problem solving games no equipment

8 Team Building Games Without Materials (No Prep & Free)

Maximum effect with minimum effort: that’s the motto of the best team building games without materials ! Because we believe that team building doesn’t have to be complicated and time-consuming to yield real effects!

Regular team building games not only strengthen team dynamics, but also unleash the individual potential of each team member. In this article, we’ll explore the unassuming but powerful world of team building games without materials that build and reinforce the foundations of a strong team culture.

We will talk about the following games:

• The Gordian Knot
• Monax Island
• The Invisible Landmine
• The Alphabet
• Suitcase Packing
• Wordy Scavenger Hunt
• Role Reverse
• Picture Memory

Why team building without materials makes sense

Why should you choose team building games without materials? The purpose behind these games is to create an atmosphere where team members can improve their skills, interact with each other and build a strong connection without relying on physical resources. These games encourage creative collaboration, improve communication and create an environment that strengthens team dynamics. They offer the opportunity to break down barriers, achieve common goals and promote collaboration in a fun and engaging way. The use of imagination and sharing ideas is at the heart of these games to strengthen and connect the team not only professionally but also personally. Want more examples of team building games without materials? Check out our list of fun group games for adults to find a continuation of this list. We also compiled a list of fun & short team building games that will only cost 5-15 minutes of your day.

1. The Gordian Knot

This team building game, known as the “Gordian Knot”, focuses on collaboration and creative problem-solving within the team. It challenges the participants to overcome a seemingly inextricable situation without the use of any materials.

The main aim of the game is to encourage team members to improve their collaboration and problem-solving skills. By working together to untangle a complex “knot”, the aim is to overcome obstacles and develop solutions that strengthen team dynamics.

Instructions:

The “Gordian Knot” can be played in any room without physical aids. The participants stand in a circle, join hands and intertwine them to form a knot. The aim is to untangle the knot without letting go of each other’s hands by moving, passing over or under each other until the original circle is restored.

The “Gordian Knot” is a challenging but rewarding exercise to strengthen teamwork and problem-solving skills. It encourages creative problem-solving and the ability to work together to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Working together to untangle the ‘knot’ not only strengthens team dynamics , but also promotes trust and support among team members.

2. Monax Island

Monax Island is an entertaining co-op browser game that only requires a laptop and a stable internet connection. Admittedly, this game is not entirely material-free. However, a laptop and internet are standard equipment for most employees anyway, especially if you want to play directly in the office. What’s more, you don’t have to download anything, just open a session online and have fun!

The aim of the game is to escape from Monax Island with the help of cooperation and communication. On your way, you have to play fun mini-games and solve puzzles to reach the next level. The side quest is to learn more about the exciting storyline of Monax Island as you progress through the game. Because, surprise: the island is also inhabited by a mysterious species that you might want to watch out for…

One person starts the game session and shares the link with the rest of the team. The game can be played in teams of 2-6 people. Once everyone has arrived in the lobby, you can press start, and you will land at your starting point, the ship on which you will set off on your adventure. The rest, we don’t really want to spoil. 🤭

If, in addition to having fun, you also want to find out important information about the performance of your team and individual employees, Monax Island offers the option of using special AI Insights. Your personality is observed over the course of the game and the Insights collect data on cooperation, group dynamics and individual personalities.

3. The Invisible Landmine

This team-building game is all about trust and communication as the team navigates an invisible landmine. It’s not about physical obstacles, but about the mental challenge of finding a safe route together.

The game aims to strengthen interpersonal relationships within the team by promoting trust and coordination in a unique way. It requires precise communication and a deep understanding of each other in order to master the challenges.

A conference room or office is all you need to successfully complete this team building task. Alternatively, you can also play outdoors. The participants imagine that the room is full of invisible landmines and have to work together to navigate safely through the room. Some of the participants are blindfolded (or simply closed) and must be guided through the minefield. Through clear verbal instructions and coordinated teamwork , they avoid the “mines” and move safely from one point to another.

Overall, “The Invisible Landmine” provides a challenging but extremely rewarding opportunity to strengthen the foundations of trust and communication within a team. It highlights the importance of precise instructions, active listening and trust in the abilities of team members. In the end, it’s about overcoming obstacles together and strengthening team dynamics through a fun but educational experience .

More Team Building Ideas please?

We have plenty, of course! Click through our favorite 30+ best team building games ! Of course, we also have a list with online team games , if this is your thing.

4. The Alphabet

The aim of the game is to memorize what your teammates have said. Remembering and sharing information not only strengthens memory, but also collaboration. The aim is to build a bridge between individual mindsets and promote a collective understanding .

This game does not require any physical materials and can easily be played at the office, in a conference room or other confined space. Participants start by lining up and going through the alphabet together, with each team member naming a letter in order. The player must now name a word that begins with this letter. You can choose topics for this, e.g. objects in the office, zoo animals or food. The challenge is to remember the previously stated words and repeat them continuously. This creates a shared memory that strengthens cooperation and the group feeling .

5. Suitcase Packing

This team building game is, similar to the “Alphabeth”, a playful exercise that promotes creativity and coordination within the team without using physical materials. It encourages participants to take a virtual journey through movement and imagination.

The main aim of this game is to stimulate the team members’ creativity while strengthening their coordination and cooperation. Above all, this game also promotes team dynamics .

The participants imagine that they are virtually packing suitcases for a trip. Each team member in turn adds an imaginary item and makes a movement to pack that item into the suitcase. For example, one team member could imagine putting a beach ball in the suitcase and combine this with a specific movement, while the next team member adds a swimming costume and performs a corresponding movement. The suitcase is packed and everyone has to memorize and imitate the movements of the others. This strengthens cooperation and creativity within the team.

This task provides an interactive way to promote creativity while improving team coordination. It encourages participants to embark on a virtual journey together and connect to the imaginary objects through movement, which strengthens collaboration and commitment to the common goal.

6. Wordy Scavenger Hunt

The “Wordy Scavenger Hunt” is an intriguing team building activity that takes the team through a virtual scavenger hunt based on words, riddles or clues . It’s a fun way to encourage team members to collaborate , solve puzzles and search for answers or solutions together.

The aim of this game is to strengthen team spirit and at the same time promote the fun of solving puzzles. Participants are encouraged to put their heads together to decipher clues , solve puzzles and ultimately find a final solution. This not only promotes collaboration, but also the problem-solving skills of each individual.

The “Wordy Scavenger Hunt” does not require any physical materials, but can take place via various digital platforms or communication channels. Participants receive riddles or word games via text messages, emails or other digital means. These clues lead to further puzzles or tasks that the team must solve together in order to progress and reach the final goal of the scavenger hunt.

This game offers a fun and challenging way to build team spirit as it encourages team members to work together, think creatively and solve puzzles. The virtual nature of this game also offers flexibility and the ability to adapt it to different environments and situations, making it a versatile and popular team building activity . In the end, the “Scavenger Hunt of Words” creates an atmosphere of fun, collaboration and shared success as a team.

7. Role Reverse

The game “Role Reversal” is a remarkable exercise that goes far beyond a simple game. It encourages team members to step out of their usual comfort zones and put themselves into the shoes of their colleagues . This change of perspective allows each individual to empathize with the challenges, thought processes and decisions of other team members without the need for external aids.

The main aim of this game is to strengthen understanding and empathy within the team. When team members take on the role of their colleagues, a deeper understanding of their perspectives, working methods and challenges is created. This not only promotes team spirit, but also creates an atmosphere of respect and openness within the team.

• Role assignment: Each team member takes on the role of another team member. They can imitate the role or act authentically, depending on the objective.
• Change of perspective: During this process, each team member puts themselves in the role of the assigned colleague and considers how they would act in certain situations.
• Reflection and discussion: After the roles have been reversed, the team members come together to reflect on their experiences. They share insights and discuss how this change of perspective has improved mutual understanding.

“Role reversal” opens up the opportunity for a profound experience that strengthens understanding and empathy within the team. As team members take on the positions of their colleagues, not only is cohesion strengthened, but also the ability to see the world from different perspectives. This game creates an atmosphere of respect and openness, which helps to promote healthy team dynamics.

Big Group Entertainment?

You have a large group to entertain? Then check out our favorite games for big groups !

8. Picture Memory

The main objective of this challenge is to encourage communication between the team members while stimulating their creativity. The person giving the description must provide clear and precise instructions, while the other person uses their ability to interpret and translate the description into a drawing.

• Description: One person describes an image, scene or concept without the other person seeing it.
• Visualization: The other person listens attentively and tries to draw the described object or scene based on this description.
• Comparison and reflection: Once the drawing has been completed, it is compared with the original. The team members exchange their perspectives and reflect on the challenges and experiences during the process.

The “Visualization Challenge” provides a great opportunity for improved communication and a playful way of working together . Through this task, the ability to communicate and interpret clearly is strengthened, while at the same time the creative streak of each team member is encouraged. The end result is not only a series of fun and perhaps unexpected drawings, but also a deeper understanding of the importance of clear communication and interpretive skills within the team.

Team building games without materials offer a flexible solution to connect teams and improve their dynamics. The ability to integrate complex concepts into fun activities highlights the importance of these games, not only for professional success, but also for the general well-being and motivation of team members.

Overall, these games show that team building is not always dependent on physical resources. The true essence lies in shared commitment , creativity and mutual understanding. By integrating such games into everyday team life, teams can not only work more effectively, but also build a positive and supportive work culture. The path to success is not only the destination, but also the journey that we create and enjoy together.

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11 Fun Outdoor Team Building Games Without Any Equipment

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Team building activities can be a great way to engage employees and bring out their creative side while also fostering collaboration. 

While most team-building activities often require some type of equipment or props, there are plenty of outdoor team-building games that require zero equipment. 

These activities can help to break up the office routine and bring employees out of their comfort zones. 

This blog post will review 11 fun outdoor team-building games without any equipment. These activities will challenge team members to think outside the box and use their problem-solving skills to complete the tasks. 

These no-equipment activities will require minimal setup and can be completed by all ages and abilities. 

Read More: Unleashing Creativity: 23 Group Activities Ideas For Problem Solving .

Benefits Of Organizing Team Building Activities Without Equipment:

Organizing team-building activities without equipment is the ultimate money-saving, creativity-inducing, team-bonding experience ! You don’t need to buy any fancy gizmos or gadgets for your team to have fun. 

Just gather ’round and let your imaginations soar! With no equipment, teams have to rely on their own resourcefulness and communication skills to get through the challenges. 

Plus, who doesn’t love a good challenge? So save your money and have some creative fun with your team without any equipment!

11 Fun And Quick Outdoor Team-building Games That Don’t Require Any Equipment

The activities vary in difficulty and can be tailored to the specific group. For example, if the group is more experienced, the tasks can be more challenging, while if the group has more beginner players, the tasks can be more straightforward. With these activities, teams can have fun, build camaraderie, and strengthen their bond. These activities are great for both new and old teams and are quick and easy to make.

1. Musical Chairs – With The Entire Group!

Get your whole team involved with this classic game of Musical Chairs! Everyone will have to dance and scramble for the few chairs that are provided as the music plays.

It’s a surefire way to get everyone laughing, and it’s a great way to break the ice and get the team bonding. It’s also a great way to get everyone up, moving and having fun! Be sure to provide a few extra chairs though; no one wants to be left out!

2. Passive Aggressive Tag – No Physical Contact Required

Number two on our list of fun outdoor team-building games without any equipment is the passive-aggressive tag – no physical contact required.

This game is sure to get everyone’s competitive juices flowing, but with no physical contact involved! Players will be assigned roles – either hunter or hunted.

The hunter must try to find the hunted by making eye contact, but the hunted must try to avoid the hunter by being sneaky and avoiding all eye contact. This game is sure to bring out the best in everyone and is sure to be a great laugh for everyone involved!

3. Simon Says – But With A Twist, Like Simon Says Dance

3. Simon Says – but with a twist, like Simon Says Dance: This classic playground game is perfect for outdoor team building . With a little twist, it can be even more fun! Instead of saying “Simon Says”, give the group a simple command like “Simon Says Dance”, and let them loose.

Watch as your team comes together to dance like no one’s watching and make sure to capture the hilarious moments on camera!

4. Telephone – The Game, Not The Device

Number four on our list of fun outdoor team-building games without any equipment is Telephone! This classic game requires no more than a group of people and a few good ears.

It’s simple—one person starts by whispering a phrase or sentence to the person next to them. That person then whispers it to the next person, and so on until the phrase reaches the last person in the group.

The last person then says the phrase out loud, and the group can compare it to the original. This game is sure to bring out a few laughs and encourages communication and collaboration between team members.

5. Charades – With A Group Of People, It Can Be Pretty Hilarious

Ah, charades—the classic game of using your body to act out a word or phrase without speaking. With a group of people, it can be pretty hilarious.

Try to come up with scenarios that will challenge even the most experienced charades players. Keep them on their toes by changing it up with different challenges: acting out the same phrase in different ways, using props, or incorporating other activities into the game. It’s sure to bring out some laughs, and make for a great team-building activity .

6. Hot Potato – But With A Virtual Potato

Number six on our list of ten fun outdoor team-building games without any equipment is Hot Potato – but with a virtual potato. As the group stands in a circle, one person starts the game by throwing the virtual potato to another person.

Each person then throws the virtual potato to someone else, until it reaches the person who started the game. The game is over when the virtual potato has made its way around the circle. Once the virtual potato has completed a full circuit, the game is ended.

This game is a fantastic method to get people to talk to one another and laugh in the process. Share a Secret is a game that combines teamwork and rumors.

7. Share A Secret – Team-Building And Gossip All In One

Share a Secret is the outdoor team-building activity for you if you’re seeking one with a unique twist. This game is a fantastic way to get everyone interacting, developing relationships, and laughing.

The process is straightforward: each team member takes a turn sharing a secret, which can be either humorous or serious.

This is a fantastic opportunity for some friendly gossip as well as a terrific method to discover something new about your coworkers. The group may then have a fun and encouraging conversation about the secret. It’s a fantastic method to raise spirits and promote teamwork .

8. Blindfolded Obstacle Course – Navigate Without Sight

If you’re looking for a hilarious team-building game that requires absolutely no equipment, Blindfolded Obstacle Course – Navigate Without Sight is the one for you! Get your team together, pair up, and hand out the blindfolds.

Then let the fun begin! Have one partner lead the other through a silly course filled with cones, chairs, and other objects. This activity is sure to bring a few laughs and also help to foster communication and problem-solving skills. Let the games begin!

9. The Human Knot – With As Many People As Possible

The Human Knot is item #9 on the list! This one is very entertaining since the game gets crazier the more players you have. The goal of the game is to get everyone to make a knot with their hands together without releasing go.

The enjoyable (and occasionally stressful!) task will have your team cooperating to untie the knot. It will definitely make people laugh and is a terrific way to get to know your team members.

10. Bird Watching – But Without Binoculars!

Bird-watching without binoculars is possible! Can you and your teammates distinguish between a robin and a sparrow? Set up a contest to see who can recognize the most different bird species without the use of binoculars.

The winning team is the one with the most accurate responses (or the one with the most creative hypotheses)! This game offers a fun opportunity for team development in any outdoor environment.

11. Red Light, Green Light

It’s time to prepare for a race of epic proportions! Get ready to “Go” and “Stop” in a wild game of Red Light, Green Light. One lucky individual will stand at the front of the group and be the ‘traffic light’ that radiates a magical power of ‘Go’ or ‘Stop’.

When the traffic light says ‘Green Light’, everyone will be off to the races, but when they shout ‘Red Light’, it’s an immediate freeze! Whoever moves at the wrong time will be out of the game. May the fastest one win!

In Conclusion:

outdoor team-building games without any equipment are a great way to get to know your teammates better and to learn how to work together in different situations.

These games are fun , inexpensive, and can be played in any outdoor location. They help foster team spirit, encourage problem-solving skills, and promote cooperation and collaboration. So, get outside and get your team building on!

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28 Best PE Games With Absolutely No Equipment

P.E. lessons can be a bit daunting at times. All that equipment to organize and worry about. Yuck!

Then there are the safety aspects to consider. Eek!

The good news is, there are plenty of simple P.E. games that you can use with no equipment!

The Ultimate List of PE Games With No Equipment

Whether you need ideas for Kindergarten PE games, or PE games for preschool this list will spark the creativity you need for gym class or at home!

I’ve been teaching in early education for the best part of 20 years now, and in that time I’ve come up with a full armory of the very best PE games WITH NO EQUIPMENT! Woop!

Table of Contents

That’s right! Just a group of children are enough to create many games and have plenty of fun.

All you need are a good space and plenty of energy, so let’s go!

1. Stop And Go Bubbles

Practice drawing a great big pretend bubble with your finger in the air.

Reach up as high as you can and reach down as low as you can. Really reach all the way around you.

If you can reach and touch anyone else with our moving your feet you are too close to move away and make sure you are in your own space.

Stretch out in your bubble to make sure you can’t touch anyone else’s just in case you should burst their bubble.

Ask the children to move like a bubble and float around the space. How freeing and mindful this bit is!

When you tell them to stop, make sure their bubble is in a good space so that no one can burst it.

2.Extra Sensory Perception (ESP)

This is a brilliant pairs game, that is good as a warm-up or as a fun game on it’s own!.

What you do is invent three movements and demonstrate them to the group.

Once you’ve played it a couple of times, the kids can come up with their own ideas.

Three examples of moves could be:

• Doing star jumps
• Doing Jazz hands
• Jumping a 360 spin on the spot

Then everyone gets a partner.

The true challenge now is to activate your ESP, which (as pretty much all kids seem to know), is your Extra-Sensory Perception. Simply put, this is the ability to read your partner’s mind (which is very exciting).

Everyone displays one of the three moves at the same time. You want to do the move that you think your partner will do.

Do the same move? Woo woo! You activated your ESP.

Different move? Just try again.

Keep going for a few goes, before changing partners to see if your ESP works better or worse on other people.

As well as being a great PE activity, I often use this as a circle time game in class. This is one of the favorite games from my book 101 Circle Time Games…That Actually Work!

This book contains all the very best mindfulness circle games, active circle games, math games, literacy circle games, and so much more! You can check out the book here.

3. Foxes And Hares

Once the children have got a good understanding of space, and they can stop and start on your command, there are lots of fun PE games you can introduce.

Foxes and hares is a classic chase game .

Aim of the game: To catch all the hares of course!

About a fifth of the children should be foxes. So if you are playing with 10 children, 2 children can be foxes. 

The hares move around the space by hopping. To hop, they should move both feet together and then put two hands together on the floor, just like a rabbit or a hare moves in bunny hops.

The foxes also move on four legs (hands and feet) but they should be quicker as they are less restricted.

To catch a hare, simply touch them (gently, please! No fox attacks).

When all the Hares are caught by the foxes, the game is over and you start a new game with a new group of foxes.

4. Trains and Tunnels

This is a similar version to the game above. There are always loads of train enthusiasts among pretty much any age of children, so this game is always a winner.

Choose a few children to be the trains. 

Explain that the rest of the children are tunnels. They should make a tunnel by putting both their hands and feet on the floor and arching their back as high as they can to make a high tunnel with their body. 

The trains should run around the space until you shout Whoo Whoo.

At the sound of the train whistle, they should crawl through as many of the tunnels as they can. 

When a train has been through a tunnel, the tunnel is released and becomes a train. 

Keep playing until all the tunnels are trains. 

This is a fun game for pairs.

One child is the leader, the other is their shadow.

Explain how your shadow does exactly what you do. It follows you everywhere, and your movements are identical.

As the leaders move around the space, the shadow follows and copies exactly what they do.

Encourage the children to use different levels of movement.

• Roll on the floor
• Move on your hands and knees
• Move on one or two feet

Encourage them to use different speeds of movement

• Move slowly and gracefully
• Move quickly and craftily

Encourage them to use different balances

• Balance on one foot
• Balance on all fours
• Balance on two feet and one hand

Remember to swap over so that both children have a chance to be the leader. 

6. Good Toes Naughty Toes

This is another simple listening game requiring no equipment and it can be played as an indoor and outdoor game.

There are two instructions that the children are going to listen out for. Those are:

Good toes – They should stand completely still with their feet together

Naughty toes – They should dance around wildly using the space and not bumping into anyone else. (Music can be used if you want to)

This game is all about freedom and expression!

7. Noisy Running!

This is possibly my all-time favorite mindful PE game.

This is best done outside in a large space.

The idea is that the children are going to move and make noises at the same time. The volume of the sound they make will be directly linked to how fast they move.

Start by all humming very faintly, and walking really slowly.

Then try a fast walk, and raise the volume of the sound coming out of everyone’s mouth.

Then try light jogging, with a medium noise – aaaaahh – coming from everyone’s mouth, about the volume of talking.

Keep getting faster and increasing the volume! When you are running at full pelt, you will also be yelling as loud as possible – AHHHHH!

I like to do this activity in a structured way to introduce it and mix up the speeds/volumes for a while.

But then, for a couple of minutes, let the children ‘freestyle’. They choose their speeds and volumes and race around.

This activity is all about mindfulness , and experiencing a sense of freedom and liberation from inhibitions!

8. Floating!

Another mindful PE activity here.

Get the children to stand in a space and close their eyes. Then you are going to help them to visualize that they are transforming into something that floats or flies!

It could be:

Let’s imagine we start with the balloon.

Tell the children to visualize they are slowly changing into a balloon. Their skin is becoming colored rubber. And now someone is blowing them up, and they are getting lighter and lighter, and larger and larger.

Then, tell them they are fully inflated.

The children open their eyes, and now they are going to imagine they are floating like balloons around the space!

Off they go – billowing and wafting in the breeze.

After a couple of minutes, you can try transforming into feathers or eagles.

9.  Be The Teacher

This is a good way for children to start to think about the quality of their movements in PE class.

Work in pairs again. One child should be the teacher. 

Explain that as the teacher, they have to help their pupil make the best quality moves and shapes that they possibly can.

It depends on what kind of moves you are working on, but I like to do this with gym moves.

Try moves like:

• Forward roll
• 360 jump rotation

Ask one child to demonstrate the move, and the other child should help them to make it perfect.

Encourage the children to be kind and helpful. For example, they might say things like:

Tuck your head in a bit more.

Can you straighten your legs even more?

Can you reach up taller?

Ask them to use lots of praise if they spot some good quality movements and make sure they tell their partner what they are doing well.

Don’t forget to swap so that everyone has a go at being the teacher.

10. Make A Shape

Put the children in groups of 4 or 5 and give them the challenge of working as a team to make a shape.

Explain that they can work on the floor, lying down or standing up, as long as the shape is clear.

Begin with the basic shapes of:

circle, triangle, square rectangle

Build up to more difficult shapes like:

stars, hexagons, ovals, rhombus, or octagon

11. Body Letters And Numbers

You can extend this from shapes to letters of the alphabet or numbers.

Simply ask the children to make a letter by working together to get into the shape. This is a good activity for team building as they will have to work together and everybody is needed. 

12. Dance Like No-One’s Watching

Dancing is good for you for so many reasons. It’s a workout for the whole body, it encourages you to keep a beat and keep in time with music, and most of all, it’s fun.

It’s good for the soul, so put some happy upbeat music on and encourage some free dancing.

Clap your hands, wiggle your hips, wave your arms. Have fun!!

13.  Heart Monitors

It’s important for children to know that exercising makes changes to our bodies so that they aren’t frightened by the changes and they understand what is happening to them. 

This is a nice activity to explain those changes so that the children understand that it is perfectly normal.

Count down one minute of any kind of high-intensity exercise, for example:

• Fast running on the spot with high knees 
• Tuck jumps with both feet together
• Pretending to skip on the spot as fast as you can
• Burpees (lay down then jump up)

Really encourage the children to put lots of effort in here.

When the minute is up, encourage the children to put their hands on their hearts and feel it beating.

If they’ve put enough effort in, it should be pounding. Ask them to feel their forehead – it should be at least warm, if not hot and sweaty. 

Notice how fast their breathing is when they stop. They should be out of puff.

With older children, you could ask them to take their own pulse before and after exercising and see how much their pulse rate has increased. 

14. Eight Dance!

This is a great dancing game for kids of all ages.

Put some pumping music on to get everyone going!

Then pick some kind of action or dance move, and everyone does it eight times to the music while also counting at the same time – ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8!’

So, you might do eight star-jumps while counting. Or eight big marches on the spot.

Then shout out a new action, and start that, keeping the counting going throughout.

Some other good dances/actions could be:

• Arms up arms down
• Punch the air with one arm, then the other
• Arms wide, arms across your body
• Walking in place

For the older ones, the emphasis is on the movement. But for younger kids, this is also a great rote counting activity.

15. Animal Copy Cat

One child will be the leader in this game. This is the ‘cat’ that the others will try to copy.

The leader is going to pretend to move like an animal. Everyone else will copy!

For example, they might move like a monkey. They will stoop low, and swing their arms like a monkey. Everyone copies!

After a while, the leader will change the animal. They might pretend to be an elephant!

The trick is for everyone to watch for the transition and try to copy.

The leader can mix things up as quickly or slowly as they like.

16. Animal Freeze!

This is a variation of the animal copycat game above with a bit of music added.

Once again, have a leader that is going to pretend to be different animals that the others copy.

Put on some music, and the kids move around like the animal that the leader is demonstrating.

The adult will pause the music at any given moment. The children must then freeze in their best animal pose! It’s a bit like musical statues at this point. Anyone that moves could be out! (Or you can just play the non-competitive version where everyone gets to carry on each time).

17. Transformers

Wow – transformers are one of the most exciting things on the planet for many kids.

And this game really taps into this enthusiasm.

The kids are all now shape-shifting transformers. They can transform in the blink of an eye into many different types of vehicles, and move around the space like them.

Some good vehicles to try include:

• Train – with ‘chugging’ arms and lots of tooting!
• Helicopter – arms as rotas spinning over your head
• Racing cars – running around as fast as possible!
• Plane – Lots of swooping and soaring
• Monster trucks – Be as big and wide as you can

18. Mr Men/Little Miss Game

The idea of this is that the kids pretend to be some of the characters out of the Mr. Men and Little Miss books.

Some good ones to try include:

Mr. Grumpy – stamp around the room with your angriest face

Mr. Tall – Stretch up and walk as tall as you can

Mr. Bump – Go round bumping into walls and imaginary objects (though not other people)

Little Miss Tiny – Curl up like a tiny weeny ball

Lots of modeling of movements work well for this game – both from the adult and skillful children.

19. Child-Friendly Yoga

I find yoga is most effective with children when they can readily understand that the pose they are doing is mimicking something.

Some great poses that mimic things that children know are:

Household Yoga

In this, the kids mimic everyday actions in the house. It could be sweeping the floor, or washing the pots.

Lie on your front, with your hands flat on the floor next to your face.

Push upwards until your arms are straight, your chest is off the floor, and your back is arched.

This stretches the back and abdomen.

Giraffe Pose

Stand with one foot in front of the other.

Reach up high with both hands (this being the giraffe’s neck.) Then slowly bend down, and touch your leading foot with both hands.

Then slowly return to the original position.

Turtle Pose

Lie on your back. Pull your knees into your chest so that you form a ball shape. Slowly rock backward and forwards.

Your curved back forms the turtle’s ‘shell’.

20. Bean Game

This is one of those all-time classics that I thought I should include on this list.

The children pretend to be types of beans, each of which has its own separate movement.

Model two or three bean movements to start off with, have a practice, and then all play the game. Add more bean movements when the children get more confident.

The adult simply calls out a bean name, and the children move in that way.

The beans and associate movements are:

Sprouting bean  – Walk around on your tip-toes, with your arms stretched as high above you as possible

Baked bean  – Sit down on the floor

Broad bean  – Try to be as wide as possible! Walk around like this

Beans on toast  – Lie down on the floor

Chilli bean  – Shiver! This is a ‘pun’ on the word ‘chilli/chilly’ (obviously!)

Jelly bean  – Wibble and wobble!

Runner bean  – Run around like crazy

French bean  – Say, ‘Bonjour!

When you’ve played a few times, a child could potentially become the leader of this game.

21. Action Stories

This is a really good way of combining storytelling, listening, and action!

The adult makes up a story, and the children act it out.

After you’ve done it a few times, a confident child might well be able to lead this.

You want to have lots of active characters in the story, such as stamping giants, witches on broomsticks, unicorns galloping, and all that kind of thing.

As well as that, it’s good to have lots of action, such as terrible storms blowing, landslides, sinking sand, and all the rest of it.

The kids act all of these things out.

A sample start of a story might go:

‘One day the giant went stamping off through the forest. A terrible wind began to blow. The trees were swaying from side to side. Suddenly a unicorn came galloping into the forest to save the giant…’

I’m sure you get the picture!

22. Traffic Lights

Here’s another absolute classic of the repertoire!

In this, the children will pretend to be cars, and the adult gives different verbal instructions that the cars respond to.

The easiest way to play the game is to have three simple instructions that correspond to the colors of a traffic light:

Green  – Go! Jog around the space

Red  – Stop still

Yellow  – Walk on the spot, ready to go

Start easy, but you can always add more elements to the game when they are ready. Some other verbal cues include:

Honk the horn  – A noisy one, this! Go round tooting!

Roundabout  – Jog around in a narrow circle

Parking Lot (or car-park)  – Lie down on the floor

Freeway  – Run as fast as you can

23. Fox and Chickens

This is a variation of a basic tag game .

The idea is to mix up the game by incorporating a theme that the children are interested in.

So, you could have a fox catching chicken by tagging them. Or one of the following:

• A shark catching fishes
• A bird catching worms
• Or a witch catching children

Anything you think the children will respond to is fine.

24. HIIT Session

Here is a simple idea, that is great for fitness for all ages.

You have a structured sequence of activities that you perform together. Spend about thirty seconds on each movement, with a fifteen-second break.

Some simple moves include:

• Reach up, reach down
• Jumping like a frog
• Jumping in place
• Reach to one side, reach to other

For older or more skillful children, you can try some of these:

You can do one round of the activities or even two or three reps!

25. Simon Says Active Version

Of course, you all know the basic idea of Simon Says .

But it works really well in PE sessions if you make the moves super-active!

So, rather than ‘Simon says touch your nose’ kind of instructions, you want to think more along the lines of ‘Simon says crawl like snakes across the floor!’

Some other good examples might be:

‘Simon says wade through the muddy swamp.’

‘Simon says climb the rope ladder.’

‘Simon says run like a cheetah on all fours!’

26. Captain’s Coming

This is another game that is donkey’s old, but children love it generation after generation.

