work. There’s no agenda — it’s essentially an online coffee break for people to socialize casually. This ritual gives everyone a chance to relax and connect on a personal level, much like hallway chit-chat back in the office. Some teams even create a dedicated Slack or Teams channel for coffee-chat banter to keep the vibe alive between calls. Virtual coffee chats are a low-pressure way to build camaraderie and help teammates feel seen beyond their to-do lists.

• Time: 15–20 minutes (weekly or bi-weekly)
• Best for: Casual bonding, replicating office “water cooler” talk
• Number of players: 2–6 (small groups work best)
• How to play it: Schedule optional coffee breaks over Zoom/Teams. No work talk allowed, just casual chats about hobbies, weekend plans, or fun stories. Rotate groups so everyone connects over time.

5. Play Online Games Together

Scheduling an online game session is a fun way for colleagues to unwind and bond. There are plenty of multiplayer games and apps to choose from. You could try classic board games adapted for the web (from digital Catan to online Codenames) or casual party games on platforms like Jackbox. For a mixed crowd, consider a virtual game night that combines trivia, drawing games, or word puzzles so there’s something for everyone. The friendly competition and teamwork in these games get people talking and laughing. Plus, because many online games can be played on a phone or browser, they’re easy to set up across different time zones and skill levels.

• Time: 30–60 minutes
• Best for: Fun, friendly competition, team bonding
• Number of players: 4–12 (depending on the game)
• How to play it: Use online platforms (e.g., Jackbox, Codenames, Skribbl.io, Kahoot). Pick a game that fits your team’s mood (trivia, drawing, or word games). Share screens and play together.

6. Virtual Escape Room Adventure

For a more immersive team challenge, try a virtual escape room. Many companies and services offer online escape room experiences where your team works together to solve puzzles and “escape” a themed scenario. Whether it’s breaking out of a digital dungeon or defusing a virtual bomb, everyone must collaborate and communicate to succeed. It’s a fantastic exercise in problem-solving under pressure, just like a real escape room, but no one has to leave their home office. This activity tends to bring out natural leaders, creative thinkers, and communicators, giving your team a chance to exercise those skills in a fun setting.

• Time: 45–90 minutes
• Best for: Problem-solving, collaboration, communication
• Number of players: 4–10
• How to play it: Choose an online escape room provider. Teams solve puzzles and clues together over Zoom, racing against the clock to “escape” the digital scenario.

7. Volunteer Virtually as a Team

Give back to the community and bond with your colleagues by organizing a virtual volunteering activity. One idea is to host a remote fundraiser or telethon where small groups compete to raise the most money for a charity within a time frame. For example, teams could see who can get the most donations for a cause over a week, combining team-building with social impact. If you prefer a non-competitive approach, you can all volunteer together in an online event. Many nonprofits facilitate virtual volunteering – such as remotely assembling care packages, tutoring students, or contributing skills like coding or design to charitable projects. By banding together for a good cause, employees build camaraderie and feel proud of their collective effort, which can translate into more engagement back at work (“win-win,” as they say).

• Time: 1–2 hours (or ongoing project)
• Best for: Purpose-driven engagement, teamwork, social impact
• Number of players: Any size team
• How to play it: Partner with a nonprofit for virtual volunteering — e.g., online tutoring, assembling care packages, or fundraising challenges. Teams can track contributions and celebrate impact together.

8. Do a Virtual Fitness Challenge

Encourage your team to stay healthy and active by running a virtual fitness challenge. Agree on a trackable fitness goal for a set period of time – it could be a daily step count, minutes of exercise, or completing a certain number of workout sessions. For example, you might challenge everyone to log at least 10,000 steps per day for a month, using fitness apps or smartwatches to track progress. Add a fun incentive, like a small prize or team recognition, for whoever meets the goal or improves the most. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce stress and boost mood, so this challenge benefits your team’s well-being as well as providing a bonding experience. Some companies have had success with hosting step-count competitions where teammates cheer each other on to encourage some healthy competition. At the end, everyone can share their experiences or even post sweaty selfies, adding to the team spirit.

• Time: Daily/weekly challenges (10–20 minutes per session)
• Best for: Health, motivation, accountability
• Number of players: Unlimited (individual or squad competition)
• How to play it: Pick a fitness goal (steps, pushups, yoga minutes). Track progress with apps or spreadsheets. Celebrate milestones and share wins in a group channel.

9. Learn a New Skill Together

Learning something new as a group is a powerful way to bring people together. Pick a skill or topic that isn’t work-related and have the whole team explore it. There are a couple of ways to approach this: you could all learn the same skill simultaneously (for instance, take an online class in basic graphic design or practice a bit of a new language together), or you can turn teammates into teachers. The latter means each meeting, one team member teaches the rest of the group a simple skill they have – it might be anything from a cooking tip to a shortcut in Excel or a few yoga stretches. For example, one team learned the NATO phonetic alphabet together because it helped in their daily communication. Another team rotated who would share a hobby each week, turning salespeople into teachers and helping them hone their presentation skills while having fun. By expanding horizons together, team members drop their usual work roles and see each other in a new light, which can enhance understanding and teamwork in day-to-day tasks.

• Time: 1-hour session or ongoing weekly series
• Best for: Growth mindset, learning, creativity
• Number of players: Any size team
• How to play it: Choose a skill (e.g., cooking, design, language basics). Either invite an expert to teach virtually or rotate teammates to teach something new each week.

10. Start a Virtual Book Club

A book club is a fantastic remote activity that mixes learning and socializing. Choose a book that everyone on the team will read over the course of a few weeks. It could be related to personal development or industry knowledge, but it doesn’t have to be – often, fiction or popular non-fiction works great to get conversations flowing. When it’s time to meet (via video call), discuss themes, favorite parts, or surprising insights from the book. This gives everyone a chance to speak about something other than work and connect on a more personal level. As one guide notes, reading something that isn’t a whitepaper or work memo can spark engaging discussions and help colleagues bond over shared interests. If not everyone is into books, consider variations like a podcast club or movie club where the team listens to an episode or watches a film and chats about it after – the goal is the same: meaningful conversation and connection.

• Time: 30–60 minutes discussion per session
• Best for: Deeper conversations, intellectual bonding
• Number of players: 4–15
• How to play it: Pick a book (fiction or nonfiction). Give a timeline for reading. Meet virtually to share favorite insights, takeaways, or themes. Rotate who chooses the next book.

11. Have a Virtual Campfire

Recreate the nostalgia of a campfire night – minus the mosquitoes – with a virtual campfire team event. In practice, this can be a simple as a scheduled Zoom where everyone changes their video background to a crackling campfire and joins with their favorite snacks or even a marshmallow to “toast.” Encourage team members to come prepared with a short campfire-style story or a fun memory to share. You might be surprised by the storytelling that ensues! For added fun, there are services like Tiny Campfire that specialize in hosting virtual campfires for teams, complete with ghost stories, trivia, and even s’mores kits mailed to participants. Whether DIY or professionally hosted, a virtual campfire creates a warm, relaxed atmosphere that can help remote colleagues open up and bond, just like a real campfire would.

• Time: 30–60 minutes
• Best for: Storytelling, relaxed bonding, casual fun
• Number of players: 5–20
• How to play it: Set campfire video backgrounds. Encourage snacks or marshmallows. Share stories, ghost tales, or fun trivia. For extra fun, use a service like Tiny Campfire.

12. Virtual Show and Tell

Sometimes the simplest activities are the most effective. Host a virtual show-and-tell during a team meeting to let people share a personal side of their lives. Each team member gets a couple of minutes to show off something they’re proud of or that has meaning to them: a souvenir from a trip, a musical instrument they play, their favorite geeky collectible, or even introducing a pet on camera. This school-day throwback is more than just fun – it provides “a window into what makes each person tick,” as one workplace culture expert put it. By giving colleagues a glimpse of each other’s passions and personalities, you foster empathy and deeper connections. Show-and-tell sessions often spark follow-up conversations (“I had no idea you also play guitar!”) that continue well after the meeting, strengthening team relationships.