All the kids pretend to be on a boat. The adult gives orders to the ‘crew’.

These include:

Scrub the deck  – Get on hands and knees and start scrubbing the floor!

Swim to shore  – Use a powerful front crawl to move around the space

Into the hammock  – Lie down on the floor

Lift the cannonballs  – Lift up those super heavy cannonballs, and load them into the cannon!

Row the boat  – Row!

Captain’s coming  – Salute!

27.Melting Moments

This is a visualization and mindfulness game that is great as a warm-down.

The children are going to be imagining that they are something that melts. For example, they could be:

-A chocolate bar

-An ice-cube

Let’s imagine we go for ‘snowman’. Tell the children to stand in a space and then close their eyes.

Tell them to imagine that they are transforming into a snowman. They can feel their freezing cold body, their carrot nose, and coal for their eyes.

But now the hot sun has come out. You can feel the warmth on your face!

Feel how the snow is melting your body. Water is starting to drip down the snowman.

Imagine you are shrinking! You are getting lower to the ground! And finally, you are a steaming puddle lying on the floor.

(Ask the children to lie down and imagine this!)

28. Figures Of Eight

This is a good game to use as a warm-down.

The basic idea is that the kids stand in a space, and they are going to form a large figure 8 in the air with different parts of their bodies.

Start with their finger, but then move on to using their:

Warming Up And Cooling Down

To warm-up before PE Class or a fun activity at home, I like to play some music with a good steady beat and perform some repetitive actions for the children to copy. I make sure I warm up my arms, shoulders, feet, legs, hips, and neck. 

To cool down after PE games, try some nice long stretches for all the different body parts. I always like to finish a cool-down with some big deep breaths. Scoop up some air, stretch up and hold it above your head and then blow it away as you release your arms back down to your sides. 

Not Just Good For Physical Learning

One of the biggest benefits of daily physical activity is that children’s behavior improves as well as their overall confidence and independence. Check out this study on tracking of physical activity into into adulhood for more information on the benefits of PE Games .

Now that’s something worth trying for.

Good luck if you try out any of these fun PE games!

Back to Blog

Creative team building

6 team building activities without materials that don’t suck

Putting together team building activities often requires a lot of time, money, and effort. But sometimes, you might find that you have no time to prep or no budget for extra materials. Plus it is more sustainable to not waste any resources. To help you get out of sticky situations like this, we’ve put together a list of time-saving team building activities that require no materials for both in-person and virtual teams . 

Virtual activities without materials

Presenting our favorite indoor team building games that remote teams can play from the comfort of their home offices. 

1. Home office tours  

Best for : Showcasing cool workspaces 

This no-material team building activity is great because it requires little to no preparation but is still guaranteed to be a fun time. More than that, you can use any virtual conference platform to connect with your teammates, no matter where in the world they are. 

The rules are pretty simple. Teammates take turns showing off their home offices or workspaces. They can also share any cool items they’ve decorated their space with. The goal is for remote teammates to learn more about the people they work with by getting a glimpse of their real lives. It can also help people discover shared areas of interest . 

2. Secret word

Best for : Improving communication in small teams 

‘Secret word’ is one of our best team building guessing games. Not only is it fun, but it also helps teammates exercise their communication and problem-solving skills .  

For this game, have one person pick a secret word. They can then tell the group what letter their word starts with. Given this limited information, the group has to guess what the word is by asking questions about what category it falls under. For example, if the word starts with an M, they can ask questions like “is it a country?”

If the answer is no, the owner of the word needs to respond with ‘No’, followed by a word that begins with the letter and fits the category provided by the group. For example, “No, it’s not Morocco” (because Morocco starts with M and is a country). 

If they can’t think of a word that fits the given letter and category within 5 seconds, they’ll need to tell the group the next letter of their secret word.  

The game goes on like this until the group figures out the word. 

Chioma Ugwu

Team Building Expert & Storyteller

Large groups

Prep required

Share fun facts and bond with a team quiz

Have your participants choose from a list of questions they’d like their coworkers to answer about them, before watching as they guess the right answer.

share-fun-facts-and-bond-with-a-team-quiz

Run a guided recognition activity

run-a-guided-recognition-activity

Organize a virtual cooking class

Hire a professional chef to help your team cook a delicious lunch or dinner. May be difficult for co-workers with families. To find providers and get tips, read our blog about virtual cooking classes.

organize-a-virtual-cooking-class

Hire a stand-up comedian

hire-a-stand-up-comedian

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Table of contents

In-person games with no materials

Jumping straight into our list of fun team building games with no materials for in-person teams to play in the office. 

3. Conducted story

Best for : Encouraging communication and collaboration

At the top of our list of team building activities that require no materials is ‘conducted story’. This game is one of our favorites because it helps players sharpen their communication skills by encouraging them to listen and pay attention . 

• Have all players sit in a circle. Begin the story with the phrase, “Once upon a time…”
• Have the person seated next to you continue the story by adding at least one sentence. For example, “...there was a man named Sam who went to the supermarket’. 
• The next person continues the story by contributing another sentence. 
• Go around the circle a few times, each person adding a sentence until an interesting story has developed.  

The goal of this activity is for players to create a seamless story with a sensible and continuous plot. At the end of the game, you can lead a conversation on the importance of communication and working together as a team to achieve a common goal. 

4. Tea and coffee

Best for : Testing out listening and memory retention skills

This quick team building game without materials is effective at teaching teammates how to listen and pay attention more . If not that, at least they’ll leave the game knowing how their teammates prefer their teas/coffees. 

To play, get everyone to sit in a circle. Have the first person start by stating their preference for tea or coffee and how they like to take it (black, with cream, with sugar, or both). For example, “I prefer coffee, and I like mine with cream only”. 

The person sitting next to them must then recall the first person’s preference and state their own. For example, “Kate prefers coffee, and she likes it with cream only. I prefer tea, and I take mine with cream and sugar”. 

Go around the circle, with each person recalling the preference of the person before them, alongside stating their own. 

5. Group lineup

Best for : Fostering creativity and better communication 

This activity is great because it works as a ‘get-to-know-you’ game for new teams or a communication improvement game for established teams. 

• Gather your teammates and instruct them to line up in the correct order of a chosen criteria. For example, you could have them line up in order of their shoe sizes, heights, or birthdays. 
• Let them know that they are not to speak to each other or write anything down, then give them 5 minutes to come up with a non-verbal/written mode of communication.  
• Set a timer for 30-minutes and have them begin. 

The goal is for them to figure out a creative means of communication to help them arrange themselves in the correct order and quickly complete the task. 

6. Awareness circle

Best for : New teams 

This game helps teammates recognize any differences or similarities between themselves. 

To play, you’ll need to come up with a list of statements. For example, “I’m an only child”, “I consider myself adventurous”, “I can play an instrument”, etc. 

Gather everyone in a circle and read through each statement. If it’s true for any teammates, they should step forward. Once everyone has seen who’s stepped forward, have them return to their original position and call out the next statement. 

 At the end of the game, encourage teammates to discuss some of their differences and similarities. 

What are the benefits of organizing team building activities without equipment? 

Team activities that require materials are great, but team building activities without equipment also have their benefits. For one, they leave room for creativity as teammates won't be able to rely on materials to help them communicate or solve problems. This encourages them to be more creative and think of outside-the-box ways to reach their goals. 

Some other benefits include:

• Time-saving
• Ideal for teams with limited budgets
• Requires little to no preparation
• Fun and easy to participate in 
• Works for both old and new teams
• Environmentally friendly by avoiding waste

The ecological argument becomes more important in the coming years when the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) comes into place. This European legislation requires many companies to publish annual sustainability reports in compliance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) .

No-prep team building games - a fun and effective approach to team building 

Team building activities for work don’t always require a long list of equipment, nor do they have to be expensive or time-consuming. You can keep things light and casual by eliminating the use of materials and choosing the more affordable route. Not only would this relieve some of your stress, but you’d also find that your teammates have fun while still developing the skills they need to work better together.  If you want help with planning and executing different exercises, you can also use a team building solution.

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27 Fun Indoor Games to Play Without Anything

Indoor games can be a great way to have fun and stay entertained without the need for any special equipment or props.

Whether you’re looking to pass the time on a rainy day or just want to enjoy some quality indoor entertainment, there are plenty of games you can play with just your imagination and a few friends.

From classic board games to creative word games, here are some indoor games to play without anything extra.

Shadow Puppets:

Turn off the lights or dim them slightly and use your hands to create a variety of shadow puppets on the wall. Challenge your friends or family members to guess the animals, objects, or characters you’re trying to depict. It’s a creative and imaginative game that can be a lot of fun, especially in the dark.

Indoor Treasure Hunt:

Create a treasure hunt by writing clues or riddles that lead to hidden “treasures” around your home. You can use everyday objects as treasures, and each clue should provide a hint about where to find the next one. This game not only encourages problem-solving but also adds an element of excitement as participants follow the trail of clues to discover the hidden items.

Play a game of “Statues” where one person is designated as the “leader” and the rest of the participants are “statues.” The leader stands at a distance and gives commands like “March!” or “Freeze!” When the leader says “Freeze,” everyone must stand perfectly still like statues until the next command. The challenge is to stay as still as possible without moving, even if the leader tries to trick you with fake commands. Related: 25 Amazing Preschool Themes for September

Paper Airplane Contest:

Create and decorate paper airplanes, then have a contest to see whose airplane can fly the farthest or perform the most tricks. You can use a designated starting line and take turns launching your airplanes. Experiment with different designs to see which one works best. This game combines creativity and competition.

Story Building:

Sit in a circle and start a collaborative story. One person begins with a sentence or two to kickstart the tale. The next person adds to the story, and so on, with each participant contributing a sentence or two at a time. The catch is that each person must build on the story without contradicting what has been said before. This game not only sparks creativity but also encourages active listening and storytelling skills.

Simon’s Memory:

One person, acting as “Simon,” starts by saying, “Simon says, I’m going on a trip, and I’m bringing [an item that starts with the letter ‘A’].” The next person repeats the phrase, including Simon’s item, and adds an item that starts with the letter ‘B.’ This continues with each person adding a new item and the entire list in order. The challenge is to remember the growing list of items in the correct order. If someone forgets an item or messes up the order, they are out.

Storytime Relay:

This game combines storytelling and teamwork. Sit in a circle, and one person begins a story with a single sentence. The next person adds a sentence to continue the story, and so on. However, each person can only say one word at a time, going around the circle. It often leads to humorous and unexpected stories, as you must think quickly to keep the narrative flowing. Related: 20 Fun Transition Activities for Preschoolers & Toddlers

Guess the Sound:

Blindfold one person and have the others take turns making a sound with their mouths or using objects in the room (e.g., tapping on a table, shaking a jar of rice, or ringing a bell). The blindfolded person must guess the source of the sound. It’s a sensory game that adds an element of surprise and mystery to your indoor activities.

Two Truths and a Lie:

This is a great game for getting to know your friends or family members better. Each person takes a turn sharing two true statements and one false statement about themselves. The others must guess which statement is the lie. It’s a game that encourages storytelling and deduction.

Invisible Obstacle Course:

Create an imaginary obstacle course in your living room or another indoor space. Describe the obstacles to the participants, such as “There’s a lava pit you have to jump over” or “You need to crawl under the laser beams.” Participants take turns navigating the course blindfolded while the others guide them using only their voices. It’s a game that requires trust and communication.

20 Questions:

In this game, one player thinks of an object, person, or place while the others take turns asking yes-or-no questions to guess what it is. Players can only ask up to 20 questions to figure out the mystery item. If they guess correctly within the limit, they win. If not, the person who thought of the item gets a point. It’s a fantastic game for honing deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills.

Indoor Bowling:

Set up a makeshift bowling alley in your living room using empty plastic bottles as pins and a soft ball as the bowling ball. Arrange the pins in a triangle formation and take turns rolling the ball to knock them down. You can keep score and compete against friends or family members for some friendly indoor competition.

Indoor Picnic Challenge:

Transform your living room into an indoor picnic area. Lay out a picnic blanket, make some sandwiches, and prepare some snacks and drinks. Challenge each other to come up with the most creative, imaginary stories about the “outdoor” adventures you’re having while picnicking indoors.

Reverse Charades:

Flip the traditional Charades game on its head by having one person guess while the rest of the group acts out the word or phrase. It becomes a hilarious challenge as multiple people work together to convey the clue without speaking. This twist adds an extra layer of excitement to the classic game.

Story Cubes:

If you have dice with pictures on them (such as Rory’s Story Cubes or homemade versions), you can use them to inspire storytelling. Roll the dice and create a story based on the images that appear. Each person can take turns adding to the narrative, incorporating the pictures from the dice. It’s a game that sparks creativity and imagination.

Story Jenga:

If you have a Jenga set, write various story prompts or challenges on the Jenga blocks. When playing Jenga, each time a block is removed, the person must either create a sentence that continues the story or perform the challenge written on the block. It adds a fun twist to the classic game and sparks creativity.

Musical Statues:

Similar to musical chairs, but without the chairs. Play music and have everyone dance or move around the room. When the music stops, everyone must freeze in place like statues. The last person to freeze is out. Keep playing until only one person remains.

The Floor Is Lava:

Pretend that the floor is covered in lava, and your goal is to move around the room without touching it. Use furniture, cushions, and other items as stepping stones. One person can play the role of the “floor inspector” who tries to catch players touching the floor. It’s a creative and active game that can be particularly enjoyable for kids.

Story Telephone:

Sit in a circle and start a story by whispering a sentence into the ear of the person next to you. They, in turn, whisper what they heard to the person next to them, and so on. The last person to hear the story must say it out loud. Compare the final version to the original sentence to see how much it has changed, which often leads to hilarious results.

Paper Plate Disc Golf:

Create a simple indoor disc golf course using paper plates as “holes” and a soft, lightweight object (like a rolled-up sock) as the “disc.” Set up the paper plates in various locations around a room, and take turns trying to toss the disc into the plates with the fewest throws. Keep score and compete against friends or family members.

The Alphabet Memory Game:

This game is excellent for sharpening your memory skills. Start by saying, “I went to the store and bought an apple.” The next person continues, “I went to the store and bought an apple and a bicycle.” Each person takes a turn adding an item to the list while reciting all the previous items in alphabetical order. The goal is to see how far you can go without forgetting an item or getting the order wrong.

Hide and Seek:

A classic game that needs no equipment at all. One person closes their eyes and counts while the others hide somewhere in the house. Once counting is done, the seeker tries to find the hidden players. It’s a timeless game that’s always a hit with kids and adults alike.

Storytime with Pictures:

Find a picture book or magazine and take turns making up a story based on the images you see. Each person can narrate a part of the story, adding to the plot as you go along. This game allows you to get creative with storytelling and encourages imagination.

Indoor Mini Golf:

Transform your living room into a mini golf course using household items like cups, books, and cardboard boxes as obstacles. Use a soft ball (like a ping pong ball or a rolled-up sock) as your golf ball and a broomstick as your putter. Take turns navigating the course, and try to complete it with the fewest strokes.

Rhyming Game:

Sit in a circle and choose a starting word. Going clockwise, each person takes a turn saying a word that rhymes with the previous one. You continue until someone can’t come up with a rhyme within a few seconds or repeats a word. It’s a game that challenges your vocabulary and creativity. Related: 20 Fun Disney Activities for Preschoolers

Recommended:

• 21 Easy Social and Emotional Activities for Preschoolers
• 23 Fun Indoor Obstacle Course Ideas for Kids
• 20 Fun Disney Activities for Preschoolers

Sohaib Hasan Shah

Sohaib's journey includes 10+ years of teaching and counseling experience at BCSS School in elementary and middle schools, coupled with a BBA (Hons) with a minor in Educational Psychology from Curtin University (Australia) . In his free time, he cherishes quality moments with his family, reveling in the joys and challenges of parenthood. His three daughters have not only enriched his personal life but also deepened his understanding of the importance of effective education and communication, spurring him to make a meaningful impact in the world of education.

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Team-building games with no materials, team-building games with no materials help improve communication, interpersonal relationships,  critical thinking & problem-solving skills..

If you need to perform team-building but simply lack the time to prep for it, no need to worry because there are certain activities designed to be played even without any materials.

What’s great about these games is that they can serve as effective ice-breakers just to get the whole session started or simply to get everyone acquainted. These activities are quick and easy, fun, and are sure to get everybody working together in no time.

Essential Characteristics of Team-Building Games With No Materials

All successful team-building activities of this type have the following characteristics:

• Simple and easy to understand instructions
• Create opportunities for leadership roles
• Can be played without any prep time
• Require no special equipment
• Inspire creativity and innovation

These team-building games and activities are educational in the sense that participants are taught how to solve problems by being in a group, how each individual thinks, and how a properly functioning team can overcome any obstacle.

Other common factors of these team-building activities are the need for proper communication among the participants and trust that everyone will be doing their best to complete the tasks.

However, if you do have the time to prepare and get some materials, there are other team-building activities that can help you achieve the same results.

Team-Building Games With No Materials Ideas

The links below provide instructions to a range of interactive team-building games with no materials which are drawn from playmeo’s ever-expanding and comprehensive activity database .

Enjoy browsing to your heart’s content.

If you’re not yet a playmeo member, join today to unlock hundreds more group games and activities just like these.

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12 Team Building Games Without Materials (ZERO Cost)

Looking to Drive Your Team to Next Level Results?

This book was written to help leaders like you navigate the potholes to team engagement and epic results . All I'm asking for is your name and email address so that we can connect in the future.

Meet you on the other side!

-Bob Winchester, Chief Team Advocate

When it comes to creating a friendly and team-originated environment, team-building exercises are a fantastic way to do just that. Having a group of people sit down and play a few games together allows them to better grasp who their teammates are and give them mutual experiences to bond over.

The 12 best free team building games without any materials needed are:

• Group story
• Late for work
• Tea or coffee
• Scavenger hunt
• The ABC game
• Heads up seven up
• Never have I ever
• Two truths and a lie
• Animal sounds
• Wink murder

In the rest of this article, I will go over the 12 best team-building exercises for which you will not need a single item to play. Be sure to keep reading for a detailed guide on playing each of these fun, free team-building activities.

1. Group Story

One of the most fun yet straightforward ways to help your team grow together is to play Group Story. This game focuses on adding to your teammate’s stories and is a great way to understand how everyone’s minds work.

How to play group story:

• Have everyone gather in a circle or semicircle. This will help everyone to have a clear view of each other as they help add to the group’s tale.
• Have the person who is running the exercises select a story topic. Any topic from “lost at sea” or “the worst day ever” will work fine. The more creative you are, the more fun it will be for the group.
• Have the exercise runner begin the story using a couple of sentences. Then pass the story on to another person in the circle. Each person should do their best to help progress the story to reach the end.
• Have each person add a few sentences to the story. You can track this by giving a certain number of sentences that must be added to the story or simply having each person stop when they feel they have sufficiently added to the story.
• The last person in the circle is in charge of ending the story. Be sure to let the last person know that it will be their job to develop a funny or satisfying end to the group’s story, so they have time to think as the story progresses.

This game is straightforward yet fun as long as everyone is a good sport and participates. The best part about Group Story is that it will be so unique and funny each time it’s played.

2. Charades

A pretty well-known group game is Charades. Charades can be easily modified to be played without any materials, and this tried and true game is sure to be a hit. Additionally, most people already know how to play.

How to play charades as a group building exercise:

• Split the group into teams. How many teams you choose will be dependent on how large the group is and how well you feel you can manage the groups. Two larger groups can actually be quite fun so long as you can hear everyone’s guesses.
• Have each team take turns acting out and guessing a word. The person running the game will assign each group their word for the round and keep track of the team’s points.

As I previously said, this is an easy and fun way to get everyone excited and working together. Not to mention it’s a fun way to bring out everyone’s competitive sides.

3. The Human Knot

A more physically taxing team-building exercise is the human knot. This game is meant to bring a group closer together as they will undoubtedly be up close with all of the participants as they aim to escape the entanglement of human limbs.

How to play the human knot:

• Have your group form a circle. Everyone should be facing the center of the circle.
• Have everyone reach one hand into the circle to grab someone else’s hand with their own. No one should grab the hands of anyone directly beside them, or it will ruin the game. So be sure to remind everyone to grab the hand of a farther away group member.
• Have everyone reach into the circle with their remaining hand and grab someone else’s hand. Doing each hand one at a time ensures a more complicated knot for the team to figure out.
• Instruct the team to maneuver around one another to undo the knot. It’s essential that the players understand that their hands should never let go of the ones they are holding. You must undo the knot without letting go.

Once your group has successfully untangled themselves, the game is complete! This is such a fun experience and it can be done without any outside materials. However, all the participants must be showered and smell fresh as they will be up close and personal with others.

4. Late For Work

Another super fun team-building game that not many know about is the game called Late For Work. Similar to Group Story, Late For Work is about improvising a funny story. However, this particular game calls for a bit more involvement.

How to play late for work:

• Set a space that will be the stage for the improv game. You should have the “stage” be somewhere everyone will have a clear view of what’s going on.
• Select an employee to pretend to rush into their job late. It’s the employee’s job to develop a fun outlandish excuse as to why they are late for work and to continue explaining until the game runner calls to pause. This person will temporarily leave the room once they are selected.
• Have the remaining group members sit down in a line to watch the story unfold. Each person will get a chance to play either as the boss or employee at some point during the game.
• Have everyone vote on a location for the story. The place of business can be a pizza shop, car dealership, or whatever other fun creation the group comes up with. The workplace will switch each time the boss and employee do.
• Select someone to be the boss (preferably someone who knows the rules well). It’s this person’s job to ask the selected employee why they are late for work and wait for an explanation. The boss can have as much fun as they want to be a grumpy boss and is encouraged to ask the employee questions as they explain.
• Ask the selected “employee” to reenter the room. The employee comes back into the room to explain to the “boss” why they are late to work. 
• Have the characters switch out and begin again. This will allow everyone to be creative and get silly with the outlandish reasons they are late for their job. The game ends when everyone has had a chance on the stage.

With the right group, this game can go on for hours and will leave the group with lots of silly inside jokes to revisit for years to come.

5. Tea or Coffee

Another straightforward team-building game is Tea or Coffee. This game is so easy and is the perfect lead-in game for other more involved team-building activities.

How to play tea or coffee:

• Have everyone sit in a circle. The goal is for everyone to be able to see one another as they speak.
• Go around the circle and ask the group if they prefer tea or coffee. Each person should be given time to respond and elaborate on how they take their tea or coffee.

The goal of this game is to learn some small yet essential details about the group and to break the ice as you start to play more involved games together.

6. Scavenger Hunt

Another fun yet simple team-building game is to have an impromptu scavenger hunt in whatever space you are in. The game runner should quickly make a list of items throughout the space for the teams to find before starting the game.

How to have an impromptu scavenger hunt:

• Split the group into two teams. This will help create some level of competition and motivate the teams to find the items faster than the other team.
• Give each team their list of scavenger hunt items. The items should be relatively the same difficulty to find for both teams.
• Set the teams loose to find their objects. After the teams start the fun, madness will ensue as both teams frantically search through the space for their items.

Having a scavenger hunt is excellent since it’s simple for everyone to participate in and can be done with very little preparation for the game.

7. The ABC Game

Another entertaining game is the ABC game ! This game is typically played in a moving vehicle, but it can be just as easily played in an office, strip mall, or any heavily signed place.

The game’s goal is for the teams to reach the last letter of the alphabet using only letters from signs or license plates.

If you opt to play the game inside, you will want to rule that you cannot get more than one letter off of a single document or posted paper; otherwise, the game will go too quickly.

How to play the ABC game:

• Split the group into two teams or more. Each group should be even and not have too many members, or it will be too easy for the groups.
• Have the groups start finding all of the letters of the alphabet. The first group to the letter z wins the game.

This game can be a lot of fun but also goes by very quickly. To combat this, you can play the game a few times, loop the alphabet stating that you must get to z twice each time, or you can play multiple times and even change up the teams.

8. Heads Up Seven Up

A childhood favorite, heads up seven up will never cease to be a fun way to get everyone comfortable and working together. The game’s premise is simple and makes it an excellent icebreaker game to start with.

How to play heads up seven up:

• Have everyone close their eyes and put their heads down with their thumbs up. Ideally, this is done by placing one’s head on a desk, but you can have your group simply close their eyes and look down.
• Select seven people to walk around during the game and touch one person’s thumb each. Each chooser will get the chance to tap one person’s thumb, so they should be quiet so as not to clue their chosen person to their identity.
• Once all seven of the people have tapped someone’s thumb, have the people who have been tapped stand up and guess who it was. They only get one guess as to who touched their thumb. If they guess correctly, they will be one of the seven next rounds.

Though the game is undoubtedly a bit juvenile, it’s still a fun way to help everyone get connected and to aid in remembering teammates’ names. Note that you can also play this game with less than seven choosers, heads up four up doesn’t sound as catchy but will still be just as fun!

9. Never Have I Ever

A fun modern team-building game is Never Have I Ever. This game helps the teams to get to know each other better and is a great way to learn about the experience of everyone on the team.

How to play Never Have I Ever:

• Have everyone sit in a circle or at least where they can see one another. This will help teammates to better remember facts about their group later down the road.
• Have everyone hold up ten fingers. The last person with fingers up in the game wins. 
• Go around the circle and have everyone state something they have never done. For example, “Never have I ever been out of the country.” The goal is to get others out with things you have never done, but you know others have.
• The players who have done this thing must put a finger down. When you run out of fingers, you’re out and must now watch the game.

This is probably one of the best games you could play in order to get your team better acquainted with one another. 

10. Two Truths and a Lie

A similar fun game that can be played to help build teamwork is Two Truths and a Lie. This game will also help the team members to get to know each other and to have fun doing so.

How to play two truths and a lie:

• Everyone is to think of two truths about themselves and one lie. The goal is for people to not be able to distinguish the lie from the truth.
• Each person will take a turn sharing their two truths and lie while the others guess which one is the lie. After everyone is done guessing, the person who spoke will tell everyone who was right.

What truly makes this game a fun team-building exercise is all the fun and bizarre facts everyone gets to learn about one another.

11. Animals Sounds

A great game to get everyone to leave their egos at the door and to have fun with one another is the game Animal Sounds. This game is a little childish but can leave your group in tears of laughter.

How to play animal sounds:

• Have everyone stand in a circle with one person in the center. The circle will need to be wide enough for everyone to switch places throughout the game if they desire.
• Have the person in the center spin with their finger pointed outward. When the center person stops spinning, whoever the finger is pointed at must make the requested animal noise.
• The center person will ask the selected player to make a particular animal sound, and the player must oblige. The sound doesn’t have to be accurate, and the less accurate it is, the funnier the game becomes.
• The middle player then guesses who made the animal sound, and if they’re correct, that person now takes the middle slot. If they’re incorrect, they stay in the middle until they guess correctly.

As you can see, this is a great game to get everyone feeling silly and comfortable with one another. Plus, you will learn about who makes an excellent elephant impression and what exactly John thinks an aardvark sounds like.

12. Wink Murder

Last but not least, Wink Murder is a fun game for all and is an excellent team-building game to help everyone get to know each other and feel comfortable.

How to play wink murder:

• Everyone stands in a circle with a person at the center. Everyone should be facing the center player and do their best to have a good view of the other players.
• One person is selected as the “murderer” and will wink at other players when making eye contact. Once a player has seen a wink, they must dramatically scream and fall to the ground dead.
• The person at the center’s job is to catch the murderer. They do this by guessing who they think is killing the other players, but they only get three guesses. If they guess correctly, the murderer becomes the center player for the next round. If they guess incorrectly all three times, they stay in the center. 

The game is pretty simple, yet fun as everyone does their best to fool the person in the center and die in funny, dramatic ways.

• Team building kits: 5 Best Team Building Games Without Materials
• Workzone: 22 Top Team Building Games That People Will Actually Want To Do
• Teambuilding: Team Building Games for the Office: 35 BEST in 2022
• Planday from Xero: 100 Team Building Activities That Actually Work
• Instructables Living: How to Play the ABC Game On A Road Trip
• Merriam Webster Dictionary: Scavenger Hunt Definition

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• 45 team building games to improve commu ...

45 team building games to improve communication and camaraderie

Team building games bring everyone together without the added pressure of work. Here, we’ve listed 45 of the top team building activities broken down by icebreaker, problem solving, indoor, and outdoor games.

As Ashley Frabasilio, Employee Engagement Manager at Asana puts it, “Creating a shared experience for teams to build relationships is one of the best ways to increase trust and encourage collaboration."

Whether you’re looking for indoor or outdoor activities, quick icebreaker games, or activities to bond with your remote team members, we compiled a list of over 45 team building games that you’ll actually enjoy. 

How to make team building inclusive

Teams with an inclusive culture tend to be more transparent, supportive, and happy because everyone feels accepted. It’s essential to make any team activity feel productive and enjoyable for the entire group, regardless of personalities or skill sets. Whether you’re working on building an inclusive remote culture or want in-person teams to feel more comfortable together, consider the following for an inclusive team building experience:

Inclusive team building means including everyone. Depending on the type of team building activity, you may benefit from hiring an outside expert to facilitate a team building event that everyone can participate in. Plus, the activity may feel more authentic because a professional is guiding you.

If you have introverts on the team, they may not be as excited about an exercise that involves lots of social interaction and do better in small groups. 

Teammates with speech, sight, or hearing impairments may feel left out during a game that involves blindfolding players and communicating without looking at each other.

Physically active games could exclude physically impaired teammates. 

Before choosing one of the team building games from this list, take stock of everyone's abilities. Find an activity that everyone on your team can participate in. Maybe even send out an anonymous poll to see what kinds of activities your team would be willing to partake in. Ultimately, the best team building activity will be the one that everyone can enjoy.

Team icebreaker games

Icebreaker questions and activities are the perfect “getting to know you” games but they’re also fun to play with teammates you’ve known for a long time. You can play them to get everyone up to speed for a meeting (especially on those 8am calls) or use them to introduce new team members.

1. Two truths, one lie

Team size : 3+ people

Time : 2–3 minutes per person

How to play : Ask everyone in the group to come up with two facts about themselves and one lie. The more memorable the facts (e.g., I went skydiving in Costa Rica) and the more believable the lies (e.g., I have two dogs), the more fun the game will be! Then, ask each team member to present their three statements and have the group vote on which one they think is the lie.

Why this exercise is great : This game is perfect for groups who don’t know each other well yet. The details you share can be used as building blocks for late conversations (“What else did you do in Costa Rica?”) to give you a better idea of who you’re working with.