• Time: 10–20 minutes (works well at the start of a meeting)
• Best for: Personal connections, icebreaking
• Number of players: Any size team
• How to play it: Each person shows an item from their home (a hobby, souvenir, or pet) and explains its significance. Builds empathy and sparks fun conversations.

13. Quick Virtual Icebreaker Games

To kick off meetings or lighten the mood, try incorporating quick icebreaker games. These are fast, simple activities that get everyone engaged for a few minutes. For example, you can run a lightning round of “Guess that Emoji” where one person posts an emoji in the chat and others have to explain what story or situation it represents. Or host a typing speed race to see who can type a given sentence the fastest (a fun way to wake up the brain on a Monday morning). Another idea is desk item charades: someone picks an object on their desk and acts (or gives hints) while others guess what it is. These kinds of mini-games are silly but effective – they break down stiffness and get people smiling without eating up much time. By regularly using icebreakers, you create a team culture where jumping into discussion feels more natural because everyone’s already shared a laugh.

• Time: 5–10 minutes
• Best for: Quick energy boost, kicking off meetings
• Number of players: Any size team
• How to play it: Use simple games like “Guess the Emoji,” “Desk Charades,” or “Typing Race.” Rotate each week to keep it fresh.

14. Give Kudos in Meetings

Build a culture of appreciation by making “give kudos” a recurring activity. At the start or end of a team call, invite one team member (or a few, on rotation) to recognize another colleague for something positive they did recently. It could be a shout-out for helping with a project, delivering great results, or even just boosting morale with a funny joke in the team chat. This practice does two things: it encourages everyone to notice and celebrate good work or kind acts by their peers, and it gives the person receiving kudos a morale boost in front of the team. Managers who implement this say it reinforces that “everyone’s on the same team” working toward shared success. Over time, regular peer kudos can increase trust and goodwill, making team members more supportive of each other.

• Time: 5 minutes at start/end of meetings
• Best for: Recognition, morale boosting
• Number of players: Any size team
• How to play it: Dedicate time in meetings for team members to give shout-outs to colleagues for achievements, kindness, or contributions.

15. “Grill the Seller” Q&A Game

“Grill the Seller” is a playful interview-style game particularly popular with sales teams, though it can be adapted for any group. In this activity, one team member volunteers to be in the hot seat, and others take turns asking them rapid-fire questions – the more unexpected or silly, the better. For instance, you might ask, “What’s your stance on pineapple on pizza?” followed by “If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?” The idea is to put someone accustomed to dealing with tough questions (like a salesperson) on the receiving end for a change, in a fun way. This on-the-spot quizzing tends to reveal a lot of amusing and personal tidbits about your coworkers. To keep it lively, you can use a quiz tool like Kahoot! to display questions or choose them randomly, as one fully remote startup did to get great question prompts. Grill the Seller builds camaraderie through laughter and lets the team get to know each other’s personalities under light-hearted “pressure.”

• Time: 15–30 minutes
• Best for: Fun Q&A, spotlighting personalities
• Number of players: 4–15
• How to play it: One team member goes in the hot seat. Others ask rapid-fire questions (silly or serious). Rotate weekly to keep it engaging.

16. Harness VR Technology for Meetups

If you want to really spice up your remote team interactions, consider hosting a meetup in virtual reality. With the rise of VR meeting platforms (such as Virbela, Spatial, or MeetinVR), teams can don VR headsets and meet in a simulated 3D environment – think of it like a virtual office or conference space where everyone appears as avatars. In VR, your team can do things like walk around a virtual room, use a whiteboard together, play interactive mini-games, or even high-five each other’s avatars. This technology can cut down on standard video-call fatigue by offering a fresh way to engage. It’s especially useful for creative brainstorming sessions or demonstrations that benefit from a sense of shared space. While not everyone may have VR gear, if your company has the resources (even if just for a subset of the team), it can be an unforgettable team-building experience that feels like the future. And for teams already equipped with VR, it’s a no-brainer to mix one of these into your schedule to boost engagement.

• Time: 30–60 minutes
• Best for: Innovation, immersive collaboration
• Number of players: 3–15 (requires VR headsets)
• How to play it: Use VR platforms (e.g., Spatial, MeetinVR). Teams meet as avatars, brainstorm, play mini-games, or explore virtual worlds together.

17. Make Hitting Quotas a Team Sport

This activity turns work goals into a friendly competition that emphasizes teamwork. The idea is to gamify your targets – for example, if you’re leading a sales team, you can split the group into smaller “squads” and see which squad collectively closes the most deals or reaches certain KPIs by the end of the quarter. The squads meet (virtually) maybe once a week to share tips and hype each other up, and everyone keeps track of progress on a leaderboard visible to the team. The key here is to ensure it stays collaborative and not cutthroat: one way to do that is to rotate team assignments every quarter, so colleagues who competed against each other in Q1 might be teammates in Q2. That way, everyone gets a chance to work together toward a common goal, and no one group permanently dominates. By making hitting quotas a team sport, you encourage knowledge sharing and mutual support. If one person finds a great strategy, their whole squad benefits. In the end, the company hits its targets and the team feels collective victory, not just individual pressure.

• Time: Ongoing, reviewed weekly/quarterly
• Best for: Sales teams, motivation, collaboration
• Number of players: Any size (split into squads)
• How to play it: Divide into squads and gamify goals. Track progress on a leaderboard. Celebrate team achievements together to encourage collaboration.

18. “Never Have I Ever” – Work Edition

Put a team-building twist on the classic “Never Have I Ever” game. In a group video call, have one person say something they’ve never done, starting with the phrase “Never have I ever…”. Keep the statements relatively light and work-appropriate, such as “Never have I ever traveled outside Europe” or “Never have I ever pulled an all-nighter at work.” If others have done that thing, they can indicate it – for example, by raising their hand on camera or using a reaction emoji. (In the traditional game, people might take a drink or lower a finger, but you can choose a safe-for-work action instead.) It can get really fun when you choose a goofy action for those who haven’t done the thing as well – one team had everyone who had never done a described activity draw a line on their face in marker or lipstick as a joke! Through “Never Have I Ever,” teammates learn surprising facts about each other’s experiences. Someone might say, “Never have I ever gone bungee jumping” and find out three coworkers actually have. It leads to great storytelling and lots of laughter, helping your remote team feel closer.

• Time: 10–15 minutes
• Best for: Fun facts, laughter, storytelling
• Number of players: 4–20
• How to play it: Each person says “Never have I ever…” (e.g., “Never have I ever worked all night”). Those who have done it raise their hands or react. Encourages stories and fun reveals.

19. “Shake It Off” Dance Break

Sometimes the best way to relieve stress during a long workday is to get up and move. Shake It Off is a quick team dance party that you can initiate on a video call. Pick an upbeat song (you can even let a different team member choose the track each time) and have everyone dance at their desk for a minute or two. Yes, it might feel a little awkward at first, but it’s almost guaranteed to produce smiles. Dancing is basically a mix of exercise and fun, and studies show it helps reduce stress levels. To make participants more comfortable, you can tell everyone they’re free to turn off their cameras while dancing if they prefer – though you might offer a goofy award for those with cameras on, like “best dance move” to encourage some brave souls. Whether people go all-out or just bob in their chairs, a brief dance break can help everyone shake off the tension, re-energize, and bond over a shared, silly experience.

• Time: 2–5 minutes
• Best for: Stress relief, energy boost, laughter
• Number of players: Any size team
• How to play it: Play an upbeat song. Everyone dances at their desk (cameras on or off). Bonus: award “best move of the day.”