2. Penny for your thoughts

Team size : 5+ people

How to play : You’ll need a box full of pennies (or other coins) with years only as old as your youngest team member (not the time to brag about your 1937 collector’s penny). Ask every team member to draw a coin from the box and share a story, memory, or otherwise significant thing that happened to them that year. This can be anything from learning how to ride a bike to landing your first job.    

Why this exercise is great : This is a fun twist on a stress-free and simple icebreaker that gives everyone the chance to share a personal story with their team. You can play multiple rounds if the stories are on the shorter side or let team members elaborate on their stories to gain deeper insight into their lives.

3. Mood pictures

How to play : Prepare a variety of images before you play. You can collect newspaper clippings, magazine cutouts, postcards, and posters or print out different images from the internet (Pinterest is a great spot). The images should show landscapes, cities, people, shapes, or animals in a variety of colors and perspectives.

Lay all the images out and ask team members to each pick one that resonates with their current mood. Once everyone has picked an image, ask them to share what they resonated with, how it makes them feel, and why they picked it.

Why this exercise is great : This exercise is a great way to get a meeting or a workshop started because it allows you to get a feel of the room in a creative and unexpected way. You don’t always have to ask your team to pick an image that reflects their mood—it can also be their expectations for a workshop, their feelings about a current project, or how they hope to feel at the end of the day. As they say, a picture’s worth a thousand words, so this exercise makes talking about feelings easier for a lot of people.

4. One word exercise

Time : 5–10 minutes 

How to play : Pick a phrase related to the meeting topic and ask everyone to write down one word that comes to mind on a post-it. Then, gather these words on a whiteboard or put them in a presentation. For example, if you’re hosting a meeting about your annual holiday event. Everyone would take a moment to respond with the first word that comes in their head. If the team is responding with words like stress or exhaustion, you might want to rethink your process.

Why this exercise is great : This is a way to collect opinions, thoughts, or feelings about a meeting that’s well within most people’s comfort zone. You’ll have the chance to read the room before diving into the topic and may uncover some concerns or questions to focus on, which will make the meeting more beneficial to everyone.

5. Back-to-back drawing

Team siz e: 4+ people 

Time : 5–10 minutes

How to play : Split your team into groups of two and make them sit back to back. Hand one person a pen and piece of paper and show the other person a picture of something that’s fairly simple to draw (e.g., a car, a flower, a house). This person now has to describe the picture to their teammate without actually saying what the item is so they can draw it. They’re allowed to describe shapes, sizes, and textures but can’t say, “Draw a lily.” Once the blind drawing is finished, compare it with the original to see how well you communicated.

Why this exercise is great : This activity is a fun way to polish your communication skills, especially your listening skills. It also gives your team a chance to get creative and innovative by thinking outside the box to describe the image to their teammate.

6. Birthday line up

Team size : 8+ people

Time : 10–15 minutes

How to play : Ask your entire team to form a line in order of their birthdays without talking to each other. You can encourage other forms of communication like sign language, gestures, or nudges. If you want to add a little bit of pressure and excitement to the exercise, add a time limit! 

Why this exercise is great : Besides learning everyone’s birthday (which can always come in handy as a conversation starter later on), this exercise encourages your team to learn to communicate towards a common goal without using words. Although this can be a challenge and get frustrating, this exercise promotes problem framing skills, cooperation, and non-verbal communication skills.

7. Charades

Team size : 8–10 people

Time : 10–25 minutes

How to play : Divide your team into groups of four or five people. The person who goes first is given or shown a random object (e.g., printer, stapler, keyboard) in private. They then have to demonstrate how to use the object without actually showing it in front of their team. Their team gets 30 seconds on the clock to shout out the correct word (you can adjust the time depending on the difficulty of the objects).

Then it’s the other team’s turn. You’ll keep playing until every team member has had the chance to demonstrate an object to their team. 

Why this exercise is great : This classic game is a nice way to break up a mentally taxing day and get your team to do a creative exercise that isn’t work-related.

8. Swift swap

Team size : 10–20 people

How to play :  Split your team into two groups and line them up facing each other. Team A gets a quick observation period (15–30 seconds) in which group members have to memorize as many things about the people in front of them as possible. Then team A turns around while team B changes as many things about their appearance as possible. 

Anything from changing the line up order to swapping shoes with someone or changing your hairdo is fair game. After about 45 seconds, team A turns back around and gets 5–10 minutes to find out what’s changed. You can adjust the time depending on the size of your group.

Why this exercise is great : This game is a great way to break up a long day and take everyone’s minds off work for a little while. Your team also gets to practice time-sensitive non-verbal communication during the swapping phase.

9. Code of conduct

Time : 20–30 minutes

How to play : This game is a great way to tune into a new project or workshop. Write the two categories “meaningful” and “enjoyable” on a whiteboard and ask the group to share what they believe is needed to accomplish these two things for your project or workshop. This can be anything from “regular breaks'' to “transparency and honesty,” which could fall under either category.

Everyone will choose ideas that they agree are both meaningful and enjoyable . Record these values in a shared tool to establish the code of conduct for your upcoming project or workshop. This list will function as a reminder for the team to uphold these values.

Why this exercise is great : Whether it’s the first day of a workshop, the beginning of a new project, or simply a Monday morning, this exercise is great to get everyone on your team on the same page. By establishing group norms and values early on and holding everyone accountable with a written code of conduct, you can create a sense of cohesiveness. If you’d like to do this exercise virtually, use our team brainstorming template to collect everyone’s thoughts.

10. Common thread

Team size : 10+ people

Time : 30 minutes

How to play : Divide your team into groups of three to five people. Then ask your team to find things everyone in their group has in common. This can be a favorite TV show, an ice cream flavor nobody likes, or a common hobby. Encourage your teammates to find common threads that aren’t too superficial or obvious. The more things they can find that everyone in the group has in common, the better! If you have the time, bring everyone together afterward and ask the teams to share their experiences.

Why this exercise is great : This fun game allows your team to find commonalities that they may not get a chance to discover otherwise. It’s also a great way to reunite teams that feel a bit divided. Talking about shared likes and dislikes can be helpful to reconnect you with teammates.

Remote or virtual team building games

Bonding with your teammates can be more difficult when you’re working remotely. Remote or virtual team building games can improve remote collaboration , motivate teams , and create a sense of community even though you’re physically apart. You can use Zoom to connect with your teammates or do quick team building exercises via your remote work software during the day.

If your team is located across multiple time zones, you may have to get creative with scheduling. Ashley Frabasilio, Employee Engagement Manager at Asana encourages leaders to schedule these activities during normal work hours. Ensure that the activity is appropriate for all participants in all time zones so no one feels excluded. Using work hours for these exercises can also increase the participation rate because you’re not interfering with personal time.

11. Show and tell  

How to play : Ask everyone in your team to bring something they’re proud of or that brings them joy to your next meeting. This can be anything from a pet to a plant, a painting they did, or a certificate they received. Everyone gets two to three minutes to show off their item and answer questions from the team if they have any.

Why this exercise is great : Show and tell isn’t just fun for kids, it’s also a great way to connect with your team. You’re probably going to learn something new about your teammates and may get a couple of conversation starters for your next meeting from this game.

12. Photo caption contest 

How to play : Collect a few funny photos—for example a few memes that have recently been circling the internet. Send these to your team before the meeting and ask everyone to submit their best photo caption for each image. You can put these together in a quick presentation and present them to your team during the call. You can have a good laugh together and even vote for the best captions.

Why this exercise is great : This exercise is a fun way to get creative as a team and have a good laugh together.

13. Morning coffee 

Time : 15–30 minutes

How to play : Schedule regular coffee calls for your remote team to give everyone a chance to get to know each other like they would in an office setting. You can schedule team calls with four to five people or randomly assign two people to each other that switch every time. You can offer these casual calls once a week, bi-weekly, or once a month, depending on your team size and the interest in this opportunity. 

Why this exercise is great : Remote teams don’t often get a chance to just chit-chat and get to know each other without talking about work or feeling like they’re wasting meeting time. By designating 15–30 minutes on a regular basis to a casual call, your team members will have a chance to bond with people they might not typically interact with.

14. Lunch and learn

How to play : Hold a weekly or monthly “lunch and learn” where one team member presents a topic to the whole team during their lunch break. This presentation can be on a tool everyone uses at work, on a lesson learned from a recent project, or even on a book they read that everyone can learn from. 

Why this exercise is great : These events are a great opportunity for your team to connect in a more casual yet educational setting. If your team budget allows, send restaurant gift cards to your team members so they can order lunch for the call.

15. Online group game  

Time : 30–60 minutes

How to play : Invite your team to play a game online together. This can be an actual video game if everyone happens to use the same console at home or you can download an interactive game (like Jackbox ) which you can screen share with the rest of the group. 

Why this exercise is great : Playing a video game or an interactive game that has nothing to do with work can be a fun way to switch things up, create a more casual work environment, and get to know each other better. It will also give people with great sportsmanship a chance to shine!

16. Trivia games 

Team size : 6–20 people

Time : 30–90 minutes

How to play : Start a meeting with a quick game of trivia or host a regular virtual trivia night at the end of the work day. You can play a game of office trivia (e.g., facts about the company) or pick random other themes like TV shows, music, or national parks. To mix things up, ask other team members to host trivia night.

Why this exercise is great : Whether you’re making the trivia game office-themed or creating a regular team activity that takes everyone’s minds off of work, you’ll get to spend time with your team playing a competitive, educational, and entertaining game that gives everyone a chance to bond.

17. Quarterly challenge  

Time : One month

How to play : Create an optional challenge for your team to participate in. The challenge can be centered around healthy eating, meditation, journaling, or reading. Create a chat or thread where your teammates can exchange their experiences, wins, and questions to keep each other motivated and accountable throughout the month. 

Make sure your team knows that participation is optional. It never hurts to ask for feedback to spark future team challenge ideas.

Why this exercise is great : Creating a challenge like this for your team shows them that you care about their work-life balance. By offering a quarterly challenge, you provide your team with the opportunity to share an experience together. Plus, it’s always easier to complete a challenge when you have a team who supports you and an incentive to work toward.  

18. Personality test  

How to play : Send a personality test to your team and ask everyone to share their results in a chat or during your next team meeting. This can be a formal test like the Enneagram or StrengthsFinder . For something more lighthearted, you can send a fun quiz like the Sorting Hat to find out which Hogwarts house you belong in or a Buzzfeed quiz (e.g., “ What Kitchen Appliance Are You? ”).

Why this exercise is great : Depending on the type of quiz your team takes, this can become a funny icebreaker before you start a meeting or turn into a discussion on your team’s combined strengths and challenges. 

Problem solving games

Playing problem solving games with your team helps them level up their teamwork skills, resolve issues, achieve goals, and excel together. Whether you’re using new brainstorming techniques or going out for a team adventure, these fun team building activities are the perfect way to improve your team's problem solving skills.

19. Your first idea

Team size : 5–12 people

Time : 10–20 minutes

How to play : Ask everyone in your team to write down the first idea that pops into their head when they’re presented with the problem. Compile the list and review it as a team.

A fun twist on this game is to ask everyone to write down their worst idea. After reviewing with the team, you may realize that some ideas aren’t that bad after all. You can play this game with a real-life problem, a fictional one, or when you’re brainstorming new ideas to pitch.

Why this exercise is great : We often get too much into our heads about problems and solutions. By writing down the first solution that comes to mind, we can uncover new perspectives and fixes.

20. Back of the napkin

Team size : 6–24 people

Time : 15–20 minutes

How to play : Divide your team into groups of two to four and present them with a variety of open-ended problems. These can be work-related, imaginary, or even environmental problems. Every team gets a napkin and pen that they have to sketch or write their solution on after they’ve discussed the issue as a group. These will then be presented to the rest of the team.

Why this exercise is great : Some of the best ideas have allegedly been recorded on napkins (hey, when creativity strikes you’ll write on anything). This game imitates this scenario while challenging your team to collaborate on solving a creative problem.

21. Create your own

How to play : Each team member will create an original problem-solving activity on their own and present it to the group. Whether this entails a physical, mental, or creative challenge is up to your team. If you have the time, play some of the games afterward!

Why this exercise is great : Coming up with your own games is fun and a real creative challenge. It also allows your team members to showcase their strengths by creating challenges they’ll be prepared to tackle.

22. Spectrum mapping

Team size : 5–15 people

How to play : Present your team with a few topics that you’d like their opinions and insight on. Write them down on a whiteboard and give everyone sticky notes and pens. Ask them to write down their thoughts and pin them on the whiteboard underneath the respective topic.

Now arrange the sticky notes as a team. Try to group similar ideas together to the left of the topic and post outliers toward the right side. This will create a spectrum of popular thoughts and opinions on the left and more extreme ideas on the right.

Why this exercise is great : This game will help you map out the diversity of perspectives your team has on different topics. Remember that unpopular opinions don’t have to be wrong. Embracing this diversity can help you uncover new perspectives and innovative ideas to solve problems you’re facing as a team. 

23. What would “X” do? 

Team size : 5–10 people

Time : 45–60 minutes

How to play : Present your team with a problem and ask everyone to come up with a famous person or leader they admire. This can be a celebrity, a business person, or a relative. Challenge your teammates to approach the problem as if they were that person and present their solution (extra points for playing in character).

Why this exercise is great : Getting stuck in your own head can often keep you from solving a problem efficiently and effectively. By stepping into the shoes of someone else, you may uncover new solutions. Plus, it’s fun pretending to be someone else for a little while!

24. Team pursuit

Time : 1–3 hours

How to play : Form groups of two to six people that will compete against one another in a series of challenges. You can buy a team pursuit package online or create your own game, which will take a good amount of prep time. 

You’ll want to create a set of challenges for your team: cerebral challenges that test logic and intelligence, skill challenges like aptitude tests, and mystery challenges which usually ask for creativity and out-of-the-box thinking (e.g., come up with a unique handshake, take a fun picture, etc.).  

Why this exercise is great : A solid game of team pursuit will create a fun challenge that gives everyone a chance to shine and show off their talents. Whether you’re a good runner, a quick thinker, or a creative mind, everyone will be able to contribute to the success of the team. This game will bring your team closer together and show them new sides of their teammates that they may not have been aware of.

25. Code break

Team size : 8–24 people

How to play : This brain teaser is a fun activity that you can play indoors or outdoors to challenge your team. Outback Team Building offers self-hosted, remote-hosted, and on-site hosted events that include several codes your teammates have to find and break to make it through the course.

Why this exercise is great : This challenge requires creative thinking, creates a competitive environment, and works with large groups because you can break off into smaller groups.

26. Escape room

Time : 2–3 hours

How to play : Visiting an escape room is always a unique experience and a great way to spend an afternoon with your team. If you have multiple escape rooms nearby, ask your team if they have a general idea of what theme they’d like to explore (e.g., history, horror, sci-fi) and try to pick something you’ll think everyone will enjoy.

If you’re super creative and have the time and resources, you can put together an escape room on your own!

Why this exercise is great : Solving the mysteries of an escape room with your team will reveal the strengths and weaknesses of your teammates, foster communication and collaboration, build trust, and become a shared memory that connects you together.

Indoor team building games

Most of these indoor games can be played in an office, conference room, or a hallway with a small team, but you may need a bit more space if you’re inviting a larger group to join in.

27. Perfect square

Team size : 4–12 people

How to play : Divide your team into groups of four to six and ask them to stand in a tight circle with their group. Ask everyone to blindfold themselves or close their eyes and give one person a rope. Without looking at what they're doing, the teams now have to pass the rope around so everyone holds a piece of it and then form a perfect square. Once the team is sure their square is perfect, they can lay the rope down on the floor, take off their blindfolds (or open their eyes) and see how well they did. 

Why this exercise is great : This game is about more than perfect geometric shapes, it’s an amazing listening and communication exercise. Because no one can see what they're doing, your team members have to communicate clearly while figuring out how to create a square out of a rope. Besides, it’s often really funny to see how imperfect the squares come out.

28. Memory wall

How to play : You’ll need a whiteboard and sticky notes for this game. Write different work-related themes on the whiteboard such as “first day at work,” “team celebration,” and “work travel.” Hand each teammate a few sticky notes and ask them to write down their favorite memories or accomplishments associated with one or more of these themes. Invite everyone to share these with the team to take a walk down memory lane and post the notes on the whiteboard as you go.

Why this exercise is great : This is a nice way to end a week, long day, or workshop because you’ll share positive experiences with one another that will leave your teammates smiling. If you’re finishing up a work trip or multi-day workshop, you can also do a slimmed-down version of this by asking everyone to share their favorite memory or biggest accomplishment of the last few days.

29. Turn back time  

How to play : This team building exercise works best in a quiet atmosphere with everyone sitting in a circle. Ask your team to silently think of a unique memory in their lives. You can give them a few minutes to collect their thoughts. Then, ask everyone to share the one memory they’d like to relive if they could turn back time.

Not everyone may be comfortable opening up at first, so be sure to lead with vulnerability and make everyone in the room feel safe about sharing their moment.

Why this exercise is great : This exercise is a great way to help your team members remember their priorities and bond on a deeper level. In a team that’s facing disconnection or stress, sharing personal highlights that aren’t work-related can help create a sense of togetherness. Although the exercise doesn’t take too long, it’s best to do it toward the end of the day so your team has a chance to reflect on what’s been said.

30. Paper plane  

Team size : 6–12 people

How to play : Split your team into groups of two to four and hand out card stock. Give each team 10–15 minutes to come up with the best long-distance paper plane design (they’re allowed to do research on their phones or computers) and a name for their airline.

When the paper planes are done, have a competition in a long hallway or outside to see which plane flies the farthest. 

Why this exercise is great : This exercise requires team members to collaborate on a project with a tight timeline. It is a great activity to practice communication skills, delegation, and time management.

31. Build a tower

Team size : 8–16 people

How to play : Divide your team into groups of four or five and provide them with 20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. Challenge each team to build the tallest tower possible using only the supplies you gave them. When finished, the tower has to support the marshmallow sitting on top. Set the timer for 20 minutes and ask everyone to step away from their masterpiece when it runs out so you can crown a winner.

Why this exercise is great : This challenge is a great way to improve problem solving skills and communication within your team. Your team members will have to prototype, build, and present the tower in a short amount of time, which can be stressful. The better they work together, the more likely they are to succeed.

32. Flip it over

Team size : 6–8 people

How to play : Lay a towel, blanket, or sheet on the floor and ask your teammates to stand on it. The goal is to flip the piece over without ever stepping off of it or touching the ground outside of the fabric. You can make the challenge more difficult by adding more people to the team or using a smaller sheet.

Why this exercise is great : This exercise requires clear communication, cooperation, and a good sense of humor. It’s a great way to find out how well your teammates cooperate when presented with an oddly difficult task.

33. Sneak a peek 

Team size : 4–20 people

How to play : Create a structure out of Lego pieces and hide it in a separate room. Divide your team into groups of two to four people and give them enough Legos to replicate the structure in 30 minutes or less.

One player per team is allowed to sneak a peek at the original structure for 15 seconds, then run back and describe it to their team. The person who gets to sneak a peek rotates so everyone gets to see the original at some point during the game. The team that first completes the structure as close to the original wins! 

Why this exercise is great : During this game your team gets to focus on teamwork and communication. Since only one person at a time is allowed to look at the original, team members may see and describe different things. The more complex the structure is, the harder this game will be.

34. Pyramids

How to play : Pick a large open area for this game like a hallway, a meeting room, or the cafeteria. Divide your team into groups of four to six and give each team 10 paper cups. Ask the teams to stand in a line with about 8–10 feet between the team members. Now it’s a race against time!

The first person in each line has to build a pyramid with four cups at the base. Once they’re done, the second player has to help them carry the pyramid to their station (this can be on the floor or at a table). They can slide it on the floor or carry it together but if the pyramid falls apart, the players have to reassemble it on the spot before continuing their journey. At the next station, the second player has to topple the pyramid and rebuild it before the third player gets to help them carry it to the next station. This continues until the pyramid reaches the last station. The team that finishes first wins the game

Why this exercise is great : This game is fun to play during a mid-day break, fosters communication skills, and promotes teamwork.

35. Shipwrecked

Team size : 8–25 people

How to play : The premise of the game is that you’re stranded on a deserted island and only have 25 minutes to secure survival items off the sinking ship. Place items like water bottles, matches, food, etc., in the “shipwreck area.” You can also print pictures on index cards to make things a bit easier. The quantity of each item should be limited, with some items having more than others (e.g., more water than food, fewer tarps than teams, more knives than ropes, etc.).

Divide your team into groups of two (or more if it’s a large team). Once the clock starts, they have to gather as many items as they deem worthy from the shipwreck and rank them in order of importance. Since the items are limited (some more than others), the teams will not only have to prioritize the items within their own group of people but also negotiate, trade, and exchange items with other teams. 

Why this exercise is great : This game will challenge problem-solving abilities, encourage collaboration, and enable your team to flex their leadership skills. Typically, teams with strong leadership qualities will have the most success in making these quick decisions.

36. Team flag

Time : 30–45 minutes

How to play : Divide your team into groups of two to four people and provide them with paper and pens. Each group now has to come up with an emblem or flag that represents their team. Once everyone has completed their masterpiece, they have to present it to the rest of the teams, explaining how they came up with the design. This exercise is also a great opportunity to discuss how each group identified their common values and created alignment during the design process.

Why this exercise is great : This is a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Your team will not only have to come up with a unique design that represents their collective identity but they’ll also have to collaborate on putting pen to paper and presenting their flag or emblem at the end of the game.

37. Salt and pepper  

How to play : You’ll need a list of things that go well together like salt and pepper, left sock and right sock, day and night, peanut butter and jelly, or yin and yang. Write these words on individual pieces of paper and tape one sheet of paper on every team member's back. 

Ask your team to mingle and find out what’s written on their back by asking questions that can only be answered with yes or no (e.g., “Am I sweet? Do you wear me? Am I cold?”). Once the participants find out who they are, they have to find their match!

Why this exercise is great : Your team can use this game to bond with one another and improve their communication skills. If you have a large team, this exercise also gives them a chance to interact with people they may not usually get to talk to.

38. Sell it

Time : 45–90 minutes

How to play : Ask your teammates to each bring a random object to the meeting. Everyone then has to come up with a logo, slogan, and marketing plan to sell this object. After 30 minutes, each team member has to present their new product to the rest of the team. If you have a larger team, divide them into groups of 2–4 people and ask them to collaborate on their product pitch.

Why this exercise is great : This game is great to switch things up if you don’t already work in marketing or sales. It’s also fun to play with others as it allows your team to get creative and have fun with everyday objects.

39. The barter puzzle

Time : 1–2 hours

How to play : Divide your team into groups of three or four people and give each a different jigsaw puzzle of the same difficulty level. Ask them to complete the puzzle as a team. The twist: each puzzle is missing a few pieces that are mixed in with an opposing team’s puzzle. The teams have to figure out ways to get the pieces they need from the other teams by negotiating, trading pieces, or even exchanging teammates. Every decision has to be made as a team. The first team to complete their puzzle wins.

Why this exercise is great : Every decision made will have to be a group decision which challenges your team to improve their problem solving skills.  

Outdoor team building exercises

If you want to get a larger group together for a team building exercise, why not take things outside? Outdoor team building is also a great way to get your teammates to interact without the distractions of screens or smartphones. Whether you want to catch a breath of fresh air or get some sunshine together, these exercises will help you bond with your teammates outside of the office.

40. The minefield

Team size : 4–10 people

How to play : Create a minefield in a parking lot or another large, open space by sporadically placing objects like papers, balls, cones, and bottles. Split your team into groups of two and ask one person to put on a blindfold. The other person now has to guide the blindfolded teammate through the minefield only using their words. The blindfolded person is not allowed to talk and will be eliminated if they stop walking or step on anything in the minefield. 

The objective of the game is to make it to the other side of the minefield. The teams can then switch so another person will be blindfolded and guided through the field on their way back. You can also distribute pieces the blindfolded person has to pick up on their way through the field to add another difficulty level.

Why this exercise is great : This game is not just a trust exercise for your teammates but also a fun way to practice active listening skills and clear communication.

41. Earth-ball  

Team size : 5–20 people

Time : 15–45 minutes

How to play : You’ll need a balloon, beach ball, or volleyball for this activity. Ask your team to stand in a circle and keep the balloon or ball in the air for as long as possible. To make it a real challenge, no one can touch the ball twice in a row. The bigger your team, the more fun this game will be!

Why this exercise is great : This fun challenge is a great way to get your team moving. If you’re struggling to keep the ball up for longer, try to come up with a strategy to improve your time.

42. Scavenger hunt

How to play : Put together a scavenger hunt for your team. This can be in the form of a list of photographs they have to take (e.g., something red, all teammates in front of the company logo, the CEO’s car, etc.), items they have to collect (e.g., company brochure, yellow sticky note with manager’s signature on it, ketchup packet from the cafeteria, etc.), or other activities they have to complete on a designated route. 

Why this exercise is great : The more people that tag along, the more fun this game will be. You can group people together who don’t know each other very well to allow them time to bond during this exercise. Try to come up with company-specific quests for your team so they learn a few fun facts along the way. You can offer prizes for the most creative team or the first to finish the challenge to boost motivation.

43. Egg drop 

Time : 60–90 minutes

How to play : Divide your team into groups of two or three people and give each team a raw egg (keep some extras in case they break before the grand finale). Then put out supplies like tape, straws, rubber bands, newspapers, and balloons so the teams can build a structure for the raw egg that will protect it from a fall out of a second or third story window. 

Each team has 60 minutes to complete their structure. When the time is up, ask your teams to gather their eggs and egg cages to drop them out of the window. This grand finale will reveal which team engineered and built the best cage.

Why this exercise is great : Collaborating on a design and building a cage will challenge your team’s problem solving and collaboration skills.

44. Team outing

Team size : Any

How to play : Plan an outing for your team. You could attend a cooking class or go to a museum together. If you want to have something your teammates can work toward, plan to run a 5K together or host a ping pong tournament. You can also do something more casual like inviting your team to hangout at a bowling alley after work where you can play a few games in a casual and fun setting.

Why this exercise is great : Taking your team somewhere new will help break down some of the walls we often build in a professional setting. While you’re still at a company function, you’re more inclined to connect through casual conversation at a restaurant or park than you would at the office.

45. Volunteer as a team

How to play : Organize a team event during your regularly scheduled workday. This can be a charity event, yard sale, or fundraiser for a cause your team cares about. Even though these are enjoyable, scheduling them during work hours makes this feel like more of a perk than an obligation.

If your team members have a few causes they’re truly passionate about, consider making this a monthly or quarterly event. You can also rotate the charities that you’re helping out to accommodate your team’s different interests.

Why this exercise is great : Experiencing helper’s high can improve your personal health and mental state. Sharing this rush that doing good can give you will help your team bond on a deeper level. 

Benefits of team building

Team building is more than a fun break from your everyday routine at work. It also:

Improves communication, trust, and collaboration skills

Promotes a collaborative culture by bringing teammates together

Fosters agile decision making and problem solving skills

Boosts team productivity and morale

Uses creativity and outside-of-the-box thinking

Ashley Frabasilio believes that:

A common goal is to create a memorable and meaningful experience for folks to connect. Some questions to consider when planning an impactful team-building activity include: What do I hope folks walk away with? I.e., a new skill, a deeper connection to one another, personal development, a moment of delight, etc.”

Ask yourself these questions before proposing a team building activity so you can reap the full benefits of the exercise.

Bring your team together, creatively

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to build your team’s confidence, connection, and teamwork skills. While team building is fun, it’s also important to connect with your team on an everyday basis. To build one of those connections in your day-to-day work, the right collaboration software is key. 

Looking for the right collaboration tool? See how Asana keeps your team connected, no matter where you’re working. 

Related resources

Fix these common onboarding challenges to boost productivity

30-60-90 day plan: How to onboard new hires with ease

15 types of employee performance reviews

What is self-management? (7 skills to improve it)

6 Fun & Effective Outdoor Team-Building Games: No Equipment Needed

Are you looking for fun and engaging ways to spend time outdoors with your friends, family, or colleagues? Do you want to boost teamwork, physical activity, or mental agility while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine? Look no further than outdoor games!

Playing games outside is a great way to bond with others, explore nature, and challenge yourself physically and mentally. Whether you’re a kid or a kid-at-heart, there’s an outdoor game that can suit your interests, abilities, and preferences.

With that in mind, below, we’ll share six fun and effective outdoor games that you can play with people of all ages and skill levels. We’ve selected games that span different categories, such as classic games, cooperative games, active games, nature-based games, water-based games, and mind and strategy games.

We’ll also explain the rules, benefits, and variations of each game, and provide tips for enhancing your gameplay and safety . So grab your sunscreen, water bottle, and game face, and let’s get playing!

1. Classic Outdoor Games

When you think of outdoor games, what comes to mind? Maybe you picture a group of kids running around a park, laughing and shouting as they chase each other. Or maybe you recall your own childhood memories of playing tag, red rover, kickball, or dodgeball with your friends.

Classic outdoor games like these have stood the test of time for good reason. They are simple, adaptable, and fun for all ages. They require minimal equipment and can be played in various settings, from a backyard to a beach to a gymnasium. And they promote physical activity, social skills, and healthy competition.

Let’s take a closer look at some classic outdoor games that you can play today:

• Tag: In tag, one person is “it” and tries to tag the other players by touching them with their hand. Once tagged, a player becomes “it” and the game continues. You can add variations like freeze tag, where tagged players must freeze in place until another player unfreezes them.
• Red Rover: In Red Rover, two teams stand in parallel lines, holding hands. One team calls out a player from the other team to run and try to break through their linked hands. If the runner succeeds, they can take one of the linked players to their own team. If the runner fails, they join the opposing team. The game continues until one team has all the players.
• Kickball: Kickball is similar to baseball, but with a large rubber ball and no gloves. One team kicks while the other team fields and tries to tag the runners out. You can add variations like homerun derby, where players try to hit the ball as far as possible.
• Dodgeball: In dodgeball, two teams try to eliminate each other by hitting players with soft foam balls. If a player is hit, they are out. If a player catches a ball thrown by the other team, the thrower is out. The game continues until one team has no players left.

These classic outdoor games are easy to learn and can be adapted to different group sizes, ages, and skill levels. You can also mix and match them to create your own outdoor game marathon. Just remember to stay safe and respectful, and to have fun!