20. Share One Win Each Meeting

Kick off a positive vibe by incorporating a “share one win” segment into your team meetings. Go round-robin and have each person briefly share a recent win or accomplishment. It could be work-related (like “I solved a tricky bug in the code”) or personal (“I finally started the exercise routine I’ve been promising to do”). Highlighting wins gives every team member an opportunity to speak and be acknowledged. This practice boosts morale because it focuses on progress and positive news, and even on tough days, it reminds everyone that good things are happening. It’s especially effective for remote teams where individuals might not hear about colleagues’ small victories in passing. By sharing them intentionally, you create an atmosphere of support and celebration. Plus, discussing wins often sparks team-wide encouragement (“Congrats on closing that deal!”) and can lead to knowledge sharing if someone’s curious about how that win was achieved. It’s a simple routine that can make a big difference in keeping the team motivated and connected.

• Time: 5–10 minutes per meeting
• Best for: Positivity, recognition, motivation
• Number of players: Any size team
• How to play it: Go around and have each person share one recent win (personal or professional). Celebrate together before diving into work topics.

21. Two Truths and a Lie

This classic icebreaker is a tried-and-true way for team members to get to know each other, and it translates perfectly to virtual meetings. Here’s how it works: each person prepares three statements about themselves – two truths and one lie. When it’s someone’s turn, they share all three statements (in any order). Then the rest of the team discusses and tries to guess which statement is the lie. After a bit of guessing, the person reveals the answer and often shares a short story about the true statements. Two Truths and a Lie tends to result in a lot of laughter and “No way, I can’t believe you did that!” reactions. You might discover, for example, that the quiet engineer on your team has been a contestant on a game show, or that your HR representative has a twin. This game requires virtually no equipment (just a bit of creative thinking) and can break the ice even among team members who’ve just met. It’s an engaging way to spark conversation and uncover fun facts that might never come up in normal work chat.

• Time: 10–15 minutes
• Best for: Icebreaking, storytelling, getting to know each other
• Number of players: 3–15
• How to play it: Each person shares 2 truths and 1 lie about themselves. The rest guess which is the lie.

22. Unwind with a Virtual Art Class

Help your remote team relax and get creative by organizing a virtual art class. You don’t need to be an artist to enjoy this one – the point is to have everyone do something artistic together, like a group painting or drawing session over video. You can keep it simple: for example, provide a prompt or an image and have each person draw it in their own style, or follow a beginner-friendly YouTube painting tutorial as a group. Creating art has therapeutic benefits; research shows it can lower stress and anxiety. During intense times, an hour of casual art-making can be a much-needed mental break for employees. As a team-building bonus, when everyone shares their finished doodle or painting, it often leads to laughs (if things came out hilariously wonky) and admiration for each other’s creativity. Some teams have even tried digital art challenges, like using an online collaborative canvas or a pixel art worksheet, to mix art with tech. No matter how you do it, an art class can help your team recharge and bond over a fun, non-work activity.

• Time: 45–60 minutes
• Best for: Creativity, relaxation, stress relief
• Number of players: 4–20
• How to play it: Host a painting, doodling, or digital art session. Follow a YouTube tutorial or hire an instructor. Share finished art at the end.

23. Virtual Happy Hour

A virtual happy hour is a popular way for teams to socialize and unwind at the end of the week. The concept is simple: set a time, send out a video call link, and have everyone join with their beverage of choice. It doesn’t matter if it’s beer, coffee, or soda – the focus isn’t really on the drink, but on the conversation and laughter that come with it. During the happy hour, you can play light games (like trivia or “would you rather” questions), or just let the chat flow freely about weekend plans, hobbies, or interesting things people watched on Netflix. Without the pressure to talk shop, coworkers get to know each other as friends. This kind of relaxed hangout can go a long way in a remote environment – it mimics the after-work drinks or casual Friday get-togethers people might have in person, helping to maintain the social fabric of the team. For added fun, you can do themed happy hours (like a tropical theme where everyone sets a beach background and wears sunglasses) or send out a simple cocktail/mocktail recipe for everyone to try making. The goal is to end the week on a positive, inclusive note that leaves people feeling connected.