2. Cooperative Outdoor Games

While classic outdoor games can be thrilling and competitive, they can also be exclusionary and individualistic. What if you want to play games that emphasize teamwork, communication, and collaboration, rather than winners and losers? That’s where cooperative outdoor games come in.

Cooperative games are those in which players work together toward a common goal or outcome, rather than against each other. These games can be especially useful for building trust, empathy, and problem-solving skills, as well as for promoting inclusivity and social justice.

Let’s explore some examples of cooperative outdoor games that you can try:

• Group Juggling: In group juggling, players stand in a circle and toss one or more balls or objects among themselves. The goal is to keep the objects in the air as long as possible, without dropping them. Players can use different techniques, such as passing the objects quickly, changing the direction of the toss, or using their feet or heads.
• Human Knot: In Human Knot, players stand in a circle and hold hands with two different people who are not next to them. The players then try to untangle themselves by twisting, turning, and stepping over and under each other’s arms. The goal is to form a circle again without breaking the chain.
• All Aboard: In All Aboard, players stand in a designated area, such as a small platform or a marked circle. The goal is to fit all players into the area without anyone touching the ground outside of it. Players can use different strategies, such as standing on each other’s shoulders, crawling under or over each other, or squeezing together tightly.
• Minefield: In Minefield, players are blindfolded and must navigate through a field of obstacles, such as cones or balls, without touching them. The other players give verbal directions to guide the blindfolded players, such as “step to your left” or “duck under the rope.”

These cooperative outdoor games require communication, trust, and cooperation among players. They can be especially useful for team-building activities, icebreakers, or leadership training. Just remember to emphasize safety and respect, and to celebrate everyone’s contributions and efforts.

3. Active Outdoor Games

If you’re looking for outdoor games that will get your heart pumping and your body moving, then active outdoor games are the way to go. These games are designed to be physically challenging, and they often involve running, jumping, or other forms of exercise.

They can be a great way to burn off energy, improve fitness, and have fun at the same time. Here are some examples of active outdoor games that you can try:

• Capture the Flag: In Capture the Flag, players are divided into two teams, each with their own flag. The goal is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to your own base, while avoiding getting tagged by the other team’s players. The game requires strategy, speed, and teamwork.
• Frisbee Golf: Frisbee Golf, also known as disc golf, is a sport that combines the rules of golf with the use of frisbees. The objective is to throw the frisbee into a series of targets, such as baskets or posts, in as few throws as possible. The course can be set up in a park, field, or other outdoor areas.
• Ultimate Frisbee: Ultimate Frisbee is a team sport that involves throwing and catching a frisbee in an attempt to score points by catching the frisbee in the opposing team’s end zone. The game is played on a field, with two teams of seven players each. Ultimate Frisbee requires speed, agility, and teamwork.
• Red Light, Green Light: In Red Light, Green Light, one player is designated as the “traffic cop” and stands at the opposite end of a field or playground. The other players line up at the starting line. The traffic cop calls out “green light” to signal the players to run toward the other end of the field, and “red light” to signal them to stop. The first player to reach the traffic cop becomes the next traffic cop.

These active outdoor games can be a great way to get exercise, socialize with friends, and enjoy the great outdoors.

4. Nature-Based Outdoor Games

If you’re looking for outdoor games that will help you connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors, then nature-based outdoor games are the perfect choice. These games are designed to be played in natural settings, and they often involve exploring, observing, and learning about the environment.

Here are some examples of nature-based outdoor games that you can try:

• Scavenger Hunt: In a scavenger hunt, players are given a list of items to find in a natural setting, such as a park or forest. The items can be anything from natural objects, such as leaves or rocks, to man-made items, such as a piece of litter or a sign. The first player or team to find all the items on the list wins.
• Nature Bingo: Nature Bingo is a game that combines the traditional game of bingo with a scavenger hunt. Players are given bingo cards with pictures of natural objects, such as trees, flowers, and animals. They then explore the natural setting, looking for these objects. The first player to get a row of items on their bingo card wins.
• Outdoor Art: Outdoor Art is a game that involves creating art using natural materials. Players are given a set amount of time to collect natural objects, such as sticks, leaves, and flowers. They then use these objects to create a work of art, such as a sculpture or a painting.
• Nature Trivia: Nature Trivia is a game that tests players’ knowledge of the natural world. Players are asked questions about plants, animals, and other natural objects. The player with the most correct answers at the end of the game wins.

These nature-based outdoor games can be a great way to learn about the natural world, explore new environments, and have fun at the same time. Remember to respect the natural setting, leave no trace, and follow any rules or regulations that may be in place to protect the environment.

5. Water-Based Outdoor Games

When the weather is hot and sunny, there’s no better way to cool off and have some fun than with water-based outdoor games. Whether you’re at the beach, a pool, or a lake, there are plenty of games that you can play to keep cool and have a blast.

Here are some examples of water-based outdoor games that you can try:

• Marco Polo: In Marco Polo, one player is “it” and has to keep their eyes closed while calling out “Marco”. The other players respond with “Polo”. The player who is “it” has to use their hearing to try and find the other players, and tag them by touching them. Once a player is tagged, they become “it”.
• Water Balloon Toss: Water Balloon Toss is a simple game that only requires a few water balloons. Players pair up and stand facing each other, with a water balloon in between them. They then toss the balloon back and forth, taking a step back after each successful toss. The pair that can toss the balloon the furthest without it bursting wins.
• Water Volleyball: Water Volleyball is a classic game that can be played in a pool or at the beach. Players divide into two teams and use a beach ball or inflatable volleyball to try and score points by hitting the ball over the net and onto the other team’s side of the pool or court.
• Sharks and Minnows: In Sharks and Minnows, one player is the “shark” and the other players are the “minnows”. The “shark” stands in the middle of the pool or designated area, while the “minnows” try to swim past them without getting tagged. Once a “minnow” is tagged, they become a “shark” and join in the game.

These water-based outdoor games are a great way to cool off, have fun, and enjoy the great outdoors.

Related: 5 Outdoor Team-Building Exercises That Involve Physical Activity

6. Mind and Strategy Games

Not all outdoor games require physical prowess or athleticism. Sometimes, the most entertaining and challenging games are those that test your mental capacity and strategic thinking. Here are some examples of mind and strategy games that are perfect for outdoor settings:

• Capture the Flag: In Capture the Flag, two teams try to capture each other’s flags while defending their own. The game can be played in any open area with designated boundaries and obstacles that each team can use to their advantage. Teams must use their strategic thinking and planning skills to outmaneuver the opposing team and secure their victory.
• Scavenger Hunt: Scavenger Hunt is a game where players search for and collect items on a list. The items can be hidden in the surrounding area, and the list can include riddles or clues that players must solve to find the next item. This game can be played individually or in teams, and it encourages players to use their problem-solving skills and creativity.
• Outdoor Chess: If you’re a fan of classic board games, why not take it outside? Outdoor Chess involves using large, life-sized chess pieces on a designated chessboard. The game requires strategic thinking and planning to outmaneuver the opponent and checkmate their king.
• Pictionary: Pictionary is a classic drawing game that can be played outdoors using a large easel or chalkboard. Players take turns drawing a word or phrase while their team tries to guess what it is. This game encourages creativity and communication skills and can be adapted to any age group.

These mind and strategy games are a fun and challenging way to spend time outdoors with friends and family. They offer a mental workout and can be played in various outdoor settings, making them a great addition to any outdoor activity.

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The Most Complete Collection of Engaging Team Building Activities

Below are more than a hundred fun, free  team building activities  that can improve teamwork, develop trust, and enhance problem solving skills and the best part is, the majority of these team challenges can be delivered anywhere, by anyone and with limited or no equipment.

All you have to do is click on the link of one of the team building activities and you will be taken to an information page containing: a challenge description, equipment requirements, and suggested learning outcomes.

If you need some help on how to teach a team building session then make sure you check out our  workshop delivery section featuring helpful articles and video tutorials.

Free Team Building Activities

Blindfold Activities | Quick Team Building |  Problem Solving | Active Team Building |  Creative Team Building

Blindfold Activities

Blind Count Off

The group stands in an outward-facing circle with their backs to one another. As a team, they have to count as high as they can out loud with only one person saying a number at a time. This is a guessing game that focuses on listening skills and strategy.

Blindfold Challenges

Here is a selection of quick and easy-to-deliver blindfold team building challenges. These blindfold activities can be delivered in less than 20 minutes and only require a blindfold and a rope. Great for developing communication skills, especially active listening and they are also good fun!

Blindfolded Egg Carry

In this activity, pairs of participants will work together to transport a raw egg on a spoon.

Blindfold Maze

Blindfolded participants are given a route by their partners, and then tasked with retracing their steps without any instruction to try and end up as close to the start point as possible.

Blind Retriever

In this fun and challenging blindfold activity, the group is split into smaller sub-teams and must compete against each other to try and retrieve an object.  One person is blindfolded in each team and directed by their teammates using simple commands to try and find the object before the other team.

Blindfold Tent Build

Blindfolded and under pressure, the group has to work together in a race against the clock to put up a tent. This team building activity is a great challenge for developing communication and leadership skills.

Circle of Silence

One person is selected to stand in the middle of the circle wearing a blindfold. The objective of the team challenge is for the rest of the group to pass a selected object (such as a tin with marbles in it) around the circle without making any noise.

Night Trail

Working as a team, blindfolded participants follow a rope and try to navigate their way around a series of obstacles. Trust, support, leadership, and communication are essential for this challenge.

Perfect Square

In this activity, the team has to form a perfect square using rope while blindfolded.

The objective of this fun blindfold activity is for smaller sub-teams to work together and communicate effectively to retrieve a bomb before the other teams. This challenge focuses on communication, trust, and cooperation.

Sheep and Shepherd

In smaller teams, blindfolded team members must be guided into a pen by the shepherd giving them verbal commands. The team that pens the most amount of sheep in the quickest time, wins the challenge.

Traverse an Obstacle Course

One at a time, blindfolded team members are guided by their teammates through an obstacle course to the finish line. They must rely heavily on trust and communication to complete the challenge.

Trust Walk

Working in pairs, blindfolded participants are led on a walk around the surrounding area or a course by their partners. This is a great activity for focusing on communication skills and developing trust.

Quick Team Building

All aboard is easy to run an effective team-based challenge, where the group has to fit inside a defined space (using either a rope or a tarpaulin). Once the group has achieved this, the size of the area decreases, becoming smaller and smaller over time.

Back-to-Back Drawing

Working in pairs, one person must describe a shape without naming it, whilst their partner must try to draw the shape they are describing to try and get as close to the original shape as possible. This activity focuses heavily on verbal communication and listening skills.

Balloon Sculptures

The team is tasked with creating balloon sculptures that reflect how they view the team. This activity works well with participants who are of different job levels and allows everyone to show creativity and make connections.

Birthday Line-Up

Participants line up in a straight line side-by-side. They are then asked to get in order by their birthdays (month and day, the year isn’t necessary), however, they are not allowed to talk. You can also get them to get in order by height, shoe size, favourite colour etc.

In this activity, the team has to instruct their “artist” to draw an item. They have to describe their chosen item without revealing what it is and they are not able to see what the “artist” is drawing.

Group members make choices (express their opinions) in front of other people by getting on and off an imaginary bus.

Fly in the Glass

This is a quick initiative exercise using lateral thinking. Before you begin, use the sticks to create the shape of a wine glass with a fly placed in it (see below). Introduce the challenge and explain that they must recreate the wine glass without the fly in it. To complete the challenge, they are only allowed to move just two sticks.

Group Juggle

The group stands in an inward-facing circle and is asked to throw juggling balls amongst the group in a specific order. As the activity develops more juggling balls are introduced and the pressure to work well as a group increases.

The objective of this challenge is for the team to work together to navigate a ball around a tarpaulin for as long as possible without the ball falling through a hole or off the tarp completely.

Hoop It High

In this activity, teams use hula hoops to build a structure in the shortest time possible.

Starting in a circle, participants connect hands with two other people in the group to form the human knot. As a team, they must then try to unravel the “human knot” by untangling themselves without breaking the chain of hands.

Human Shapes

Working together as a team, the group has to use their bodies to form letters and words.

Human Spring

This team building activity helps to build trust and communication. Pairs are tasked with leaning forward and finding balance with their palms against each other. They then have to ‘spring’ off and ‘land’ together again.

Infinite Loops/Rope Handcuffs

Pairs are connected using the infinite loops, their challenge is to become disconnected from their partner, without removing their hands from the loops or untying the knots.

Loop-De-Loop

The team stand in a circle and hold hands. Start one hula-hoop hanging (or bungee) over one pair of joined hands. Each person in the circle must pass the hoop/loop over him/herself and on to the next person whilst staying connected at all times.

Magic Cane/Helium Stick

Teams are given a magic cane (also known as helium stick) which they must lower to the ground, using just their index fingers. All participants must remain in contact with it at all times – what seems like a simple task, can become incredibly frustrating and funny for all involved.

Move Tennis Balls

The team race against the clock to retrieve and move as many tennis balls from one bucket to another, without using their hands or arms.

Pair and Group Stand up

Pairs sit back-to-back, arms linked and have to stand up together. When successful make a 4 and do the same.

Photo Finish

The aim of the challenge is for the whole group to step across the line at exactly the same time. If one person is out of sync, then they must start over again. This activity involves planning, communication, timing and resilience

Using the shoes available to their team, they must construct the tallest tower. The team with the tallest tower at the end of the time wins the challenge.

Each team member writes their name on a piece of paper and places it in a hat.  Then each team member picks a name from the hat and writes a thank you to the team member they picked from the hat for something they have done well recently.

Through the Loop

The objective of this simple but effective challenge is for everyone in the group to pass through the loop as quickly as possible.

Trust Circle and Ladder

One person is selected and stands in the centre of the circle. They allow themselves to relax, and fall backwards, safe in the knowledge that their team will catch them and then ‘bounce’ them gently round the circle.

Willow in the Wind

One person in the team is selected to be ‘the willow’ and stands in an upright and rigid position in the center of a circle. On your instruction, the person in the centre of the circle (the willow) is gently passed around the circle in any direction by the spotters. The willow must keep their feet absolutely still at all times and put their trust in the rest of the team.

Problem Solving

All Adrift (aka Lost At Sea)

Whilst on a sailing holiday, an accident causes the boat to set on fire, with just enough time to grab a few items at hand – the team have to decide which items are top priority. Working together the team have to use their decision making skills and cooperation to prioritize the ten items listed.

In this fun activity, the team has to build a road for a toy car using only the provided materials. The team whose car travels the furthest wins the game.

Balloon In Water

For this activity, the team is tasked with the challenge of immersing an inflated balloon underwater for at least 5 seconds, using only the materials provided.

Bounce & Catch Ping Pong Balls

In this team building activity, the aim is for everyone on the team to catch a ping pong ball in a cup. The challenge is that the ball must bounce once in the cup before it is caught. The activity is completed when all members of the team have each bounced and caught one ping pong ball in their cup.

Bridge Build

Using the materials provided, two teams must work together to build a bridge, with each sub-team constructing half the bridge each. During the challenge, teams cannot see each other and must rely on their communication skills to build an identical design. This is an excellent activity for developing communication skills, problem solving and creative thinking.

In this activity, the team has to touch all the numbers on the ‘calculator’ from 1 to 20 in sequence. They will get two attempts and the objective is to improve their time.

Out-of-Office Itinerary

What do most people like more than a fun team-building challenge? A day out of the office! Gift your group a  “pretend”  day off and let their sense of adventure take over. Using a map and a few trip constraints each team will need to plan their own itinerary.

Hold Up Papers

This team building activity challenges participants to be creative in solving a simple problem: how many sheets of paper can two people hold up? The catch: the papers should be held up (somehow, creatively!) between their bodies.

Human Chain

Team members are spread out in a line, consisting of several sections. The first person is shown a picture by the facilitator and must then describe to the next person what it is. This continues until the last person receives the description and they must then attempt to recreate the picture.

Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces

Teams work together to complete a puzzle as quickly as possible. Initially, the teams will be divided and given separate bags of puzzle pieces, they will think that they are competing against each other and then come to realise that they have no way of completing the puzzle unless they work together.

Team’s race against the clock to try and retrieve a ping pong ball placed at the bottom of a leaky pipe. To do this they are provided with a bucket of water and several cups. Teams are required to use good teamwork and problem solving skills to complete the challenge.

Memory Lane

Memory Lane is a giant game of Chinese whispers where communication and cooperation are essential for success.

The team have come to a battle field that has been laid with mines. One person at a time must attempt to cross the battlefield without stepping on a mine. Once a team member steps on a mine, they must return back to the start.

Nine Cone Path

The aim of this problem solving challenge is for for the team to lay the rope over nine cones that are laid out in a square grid. so that the rope passes over the middle of every cone in the grid. The rope may only bend through an angle of no more than ninety degrees three times at most.

Sneak a Peak

The aim of the challenge is for each group to try and build an exact copy of a pre-built sculpture – the catch is only one person in each group can look at the model at a time and for only ten seconds.

Traffic Jam

Traffic Jam is a real, ‘Brain Buster’ that requires a lot thinking and communication. This challenge is very similar to a human chess game. The group is split in 2, with both sides working together to complete the challenge.

Lift a Beachball

The team has to build a 1 meter tall structure that will hold up a beach ball for at least 10 seconds, using only the materials provided.

Save the Water Balloon

In this activity, the group has to devise a way to cushion a falling water balloon, using only the materials provided.

The team is tasked with putting together a story from a set of sequential images. Each person is given an image but is not permitted to show it to anyone else. Together, the team has to figure out the correct sequence.

Active Team Building

All Tied Up

In this fun team challenge, groups are required to work together to do complete a simple task. The problem is, that they are tied together by their wrists. Problem solving, teamwork and communication are essential for this challenge.

The team are lost in a bamboo forest, the only way of survival is by catching the attention of the people in the local village. To get their attention, the teams must build two free-standing structures, each 6m high.

Electric Fence

The aim of the challenge is for the entire team to cross from one side of the fence to the other without touching the fence line. There are two variations of this challenge a more basic version and the more advanced one, both are great for developing teamwork and trust.

Follow the Leader

This team building activity will require your entire team to work together as one. A secret leader will make simple movements that the entire group will quickly mimic. One guesser will be left in the middle of the group to determine who is the leader. This quick activity is easy to facilitate and is a great way to get your team up and moving during your next meeting!

Giant Matchstick

The objective of this activity is to lift a ball off the ground and place it into a cup on top of a Giant Matchstick, using only the broom handles provided to touch the ball and aid completion of the task.

Hole in Space

Working together, each team member must travel through a hole in space without touching it. If anyone touches the outside of the square, the activity is restarted. This activity is ideal for those looking for a quick team builder and for those with limited space and resources available.

A container marked Toxic Waste is put in the middle of an exclusion zone. Using a limited range of equipment the team has to lift the container and place it in a ‘safe’ zone.

Incoming Tide Survival

The team is stranded on a sandbank, they have just 30 minutes before the tide comes in. In order to survive they have to build a structure that holds the entire team off the ground.

The objective of this activity is to get all team members safely across the lava flow. Participants cannot touch the lava and therefore must use platforms provided to cross to safety.

The Longest Shadow

This outdoor team building activity has the group working together to form the longest shadow they can, using only their bodies.

Marble Tube

Marble Tube is a fun team building activity, where participants have to work together to get the marble(s) from the start to the finish line without touching the floor and only using piping to touch the marble.

Missile Launch

The group has to construct two missile launchers that can launch a missile over a target 10 metres away.  After 30 minutes the teams are allowed two practice shots (using golf balls) after which they can review their designs before they make their final shot with an egg.

Ping Pong Move Along

In this activity, the team is tasked with moving 15 ping pong balls from Table #1 to Table #4 without directly touching or lifting the balls and using only the materials provided.

Radioactive Isotopes

The objective of the challenge is for the group to retrieve a bucket containing a deadly radioactive isotope and tip the contents into a second bucket in a defined safety zone.

Rope Knots Game

This is a fun variation to the popular game human knot, where instead participants have to try and untangle the rope.

Spiders Web

The objective of this challenge is to get the entire team from one side of the web to the other without using the same gap twice and without touching any of the web.

Towers of Hanoi

The team is presented with the challenge of organising a stack of tyres in a set order but on a different post. There are a total of three posts and five tyres, moving just one tyre at a time, transfer the tyres from the post they are currently on to another set post.

Toxic Waste

Equipped with just 2 ropes, the group must work out how to transport a bucket of ‘Toxic Waste’ and return it back to the safe zone without tipping over the contents.  This fun team building challenge can also be known as ‘Bomb Removal’. This is an excellent team challenge for highlighting the importance of teamwork, problem solving, and leadership.

Triangle of Life

The team has been stranded on three separate islands, the objective of the challenge is to figure out how to get three essential items to each island to survive until they are rescued.

Turning Over A New Leaf

With all members standing on a sheet of plastic, the group has to slowly flip the sheet to the other side without anyone stepping off it. This activity is great for small groups, and helps to promote cooperation, trust and communication.

Water Carry

The aim of this challenge is for the team to try and retrieve 10 cups full of water from around the room and place on a tray without spilling any of it. During the task, each person is only allowed to use one hand and one leg to complete the task.

Stringed Shapes

Standing in a circle, participants hold onto a looped rope with both hands at waist-level. The trainer will then call out different shapes, and the team has to form those shapes without letting go of the rope.

Creative Team Building

All The News

In this activity, the group is tasked with creating a mock-newspaper with headlines based on what they think the department/company will achieve in the near future.

The aim of the challenge is for teams to compete against each other and try win a lucrative contract for the commercial production of an airship. To win the contract, each team will have to design and build a fully operational prototype, within budget and on time, that meets a detailed specification.

Build a Big Structure

During this fun twenty minute challenge, teams are tasked with building a structure using the resources provided in just ten minutes. The structure must be big enough so a team member can completely pass under it in less than one minute. Creative thinking, cooperation and time management are essential in this challenge.

Create your Own Activity

The group are split into smaller teams and must work together to create their own problem solving challenge. Once they have come up with the ideas they must work together to finalise the challenge and then present back to the other groups.

Dragons Den

The groups task is to design and market a product to present to the Dragons Den.

Egg Escape Rocket

Groups work together to tackle the challenge of firing an egg onto a landing area without breaking it. They must present, design and build their rocket before competing against other teams. The team that lands their egg closest to the landing area, wins the challenge.

Lights, Camera, Action

A firm favourite with corporate groups and my own personal favourite, teams are challenged to write and produce their very own 5 minute cinematic masterpiece. After picking a genre of film at random, teams stretch their creativity and race against the clock to have their final cut ready before the big premiere.

Marble Motion

Each team is provided with two pieces of flip chart paper and a roll of sellotape and are tasked with creating two marble movers to keep a marble rolling as long as possible. After creating their builds, all teams come together to test their marble movers. The team that has the longest combined time, wins the challenge.

No-Man’s Land

Teams are tasked with transporting as many balls as possible from the start line to the end line and over No-Man’s Land in ten minutes using just the resources provided.

Participants must work together in smaller teams to create and perform their own radio play – this means no acting is necessary.  Once they have planned and prepared their play, they must then perform it in front of the other teams.

Scrapheap Challenge

Scrapheap Challenge involves a whole heap of scrap and lots of creative thinking. In this challenge, teams are tasked with building a product made of scrap to protect an egg when dropped from a height.

Scrap Tower

Teams compete to build the highest tower that holds a weighted object off the ground for a minimum of ten seconds. Careful planning and creative thinking are essential for this fun team exercise.

Tallest Tower

Participants work together to build the tallest free-standing tower with the resources provided by the facilitator.

Flying Cotton Balls

In this team building activity, the group has to devise a way to move as many “flying” cotton balls as possible into the “landing zone” indicated in front of them, using only the materials provided.

Team Shield

Working in smaller groups, each group must create a team shield to establish a team identity (or any other subject you are trying to teach).

Video Scavenger Hunt

Working in smaller teams, each team must record all the items listed on the scavenger hunt list within a set time period using a video camera.

Team building activities are great for developing communication, increasing the success of a team, motivating participants, and keeping everyone a lot happier.

The Team Building Activity Book

For step-by-step instructions, printable leader notes, and challenger briefs for over 30 of the best team development activities, check out our Team Building Activity Book ,  available as an instant download PDF.

This list of team-building activities can be used for:

• Company Retreat Ideas
• Team Building Workshops
• Team Building Sessions
• Team Building Retreat Ideas
• Staff Retreat Ideas
• Work Retreat Ideas
• School Retreat Ideas
• Corporate Retreat Ideas
• Retreat Bonding Ideas
• Trust Building Sessions
• Team Retreats

 Like this post? Pin it to save for when you do your next team building session!

Team building activities , team building exercises, fun team building games , creative team building ideas, problem solving challenges for the workplace , conferences, summer camps, retreat activities, retreat ideas, staff retreat ideas, school retreats corporate retreats and school workshops.

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22 Unbeatable Team Building Problem Solving Activities

Problem-solving is a critical skill for professionals and with team building problem-solving activities, you can sharpen your skills while having fun at the same time.  

Updated: March 1, 2024

In the professional world, one thing is for sure: problem-solving is a vital skill if you want to survive and thrive. It’s a universal job skill that organizations seek in new potential employees and that managers look for when considering candidates for promotions.  

But there’s a problem. 

According to Payscale, 60% of managers feel that new grads entering the workforce lack problem-solving abilities – making it the most commonly lacking soft skill.  

Problem-solving skill needs to be practiced and perfected on an ongoing basis in order to be applied effectively when the time comes. And while there are tons of traditional approaches to becoming a better problem-solver, there’s another (much more interesting) option: team building problem-solving activities. 

The good news? This means learning and having fun don’t have to be mutually exclusive. And you can create a stronger team at the same time. 

16 In-Person Team Building Problem Solving Activities for Your Work Group  

1. cardboard boat building challenge, 2. egg drop , 3. clue murder mystery, 4. marshmallow spaghetti tower  , 5. corporate escape room, 6. wild goose chase, 7. lost at sea  , 8. domino effect challenge, 9. reverse pyramid  , 10. ci: the crime investigators, 11. team pursuit, 12. bridge builders, 13. domino effect challenge, 14. hollywood murder mystery, 15. code break, 16. cardboard boat building challenge, 6 virtual team building problem solving activities for your work group  , 1. virtual escape room: mummy’s curse, 2. virtual clue murder mystery, 3. virtual escape room: jewel heist, 4. virtual code break  , 5. virtual trivia time machine.

• 6. Virtual Jeoparty Social

There are a ton of incredible team building problem solving activities available. We’ve hand-picked 16 of our favorites that we think your corporate group will love too. 

Split into teams and create a cardboard boat made out of just the materials provided: cardboard and tape. Team members will have to work together to engineer a functional boat that will float and sail across water without sinking. Once teams have finished making their boats, they will create a presentation to explain why their boat is the best, before putting their boats to the test. The final challenge will have teams racing their boats to test their durability! Nothing says problem-solving like having to make sure you don’t sink into the water!

Every day at work, you’re forced to make countless decisions – whether they’re massively important or so small you barely think about them.  

But your ability to effectively make decisions is critical in solving problems quickly and effectively.  

With a classic team building problem solving activity like the Egg Drop, that’s exactly what your team will learn to do. 

For this activity, you’ll need some eggs, construction materials, and a place you wouldn’t mind smashing getting dirty with eggshells and yolks.  

The goal of this activity is to create a contraption that will encase an egg and protect it from a fall – whether it’s from standing height or the top of a building. But the challenge is that you and your team will only have a short amount of time to build it before it’s time to test it out, so you’ll have to think quickly! 

To make it even more challenging, you’ll have to build the casing using only simple materials like: 

• Newspapers 
• Plastic wrap
• Rubber bands
• Popsicle sticks
• Cotton balls

Feel free to have some fun in picking the materials. Use whatever you think would be helpful without making things too easy! 

Give your group 15 minutes to construct their egg casing before each team drops their eggs. If multiple eggs survive, increase the height gradually to see whose created the sturdiest contraption.  

If you’re not comfortable with the idea of using eggs for this activity, consider using another breakable alternative, such as lightbulbs for a vegan Egg Drop experience. 

With Clue Murder Mystery, your team will need to solve the murder of a man named Neil Davidson by figuring out who had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit the crime.

But it won’t be easy! You’ll need to exercise your best problem-solving skills and channel your inner detectives if you want to keep this case from going cold and to get justice for the victim.

Collaboration is critical to problem solving. 

Why? Because, as the old saying goes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This expression reflects the fact that people are capable of achieving greater things when they work together to do so. 

If you’re looking for a team building problem solving activity that helps boost collaboration, you’ll love Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower.  

This game involves working in teams to build the tallest possible freestanding tower using only marshmallows, uncooked spaghetti, tape, and string.  

The kicker? This all has to be done within an allotted timeframe. We recommend about thirty minutes.  

For an added dimension of challenge, try adding a marshmallow to the top of the tower to make it a little more top heavy.  

Whichever team has the highest tower when time runs out is the winner! 

If you’ve never participated in an escape room, your team is missing out! It’s one of the most effective team building problem solving activities out there because it puts you and your colleagues in a scenario where the only way out is collaboratively solving puzzles and deciphering clues.  

The principle is simple: lock your group in a room, hide the key somewhere in that room, and have them work through challenges within a set time frame. Each challenge will lead them one step closer to finding the key and, ultimately, their escape.    

At Outback, we offer “done-for-you” escape rooms where we’ll transform your office or meeting room so you don’t have to worry about:

• Seeking transportation for your team 
• Capacity of the escape rooms  
• High costs 
• Excessive planning  

That way, you and your team can simply step inside and get to work collaborating, using creative problem solving, and thinking outside the box.   

In this smartphone-based scavenger hunt team building activity , your group will split into teams and complete fun challenges by taking photos and videos around the city. Some examples of challenges you can do in this activity are:

• Parkour:  Take a picture of three team members jumping over an object that’s at least waist-high.
• Beautiful Mind:  Snap a photo of a team member proving a well-known mathematical theorem on a chalkboard.
• Puppy Love:  Take a photo of all of your team members petting a stranger’s dog at the same time.

It takes a ton of critical thinking and problem-solving to be crowned the Wild Goose Chase Champions!

Can you imagine a higher-pressure situation than being stranded at sea in a lifeboat with your colleagues? 

With this team building problem solving activity, that’s exactly the situation you and your group will put yourselves. But by the time the activity is over, you’ll have gained more experience with the idea of having to solve problems under pressure – a common but difficult thing to do. 