• Time: 30–60 minutes
• Best for: Socializing, unwinding, casual bonding
• Number of players: 4–20
• How to play it: Schedule a video call where everyone joins with a beverage of choice. Play trivia, do themed chats, or just talk freely.

24. Guided Group Meditation

Introduce a bit of calm and focus into your team’s routine with a guided meditation session. This activity addresses team well-being and is especially appreciated if work has been stressful. It can be as short as 5-10 minutes. You might start a meeting by saying, “Let’s all take a few minutes to reset,” then play a guided meditation recording or have someone with a soothing voice lead a simple mindfulness exercise. Everyone closes their eyes (or keeps a soft gaze), breathes deeply, and tries to let go of distractions for a moment. It’s a simple way to help the team pause and breathe together. Virtual meditation sessions have been shown to help people reflect and support their mental health as a group. Even those who are new to meditation often feel more relaxed and clear-headed afterward. By doing this as a team, you also send a message that you value your employees’ mental well-being. It can become a weekly practice – for instance, “Mindful Monday” – that employees look forward to as a collective de-stressing exercise.

• Time: 5–15 minutes
• Best for: Stress relief, well-being, mindfulness
• Number of players: Any size team
• How to play it: Play a guided meditation recording or have a facilitator lead a session. Encourage everyone to close their eyes, breathe deeply, and reset before or after a meeting.

FAQ

How to include remote employees in team building?

Make inclusion intentional: schedule activities across time zones, rotate meeting times, use camera-optional participation, and pair async + live touchpoints (Slack prompts, shared docs, short live games). Build equity with clear roles, equal speaking turns, and recognition rituals (kudos rounds). Mix low-lift games (icebreakers, scavenger hunts, trivia) with purposeful collaboration (mentorship, volunteer challenges, learning circles). These practices increase belonging, trust, and participation in hybrid/remote teams.

What are some fun virtual team-building activities for work?

High-engagement picks: virtual escape rooms, trivia/quizzes (Kahoot!/Forms), icebreaker questions, virtual campfires/coffee chats, Pictionary/whiteboards, lightning scavenger hunts, recognition rounds (“wins & kudos”), and short wellness breaks. These formats reliably boost energy, connection, and communication on Zoom/Teams/Meet.

What are some fun team-building activities?

Blend just-for-fun with work-forward formats: micro-games (two truths & a lie, charades), skill-shares/learning sprints, volunteering, and structured workshops that move real initiatives forward. Evidence-based lists from Atlassian, HBR, and others emphasize balancing rapport with practical value.

How to have fun with a remote team?

Design meetings with variety every 7–10 minutes (polls, chat prompts, breakout sprints), run short series (weekly 10–15 min games), and rotate hosting to keep ideas fresh. Layer in recognition, occasional themes (background challenge, show-and-tell), and wellness micro-breaks to fight fatigue and sustain engagement.

Conclusion: Building team spirit from anywhere

Remote work doesn’t have to mean the end of team spirit – it just means we have to be more intentional about creating it. The activities above show that with a little creativity, professionals can keep their teams engaged, connected, and motivated no matter the physical distance. In fact, team-building activities may be even more important for remote employees who never get to see their colleagues in person. Leaders who make time for these virtual team experiences often see improvements in communication, trust, and overall team performance.

As you implement these ideas, consider your team’s interests and mix it up: some events can be purely for fun (like game nights or dance breaks) while others develop skills or well-being (like learning sessions or meditation). The key is consistency and inclusivity – rotating activities or scheduling regular bonding time ensures everyone gets a chance to participate and no one feels left out. By prioritizing team building, you’ll foster a positive remote work culture where people feel truly part of a team. So go ahead and try a few of these remote team-building activities – you might be surprised at how a simple virtual game or chat can bring your employees closer together, strengthening the team one online experience at a time