Here’s how it works. 

Each team member will get a six-columned chart where: 

• The first column lists the survival items each team has on hand (see the list below) 
• The second column is empty so that each team member can rank the items in order of importance for survival  
• The third column is for group rankings  
• The fourth column is for the “correct” rankings, which are revealed at the end of the activity 
• The fifth and sixth columns are for the team to enter thee difference between their individual and correct scores and the team and correct rankings 

Within this activity, each team will be equipped with the following “survival items,” listed below in order of importance, as well as a pack of matches:  

• A shaving mirror (this can be used to signal passing ships using the sun) 
• A can of gas (could be used for signaling as it could be put in the water and lit with the pack of matches) 
• A water container (for collecting water to re-hydrate ) 
• Emergency food rations (critical survival food) 
• One plastic sheet (can be helpful for shelter or to collect rainwater) 
• Chocolate bars (another food supply) 
• Fishing rods (helpful, but no guarantee of catching food) 
• Rope (can be handy, but not necessarily essential for survival) 
• A floating seat cushion (usable as a life preserver)  
• Shark repellant (could be important when in the water) 
• A bottle of rum (could be useful for cleaning wounds) 
• A radio (could be very helpful but there’s a good chance you’re out of range) 
• A sea chart (this is worthless without navigation equipment) 
• A mosquito net (unless you’ve been shipwrecked somewhere with a ton of mosquitos, this isn’t very useful) 

To get the activity underway, divide your group into teams of five and ask each team member to take ten minutes on their own to rank the items in order of importance in the respective column. Then, give the full team ten minutes as a group to discuss their individual rankings together and take group rankings, listed in that respective column. Ask each group to compare their individual rankings with those of the group as a whole. 

Finally, read out the correct order according to the US Coast Guard, listed above.  

The goal of this activity is for everyone to be heard and to come to a decision together about what they need most to survive.  

If your team works remotely, you can also do this activity online. Using a video conferencing tool like  Zoom , you can bring your group together and separate teams into “break-out rooms” where they’ll take their time individually and then regroup together. At the end, you can bring them back to the full video conference to go through the answers together. 

Many problems are intricately complex and involve a ton of moving parts. And in order to solve this type of problem, you need to be able to examine it systematically, one piece at a time.  

Especially in the business world, many problems or challenges involve multiple different teams or departments working through their respective portions of a problem before coming together in the end to create a holistic solution. 

As you can imagine, this is often easier said than done. And that’s why it’s so important to practice this ability.  

With a collaborative team building problem solving activity like Domino Effect Challenge, that’s exactly what you’ll need to do as you and your group work to create a massive, fully functional chain reaction machine. 

Here’s how it goes. 

Your group will break up into teams, with each team working to complete their own section of a massive “Rube Goldberg” machine. Then, all teams will regroup and assemble the entire machine together. You’ll need to exercise communication, collaboration, and on-the-fly problem solving in order to make your chain reaction machine go off without a hitch from start to finish. 

Being a great problem-solver means being adaptable and creative. And if you’re looking for a quick and easy team building problem solving activity, you’ll love the reverse pyramid. 

The idea here is simple: break your group out into small teams and then stand in the form of a pyramid.  

Your challenge is to flip the base and the peak of the pyramid – but you can only move three people in order to do so.  

Alternatively, rather than doing this activity with people as the pyramid, you can do another version –  the Pyramid Build  – using plastic cups instead.   

This version is a little bit different. Rather than flipping the base of a pyramid to the top, you’ll need to build the pyramid instead–but in reverse, starting from the top cup and working down. 

With this version, you’ll need 36 cups and one table per group. We recommend groups of five to seven people. Give your group 20 to 30 minutes to complete the activity. 

To get started, place one cup face down. Then, lift that cup and place the subsequent two cups underneath it. 

The real challenge here? You can only lift your pyramid by the bottom row in order to put a new row underneath – and only one person at a time can do the lifting. The remaining group members will need to act quickly and work together in order to add the next row so that it will balance the rest of the pyramid. 

If any part of your pyramid falls, you’ll need to start over. Whichever team has the most complete pyramid when time runs out will be the winner!  

The value of being able to approach problems analytically can’t be overstated. Because when problems arise, the best way to solve them is by examining the facts and making a decision based on what you know. 

With CI: The Crime Investigators, this is exactly what your team will be called upon to do as you put your detective’s hats on and work to solve a deadly crime. 

You’ll be presented with evidence and need to uncover and decipher clues. And using only the information at your disposal, you’ll need to examine the facts in order to crack the case. 

Like many of our team building problem solving activities, CI: The Crime Investigators is available in a hosted format, which can take place at your office or an outside venue, as well as a virtually-hosted format that uses video conferencing tools, or a self-hosted version that you can run entirely on your own.  

Each member of your team has their own unique strengths and skills. And by learning to combine those skills, you can overcome any challenge and solve any problem. With Team Pursuit, you and your team together to tackle challenges as you learn new things about one another, discover your hidden talents, and learn to rely on each other.

This team building problem solving activity is perfect for high-energy groups that love to put their heads together and work strategically to solve problems as a group.

Collaborate with your colleague to design and build different segments of a bridge. At the end, see if the sections come together to create a free-standing structure!   

Together as a group, see if you and your colleagues can build a gigantic “chain-reaction” machine that really works!

In smaller groups, participants work together to solve the challenge of creating sections of the machine using miscellaneous parts, and at the end, you’ll have to collaborate to connect it all together and put it in motion.

The case is fresh, but here’s what we know so far: we’ve got an up-and-coming actress who’s been found dead in her hotel room following last night’s awards show.

We have several suspects, but we haven’t been able to put the crime on any of them for sure yet. Now, it’s up to you and your team of detectives to crack the case. Together, you’ll review case files and evidence including police reports, coroners’ reports, photo evidence, tabloids, interrogations, and phone calls as you determine the motive, method, and murderer and bring justice for the victim.

You’ll need to put your problem-solving skills to the test as you share theories, collaborate, and think outside the box with your fellow investigators.

Using Outback’s app, split up into small groups and put your heads together to solve a variety of puzzles, riddles, and trivia. The team who has completed the most challenges when time is up, wins!

Can you stay afloat in a body of water in a boat made entirely of cardboard? Now that is a problem that urgently needs solving.

With this team building problem solving activity, you and your colleagues will split into groups and create a cardboard boat made out of just the materials provided – cardboard and tape.

Team members will have to work together to engineer a functional boat that will float and sail across water without sinking. Once teams have finished making their boats, they will create a presentation to explain why their boat is the best, before putting their boats to the test. The final challenge will have teams racing their boats across the water!

If you and your team are working remotely, don’t worry. You still have a ton of great virtual team building problem solving options at your disposal.

In this virtual escape room experience, your team will be transported into a pyramid cursed by a restless mummy. You’ll have to work together to uncover clues and solve complex challenges to lift the ancient curse.

You’ve probably never heard of a man named Neil Davidson. But your group will need to come together to solve the mystery of his murder by analyzing clues, resolving challenges, and figuring out who had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit a deadly crime. 

This activity will challenge you and your group to approach problems analytically, read between the lines, and use critical thinking in order to identify a suspect and deliver justice.  

If you and your team like brainteasers, then Virtual Escape Room: Jewel Heist will be a big hit.  

Here’s the backstory.

There’s been a robbery. Someone has masterminded a heist to steal a priceless collection of precious jewels, and it’s up to you and your team to recover them before time runs out.

Together, you’ll need to uncover hidden clues and solve a series of brain-boggling challenges that require collaboration, creative problem-solving, and outside-the-box thinking. But be quick! The clock is ticking before the stolen score is gone forever.

With Virtual Code Break, you and your team can learn to be adaptive and dynamic in your thinking in order to tackle any new challenges that come your way. In this activity, your group will connect on a video conferencing platform where your event host will split you out into teams. Together, you’ll have to adapt your problem-solving skills as you race against the clock to tackle a variety of mixed brainteaser challenges ranging from Sudoku to puzzles, a game of Cranium, riddles, and even trivia. 

Curious to see how a virtual team building activity works? Check out this video on a Virtual Clue Murder Mystery in action. 

Step into the Outback Time Machine and take a trip through time, from pre-pandemic 21st century through the decades all the way to the 60’s. 

This exciting, fast-paced virtual trivia game, packed with nostalgia and good vibes, is guaranteed to produce big laughs, friendly competition, and maybe even some chair-dancing. 

Your virtual game show host will warm up guests with a couple of “table hopper rounds” (breakout room mixers) and split you out into teams. Within minutes, your home office will be transformed into a game show stage with your very own game show buzzers! 

And if your team loves trivia, check out our list of the most incredible virtual trivia games for work teams for even more ideas.

6.  Virtual Jeoparty Social

If your remote team is eager to socialize, have some fun as a group, and channel their competitive spirit, we’ve got just the thing for you! With Virtual Jeoparty Social, you and your colleagues will step into your very own virtual Jeopardy-style game show—equipped with a buzzer button, a professional actor as your host, and an immersive game show platform! Best of all, this game has been infused with an ultra-social twist: players will take part in a unique social mixer challenge between each round. 

With the right team building problem solving activities, you can help your team sharpen their core skills to ensure they’re prepared when they inevitably face a challenge at work. And best of all, you can have fun in the process. 

Do you have any favorite team building activities for building problem-solving skills? If so, tell us about them in the comments section below! 

Learn More About Team Building Problem Solving Activities  

For more information about how your group can take part in a virtual team building, training, or coaching solution, reach out to our Employee Engagement Consultants.     

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And stay updated, related articles.

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I love how this blog provides a variety of problem-solving activities for team building. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to foster teamwork and collaboration!

61 Ice Breaker Games [That Your Team Won’t Find Cheesy]

Whether it's kicking off a meeting or getting to know new team members, an effective ice breaker game can help set the right tone and help build connections. But how do you choose the right one?

In this post, we'll share a collection of tried and tested ice breaker games you can use to engage and energize groups of any size. Whether you just want to have fun, encourage team building or level-up your meetings, there's an activity here for you.

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A step-by-step guide to planning a workshop, how to create an unforgettable training session in 8 simple steps, 47 useful online tools for workshop planning and meeting facilitation.

An in-depth study from TINYpulse , an employee engagement company, studied more than 40,000 workers’ inputs from more than 300 companies globally. They found a correlation of 0.92 between employee fulfillment and their relationships with colleagues. Since you can end up spending more time with coworkers than with your family or partner, it is a topic that deserves much attention.

But how can you break the ice without also frustrating your team or making them roll their eyes? Using facilitator-tested and proven methods like those below are a surefire way to open your meetings more effectively and engage your team.

You’ll find classic conversation starters like Two truths and One Lie , fun games like The Marshmallow Challenge or even a Virtual Scavenger Hunt! You’ll find our collection of 61 of the best ice breaker games for work separated by category and find some useful tips for running them in your workshop or meeting too!

Purpose of ice breaker games

So how do you avoid creating a frustrating, patronizing ice breaker game that won’t make participants feel like they are wasting their time?

The benefits of a good ice breaker far outweigh any negatives. They can take care of introductions in a much more fun way than just simply going around the room and stating what’s on your business card. They can help people remember names , start conversations and create a positive atmosphere in moments.

When done right, ice breakers can quickly build a sense of community , set the tone for the upcoming session & give participants ownership of the learning ahead.

Icebreaker games are also a great way for people to share their expectations and for facilitators to introduce the topic of the day. They help participants to loosen up, understand each other more and enable better collaboration and networking . Last, but not least, it is a surefire way to energize the group and have everyone focused and ready to go.

Ready to design a session around your chosen icebreaker? SessionLab makes it easy to build a complete agenda in minutes . Start by dragging and dropping blocks, add your timings and adjust with ease to create a minute-perfect session. When you’re ready for feedback, invite collaborators and refine your agenda with ease.

Ice Breaker Games to Get to Know Each Other

Whenever you bring a group of people together for a meeting, project, or event, it’s helpful to get to know each other at the outset.

This does not only mean just memorizing names, but also involves getting the facilitator or leader of the session familiar with everyone and getting a read on the energy of the room.

One of the other major benefits of these games is in allowing group members to break free from dry or boring introductions and get to know each other more meaningfully. Let’s dive in!

Just One Lie

Diversity bingo.

• Two truths and One Lie

Unique and Shared

Passions tic tac toe.

• Jenga Questions

Speed Dating Icebreaker

Break the ice with the help of your key.

• Whose Story is it?
• Trading Card Icebreaker
• Find Your Pair
• Toilet Paper Icebreaker
• Show and Tell

This method is an adaptation of the well-known ice breaker ‘Two Truths And A Lie’ to create an activity that can be run throughout a day of a meeting or workshop.

Participants mingle and ask questions from each other while noting the answers on post-its. But everyone includes one lie. The result is that you have a board of interesting facts about all the participants, among them, one lie. Throughout the workshop you can return to these boards for participants to introduce each other and find out what was the lie.

Just One Lie   #icebreaker   #energiser   #team   #get-to-know   This method is adapted from the well-known icebreaker ‘Two Truths And A Lie’  to create an activity that you could return to throughout a meeting.

Diversity Bingo is one of our favorite group ice breaker games. This game help participants to get information on each other in a fun, competitive way.

First, create a bingo card containing a grid of squares with a statement or question in each square that will apply to some members of your group and is in line with the objectives of your class, workshop, or event. After each player gets a bingo card, they mingle around introducing themselves and finding other participants who can sign their cards indicating that a statement applies to him/her.

To avoid having people only talk to one or two people and filling up their card, limit the signatures they can give to 1 or 2 per card. When everyone has reached bingo or is super close, you can share something you’ve learned about each other, yourself and the experience of this ice breaker activity.

Diversity Bingo   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   #opening   #teampedia   #action   This game helps participants to get information on each other in a fun, competitive way.

Do you have people who come from many different places to your session? If you’re looking for fun icebreakers for meetings that are active, Group Map is a good bet!

A great way to get to know each other is to have participants place themselves on an imaginary map laid out in the room representing the country according to where they grew up. Ask them to share one internal value they got from that place, and why that is important for them.

Encourage people to share a short story if they want. Sharing customs and values from your childhood can create more understanding and help form stronger bonds – a hallmark of a good icebreaker.

Icebreaker: The Group Map   #get-to-know   #icebreaker   #remote-friendly   Ask people to place themselves on an imaginary map laid out in the room representing the country according to where they grew up. Ask them to share one internal value they got from that place, and why is that important for them. Encourage people to share a short story if they want

​ Two Truths and One Lie

A simple and classic ice breaker game. Each employee shares three statements about themselves – two truths, and one lie. Then, everyone tries to guess which is the lie by asking questions. Try to find out as many details about the statements as possible and watch the speaker’s reactions closely. The whole point is to learn facts about your peers while inserting an element of mystery.

This team icebreaker helps the group learn about each other and gives both introverts and extroverts an equal chance to reveal themselves and discover others’ assumptions. It’s been done before, but if you’re looking for simple ice breaker games for work, this is one everyone is sure to know and requires zero prep from the facilitator.

Everyone is a Liar (Two truths and one lie)   #warm up   #icebreaker   #remote-friendly   #online   Starting a meeting or after a break in a group where participants don’t know each other or don’t know much about each other

Create groups of 4-5 people, and let them discover what they have in common, along with interesting characteristics that are unique to a person in the group.

This icebreaker promotes unity as it gets people to realize that they have more common ground with their peers than they first might realize. As people become aware of their own unique characteristics, they can also help people feel empowered to offer the group something unique.

Common and Unique   #get-to-know   #teambuilding   #icebreaker   Create groups of 4-5 people, and let them discover what they have in common, along with interesting characteristics that are unique to a person in the group.

The goal of this icebreaker game is to help the participants to get to know each other at the beginning of an event or to help identify their values during the later part of a training session.

Create a 3 x 3 grid for each participant and have them fill in each block with a different personal passion randomly. After the individual work, have everyone walk around the room and compare notes. When they find the same passion listed in both grids, ask them to sign for each other in the appropriate square. The winner is the participant who manages to have other people’s signatures on three lines (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal). You can continue the game to have as many winners as you like.

Passions Tic Tac Toe   #get-to-know   #values   #icebreaker   #thiagi   This simple game that explores the concepts from these two quotations: “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you”. —Oprah Winfrey. “Getting to know someone else involves curiosity about where they have come from, who they are.” —Penelope Lively, novelist

​Jenga questions

Jenga is the starting point of many fun gatherings. It’s a super easy ice breaker activity to explain and pick up & anyone can join any time. You can spice up a regular tower-toppling contest by writing intriguing questions on each block (or as many as you can).

When you draw each block, read the question out loud & answer before placing the piece on the top of the tower. This can ignite exciting conversations about everyday topics like favorite downtime activities to more in-depth stuff, like career and self-development goals.

Traditional games with a unique spin can often generate curiosity and engagement in a groups setting. Try having different kinds of icebreaker activities in your toolbox in order to overcome any potential resistance in your group.

This fast-paced icebreaker activity allows participants to get acquainted with while also exploring something thought provoking and inspiring. Prepare a set of inspirational quotes prior to the session and the number of participants on individual slips of paper. Put the pile in the center of the room. Each participant picks up one quote, then picks a partner and begins to discuss what the quote says to them, if it is meaningful, and how.

Then after a minute or so the facilitator gives a signal and participants switch partners, and may switch quotes as well if they’d like. This can continue for 4-5 rounds for around 15 minutes. Choose quotes that relate to your meeting topic or company culture for an even more effective opening to your session!

Quotes   #icebreaker   #energiser   #online   #warm up   #remote-friendly   For participants to get acquainted with each other in a meaningful way

The goal of this game is to have a succession of very rapid conversations in an extremely short amount of time with as many people as possible. Have people sit in pairs, with colleagues that they don’t directly work with on a day-to-day basis. Determine the time limit (say 3 minutes for each conversation) and set a timer. When it starts, each pair has to start speed networking & find out as much professional info about the other as possible.

While it’s natural for group members to want to spend time with people they know, encouraging your team to mix is an important step to improving team cohesion. Team building icebreakers like this one are great for starting that process!

Speed-dating   #teambuilding   #icebreaker   This can be used as a teambuilding activity or a way to introduce participants to each other.

Games and activities that include physical objects can help ensure the session is memorable and specific to those people present. In this ice breaker, ask participants to sit in a circle and bring their keys with them.

Explain that they will get to know each other through their keys. Ask them that one by one present all the keys they have on their keychain and tell a few sentences about the area the key represents – the city or neighborhood they live in, the activity it represents (bike or locker key) or the person they received it from.

Be sure to start the circle yourself so the participants get the feeling of how it should be done. Bonus points if you can demonstrate openness and vulnerability for your group to follow!

Break the ice with the help of your key!   #team   #get-to-know   #teambuilding   #icebreaker   The key ice breaker is a team building favorite and a great exercise to get to know each other in a group or team. It is easy to understand and set up, can be modified according to the objects participants have, fast way to get info on each other , and surely makes everyone included!

Whose story is it?

Start this ice breaker game by writing your funniest or weirdest story on a small piece of paper. It has to be a true one, no fiction! Then fold the paper up and drop it into a bowl or other container.

The facilitator or the person leading the program randomly reads every story and group members guess who the writer is. This is a great way to get to know each other and find out new things, even if you’ve worked together for a long time.

​Trading Card Icebreaker

Starting a meeting by defining your personality and being creative is a great way to kick off a more involved team project.

This activity from Gamestorming works great because it lets people self-define and share their personality outside of their day-to-day work. This approach means people get to connect more meaningfully and authentically while also creating fun and memorable cards that serve as conversation pieces as the meeting progresses.

Trading Cards   #gamestorming   #icebreaker   #opening   This meeting starter is great because it lets people self-define,  gives them a “personality” outside the typical work environment. Additionally,it gives participants quick snapshots of multiple players (since they see many cards as they’re being passed around), and it creates memorable visuals that give people conversation pieces as the meeting progresses.

​Find your pair

Prepare word pairs, like salt and pepper, milk and honey, sail and wind, etc on separate pieces of paper. Tape one to each person’s back. People then have to walk around and ask closed questions (with a yes or no answer) to find out what their phrase is. Once they find out, they have to find their pair & by continuing to ask questions (these can be open or closed) they have to learn 3 new things about the other.

​Toilet Paper Icebreaker

This is one of those ice breaker activities that is easily prepared in most live settings – you only need one roll of toilet paper. Pass this around, and have everyone rip off how much they would usually use. Everyone will feel awkward & will not really see the point at the beginning & possibly think you’ve lost it.

When everyone has taken off a few squares, they should count them. The amount they have is how many fun facts they should reveal about themselves. A warning though: this is an activity that is best suited for more lighthearted occasions and you’ll want to know your audience a bit before trying this!

​Show and tell

Group icebreakers are important, even in teams that know each other well. For more established groups, where people are more familiar with each other, it’s always good to dedicate a day, or an afternoon for “show and tell”. Each team member gets the chance (not all at once of course) to showcase something – an object or a topic that they are interested in.

Try making this activity part of a group routine at the start of every team meeting for bonus points. Creating this habit gives less exhibitionist characters a chance to share and it is also a great practice to hone presentation skills and handle the attention & tricky questions.

Show and Tell   #gamestorming   #action   #opening   #meeting facilitation   Show and Tell taps into the power of metaphors to reveal players’ underlying assumptions and associations around a topic The aim of the game is to get a deeper understanding of stakeholders’ perspectives on anything—a new project, an organizational restructuring, a shift in the company’s vision or team dynamic.

Quick ice breaker games

When you have a tightly packed agenda, it’s useful to have some quick icebreakers you can use to warm up the group in a pinch. These activities are simple to explain, fast to run, and work great in large or small groups . They also can double as after-lunch energizers to encourage team members to engage in what’s next!

Here are some of our favorite games you can use to break the ice in a group in ten minutes or less! Prefer something that requires even less set-up? Check out our collection of icebreaker questions for a set of effective conversation starters.

One Word at a Time

Apple, orange and banana, conversation questions, diversity welcome, stress balls, object meditation.

• Have you ever? (Stand up if)

Ice breaker ideas can come from anywhere, and so can great ideas. Create a surprise sentence by saying one word at a time. Give a general topic. The first person in the group says one word to a topic. The next person continues with another word.

Eventually, the group creates a whole sentence by each member contributing only one word at a time. The outcome is always unexpected & almost always funny. Make sure people don’t say two words when using articles or pronouns.

One Word Method   #product development   #idea generation   #creativity   #icebreaker   #online   #warm up   Creating a sentence relating to a specific topic or problem with each person contributing one word at a time.

Some of the best quick icebreakers promote team bonding by simply encouraging the group to be silly and have fun. This game is designed to do just that!

Start by asking your group to stand in a circle with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front. Explain that when you shout either apple, orange or banana they must perform the associated action: moving forward, backward or spinning around. When the group is comfortable, mix it up by saying two or even three words in sequence!

This great icebreaker game gets everyone moving, generates lots of laughter, and is a wonderful activity to use after breaks too.

Apple, Orange and Banana!   #energiser   #icebreaker   #fun   #teambuilding   Fun energiser to create energy and fun. Great to use after breaks such as lunch or coffee breaks.

Sometimes the best and fastest icebreakers are also the simplest! Use this collection of 25 icebreaker questions as the basis for letting to group get to know each other, or have participants answer in rapid-fire!

Small groups might wish to mingle and ask questions one on one, while you might invite larger groups to answer questions by raising their hand to answer. Whatever way you go, these icebreaker questions are a great starting point for team bonding and helping participants get to know other group members.

Conversation Questions   #connection   #icebreaker   #trust   #meeting facilitation   #opening  

Quick icebreakers also have the potential to set the right tone for your meeting or workshop. The focus of his activity is to promote diversity and help create an inclusive environment for your session. Start by naming a possible trait of someone who may be present and saying they are welcome. For example, “If you love dogs, you are welcome here! If you prefer cats, you are welcome here!”

Slowly move into deeper territory by naming traits and concepts that resonate with your audience. With established groups, invite participants to share their own welcome, focusing on helping everyone in the room feel safe and welcome.

Diversity welcome   #diversity   #inclusion   #opening   #remote-friendly   #hybrid-friendly   The intention of the diversity welcome is inclusion. It can be long or short. The common element is to inclusively name a range of possibilities with a genuine “Welcome!”

We love games that not only function as a fun introduction but also offer a way to improve company culture. Stress Balls is a fast-paced icebreaker that helps highlight the importance of communication and teamwork while also encouraging lots of fun.

Begin by simply asking participants to stand in a circle and pass a ball to their left. Debrief and ask how the task went before asking participants to try again while moving the ball faster. Introduce further complexity until the game becomes a mess! While the result is chaotic fun, it also offers a very teachable lesson about how teams can communicate in order to achieve great results.

Stress Balls   #energiser   #communication   #teamwork   #team   #thiagi   #action   #icebreaker   Understanding the importance of communication and teamwork is an important requirement for high performance teams of knowledge workers. This exercise is an effective energizer that requires communication and teamwork. Ask participants to form a circle and throw a ball around to simulate the movement of a message. Change different variables such as speed, quantity, and complexity to create a mess.

Just because an icebreaker can be done quickly doesn’t mean it can’t also be mindful! This focused meditation activity is a wonderful way to open a meeting and encourage everyone to be present.

First, have everyone choose an object that is close to them and invite them to close their eyes. Next, ask the group to notice how they feel and to consider any feelings that aren’t serving them right now. Invite them to transfer these feelings into the object they are holding for the duration of the meeting and then come back to the room.

Combined with a quick debrief, this method is a great way to gently break the ice with your group. Check out the full method below for a script you can follow too!

Object Meditation   #icebreaker   #meditation   #emotional intelligence   #managing emotions   #check-in   #self-awareness   A focused meditation to become present and aware. We accept our feelings, leaving behind what we doesn’t serve us right now. A ideal way to open a workshop or team meeting.

Use this ice breaker activity at, or very near, the start of a course, workshop or meeting where people don’t know each other to help get to know everyone’s names. Have the group sit in a circle where everyone can see the others. The first person says their name. The next person continues, but after saying their own name, they repeat the first person’s name. This continues with each person repeating one more name. Reassure people towards the end that it’s ok if they get stuck & encourage the others to jump in to help if anyone is lost.

Name Game   #opening   #icebreaker   #energiser   Use the exercise at, or very near, the start of a course, workshop or meeting where people don’t know each other as it helps to learn names of each other

​Have you ever? (Stand up if)

Prior to the workshop the facilitator prepares a list of questions which can only be answered with yes or no. These questions should begin with “Have you ever…?” or “Stand up if…”. The facilitator reads out the questions or statements one by one. For each statement the participants stand up if they could answer the statement with yes.

The questions should be designed to not be discriminatory, intimidating or insulting. Possible topics can be countries visited, dishes, games or sports tried, movies seen etc. This should be quite familiar to people before they attend the meeting or workshop and is quick and easy to understand – ice breaker ideas don’t need to be brand new to be effective!

Stand up if   #icebreaker   #sharing   #opening   #energiser   #online   #remote-friendly   short, fun, energizing team activity

This is a quick ice breaker game where players have to form an orderly line without any discussion, or any verbal cues or help at all. The line is formed by predetermined criteria (like height, or color of each person’s eyes etc.). and gently asks people to start working together to get themselves into order.

With a more familiar group, try adding more complication to encourage your team to think more deeply. This icebreaker helps develop team collaboration and non-verbal communication, and it’s great when kicking of a training session with lots of talking later!

Line-Up   #hyperisland   #energiser   In the short group challenge, participants must organize themselves in a line according to a certain criteria (like height) without speaking. The activity promotes non-verbal communication and teamwork. Simpler versions of the activity can be used in early stages of group development while more complex versions can be used to challenge more established groups.

Ice Breaker Games for Meetings

Using an ice breaker at the start of a meeting is a great way to encourage group members to be present and get things started on the right foot. Effective opening activities energize everyone, helping them ‘arrive’ mentally and leave behind whatever task or thought they were previously working on.

They can also help clarify the objectives of the meeting and position the group for what’s coming next. While many of the ice breakers in this collection work well for work, we’ve found these ones especially effective. Here are some ice breakers for meetings to help ensure your next team meeting is a success!

Coat of Arms

One word exercise, the real reason why you are here, lego metaphors, weather check-in.

• Rain Icebreaker

Celebrate the wins in your team

Mindfulness icebreaker, purpose mingle.

This game is a great way for players to introduce themselves and their colleagues. It’s especially fun for people who think they already know each other very well – almost every time there are at least a few surprises!

Sometimes these new nuggets of wisdom can have an immediate effect on the employees’ relationships, current projects or challenges. Since you have to draw, rather than explain, it serves double duty for topics like problem-solving, creative thinking and innovation. Fun icebreakers for meetings don’t get much better than this!

Coat of Arms   #teambuilding   #opening   #icebreaker   #team   #get-to-know   #thiagi   Coat of Arms exercise provides a way for participants to introduce themselves and their colleagues, particularly for groups who think they already know each other very well. Almost invariably participants discover something about their colleagues of which they previously had no idea. Occasionally this revelation has an immediate and direct application to another participant’s current project or challenge.Because this activity forces people to use drawings rather than words, it is particularly useful as a dual-purpose introductory exercise in training sessions that deal with such topics as innovation, creativity, and problem-solving.

Pick a phrase that is central to the reason you’ve gathered and have everyone write down or say a word that comes to their mind in relation to it. If you’re leading a meeting about planning an upcoming project, ask participants to share one word that they think describes the goal or the processes that are needed.

Once everyone has shared their phrases, discuss the results. This ice breaker helps explore different viewpoints about a common challenge, before starting the meeting.

When we first arrive in a meeting, we’re often carrying other things with us. The stress of unfinished work, thinking about the evening or just what we’re having for lunch. Encourage your team to be present and think about why they are in your meeting or workshop with this simple ice breaker that helps spark conversation.

Begin by asking the group to state the concious reason for being in the meeting, and then invite them to consider the deeper reasons for being in the session. The surfacing of these deeper reasons for being present can be surprising, but are often useful for the group to discuss while breaking the ice!

The real reason why you are in this workshop   #constellations   #objectives   #icebreaker   #warm up   A deep-dive method to reveal the subconscious reason why you are in a workshop. Facilitator goes first and by doing so invites the other participants to incorporate the

For some meetings, time can be short. Quick but fun icebreaker activities like this one can be an effective way of getting a read of how everyone is doing while still being time efficient.

Begin this ice breaker by asking each member of the group to share how they are feeling & what’s going on for them right now in the language of weather. For example, I’m feeling like it’s mostly sunny skies with a bit of a rain cloud looming or I feel like I’m in the eye of a tornado! I’ve found this game especially useful when working with remote teams, for whom a metaphor can feel like a safe way to share in a group setting.

Weather check in   #opening   #listening and awareness   #self-awareness   #teambuilding   #em   Each person describes how they are feeling as they are weather

Each participant gets a set of few LEGO bricks (identical sets to everyone – a few items, around 5-10 bricks per person will suffice). Everyone builds something that relates to the topic of the meeting.

Afterwards, everyone gets 30 seconds to explain what their building means (e.g ‘My Home’, ‘Interesting Experiment’, ‘The coolest computer ever’) and how it relates to the topic of the meeting. (Optional: the figures/buildings and the metaphors may be used later on to help discussions around the table.) Remember that icebreaker games for work don’t need to sacrifice fun, and some of the best team building icebreakers are creative and allow people to get in touch with their inner child!

LEGO Challenge   #hyperisland   #team   A team-building activity in which groups must work together to build a structure out of LEGO, but each individual has a secret “assignment” which makes the collaborative process more challenging. It emphasizes group communication, leadership dynamics, conflict, cooperation, patience and problem solving strategy.

Rain icebreaker

Encouraging everyone to be present and engaged at the start of your meeting doesn’t need to be complicated. By simply getting everyone in the room participating in the same goal, this icebreaker can quickly help everyone “arrive” in the session.

Start by having everyone in the front of the room rub their hands together vigorously. Row by row, get more people to join in until you reach the back of the room. Next, have the first row switch to clicking their fingers and proceed through the room in the same way. Go back and forth between clicking and rubbing in order to replicate the sound of rain and then invite the group to stop and enjoy a break in the shower.

Rain icebreaker   #icebreaker   #energizer   #collective intelligence   #warm up   This meeting icebreaker is a great energizer to do right before a break or coming back from a break, especially if you have stragglers

An easy icebreaker that will have everyone feeling good before a meeting. Go around a circle and highlight a story – an action, decision or result – that can and should be praised from each team member. Something where they reached beyond their typical responsibilities and excelled.

Have everyone acknowledge and thank each other for surpassing expectations. This is a great mood booster – by lifting each other up, the energy just starts to vibrate in the room. Everyone likes to be recognized. Ice breakers for meetings that give people the chance to celebrate success can be key in setting a great tone for the meeting to come.

The best ice breaker games often have a very clear goal. You can use this method at the beginning of any meeting to set the stage and get people thinking about what they can contribute. It’s a simple way to get started and always gets results!

At the beginning of your session, have people walk around & share with others what they will contribute to that particular session. It’s a great way to enhance engagement & help people set goals and hold themselves accountable. It also makes others aware of everyone’s intent and can help prevent misunderstandings.

Meetings can sometimes become difficult because attendees come in stressing about the topic or are distracted by things outside of the meeting.

In this mindful ice breaker, ask people to take a few moments to “check-in” with themselves and write down their worries, energy levels, and what else is on their mind. After everyone is done, they should rip up their answers and discard them. This helps them identify their state, let go of their worries and have better focus & more empathy towards others.

What are you bringing to the meeting   #teampedia   #opening   #team   #check-in   A good way  to start a meeting/workshop/training to see how participants are feeling, what might be distractions that they are carrying with themselves into the room and how low/high their energy level is.

Fun Ice Breaker Games to Support Team Building

Ice breaker games are not only useful at the beginning of meetings or getting to know new people. They are also a great way to support team building, by creating a positive atmosphere, helping people relax and break down barriers.

Team building icebreakers can also reveal new information about colleagues that otherwise you wouldn’t discover during your everyday routine. Remember that successful teams are often those who’ve gotten to know each other better on a personal level too!

Team icebreakers such as those below are great for enhancing team bonding and empowering everyone in the group to move forward together. Let’s take a look!

Break the Ice with The Four Quadrants Activity

Team jigsaw puzzle game, back to back drawing, scavenger hunt, electric fence icebreaker, low tech social networking.

The Four Quadrants is a fun and creative team icebreaker than can be adapted for any situation. It is super easy to prep for and set up – you only need large sheets of paper (flipcharts or similar) and markers. Have people draw up a 2×2 grid and ask them four questions. They should draw the answers in each quadrant.

Questions can cover topics like current challenges, stressors, defining moments, moments of pride, fears, desired outcome for the current gathering etc. Afterwards they can show each other their drawings and discuss their creations. The exercise is fun, colorful and visual and can be modified to work with any group and/or topic just by changing the questions.

Break the Ice with The Four Quadrants Activity   #team   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   #teambuilding   The Four Quadrants is a tried and true team building activity to break the ice with a group or team. It is EASY to prep for and set up. It can be MODIFIED to work with any group and/or topic (just change the questions). It is FUN, COLORFUL and works every time!

Separate people into teams. Give each a very different jigsaw puzzle (with equal difficulty & number of pieces). Each group has the same amount of time to complete the puzzle.

The secret twist is to switch up a few pieces with the other groups beforehand! Fun icebreakers can help keep a team on their toes and encourage creative thinking – try ice breakers for meetings that include an edge of competitiveness and fun to really liven things up.

The goal is to finish before the others – so they must figure out collectively how to convince other teams to give up pieces they need. This can be through barter, merging or changing teams, donating minutes, etc.

This is a longer game, but one that is worth doing, since it encourages teamwork on several levels – internally and externally too.

Jigsaw Puzzle   #team   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   #teampedia   This game is useful as a side-activity during breaks, as it encourages starting conversations between random people.

Two people should sit facing away from each other. One receives a picture of an object or phrase. Without saying directly what they see, they should describe it to their pair without using words that clearly give it away. Their pair has to draw a specific picture.

The game requires two people to sit facing away from each other, where one team member is given a picture of an object or word. Without specifying directly what it is, the other person must describe the image without using words that clearly give away the image. This is a great team building game to develop verbal communication and is a fun alternative to more traditional icebreaker games.

Back-2-Back Drawing   #communication   #collaboration   #trust   #icebreaker   #teampedia   #action   This is a communication exercise when participants in pairs have to use only verbal communication to help their pair to draw a specific picture. There are several variations of the exercise detailed in the instructions.

Many people have great memories from a childhood scavenger hunt. Recreating this experience to let our the inner child and work as a team is one of our favourite icebreaker games for adults too! Start by creating a list of items that need to be gathered and then split your group into small teams to try and find them all to kick off your scavenger hunt.

Working with a remote or hybrid team? Try the virtual scavenger hunt below! Be sure to put in items that require a wide range of skills and thinking and diverse personalities to be completed successfully. A scavenger hunt is also a great opportunity to mix people into teams who don’t typically work together and bring them together with ice breaker games.

Virtual scavenger hunt   #energiser   #teambuilding   #remote-friendly   A fun team-building energiser that encourages groups to recreate the scavenger hunt experience in a fully remote environment! 

This is a great energiser that requires players to move about as they build an imaginary electric fence. They have to try and cross it without touching it and getting “electrocuted”. The fence can be represented by a rope or a shoe string tied between two objects. It should be about waist high. Players can’t go under it, this is not limbo dancing!

They must also be touching a teammate with at least one hand at all times. This ice breaker activity requires quick brainstorming, problem-solving and negotiating other ideas. Make sure that people who are uncomfortable with physical contact have an option to not participate but still feel involved in the brainstorming part. Inclusive games make for some of the best ice breakers: be sure to bare this in mind when deciding on icebreaker games for work or your next meeting.

The object of this ice breaker game is to introduce event participants to each other by co-creating a mural-sized, visual network of their connections. – great for medium size events where participants come from different organisations. All participants will need a 5×8 index card and access to markers or something similar to draw their avatar. They will also need a substantial wall covered in butcher paper to create the actual network.

Once their avatar is ready, they “upload” themselves by sticking their card to the wall. Then they find the people they know and draw lines to make the connections. This is one of our favourite ice breakers when working with large, multi-discipline groups where connections might not be immediately obvious.

Low-tech Social Network   #gamestorming   #icebreaker   #opening   The object of this game is to introduce event participants to each other by co-creating a mural-sized, visual network of their connections.

Ice Breaker Games for Small Groups

While many of the icebreaker games above can be adapted for any group size, these activities are especially effective when working with groups of less than 15 people.

These small group icebreakers are great at using the extra space to create opportunities for team bonding and deeper sharing between team members. They’re also designed so you’re not left with awkward silences just because you don’t have a massive team taking part!

Interview icebreaker

• Paper telephone

One of the major benefits of small group icebreaker games is space for participants to talk and get to know each other a little more than they would in a group of 20+ people. Interview is a playful way to get team members talking at the start of a session while also introducing the topic of the workshop or meeting.

Start by getting people into pairs. One person begins by being a reporter and then other will be the interviewee. For three minutes, the reporter will interview the other person on a chosen subject and attempt to get as much information as they can before switching roles. Encourage the group to really get into their roles and provide some example questions to guide the group toward the topic of the day.

Interview   #warm up   #icebreaker   #energiser   The interview is a good warm up for every training or workshop session. Playful start in which the participants will start to communicate with and come to know each other, directing the thinking toward the topic of the day. It is usually a very cheerful activity. Az interjú egy jó bemelegítés, jégtörő minden tréninghez vagy workshophoz. Játékos kezdés, amelyben a résztvevők elkezdenek megismerkedni és kommunikálni egymással, miközben a gondolataikat már a nap témája felé irányítjuk.

Spending time in a small group is a great opportunity to get to know people a little more deeply. This game encourages players to share more about themselves than an average icebreaker, and it’s a fun way to kickstart creative thinking too!

Start by assembling a box of interesting objects (photos will do in a pinch!). Next, invite participants to choose an object without overthinking it and then explain who they are, why they chose the object and what they think the connection between the object and the workshop is.

Magic Box   #team   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   #teambuilding   #remote-friendly   Ice breaking at the beginning of the workshop/meeting

Paper Telephone

Paper telephone is a fun icebreaker that encourages creativity and laughter by combining two classic games: telephone and pictionary. Start by handing out a stack of small papers and pens, and invite each team member to write a sentence on the first piece of paper. Players then pass their stack to the next person who must read the sentence and then create a visual representation of that sentence on the next piece of paper in the stack.

Play proceeds around the circle, with players needing to transform back and forth between words and images. Often, by the time you get your original stack back, the sentence has gone on a weird and wonderful transformation!

While you can play paper telephone with larger groups, the more people you add, the longer it takes. Doing this icebreaker in a small group means you have more time to share what people came up with and the journey you all went on together.

Paper Telephone   #teampedia   #icebreaker   #creativity   #team   #action   Paper Telephone is a mix of two methods, “Telephone” and “Pictionary”. It is a creative game aiming to fasten the get-to-know each other phase of the team while having a good time.

The human knot is a fun, physical icebreaker that is best played in groups of 7-16 people. It’s a great way to break the ice while also creating energy and a sense of fun.

Start by getting the group to stand in a circle and ask them to close their eyes. Next, everyone reaches out and links one hand with someone across the circle. Then they link the other hand with another person in the circle. Then, ask everyone to open their eyes and try to untangle the knot they’ve made without breaking the chain!

Human Knot   A physical-participation disentanglement puzzle that helps a group learn how to work together (self-organize) and can be used to illustrate the difference between self-organization and command-control management or simply as a get-to-know-you icebreaker. Standing in a circle, group members reach across to connect hands with different people. The group then tries to unravel the “human knot” by unthreading their bodies without letting go of each other people’s hands. As a management-awareness game to illustrate required change in behavior and leadership on a management level (e.g., illustrate the change from ‘task-oriented’ management towards ‘goal/value-oriented’ management).

Working with small groups creates an opportunity for greater depth. In this icebreaker game, invite team members to draw their life as a map, using common symbols and signs you might find on a map. Stop signs, deer crossings, mountainous areas…the choice of how to illustrate your life story is yours!

Give time after drawing for everyone to share and for others to ask questions. The connections, conversations and shared understandings that come out of this reflective icebreaker can set a wonderful right tone for the work ahead.

Life map   #team   #teampedia   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   With this activity the participants get to know each other on a deeper level.

Ice Breaker Games to Improve Teamwork and Collaboration

Good ice breaker games usually all have a strong aspect of teamwork and collaboration as people work together in groups to accomplish a challenge or solve a puzzle. Therefore these team icebreakers can also be used as part of team building events and team development workshops. They are meant to fast-track group familiarity and increase the socialization process in a new or existing environment.

With increased social interaction, people naturally learn how to work together more productively – the mood can warm up between colleagues who are normally highly formal with each other. The best ice breakers have the power to strengthen coworker bonds, stimulate better brainstorming sessions, and create an atmosphere of inclusivity.

Here, we’ve collected ice breaker activities to help improve teamwork and collaboration in a more involved manner.

The Marshmallow Challenge

Helium stick, blind square – the perfect square, desert island.

In eighteen minutes, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. To complete the marshmallow challenge, the marshmallow needs to be on top and hopefully, not fall off! This icebreaker game emphasizes group communication, leadership dynamics, collaboration, innovation and problem solving strategy.

Genuinely fun icebreakers for meetings can be hard to find – The Marshmallow Challenge is one of those icebreaker games for work that feels almost like play. The Marshmallow Challenge was developed by Tom Wujec, who has done the activity with hundreds of groups around the world. Definitely give it a try.

Marshmallow challenge with debriefing   #teamwork   #team   #leadership   #collaboration   In eighteen minutes, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. The marshmallow needs to be on top. The Marshmallow Challenge was developed by Tom Wujec, who has done the activity with hundreds of groups around the world. Visit the Marshmallow Challenge website for more information. This version has an extra debriefing question added with sample questions focusing on roles within the team.

This fun activity could be used as an icebreaker both for people who have just met and for already existing teams. Breaking people up into groups, each one needs a fresh egg, some straws, masking tape and other items for creating a package to protect the egg.

Using the raw materials provided, the team goal is to build a structure that will support a free-falling egg dropped from a predetermined height (e.g. 7 feet) without the egg breaking. Get to know you games with an element of danger are always fun ice breakers for meetings. This is a method that fosters team communication, collaboration and strategic thinking as well.

Egg drop   #teampedia   #collaboration   #teamwork   #icebreaker   #team   This fun activity could be used as an icebreaker for people who have just met but it can be framed as a method that shows and fosters team communication, collaboration and strategic thinking as well.

Solving seemingly simple problems as a group to get everyone working together at the start of a workshop. This game requires one long, thin, light rod (e.g. a broom handle) and a bunch of curious participants!

First, line up people in two rows facing each other. Introduce the Helium Stick and ask participants to hold their index fingers out. Lay the Stick on their fingers & before letting go, have everyone adjust their position so the Stick is horizontal and everyone is touching it. The goal is to lower the Stick to the ground in a way that no one lets go of it at any time.

Pinching, grabbing, or holding on properly to the Stick is not allowed. If the group makes a mistake, they start from the beginning. Helium Stick is a fun icebreaker that asks participants to really engage with one another and we’d recommend it for any team building workshop!

Helium Stick   #teampedia   #team   #teamwork   #icebreaker   #energiser   A great and simple activity for fostering teamwork and problem solving with no setup beforehand.

Blindfold your seated participants. Take a long string or rope with the ends tied together & place it in everyone’s hands. Leave the circle and ask them to form a perfect square from the rope without looking.

When people think they are finished, they can remove their blindfolds to see the result. Ice breakers for meetings don’t always include props or blindfolds, but deploying them effectively can make for a memorable ice breaker.

Blind Square is one of the icebreaker games you can use to highlight leadership and communication – some people will want to take charge, while others are more comfortable following direction. Also, it can be repeated after the first try to see if they can improve their collaboration.

Blind Square – Rope game   #teamwork   #communication   #teambuilding   #team   #energiser   #thiagi   #outdoor   This is an activity that I use in almost every teambuilding session I run–because it delivers results every time. I can take no credit for its invention since it has existed from long before my time, in various forms and with a variety of names (such as Blind Polygon). The activity can be frontloaded to focus on particular issues by changing a few parameters or altering the instructions.

Many of us will have played some variation of this ice breaker game before. This game asks you team: if you were trapped on a desert island, what would you use to survive?

Introduce participants to a list of possible items and have them choose the three they find most essential. Then, they’ll share the items they chose with the rest of the group. This activity works well with a remote team and with larger groups, you may want to separate people into smaller teams where they collaboratively strategize on which items to pick.

The Desert Island   #relationships   #icebreaker   #teamwork   #remote-friendly   Many of us have played a game similar to this before – if you were stranded on a desert island, what essential items would you choose to survive? Participants are given a list of items to choose from and must work together to decide which items will help them stay alive. A great, remote-friendly exercise for a team to work together and share opinions.

Fun Ice Breaker Games

The best ice breakers have the power to strengthen coworker bonds, stimulate better brainstorming sessions, and create an atmosphere of inclusivity.

They’re also incredibly fun to play, making them a welcomed break from regular work activities. They break down barriers that might exist between employees & make it easier for people to communicate with one another.

Ice breakers should also encourage lighthearted interactions that wouldn’t usually take place in the context of a normal workday. When the correct game is chosen, everyone benefits from the energy they bring to any meeting or event. Remember that even some business-critical meetings can benefit from a bit of levity and fun!

Here are some ice breaker ideas for when you just want to have fun with your team.

Portrait Gallery

• What is my name

Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

Crazy handshake, the movie pitch icebreaker, share a joke, the no smiling icebreaker, hello kitty.

This ice breaker activity is a fun one that requires some creativity. It enhances a sense of community because people have to draw the others as a group – not just between the drawers, but the recipients of the portraits too. The outcome is very visual and colorful and the result images can be put up in the meeting room afterward! Meeting ice breakers that produce physical results that can be shared can really help ensure the good vibes of the meeting continue afterward!

Portrait Gallery   #hyperisland   #team   #icebreaker   The Portrait Gallery is an energetic and fun icebreaker game that gets participants interacting by having the group collaboratively draw portraits of each member. The activity builds a sense of group because it results with each participant having a portrait drawn of him/herself by the other members of the group together. It also has a very colourful visual outcome: the set of portraits which can be posted in the space.

​What is my name

Stick the name of a well-known celebrity or public figure on people’s backs. Have players mingle and ask each other questions to find out who they are. This is a light game that initiates easy conversations without forced & awkward small talk. Make sure the figures are generally well recognizable. What is my name is one of those icebreaker games for work that is easy to set up and get going and is fun for all involved.

This is a warm-up to really get a group energized. It is a game based on the traditional Rock Paper Scissors game but with a twist. The people who lost become fans and have to cheer for the players still in the game. The final is cheered on by a large crowd & the excitement is through the roof! If there are a larger number of people, you can have multiple tournaments. Fun icebreakers don’t need to be complicated. Keep your ice breaker simple and ensure everyone can get involved easily.

Rock, Paper, Scissors (Tournament)   #energiser   #warm up   #remote-friendly   This is a fun and loud energiser based on the well-known “Rock, Paper, Scissor” game – with a twist: the losing players become the fan of the winners as the winner advances to the next round. This goes on until a final showdown with two large cheering crowds! It can be played with adults of all levels as well as kids and it always works! 

Set up harmless obstacles in the room you’re meeting in. Use squeaky toys, whoopie cushions, bubble wrap and the like. Everyone takes turns going around the course while blindfolded, guided by their teammates. The goal is: help each to navigate through the minefield.

While this game often results in lots of laughter, it also helps teach the importance of clear communication and trusting your team.

Minefield   #teampedia   #teamwork   #action   #team   #icebreaker   A fun activity that helps participants working together as a team while teaching the importance of communication, strategy and trust.

This ice breaker helps people ease into a group and brings out their creativity without a lot of effort. Splitting the group into pairs, each pair develops a creative handshake. Once done, the pair splits and each individual partners with another group member. The newly formed pair then teaches each other the original handshakes and together creates a new one. You can break up and pair off people as many times as you want.

Crazy Handshake   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   #opening   #teampedia   #team   This activity helps people ease in a group and brings out their creativity without a lot of effort.

Divide players into several groups and have each team come up with an idea for a movie they want to make. They should prepare a pitch within 10 minutes. Once everyone had a chance to tell their idea, all players vote on which idea deserves ‘funding’.

The winners won’t start to make their film, but they should get awarded with either a funny object or some treats. We love using creative icebreakers like to ease people in and get used to collaborating and giving feedback ahead of the main discussion.

For this game, you have to have quick reactions or you’ll be eliminated. Have everyone stand in a circle with one person in the middle as the ‘sheriff’. They must surprise other players by pointing to them. These people must quickly crouch and those on either side of them have to quickly ‘draw’ their weapons. If you are too slow, you switch places & become the sheriff.

This icebreaker is a wonderful way to increase group energy before starting a meeting in earnest, and it also helps people learn names too! If you’re working with an especially large group, note that it’s better to play in parallel before finishing with a final showdown!

Bang   #hyperisland   #energiser   Bang is a group game, played in a circle, where participants must react quickly or face elimination. One person stands in the middle of the circle as “the sheriff”, pointing at other players who must quickly crouch while those on either side of them quickly “draw”. A good activity to generate laughter in a group. It can also help with name-learning for groups getting to know each other.

Have new teammates tell a joke at their first all-hands meeting. This is a great way to encourage people to be vulnerable and also ensures the meetings start on a cheery note. Remember that opening activities needn’t be complicated to be effective and when looking for ice breaker ideas, don’t discount the simple joy of making others laugh!

This is a simple icebreaker activity that energizes participants, and it’s also suitable for highlighting spontaneity and teamwork. The activity involves participants standing in a circle and throwing imaginary ball(s) to each other in increasing pace. When throwing the first ball, the person starting should make a special sound that has to be repeated by the catcher upon receiving the ball.

Once the ball is being thrown around at a fairly brisk pace, you can introduce another imaginary ball and start throwing it. When the group gets proficient at it, you can have three or four balls in play!

Sound Ball   #energiser   #icebreaker   #thiagi   #team   #outdoor   This a simple icebreaker activity energising participants, also suitable for debriefing learning points towards spontaneity and teamwork. The activity involves participants standing in a circle and throwing imaginary ball(s) to each other in increasing pace.

This is a seemingly contradictory ice breaker that actually results in lots of smiles. Instruct everyone to keep a straight face and do not smile under ANY circumstance in the first five minutes of the meeting. People turn into children with an instruction like this, and immediately start looking at others, seeing how they are coping. The anticipation makes everyone giggly, so after a while they cannot suppress their laughter anymore. This activity takes zero prep and so is a great one to pull out at the last minute!

Starting a meeting with smiles and laughter is a great way to set the tone for the session. In this fun icebreaker, separate your group into teams of kittens and puppiess. Puppies try to make the kittens laugh or crack a smile by simply saying, “Hello Kitty” in an amusing manner. Any kittens who smile or laugh join the puppies until their is only one kitten left standing!

Encourage the group to be creative and be sure to give kudos to the funniest participants or those who manage to keep a straight face!

Hello Kitty   #hyperisland   #energiser   #remote-friendly   A simple and short group game all about trying to make each other crack a smile. Participants take turns being ‘kitties’ and ‘puppies’. The puppies try to make the kitties crack a smile or laugh. The last kitty standing is the winner! An original from The Northern Quarter Agency.

From icebreaker to completed agenda

Now you’ve discovered the perfect icebreaker, it’s time to create the rest of your meeting!

With SessionLab, you drag, drop and reorder blocks to create your agenda in a snap. Your session timing adjusts automatically as you make changes and when you’re done, you can share a beautiful printout with your colleagues and participants.

Explore how facilitators use SessionLab to build effective workshops and meetings or watch this five minute video to get started!

Now over to you!

Your meetings and workshops don’t have to be boring. We hope you have found some useful tips for practical and fun ice breaker games you can use in your next session!

What are your favorite ice breaker activities? Have you tried any of the methods above? How did you find them? Let us know about your experiences in the comments. Want to see even more great icebreaker ideas? Our collection of icebreaker questions contains heaps of conversation starters you can bring to your next session.

Want to go further? Check out our guide to planning an effective workshop to start building more engaging sessions with better outcomes!

20 Comments

tHIS was a life saver. I forgot that I had to present a game (or what-ever) for a Red Hat meeting tomorrow. You SAVED THE DAY, so to speak….so many, many thanks. frankanz

That’s fantastic to hear, I’m so happy we could help you – thanks for sharing your story :-)

Thanks for this list! some great finds in here (I LOVE the portrait gallery!) – have saved 10 faves and will definitely us the passions tic-tac-toe and rock paper scissors tournament at next workshop :D

That’s awesome to hear, I’m happy you got some useful ideas! (The portrait gallery is one of my favourite tools, too :-)

Great list! Here are some of the icebreakers I use: 1- Batikha (Watermelon in Arabic) The group sits or stands in a circular form. One person starts by placing their palms on their mouth as if they are holding a ball (watermolon) and passing it to the person on their side (if they pass it to the person on their right, they must use their left hand pointing to the right direction), the next person carries on with this rhythm. At any point anyone could decide to reverse the path of the ball by changing their hand and the pointing to the other person. This is when it gets tricky because if anyone else -other than the person pointed to) takes an action by raising their hands they get out of the circle. Additional if someone points the ball upwards, it means the next person will be skipped and the following person should complete the cycle. I don’t know if it makes sense in writing, it’s very simple through :) 2- Say what? This games involves a person (usually the trainer) asking each one individually a series of questions. The person who answers must answer truthfully without saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or make any gestures or sounds that means yes or no. They also can’t think for more than three seconds and they cannot repeat what the trainer asked. The trainer must get tricky by asking follow-up questions like: What’s your favorite book? answer… But isn’t out of publish? The participant will probably say no and lose.

Thank you, Nahla, great to see your favourite ice breaker activities, too – thanks for sharing!

This is an Awesome with great fun usable ideas!!

You’re welcome, Joshua – great to see that you’ve found the post useful!

Board/card games teach important social skills, such as communicating verbally, sharing, waiting, and taking turns. It can also foster the ability to focus and lengthen one’s attention span by encouraging the completion of an exciting, enjoyable game. Check this newly found card gamehttps://lagimcardgame.com/ and see how interesting and creative it is.

These are some amazing ideas! Thank you

These are all so good! You usually can’t find so many good ideas in one place. Thanks so much!

Excellent list and love the card format of the activity. Thanks. For Icebreaker questions I use icebreakrs.io.

Thank you very much! Very useful!

thank you very much very useful

This will help each other in the team professionally and personally , we can share ideas and solve problems .Awesome!!

Thank you for this great collection of wonderful and fun icebreakers and activities. Here’s a favorite icebreaker called Paris, Rome, or New York.

Objectives: To get participants to share their opinions, encourage listening, and promote better discussion in the group.

Method: This is a very simple exercise that participants can also have some fun with.

Ask participants of the training event to imagine themselves in each of the cities above. And, what they would like to do there? What would they work at? Would their life be different? If so, in what ways?

Once each person has described who they would like to get the group in a circle to discuss the exercise.

This exercise also encourages questioning and listening skills within the group and individuals’ perceptions of different things.

Discussion Questions: Did anyone feel uncomfortable doing this exercise? If so, why? How can this exercise help us during today’s training event? Of all the places presented does anyone want to change? If so why or why not?

Great ideas and will use this week at our yearly NHS Nurse away day. Thank You

These are some great ideas. I do both online and face-to-face education, so the variations are really nice. I also do an exercise called, “How did I get here?” Everyone takes a sheet of chart paper and some markers and writes or draws (or both) how they got to where they are and what led them to the course. I give them 10 minutes and then we share as a group. If too many to share in a large group, create several smaller groups and they share to that group. You can get some really interesting responses.

Dear Robert Cserti, My gratitude to you….Thank you so much .Iam using these games as ice breakers ,related to many topics and also in out bound training. Sharing the knowledge ..that’s amazing and tells that u lead by example. Great work!!!! with regards Anu Shakthi :-)

Many times link with ice breakers are disappointing. This was packed full of easy to use, possible to tweak. And amazing ideas!

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Going from a mere idea to a workshop that delivers results for your clients can feel like a daunting task. In this piece, we will shine a light on all the work behind the scenes and help you learn how to plan a workshop from start to finish. On a good day, facilitation can feel like effortless magic, but that is mostly the result of backstage work, foresight, and a lot of careful planning. Read on to learn a step-by-step approach to breaking the process of planning a workshop into small, manageable chunks.  The flow starts with the first meeting with a client to define the purposes of a workshop.…

How does learning work? A clever 9-year-old once told me: “I know I am learning something new when I am surprised.” The science of adult learning tells us that, in order to learn new skills (which, unsurprisingly, is harder for adults to do than kids) grown-ups need to first get into a specific headspace.  In a business, this approach is often employed in a training session where employees learn new skills or work on professional development. But how do you ensure your training is effective? In this guide, we'll explore how to create an effective training session plan and run engaging training sessions. As team leader, project manager, or consultant,…

Effective online tools are a necessity for smooth and engaging virtual workshops and meetings. But how do you choose the right ones? Do you sometimes feel that the good old pen and paper or MS Office toolkit and email leaves you struggling to stay on top of managing and delivering your workshop? Fortunately, there are plenty of online tools to make your life easier when you need to facilitate a meeting and lead workshops. In this post, we’ll share our favorite online tools you can use to make your job as a facilitator easier. In fact, there are plenty of free online workshop tools and meeting facilitation software you can…

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Group Size: Any Size,  space allowing Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills:  Concentration, Following instructions, Speed Equipment: No Equipment Download Activity PDF https://youtu.be/88QLo21O8Xg Use the link below to subscribe to our U Tube Channel: Subscribe Now Take action is the perfect activity to energise your group.

Just A Minute

Just A Minute Group Size: Any Key Stages: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Decision making, Communication, Planning. Equipment: A means of timing one minute accurately. Download Activity PDF Just A Minute is a very simple game that can be played in a few different ways. The first is

Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror Group Size: Work in group of 2 Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills : Cooperation, Focus, Attention to detail Equipment: No equipment needed Download Activity PDF Mirror Mirror is a very simple but very effective cooperation game. The students will need to work in groups of two.

The Sitting Circle

The Sitting Circle Group Size: 10 – 30 Key Stages: Upper KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Trust, Communication Equipment: No equipment needed Download Activity PDF The Sitting Circle will require participants to be willing to get close to their team mates. The instructor / teacher will need to organise the team

Fizz Buzz Group Size: 10 – 30 Key Stages: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills : Concentration, Support Equipment: No equipment needed Download Activity PDF Fizz Buzz is a fast paced counting game…..with a twist. The group will need to sit in a circle. Decide where to start the game and that

The Teddy Chase

Size: 10 – 30 Key stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Co-operation, Team Spirit, public speaking if commentating Equipment: Two teddy bears, blindfolds if you are running a variation. Download Activity PDF This is a great team challenge for all ages. With the participants sat in a

Wizards, Knights and Maidens.

Group Size – 20 Key stages –  KS2, KS3, KS4  Team Building Skills : Working together, Following instructions  Equipment – No Equipment Required Download Activity PDF Students work in groups of 2. If the facilitator shout ‘Wizards’ the pair must assume the following position as fast as possible – both

Fruit Salad – Free Team Building Game

For this team building activity everyone is required to stand in a circle. The bigger the group the better – Tricky at the time of print! Go around the circle and give all team members a name – Kiwi, lime, pineapple, banana. These names can be whatever you fancy, although

Free Team Problem Solving Activity – Back To Back aka Sketch It

Back to Back – Sketch it. Students will work in pairs and sit back to back. They will take it in turns to be the describer and the sketcher. The describer will describe a shape without saying the name whilst the sketcher will try to draw the described shape as

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22 Top Team Building Games That People Will Actually Want To Do

Team-building games can be played in and out of the office: you can get to know each other, practice communication skills, and exercise your problem-solving skills.

But my favorite one? Fun.

If you’re looking for a fun activity that your whole team will actually want to do, try these with your team for a bit of bonding. We’ve separated them into different categories so you can find the right ones that fit your space, mood, and available time.

Team-Building Games Here at Workzone

We don’t just sit around making project management software !

We actually have two favorite team-building games. It is a tie between bowling and cooking. We’ve done both multiple times. First, it never gets old seeing people throw a ball down a lane, poorly. Or messing with your team to get them to foul! But second, following a recipe actually takes some patience and listening. Then you get to eat at the end of it!

We’ve also gone ax-throwing as a team-building event too!

So which one of these team-building games will you and your team do??

Part I: No Props Needed

What are No Props Needed team-building games?

No props games are based on communication—whether it be verbal or non—and are super fun without prep or props.

2 Truths and a Lie 

Why play? Breaks the ice; exercises your poker face.

How to play: Have each person share 3 facts about themselves: 2 true and 1 entirely fabricated. Have the rest of the group vote on which “fact” is the lie, after which the speaker can reveal which statement is indeed false.

Conducted Story

Why play? Sharpens communication skills—especially listening and working together to create continuity through a story.

How to play: Have your team sit in a circle and start your story by saying, “Once upon a time…” and having the person next to you finish your sentence. Go around the circle, each person adding a sentence, the goal being to create a coherent, interesting story by the time you get to the end of the circle (or have rounded the circle a few times, depending on your number of team members).

Why play? Sharpen communication skills: this game can only be won by 2 people working together, over and over again—or by one person being creative enough to guess the winning word.

How to play: One person chooses a secret word. They tell the rest of the group what letter it starts with—let’s say, D—then the group asks questions to categorize the mystery word, like, “Is it an animal?”

If the answer is no, the word keeper must answer it by saying “No, it is not a Duck.” (They must answer with a word that fits the letter clues and category given—here, an animal that starts with a D.) If they can’t think of a word matching those restraints before a set amount of time, they have to tell the group the next letter.

This one works best with small teams and can take a few tries to get a handle on, but once you do, it’s super fun! Find more detailed instructions here .

Why play? Sharpens communication skills, reveals who is patient during times of frustration, and reveals who takes on a leadership role.  

How to play: In a circle, shoulder to shoulder, have each person reach out their right hand and grab another hand around the circle at random. Repeat with left hands. The group must untangle their circle without releasing hands within half an hour.

Silent Football

Why play? Practices nonverbal communication and restraint (no talking, laughing, or smiling!). And, you know—just for fun.

How to play: This one’s a bit complicated, but there’s a reason it’s so popular among university students, churchgoers, and pubgoers.

Here’s a basic rundown: you’ll move around the circle, passing an invisible ball from member to member, communicating with one another and passing the ball through only a set of silent gestures. Have a read-up on the rules here and try it at the end of your next meeting—you won’t be disappointed.

Tea & Coffee

Why play? Exercises memorization and listening skills.

How to play: Go around a circle, having the first person state whether they prefer tea or coffee and how they take it (cream, sugar, both, black). Have the second person recall the first person’s preference and tack their own on at the end. Go around the entire circle, where each person must recall the tea/coffee preference of the members before them while adding their own preference.

Part II: Just a Few Props

What are “just a few props” team-building games.

Paper, pen, a deck of cards—you won’t need much for these games, and you can do them all indoors.

A Better Place

Why play? Encourages teamwork to solve real-life workplace issues.

Materials: Paper, pen

How to play: Give small teams of 2-4 people an hour to come up with a plan on how they can improve a certain issue around the office or in the community with a small budget.

Have each team present their ideas at the end of the hour; whoever wins the most votes for best idea wins the small budget needed to make a difference!

Why play? Encourages thinking outside the box, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, and—just for fun—survival skills.

Materials: Pen, paper

How to play: Paint the scenario for your teams of 2-3 people: they’ve just been stranded on a desert island and can only bring 10 things. Give them a list of 20 things—10 actually useful things they’d need to survive on the island, plus 10 decoys of things that may seem important, but actually aren’t

Use this Navy lieutenant’s recommendation list as a guide. Have each team order their list of items chosen and explain why they chose what they did. Whoever’s list matches the Navy lieutenant’s most wins.

Personality Chart

Why Play? To get newly-formed teammates talking to and learning about one another.

Materials: A pen, printouts of a table (described below)

How to play: To prepare, fill in a 5×5 table with characteristics that might apply to some of your team members in each slot, such as:

• has been to Prague
• drinks black coffee
• was born in another country
• plays an instrument
• has a strange pet

Print these and pass them out to your team. Have them go around the room and get team members who match the characteristics listed to sign their name in the box, the goal being to fill up the entire table with names first.

Later, have everyone go around the room and give more backstory to why they were able to sign their name under a certain characteristic.

House of Cards

Why play? To exercise teamwork, communication, and creative thinking skills.

Materials: A deck of cards and pair of scissors for each group of 2-3

How to play: Have each team build a structure of cards using only a deck of cards and a pair of scissors. Whoever can build the tallest structure that holds for 10 seconds wins.

Lights, Camera, Action

Why play? Exercises creativity and teamwork.

Materials: Pen, paper, cup, camera phone

How to play: Write down lots of different movie genres on slips of paper and jumble them in a cup. Divide your team into smaller teams of 2-3 people; have each team choose a slip of paper at random.

They’ll have to write and shoot a short film that falls under the genre selected, takes place in the office, and uses only props readily available. The most compelling short film wins!

Salt and Pepper

Why play? Exercises critical thinking, communication skills.

Materials: Pen, paper, tape

How to play: This one’s great for large groups. Write out a list of pairings—salt and pepper, cat and mouse, Sonny and Cher—with one part of the pair written on one sheet of paper, and one sheet of paper for each person. Tape each sheet to a team member’s back without revealing what’s on it.

Now, the team must work around the room, asking questions to figure out what person or thing is listed on their back and who might be the other person in their pair.  Once a pair has found each other, have them sit down and ask each other 3-5 questions about themselves.

Self Portraits

Why play? Self-expression, artistic expression. Helps team members understand how others see themselves.

Materials: Paper, markers, colored pencils

How to play: Have each person draw a self-portrait anonymously. Collect the portraits, put them up on the wall, and have the team guess which is whose. Once the right person is guessed, have them describe why they drew themselves the way they did.

Sneak-a-Peek

Why play? Teamwork, communication skills. Break down barriers by appointing a lower-level person team leader.

Materials: Basic sculpting or painting materials; a random (but distinctive) sculpture,  object, or photograph

How to play: Split into teams of 2-4 people. Appoint a leader (or “peeker”) to each team. Take the peekers to a separate area to show them the distinctive sculpture, object, or image you’ve chosen. Once the peekers rejoin their team, they have 5 minutes to describe to their teammates what the secret object looks like while their team recreates it best they can.

To make things more interesting, ban your peekers’ use of words obviously associated with the object!

Part III: Strictly Outdoors

What are “strictly outdoors” team-building games.

Exactly what it sounds like. Step outside to do some team building in the fresh air. (I mean, I guess you could do these in a big room instead, but that’s no fun, is it?)

Group Juggle

Why play? Breaks the ice, helps learn names, exercises memorization skills.  

Materials: Ball  

How to play: Have about 10-20 people stand in a circle. One person, say, Jim, starts off by saying, “I’m Jim,” and passes the ball to someone else across the circle. The person who catches it says, “Hi Jim, I’m Rachel.” Then Rachel passes the ball to someone else, following the same pattern. Increase difficulty by increasing speed and the number of balls in the circle.

Why play? Exercises communication and trust.

Materials: A few random, medium-sized objects like cones, balls, bottles, boxes

How to play: Divide the team into pairs and have one of each pair blindfolded. Layout objects in a random pattern in a sort of obstacle course, using 2 distinctive objects for the start and finish marks.

Have the un-blindfolded person lead the blindfolded person through the “minefield” with verbal guidance only. The goal is for the blindfolded person to make it out the other side without having touched any of the objects. The first person to finish wins!

Scavenger Hunt

Why play? Breaks the ice, encourages teamwork

Materials: Pen, paper, camera phone

How to play: Make a list of random, silly tasks your team can do around the neighborhood, like “take a selfie with a police officer” and “walk a stranger’s dog”—using photos as proof. The first team to check off all the tasks wins!

Part IV: Fancy Schmancy

What are “fancy schmancy” team-building games.

If you feel like splurging on your team, or have an employee development budget to spare, you might want to consider treating your team to these fun games that’ll cost a bit more than the ones we’ve mentioned so far.

Improv Workshop

Why play? Encourages teamwork, listening, collaborating (not “no—but…” but “yes—and…”!) and is just plain fun.

Materials: Either a pro improv facilitator or a good instruction book on how to DIY

How to play: Does the local improv troupe/acting school offer group improv lessons? Take your team down for an afternoon of improv fun where they’ll play Whose Line- type games together.

Murder Mystery

Why play? Critical thinking skills, teamwork, and fun.

Materials: A venue (a home or even the office!), dinner, printouts of one of these murder mystery games

How to play: I mean, it doesn’t HAVE to be fancy, but it’s more fun if it is.

Have everyone dress up (according to your particular murder mystery’s theme) and bring a dish! Follow the instructions on your chosen murder mystery scenario, passing out invitations, name tags, maps, and suspect files. Let the team loose in groups of 2-3 and see who figures out whodunnit first.  

Why play? FUN. Also teamwork, communication, and strategy.

Materials: A paintball facility that’ll rent your team equipment and time on their course

How to play: A Saturday morning paintball competition is probably the most fun kind of team building their is. Head to the local paintball venue and ask for a small business discount!

Ropes Course

Why play? It’s the best way to test teamwork skills, determination, and patience.

Materials: A ropes course facility; or a book on how to make one with your own ropes, tools, and lumber.

How to play: Have an expert/venue sort this one out for you. They usually involve obstacles like a 20-foot wall that members must get over, a tightrope walk, and swinging ropes. This is great, but be aware of your team member’s physical ability and their willingness to participate.

Why play? Because golf is terrible and this looks much more fun. We can tell the stiffs in budgeting it’s for team building, though.

Materials: A trip to 1 of TopGolf’s nearly 50 locations and tickets inside

How to play: This one ain’t cheap, and it ain’t easy to describe. It’s basically golf on caffeine: lights, music, obstacles, and targets. But holy heck—gift this experience to your team and they’ll never forget it.

Will you use any of these team-building games?

Have you tried any of these games—or do you plan to? How do you break the ice and build better bonds? What’s worked for you and what hasn’t? Let us know in the comments below.

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Steve Pogue is the Marketing Operations Manager at Workzone . He writes about project management tips and the buying process. When not at Workzone, you can find him playing vintage base ball or relaxing with his family at home.

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23 Problem-solving games for busy work teams

Problem solving is a skill that can serve almost anyone, in any role, in any industry. The ability to think critically, and resolve issues is a welcome talent that is helpful for every organization. How can you encourage such thinking in your team? In this article, we are talking about our favorite problem-solving games, activities, and exercises for work. Use these activities to sharpen the reasoning and decision-making skills of your department or your entire company. Without further ado, let’s dive into the best problem solving games for getting the most of your next work event. 

In-person problem solving games

If you have the opportunity to get your team together in person, that’s a gift! Perhaps you are planning a company retreat or a department-wide in-person meeting. Whatever the circumstances, in today’s more digital workspace, it’s not always easy to have everyone in the same room. When you actually do, make the most of it! These activities are set up for in-person groups. They are part team-building activity, part icebreaker, and all fun! All of these activities are guaranteed to get people thinking, communicating, and having fun. If you have a particularly big group, you may want to browse our article on large group games too. 

1. Treasure hunt

Similar to a scavenger hunt, a treasure hunt is a lot of fun but with a bit more intention. Rather than collecting a random list of items, participants use clues to find more prompts and hints, until the group solves a mystery (or finds a treasure). You can also create a treasure map if you want to play into the “pirate” fantasy a little more. The important thing is that only clues point toward the next stop - areas of the map should not be spelled out, but involve some problem solving and critical thinking to figure out what the clue means. 

2. Story challenge

For the language lovers on your team, try this version of an ongoing story icebreaker. To play, each person receives a number of words (a word bank) that they can use to create a story. Then, everyone reads their piece out loud or presents it to the group. To come up with the words available for each person, you can use a random word generator online, or get creative. For example, consider instructing participants that they can only use words from the company website, or from the emails they received in their inbox yesterday. 

3. Moral dilemma

Similar to a “ would you rather ” game, this activity centers on ethical dilemmas. Players should try to flex their moral problem-solving muscles by tackling a social issue. For example, Scruples is a popular board game that can be played. Or, you can look online for versions of games like Dilemma or Quandary. This is a great way to learn more about your colleagues while getting a peek at the way they think. 

4. Build a shelter

How would you survive if you were stranded in an isolated place with a blizzard coming? Use this activity to find out! As an added complication, you can pretend that everyone is blinded by frostbite (by using blindfolds). The team leader must give the group instructions for building a shelter that can withstand the arctic winds. To play, you need a large space and some supplies. Then, select a leader (who can see) and blindfold everyone else. You’ll also need a large fan. The leader guides everyone in putting together their shelter (remember, while blindfolded). When everyone feels confident that their shelter is up to the test, turn on the fan and see if the structure can withstand the wind! This game is sure to lead to a lot of laughs and you’ll be surprised at some of the clever ideas that people come up with. This is also a powerful exercise for effective leadership - it’s not easy to reach a goal with a group that is blindfolded! Check out our article on team activities especially for leadership as well.

5. Improv games

You may think of improv games as more of an icebreaker activity, but the truth is there is a lot of brain power that goes into well-done improv. Look for ways to add both logic and entertainment to your next improv effort. Consider scenarios like banned words, where people cannot use a certain list of words, or “miracle cure”, where one person shares a problem they’re having and the other person must come up with the solution on the spot. Both are fun and easy ideas that don’t require anything but willing participants! If you need some other quick and easy team building activities , make sure to follow our blog. 

6. Spaghetti tower

In this classic team building game, users try to build a tower using uncooked pasta noodles and marshmallows. The instructions are simple: use the tools at your disposal to design and build the tallest tower in order to win the challenge. You can judge on height alone, or weigh other factors like innovation, number of towers, or stability. For more simple team building activities , make sure to follow our blog. 

7. What would you do?

Another classic icebreaker, this game involves coming up with some scenarios that require brain power to address. Here are some prompts you can use with your group: 

• What would you do if you were at the zoo and all the animals escaped? 
• What would you do if you were the first person to find out about an upcoming zombie apocalypse? 
• What would you do if you were in line for a really important item, and a person cut in front of you, getting the last item? 
• What would you do if you were invited for dinner at the home of someone you really needed to impress, and the food was terrible? 
• What would you do if an imposter that looks and acts just like you infiltrated your organization? How can you convince everyone that you’re the “real” you?

8. “MacGyver” challenge

MacGyver is an older television program where the hero escaped sticky situations by improvising tools made of unlikely materials. You can recreate this set-up in your event space or office. To play, challenge participants to use 3-5 items to reach a desired end result. For example, something like “a way to pick the door lock” or “escape vehicle” are fun options. You can either set out some various equipment, or have people collect their own based on what they can find around the office. Note: if you are doing this in a conference room or other rented space, it makes sense to have a table set up with random odds and ends for people to pick from. 

9. Egg drop challenge

This one will take you back to high school physics class! Break a larger group into smaller teams and challenge them to come up with a container that will protect an egg even when it’s dropped from up high. You can either let people know far enough in advance that they can discuss, design, and collect materials; or you can have supplies ready and have everyone build their creation on the spot. If you go that route, you’ll want to provide a variety of boxes, packing supplies, rubber bands, fabric, etc. Then set up a ladder and have each team drop their container and see if their egg remained intact. 

10. Shrinking circle

Adaptability and flexibility are huge in the business world. One way to focus on both of those items is by playing this simple and silly game. Start out by using a rope to create a large circle that everyone can fit in. Then, every few minutes, make the circle a bit smaller. Depending on how large the circle is in the first place, you can take away an inch or a foot each round. The challenge is for everyone present to stay inside the circle. This will require some serious innovation once the circle gets small, and lots of laughs almost always ensue. Note: People are likely to end up touching each other in this exercise. It’s difficult not to once the space gets small, like a game of Twister. You know your colleagues best - if that level of closeness would make anyone uncomfortable, it’s probably best to try a different exercise. 

Out-of-the-office problem-solving activities

Everyone once in a while, it can be really valuable to get out of your usual work environment and into a new mental space. If your team is planning a multi-day retreat, don’t be afraid to include an organized activity that will help everyone to think more critically. Most towns have at least one option for getting your group together and learning some new ways to problem solve. Do some research on what you have available locally, or work with an organization like Surf Office who can plan your next retreat - including the fun elements that your employees will be talking about for months to come! If you know that you can’t get out of the office right now, stick to this list of indoor team building activities . 

11. Escape room

The goal of an escape room is to follow a series of clues and take on some challenges in order to unlock the space that everyone is locked in. There are usually 5 - 10 puzzles that teams will work together to figure out. Typically finishing one leads to another clue, so that participants can move onto the next phase. Only when they’ve successfully completed all of the tasks can they find the key and escape. While you can definitely set up an escape room on your own, we think it’s worth finding a local version in your town (or wherever your retreat is taking place). These are professionally set up and usually in really cool spaces like an underground bunker or a historic building. An escape room is a good excuse to get out of the office and spend time with coworkers in a new environment. 

12. Murder mystery

These story-based games have people take on a role in a pretend scenario. They may take on a role like detective, dinner guest, or even killer in their dinner. Most of the time the games involve reading lines from a script, searching for clues, or even solving some simple challenges to move onto the next phase. Participants have to pay attention to conversations and context clues in order to get an understanding of who the killer might be. Observation and logic are key to catching the killer. Some murder mysteries involve getting dressed up and having a nice dinner, so if you’re looking for an idea for a big night out capping off your next retreat, this is perfect. 

13. Ax throwing

What do axes have to do with problem solving? You might be surprised. This is definitely an activity you’ll want to go to a professional venue for. Ax throwing outfits have everything you need, plus the right safety precautions. They have everything set up with the proper distances, buffers between throwing stations, safe ax materials, etc. Plus, many of them offer food and drinks! Ax throwing can help with problem solving because most people don’t excel at it their first time. It takes some practice and careful consideration to figure out where to stand, the best stance, the force of the throw, etc. As you take turns, you’ll make adjustments and also consider new methods based on observing your teammates. The more you watch and the more you try, the better you’ll get. In fact, instead of having people compete against each other, we suggest having the team compete against themselves, aiming for a higher total score in their second or third consecutive game. This activity allows you to observe others and then optimize - essentially learning from each other. 

14. Paper boat race

If you are able to visit a location by water, you can try this really fun activity. In this fun and creative exercise, participants build a small boat with paper (and other supplies) and then race them in a small body of water like a pond or stream. The boats are usually made by folding paper into a boat shape, but you can also try offering cardboard, balloons, popsicle sticks, or other crafty materials. You’ll also want to supply materials for decorating so that everyone can really have their creation stand out. Obviously the person who reaches the finish line first is the winner, but you can offer a few other prizes just for fun, like most beautiful boat or best effort. Make sure to check out our article on other creativity and innovation games , too. 

Problem-solving puzzles

When it’s just not possible to get everyone together, you can still encourage your team to put on their thinking caps and hone their skills. There are tons of critical thinking games, puzzles , and even apps that people can use to practice problem solving. You can encourage your team members to play these games in their spare time, or even set up a competition where people log minutes playing such games or using the apps. If you’re feeling really generous, give everyone a small stiped to be used on a problem solving app of their choice. This special touch makes a nice addition to a holiday gift, too!

Sudoku has become one of the most popular problem solving games for adults. There are dozens of free app options, as well as paperback books that you can pick up. The goal of this game is to fill each box on a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. It sounds tricky - and it is - but players tend to find it addicting and the game has grown a huge following in recent years. Encourage people to play on their own by downloading an app or purchasing a puzzle book, or as a team by having the puzzles available in your office or at your next event. 

16. Crossword puzzles

These classic word games have players fill out words based on clues. Words interconnect, and people must think critically about the context clues of what they’ve filled out so far. These puzzles are super versatile and one of the best things about them is that you can make them yourself so they are themed. You can use an online crossword puzzle maker to create a custom puzzle with clues about your business or other relevant subjects. For your next event, it might be fun to have a custom crossword puzzle about your company history or trivia! 

17. Tic-tac-toe tournament

It sounds a little silly, but tic-tac-toe requires more brain power than one might think. Set up an ongoing tic-tac-toe board in your office and encourage people to use it on their breaks or when they have a few minutes to kill. You can set up a scoreboard and keep track of the leader; it’s a lot of fun to see the rankings change and to challenge the top performers. If you need an even simpler version of the same concept, simply set up the Connect Four game board in your break room and let people have at it! 

Problem-solving for virtual teams 

If your team is a bit scattered, it doesn’t mean that you can’t practice solving challenges together. In our digital world, there are plenty of options for online activities that teams can work on either independently or as a group. In the section above, we shared some ideas for independent work. These ideas are designed to bring your team together, no matter where they are. Set a time and have everyone hop onto your preferred communication tool, and then work together tackling these challenges. 

18. Virtual hackathon

A hackathon normally refers to an event where participants have a set amount of time to design and pitch a new product or solution. It’s normally used in the tech space for pitching things like new apps, but you can apply the concept in lots of other ways too. In this online version, teams work with each other using virtual meeting software and pitch ideas to a panel of judges. This type of event requires some advance notice for the participants, as they’ll want to collect a team and come up with some designs. If you want to raise the stakes, offer a prize for first place.

19. Online escape room

Just like an in-person escape room, in an online version people must solve a variety of puzzles in order to make it “out”. Digital escape rooms normally come in one of two ways: in a Zoom “room” led by a host, or in a choose-your-own-adventure style via Google Forms or other websites. To play virtually, staff will enter the meeting and follow the prompts they get, and it might involve screen sharing some Google tools to work on puzzles together. Because of the platforms and tools that may be involved, this activity is better for teams who are a bit more tech-savvy and comfortable with online meetings, apps, etc. 

20. Survival plans

Prioritizing is an important mental exercise. You can work on this with a game about survival. Have everyone imagine they are stranded on a desert island, and they must decide the correct order to perform life-saving steps in. Have this list handy, and ask everyone to pair off or get in small groups and number the list according to the best likelihood of survival: 

• Set up shelter
• Look around the island
• Signal for help
• Create weapons for self-defense
• Build a raft for water
• Start a fire
• Select a group leader
• Find other survivors
• Anything else you think of! 

The catch is that everyone must agree on the order of events!  That will typically involve discussion and coming to some sort of consensus. Once everyone is done with the exercise, have them present to the larger group and explain their reasoning. This exercise is good for team-building, communication, and problem resolution. Plus, you will be better prepared if you ever get stuck on a deserted island! 

21. Online role-playing games (like Dungeons and Dragons)

Seeing how people react in real-world situations is a really interesting way to get to know them better. Find an online game that has real-world actions and consequences, like Dungeons and Dragons. Or, you can make things even simpler by hopping on a Zoom together and reading a Choose Your Own Adventure book aloud, with the reader getting group consensus before making a decision. The important part is the discussion that will occur before choosing the next action. This is helpful for bonding and also helps you to see how your colleagues tick. These activities can be difficult to organize for big groups, so if you have a substantial team, try some of these team building activities for large groups instead. 

22. Google Docs story

Similar to an ongoing story icebreaker, this game is easy to do online as people have time. You start by creating a Google Doc that everyone on the team has access to. Then, have people go into the Doc and add to the story that’s developing. If you want, you can pick a prompt to kick things off - or you can just let the first person get creative and go for it! The more specific or bizarre the scenario, the more creative and clever people will have to get to add their portion. 

23. Model UN

Chances are you might be familiar with this concept from high school. Fortunately, adults can have a lot of fun with it too. You can play this virtually as long as everyone is a strong communicator. Each participant should take on the role of an international diplomat, and work together to form alliances and solve crises. Come up with a potential scenario that the UN must work through. Consider things like a global food shortage, natural disaster, or cyber-security threats. If your group is particularly large, you can have multiple people assigned to a country and they will have separate roles. If politics is a sensitive topic on your team, you might want to tweak this exercise to be focused on a business and treat participants like board members - or even a musical group! 

Set the tone of your next company retreat

These problem solving games and activities are great virtually any time - there is something for everyone, whether you’re remote or in person, on a large team or a small one. One of the best ways to implement a problem solving exercise is at the beginning of a team retreat. If you have organized a large meeting or team building event, consider getting things started with such an activity. Many of these problem solving games will get everyone thinking and make people more comfortable, plus a lot of them also serve as a form of icebreaker.

The next time you plan a work retreat , consider including a few of these on the agenda to set the tone for a fun, energizing event. Need help ensuring that your retreat is, in fact, fun and energizing?

Let Surf Office help ! We can help with organizing your next team retreat or all-company meeting so that you can focus on the fun.

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Games for Scouts

Team Building, Initiative, and Cooperative Games

Games to teach skills and ideas, large area and active games, indoor games, holiday games.

Games are a fundamental aspect of the scouting experience. They not only add an element of fun and excitement but also serve as vital tools for learning and development. In this blog post, we will delve into various types of games suitable for scouts, highlighting their unique advantages and the valuable skills they can help develop.

Team Building Games : These are perfect for fostering camaraderie and teamwork among scouts. Activities like trust falls, team obstacle courses, and group problem-solving challenges encourage communication and collaboration, key components in scouting and life.

Skill and Idea Teaching Games : Scouts can learn a lot through play. Games that teach knot tying, first aid, map reading, and even environmental conservation can be both educational and entertaining. These activities help scouts to internalize important skills in a relaxed and engaging environment.

Large Area and Active Games : Ideal for outdoor adventures, these get scouts moving and enjoying nature. Capture the flag, relay races, and scavenger hunts are excellent for physical exercise and enjoying the great outdoors, which is at the heart of scouting.

Indoor Games : Not every scouting activity can be outdoors, especially during inclement weather. Indoor fun like charades, quiz bowls, and crafts can be equally engaging and are perfect for developing creativity and cognitive skills.

Holiday Games : Special occasions call for special activities. Holiday-themed games are a great way to celebrate and learn about different cultures and traditions, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity within the troop.

Incorporating these various types of games into your scouting program can significantly enhance the scouting experience. They not only provide enjoyment but also aid in the development of essential life skills such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and respect for nature. So, let’s get ready to play, learn, and grow together in scouting!

And remember, a game is not just a game in scouting—it’s a step towards building confident, capable, and compassionate young individuals. Keep scouting and keep playing!

I’ve included some of the most popular games on the site below. For more ideas, you can also see:

• Puzzles and Printables
• Gathering activities
• Even more games for youth

The Importance of Games in Scouting: Building Skills and Having Fun

Games are a crucial part of the Scouting program, providing Scouts with opportunities to develop essential skills while having fun. There are many types of playful activities that Scouts can participate in, ranging from team-building and initiative games to indoor and holiday games.

Team building games are an excellent way to help scouts work together towards a common goal. These promote teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. Initiative activities challenge scouts to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions. These also promote leadership skills and build confidence.

Cooperative games require scouts to work together towards a common goal. These games promote teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. Examples of cooperative games include the Human Knot, where scouts must untangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands, and Guide Me Game, where scouts must work together to gather objects.

I Can Do That With One Hand Behind My Back

Nitro transport.

Human Knot Game

Jack Rabbit

Guide Me Game

Egg Drop Challenge

Elbow balloon pass, my story mystery, won’t you smile, faith and our ancestors, chicken on a hut.

“I Can Do That With One Hand Behind My Back” is a game that challenges Scouts to make a jelly sandwich and pack it in a brown paper lunch bag using only one hand while their other hand is behind their back. This activity not only promotes communication and teamwork but also serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about disabilities.

By limiting the use of one hand, Scouts learn to rely on each other and find creative ways to accomplish the task. This encourages problem-solving skills and fosters empathy towards individuals who may face similar challenges in their daily lives. It’s a fun and educational activity that brings Scouts together while teaching important life lessons.

Nitro Transport is an exciting teambuilding game that encourages collaboration and teamwork. The main goal is to transport a can of water, also known as “nitro,” from one point to another using only a board with ropes attached to it. By working together, players must strategize and communicate effectively to successfully move the can without spilling any water.

This not only fosters problem-solving skills but also emphasizes the importance of coordination and trust within a team. Engaging in Nitro Transport allows participants to develop their teamwork abilities while having fun and enjoying a thrilling challenge.

“Who Am I?” is a classic teambuilding game that sparks creativity and critical thinking. Players are assigned secret identities and must use their deductive skills to uncover who they are. By asking yes or no questions, players narrow down the possibilities and try to guess their identity before anyone else.

This encourages effective communication, problem-solving, and teamwork as players work together to unravel the mystery. “Who Am I?” is not only a fun and engaging activity but also a great way to develop cognitive abilities and strengthen bonds within a team.

Jack Rabbit is a fun and interactive teambuilding game that encourages creativity and collaboration. Players take turns posing with their neighbors in a way indicated by the leader. This not only promotes teamwork but also helps to develop communication skills and build trust among team members. As the game progresses, more poses can be added to make it more challenging and exciting.

Whether played in a classroom or a corporate setting, Jack Rabbit is a great way to energize a group and foster a positive team dynamic.

Guide Me is a popular teambuilding game that promotes teamwork and communication skills. Players are blindfolded and must rely on verbal instructions from their team leader to locate and retrieve their team’s objects. This requires trust and effective communication, as players must listen carefully and follow instructions to successfully complete the task.

Guide Me is a great way to strengthen team bonds and improve problem-solving skills. It can be played in various settings, such as scout groups or corporate teambuilding events. Give it a try and watch your team thrive!

Four Facts is a popular teambuilding activity that encourages participants to share interesting facts about themselves while also testing their ability to detect falsehoods. Each player writes down four facts about themselves, but one of them is not true. The other players in the group then take turns guessing which fact is false. This promotes communication and observation skills, as players must listen carefully to the facts and analyze the information to make an accurate guess.

Four Facts is an excellent icebreaker activity for small groups of 4 to 6 people, fostering a sense of camaraderie and creating a fun and engaging atmosphere.

The Egg Drop Challenge is a thrilling teambuilding game that combines science, engineering, and creativity. Participants are tasked with designing a container using recyclable materials to protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a height. Working in teams, Scouts collaborate to create contraptions that will keep the egg safe during the fall. This challenge not only encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills but also fosters teamwork and communication. By testing different designs and analyzing the results, participants learn valuable lessons about the principles of physics and engineering.

The Egg Drop Challenge is an exciting and educational game that engages Scouts in a hands-on learning experience.

In Elbow Balloon Pass, participants are challenged to pass a balloon around a circle using only their elbows. The objective of the game is to count how many times the balloon can be successfully passed and to try to increase that number with each round. This not only promotes teamwork and coordination but also encourages participants to strategize and communicate effectively. By relying solely on their elbows, participants must work together to keep the balloon in motion and achieve a higher number of successful passes.

Elbow Balloon Pass is a fun and engaging activity that fosters collaboration and problem-solving skills.

In the teambuilding game My Story Mystery, participants engage in a fun and interactive activity that promotes communication and observation skills. Each player writes a few sentences about a recent personal experience, ensuring they do not reveal their identity or share something already known by others. The leader then selects three stories and presents them to the audience. The challenge for the audience is to determine which story belongs to each person based on their unique storytelling style.

This encourages active listening, critical thinking, and teamwork as participants work together to solve the mystery of each person’s story.

Human Knot is a popular team-building game that promotes communication and problem-solving skills. In this activity, participants stand in a circle and hold hands with two different people, creating a tangled knot. The challenge is to untangle the knot without anyone letting go of their hands.

This encourages teamwork and requires effective communication and coordination among the participants. It can be used as an icebreaker to help team members get to know each other better or as a fun way to develop problem-solving skills within a group. Give it a try and see how well your team can untangle the human knot!

Won’t You Smile is a fun and engaging teambuilding game that requires no materials. One person stands in the middle of a circle and asks a player to smile. However, the player must respond with, “You know I love you, but I just can’t smile,” without smiling. If the player smiles, they become the new person in the middle.

This promotes communication and self-control, as players must resist the urge to smile. It’s a great way to lighten the mood and create laughter within a team. Give it a try and see who can resist the temptation to smile!

In the teambuilding game Faith and Our Ancestors, players engage in a 3×3 grid game that focuses on interview questions about faith and ancestry. The objective is for players to ask each other these questions and record the answers provided. Participants can gain a deeper understanding of their ancestors and family traditions.

This activity promotes communication, cultural appreciation, and a sense of connection to one’s roots. It’s a great way to foster teamwork while exploring the rich tapestry of personal histories within a group.

In the teambuilding game Chicken on a Hut, Scouts pair up and engage in a series of challenging moves such as Chicken on a Hut, Backpack, Lover’s Leap, and Bunk bed. The objective is for pairs to successfully complete these moves and stay in the game, with the last pair standing being declared the winners. This requires no equipment, making it easy to set up and play.

By participating in Chicken on a Hut, teams can enhance their coordination, communication, and teamwork skills. It’s a fun and engaging activity that promotes collaboration and friendly competition among participants.

Games can be used to teach scouts new skills and ideas. For example, scouts can play a game to learn about first aid or knot tying. These games are a fun and interactive way to teach important skills. Games can also be used to reinforce ideas that scouts have already learned. For example, scouts can play a game to reinforce the Leave No Trace principles.

Orienteering Scavenger Hunt

Tent Pitching Competition

Constellation Matching Game

Citizenship Football

Kim’s game with items for a home first aid kit, cleanup treasure hunt.

Cub Scout Nutrition Game – Food Go Fish

Wild Weather Adventure

Snapper Fishing Game – A Lashings Game

Show Me the Truth

First aid baseball, animal match: when does it sleep, crossing the alligator pit.

Tell It Like It Isn’t (Telephone)

State Capitals Bingo Cards

In an orienteering scavenger hunt, scouts are given clues and navigate using a compass to find the treasure. This exciting game not only challenges their problem-solving abilities but also enhances their teamwork and navigation skills. By working together and using their compasses, scouts learn how to read maps, follow directions, and make decisions as a team. The treasure they find can be a small trinket or a piece of candy, but the real reward lies in the valuable skills they acquire along the way.

Orienteering scavenger hunts are a fun and educational activity that promotes critical thinking and cooperation among scouts.

Tent Pitching Competition (Standard or Blindfolded)

In the Tent-Pitching Competition, scouts engage in a team-building exercise that tests their coordination and communication skills. They must work together to unpack, set up, and inspect their tent to earn points. To add an extra level of challenge, the competition can be done blindfolded, with only one team member providing verbal instructions to the rest of the team.

This activity promotes teamwork, problem-solving, and effective communication. By completing the task successfully, scouts learn the importance of clear instructions, trust, and collaboration. The Tent-Pitching Competition is a fun and engaging way for scouts to develop essential life skills while enjoying the outdoors.

Constellation Matching

The Constellation Matching is a great way for children to explore the wonders of astronomy while having fun. By matching different constellations with their corresponding drawings, players can enhance their visual-spatial skills and ignite their imagination. This educational game not only teaches children about the various constellations but also helps them develop their cognitive abilities.

With its engaging and interactive nature, the Constellation Matching Game is an excellent tool for introducing kids to the fascinating world of stars and galaxies. So gather your little astronomers and let the matching adventure begin!

Citizenship Football is an engaging game that combines learning about citizenship and government with the excitement of football. Two teams compete by answering questions to gain yards and score touchdowns. This not only teaches players about the importance of citizenship, but also encourages teamwork and critical thinking skills. With the opportunity to earn extra points and field goals, players are motivated to expand their knowledge and strategize their moves.

Citizenship Football is a fantastic way to make learning about civic responsibility enjoyable and memorable. So gather your team, hit the field, and let the game of citizenship begin!

Kim’s Game with Items for a Home First Aid Kit is a fun and interactive way to teach Scouts about the essential items that should be included in a home first aid kit. This memory game involves showing participants a variety of items related to first aid, covering them, and then challenging the participants to remember the items in a specific category.

Scouts can develop their memory skills while also learning about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. It’s a great activity to reinforce the knowledge and understanding of first aid essentials, ensuring that Scouts are equipped to handle minor injuries and emergencies effectively.

The Cleanup Treasure Hunt is a team activity that combines environmental awareness with fun and competition. Participants are divided into teams and provided with a list of items to find and pick up. The goal is to collect the most different types of trash, promoting a cleaner and healthier environment. This activity not only encourages teamwork and problem-solving skills but also instills a sense of responsibility towards the environment.

By actively participating in the Cleanup Treasure Hunt, scouts learn the importance of keeping their surroundings clean and the impact of their actions on the planet. It’s a great way to engage scouts in a meaningful and enjoyable activity while teaching them about environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Wild Weather Adventure is an exciting and educational activity that allows scouts to learn about different weather phenomena while having fun. The game consists of question cards labeled easy, medium, or hard, which test the scouts’ knowledge about weather-related topics. With a large board and multiple printable parts, the game provides a visually engaging experience.

Scouts will have the opportunity to learn about various weather conditions, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorms, while also developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This is a great way to spark curiosity about the natural world and encourage a deeper understanding of weather patterns.

Snapper Fishing

The Snapper Fishing Game is a thrilling and hands-on activity that promotes teamwork and problem-solving skills. Scouts will need poles, rope, and a mousetrap to participate in this lashings game. The objective is for a patrol to work together to lash the poles together and create a long “fishing” pole. Using this pole, they will attempt to snap the mousetrap.

This not only encourages creativity and resourcefulness but also teaches scouts about the importance of coordination and communication within a team. It’s a fun and engaging way to learn valuable Scoutcraft skills.

Food Go Fish

Food Go Fish is an interactive and educational game that introduces kids to different types of food while promoting healthy eating habits. With printable cards featuring a variety of foods, this encourages discussion and learning about nutrition in a fun and engaging way. It can be easily adapted for different age groups, making it suitable for Cub Scouts of all levels.

By playing Food Go Fish, scouts can develop their knowledge of food groups, learn about the importance of a balanced diet, and foster a lifelong appreciation for healthy eating.

The “Show Me the Truth” game is a fun and interactive way to teach Cub Scouts about truth and honesty. By injecting some excitement into the activity, this engages the scouts and makes the topic more approachable. The rules are simple: a factual statement is made, and the scouts respond by shouting “True!” if it is true or “Not True!” if it is false.

For example, when the statement “The grass is purple” is made, the scouts would shout “Not true!” However, when pointing to your nose and saying “This is my nose,” the scouts would respond with “True!” This helps reinforce the importance of truthfulness in a playful manner.

Scout Law Game

To make learning the Scout Law more enjoyable, you can engage Scouts in a game that helps them memorize the 12 points of the Scout Law. The involves arranging a set of 12 craft sticks, each representing a point of the Scout Law, in the correct order. Scouts can have fun while reinforcing their understanding of the Scout Law and its principles.

This interactive approach to learning promotes engagement and retention of the Scout Law in a playful and memorable way.

In the Crossing the Alligator Pit activity, patrols are challenged to build an A-frame structure and navigate it across the treacherous “alligator pit.” This engaging competition tests their teamwork, problem-solving, and construction skills. By working together to construct a sturdy A-frame and carefully maneuvering it across the designated area, patrols learn the importance of communication, coordination, and balance.

This activity not only fosters creativity and critical thinking but also encourages friendly competition among patrols. It’s a thrilling and educational game that combines fun with valuable life skills.

State Capitals Bingo Cards is an exciting and educational game that helps players learn the state capitals in a fun way. The can be played using either state or capital bingo cards and call cards. Each player marks their card when the corresponding state or capital is called out.

The objective is to be the first player to get a whole row covered and yell “BINGO!” This not only enhances geographical knowledge but also improves memory and concentration skills. In addition to Scouting, it’s a great activity for classrooms, homeschooling, or family nights. Get ready to explore the United States while having a blast!

First Aid Baseball is an engaging and interactive game that combines the excitement of baseball with the reinforcement of first aid knowledge. Players are presented with first aid questions, and for each correct answer, they advance around the bases just like in real baseball.

This not only tests players’ understanding of first aid principles but also helps them retain important information in a fun and memorable way. Whether played in a classroom setting or during a scout meeting, First Aid Baseball is a fantastic way to educate and empower individuals with life-saving skills.

Animal Match: When Does It Sleep? is a versatile and engaging activity that introduces younger Scouts to the concept of sleep patterns in animals. The game features cards with various animals that sleep at different times, along with sun and moon pictures for matching. Scouts not only have fun but also learn about the importance of rest and the unique sleep habits of different animals.

This interactive experience encourages curiosity and helps children develop a deeper understanding of the natural world around them. With Animal Match: When Does It Sleep?, learning becomes an enjoyable adventure.

Telephone is a fun game that reinforces the importance of accurate communication and can be used as a teachable moment for discussions on gossip. Players whisper a around a circle, and the last person says what they heard, with the first person revealing the original phrase. This game not only encourages active listening skills but also highlights how information can be distorted or misinterpreted when passed from person to person.

It serves as a reminder to be mindful of the accuracy of our communication and the potential consequences of spreading rumors or misinformation. Through the game of Telephone, Scouts can learn the value of clear and precise communication in their interactions with others.

Large area and active games require a lot of space and physical activity. These are perfect for outdoor activities and can help scouts develop their physical fitness. Examples of large area and active games include tag games, relays, and field games.

Dock Your Flying Saucer

Red light green light, hospital tag.

Soccer Croquet

Soccer Marbles

Crash course, clothesline relay, caterpillar race.

Island Tug of War Game

Forces of Flight

Steal the bacon, sharks and minnows, kick the can, flip the bird tag, soccer tennis, capture the flag, shoot the gap, trailblazer relay.

Dock Your Flying Saucer is an exciting game that challenges players to land a Frisbee in a designated space dock, which is a box. This can be played both indoors and outdoors, but it becomes even more thrilling when played outside in windy conditions. The objective is to carefully aim and throw the Frisbee, taking into account the wind’s direction and intensity. Players will need to adjust their throws accordingly to successfully dock their flying saucer.

This not only tests players’ throwing skills but also their ability to adapt to changing environmental factors. Get ready for a fun and challenging experience with Dock Your Flying Saucer!

Red Light Green Light is a classic game that perfectly embodies the KISMIF principle – Keep It Simple, Make It Fun. This requires no elaborate setup or equipment, making it ideal for Cub Scouts. The rules are simple: one person acts as the “traffic light” and stands at a distance from the other players. When the traffic light says “green light,” the players move forward, but they must freeze when the traffic light says “red light.” The goal is to reach the traffic light without getting caught moving.

Red Light Green Light not only promotes physical activity but also teaches children to follow instructions and practice self-control.

Hospital Tag is a pretend game that adds an exciting twist to the classic game of tag. When players are tagged, they must act as if they’re injured and make their way to the designated hospital area. This not only encourages physical activity but also sparks creativity and imagination as players pretend to seek treatment for their “injuries.”

Hospital Tag is a great way for children to have fun while burning off energy, and it can be played in various outdoor settings. So gather your friends and get ready for an action-packed game of Hospital Tag!

Soccer Marbles is a fantastic soccer drill that adds excitement to any soccer or sports-themed meeting. This drill is perfect for young Scouts and involves three players. Set up a 10-foot by 10-foot area marked with cones and designate one player as the attacker and the other two as defenders.

The objective is for the attacker to dribble around while avoiding getting hit by the defenders’ balls. The play ends when a defender successfully hits the attacker’s ball. The player who goes the longest without getting hit is declared the winner. Soccer Marbles is a great way to improve dribbling skills and have fun on the field.

Crash Course is an exhilarating relay game that promotes teamwork and coordination. Played with two teams and six inner tubes, the objective is for players to stack three inner tubes and race to the opposite corner of the field. As they make contact in the middle, they must be careful not to be excessive. The team that successfully moves all their players to the opposite corner first emerges as the victorious team.

This fast-paced game not only encourages physical activity but also fosters communication and strategic thinking. Get ready to experience the thrill of Crash Course and test your team’s speed and agility.

Caterpillar Race is a simple and fun game suitable for younger children that teaches coordination and teamwork. This is perfect for developing motor skills and fostering communication among kids. The objective is to divide the group into two teams and have each player hold the ankles of the person in front of them, forming a caterpillar.

The teams must then work together to move towards a pre-determined endpoint while staying attached. The first team to successfully complete the race is declared the winner. Caterpillar Race is a great way to promote cooperation and physical activity in a playful and engaging manner.

SPUD is a classic playground game that promotes agility, coordination, and friendly competition. This can be enjoyed by multiple players and requires only a playground ball. To start, a player throws the ball in the air and calls out a number. The player assigned that number must try to catch the ball and yell “SPUD” to freeze the other players.

After freezing the players, the player with the ball tries to hit one of the frozen players. If a player is hit or moves their feet, they are assigned a letter, starting with “S”. The play continues until a player spells out “SPUD” and is out. The last player remaining is declared the winner. SPUD is a thrilling game that combines physical activity with strategic thinking.

Tug of War is a classic game that promotes fitness, teamwork, and good sportsmanship and can be played by kids of all ages. This exciting game involves dividing into two teams and pulling a long rope with a red center mark over a white mark on each side of the center line.

The objective is for one team to pull the opposing side’s white mark over the center line, declaring them the winner. Tug of War is typically played in best of three matches, adding to the suspense and competitiveness. It’s a great way to build strength, coordination, and camaraderie among players.

Island Tug of War

Island Tug of War is a thrilling variation of the classic tug of war that adds an exciting twist to the gameplay. This not only tests the participants’ strength, agility, and balance but also their ability to strategize and work as a team. Pairs of Scouts stand on upside-down buckets, gripping the rope tightly, and engage in a fierce battle of strength and determination.

The objective is to pull their opponent off their bucket, while maintaining their own balance. The Scout who manages to stay on their bucket until the end is crowned the ultimate winner. Island Tug of War guarantees an exhilarating and memorable experience for players of all ages.

Clothesline Relay is a fun and engaging game that can be enjoyed by all age groups. In this relay race, Scouts get to pretend to do laundry as they hang towels on a clothesline using clothespins. The objective is to remove the towels one by one from the clothesline and return them to the starting position. The team that successfully completes this task first is declared the winner.

Clothesline Relay not only promotes teamwork and coordination but also adds an element of excitement as participants race against the clock to finish the game. It’s a great activity to keep Scouts active and entertained.

Forces of Flight is a game suitable for Cub Scouts that introduces the concept of flight and the forces involved. It begins with a brief explanation of thrust, drag, gravity, and lift. The Scouts then line up and perform actions corresponding to the force called out by the leader.

This interactive activity not only educates the Scouts about the principles of flight but also gets them actively involved and moving around. It can even be made competitive, adding an element of excitement and motivation. Forces of Flight is a great way to combine learning and fun for Cub Scouts.

Steal the Bacon is a versatile game that can be enjoyed by a large group of Scouts of all ages. It combines elements of running, tagging, and strategic thinking, making it a perfect choice for an active and engaging activity. It can be easily adapted to fit any theme or learning objective, allowing leaders to incorporate educational elements while keeping the Scouts entertained.

Whether it’s a race to grab the “bacon” or a test of agility and teamwork, Steal the Bacon is sure to be a hit among Scouts.

Sharks and Minnows is a thrilling pool game that combines strategy and agility. One player takes on the role of the shark, while the others become the minnows. The objective is for the shark to tag the minnows as they try to reach the base. The fun ends when all the minnows reach the base or are tagged by the shark.

The twist is that the last remaining minnow becomes the shark for the next round, adding an element of excitement and unpredictability. Sharks and Minnows is a fantastic game to keep large groups entertained and active in the pool.

Kick the Can is a classic outdoor game that combines elements of hide-and-seek and tag. One player takes on the role of “It” and tries to find and tag the other players who are hiding. When a player is tagged, they are sent to jail. However, it doesn’t end there. The non-It players have a chance to free their captured teammates by kicking the can without getting tagged themselves.

If successful, everyone in jail is released, and the game continues. Kick the Can is a thrilling game that keeps players on their toes and encourages teamwork and strategy.

In the game of Flip the Bird Tag, players must collaborate to evade being tagged by the “It.” To outsmart the tagger, participants pass around a rubber chicken or bird-shaped item, ensuring the tagger cannot touch them. The player left untagged at the end becomes the new “It.”

This promotes teamwork, coordination, and quick thinking as players strategize to keep the bird away from the tagger. Flip the Bird Tag is an exciting and engaging outdoor activity that encourages active participation and fosters a sense of camaraderie among players.

Soccer Tennis is a fun and active game that combines elements of soccer and tennis. Played with a soccer ball and a rope dividing the playing area, teams must work together to kick or head the ball up to three times before sending it over the rope into the opposing team’s half.

This requires teamwork, coordination, and strategic thinking as players aim to keep the ball in play and score points. Soccer Tennis is a great way to improve soccer skills while enjoying a competitive and engaging outdoor activity. Get ready to have a blast with your friends and showcase your soccer prowess!

Capture the Flag is an exciting outdoor game that promotes teamwork, strategy, and physical activity. Played with a large group of players, it involves dividing a field into two territories for two teams. The objective is for each team to invade the other team’s territory, retrieve their flag, and safely return it to their own territory without being tagged by the opposing team.

This encourages communication, coordination, and quick thinking as players strategize to outsmart their opponents and protect their own flag. Capture the Flag is a thrilling and competitive game that guarantees hours of fun and adventure for players of all ages.

Shoot The Gap is an exhilarating game that encourages teamwork and communication. It can be played in a variety of settings, such as a large open room, gym, or even outside. The main objective is to outmaneuver a designated “guardian” and successfully reach the opposite goal without being tagged. This requires quick thinking, agility, and coordination among team members.

By strategizing and working together, players can develop effective tactics to outsmart the guardian and achieve victory. Shoot The Gap is a thrilling and engaging game that guarantees hours of fun and excitement for participants of all ages.

Pahsahëman, a Native American game played by the Lenape tribe, is a unique and exciting variation of football. Two teams, typically consisting of both men and women, compete using a ball that can be kicked, thrown, or carried by women, while men are only allowed to kick it.

This traditional version has been adapted for use with Scouts, providing them with an opportunity to learn about Native American culture and history while engaging in a fun and active game. Pahsahëman combines athleticism, strategy, and cultural appreciation, making it a memorable and educational experience for all participants.

The Trailblazer Relay Race is a thrilling game that embodies the adventurous spirit of our pioneer ancestors. This not only provides entertainment but also encourages resourcefulness, agility, and teamwork, which were vital qualities for pioneers in the Wild West. Two teams compete to reach a pile of pioneer-themed supplies, choose an item, and race back to their starting line to pass it to the next player.

To make it more exciting, obstacles can be incorporated, and it can be played in a wooded area to enhance the pioneer theme. Get ready to blaze a trail and experience the thrill of the Wild West!

Indoor games are games that can be played inside without making too much of a mess or breaking things. These are perfect for rainy days or when outdoor activities are not possible. Other examples of indoor games include board games, card games, and trivia games.

Water Dropper Race

Mystery taste test, flip out card game, pirate pick up, sleeping pirate, atomic chess, use the force, light the candle, sleeping guard, what’s in the bag.

Water Dropper Race is a fun and engaging game that can be enjoyed by both individuals and teams. It can be played as an interpatrol activity or as a team-building game during a pack meeting. The objective of the game is to transfer water from one container to another using an eye dropper. The team or individual who successfully transfers the most water at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Water Dropper Race not only promotes friendly competition but also teaches players the value of patience and carefulness. It encourages participants to take their time and be mindful of their actions, as rushing or being careless may result in spilling water and losing the game.

Mystery Taste Test is a fantastic game that not only brings joy but also enhances sensory skills in children. This game can be incorporated into nutrition-themed meetings or used as a recreational activity. Participants are blindfolded and given various food items to taste and identify. By relying solely on their taste buds and other senses, children can develop a deeper understanding of different flavors and textures. Some suggested food items for the game include fruits, vegetables, and condiments.

Mystery Taste Test is an engaging way to educate children about food and encourage them to explore new tastes.

Pirate Pick Up is a delightful game that adds a touch of adventure to any gathering. Players use a candy cane hook inserted in a plastic cup to pick up pretzels, creating a challenging and entertaining experience. The player who collects the most pretzels by the end of the game emerges as the victorious pirate. To enhance the excitement, participants can embrace their inner pirate and engage in playful banter using pirate slang throughout the game.

Pirate Pick Up is a fantastic way to bring laughter and enjoyment to your next gathering.

Flip Out Card Game is a thrilling team game that requires strong teamwork, effective communication, and unwavering concentration. The main goal is for each team to successfully flip over their set of cards before the opposing teams, all while taking turns and flipping only one card at a time. This not only tests your coordination and speed but also encourages strategic thinking and decision-making.

Get ready to engage in a friendly competition that will keep everyone on their toes and create an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. Let the flipping frenzy begin!

Ringer is a classic game of marbles that brings out the competitive spirit in players of all ages. The objective is to skillfully shoot marbles into a ring, strategically aiming to knock other marbles out of the ring. The thrill of watching marbles collide and strategizing your shots adds an element of excitemente. The player who successfully collects the most marbles by the end of the game emerges as the victor.

With its simple rules and endless possibilities for strategy, Ringer is a timeless indoor game that guarantees hours of fun and friendly competition.

Antichess, also known as “Losing Chess,” is a captivating chess variant that turns the traditional rules of the game upside down. In this unique version, the objective is to strategically lose all your pieces instead of protecting them. Each move requires capturing an opponent’s piece if possible, adding an exciting twist to the gameplay. Unlike traditional chess, there is no concept of check or checkmate in Antichess. Instead, players aim to outmaneuver their opponents by sacrificing their own pieces strategically. In the event of a stalemate, the player with fewer remaining pieces emerges victorious.

Antichess offers a refreshing and challenging experience for chess enthusiasts looking to explore a new dimension of the game.

Sleeping Pirate is a fun game that can be played as an opening activity or to release energy during a meeting. Blindfolded “pirates” try to catch the other players as they try to sneak in and steal treasure. This is not only entertaining but also helps to develop teamwork and communication skills. The blindfolded pirates rely on their senses and the guidance of their teammates to navigate the playing area and catch the sneaky thieves.

It’s a thrilling and suspenseful game that keeps everyone on their toes. Whether you’re hosting a party or a team-building event, Sleeping Pirate is sure to be a hit and create lasting memories.

Hubbub is a traditional Native American dice game that requires a flat-bottomed bowl or pie dish, 5 “dice”, and 50 sticks. The objective of the game is to score points by tossing the dice in the bowl and collecting sticks equal to the points scored, with the winner being the player with the most sticks at the end.

Hubbub is not only a fun way to pass the time, but it also helps to improve strategic thinking. Gather your friends or family and enjoy a lively game of Hubbub, where every roll of the dice brings excitement and anticipation.

Picaria is a Native American board game that combines elements of tic-tac-toe and checkers. The objective of the game is to strategically place markers on the board and move them in order to create a line of three markers in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. This requires critical thinking and planning ahead, as players must anticipate their opponent’s moves while also trying to create their own winning line.

Picaria is a great game to play with friends or family, providing hours of entertainment and friendly competition. So gather around the board and let the strategic battle begin!

Atomic Chess is a thrilling variation of the classic game played on a regular chessboard with standard pieces. However, there is a twist – when a piece is captured, an explosion occurs, destroying all surrounding pieces except pawns. This unique element adds an exciting and strategic dimension to the game. Players must carefully plan their moves to avoid being caught in an explosion while also setting up potential explosions to their advantage.

The objective remains the same – capture the opponent’s king – but the explosive nature of Atomic Chess adds an extra layer of excitement and challenge. Get ready for an explosive chess experience!

What’s in the Bag is a versatile and engaging indoor game that can be customized to suit any meeting theme. This activity requires paper bags with letters printed on them, adding an element of mystery and anticipation. Players are challenged to use their deductive skills and guess the object inside each bag based on the corresponding letter. This promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork as players collaborate to unravel the contents of the bags.

Whether it’s a themed party or a team-building event, What’s in the Bag is a fun and interactive game that will keep everyone entertained.

Bughouse (or Bunk House) Chess is a thrilling and strategic indoor game that brings a unique twist to the traditional game of chess. In this team-based variation, two teams compete simultaneously, adding an element of excitement and collaboration. Each player has a direct opponent, but the game takes an interesting turn when a player captures a piece. Instead of removing it from the board, the player passes it to one of their teammates, who can then strategically place it on the board.

This dynamic gameplay requires strong communication, coordination, and quick thinking. The team that achieves checkmate first emerges victorious, making Bughouse Chess a thrilling and engaging game for chess enthusiasts and strategists alike.

Use the Force is a thrilling and energetic game inspired by Star Wars. Players wield pool noodles as lightsabers, using them to keep a balloon afloat without using their hands or feet. The objective is to be the last player standing with their balloon still in the air. If there aren’t enough pool noodles for everyone, it can be played in rounds, adding to the excitement and competition.

This game is perfect for Star Wars fans and those looking for a fun and active indoor activity. Get ready to unleash your inner Jedi and have a blast with Use the Force!

Hail Storm is an exciting indoor game that challenges players to throw ping pong balls into a bucket from a distance of five feet. The objective is to score as many points as possible by successfully landing the balls in the bucket. Hail Storm can be played individually or in teams, depending on the players’ preferences. It offers a great opportunity for friendly competition and can be adjusted to accommodate different skill levels.

Whether you’re looking for a fun activity to pass the time or a game to liven up a gathering, Hail Storm is sure to provide hours of entertainment.

In the Light the Candle game, players participate in a thrilling relay race that can be enjoyed indoors. Light the Candle is particularly suitable for holiday-themed gatherings. To play, participants will need toilet paper tubes and crumpled yellow paper. The objective is for each player to race across the room and place the paper inside the cardboard tube, creating the illusion of a lit candle.

The competitive nature of this game adds excitement and encourages friendly competition among players. Light the Candle is a fantastic choice for bringing joy and entertainment to any indoor event.

In the exciting game of Sleeping Guard, players take turns being blindfolded guards while others try to steal an object without getting caught. The blindfolded guard must rely on their hearing to detect the approaching thieves and point in their direction to catch them. The thrill of sneaking around and the challenge of avoiding detection make this a hit among players of all ages. The player who successfully steals the object becomes the guard for the next round, ensuring that the fun and suspense continue.

Sleeping Guard is a fantastic choice for a lively indoor game that promotes strategic thinking and quick reflexes.

Picture Telephone Game

The Picture Telephone Game is a fun and interactive indoor game that not only provides entertainment but also helps improve communication skills. Picture Telephone starts by writing a phrase on a piece of paper and passing it to the right. The next player then has to draw a picture that represents the phrase and passes it on again. This process continues until the stacks of paper make their way around the circle. At the end of the game, each player stands up and shows each paper in their stack, revealing how the message has transformed as it was passed from one person to another.

Picture Telephone encourages creativity, teamwork, and the ability to interpret and convey information accurately.

Holiday games are games that are played during holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. These are a fun way to celebrate the holiday season and can help scouts develop their creativity and imagination. Examples of holiday games include Pumpkin Bowling, Turkey Hunt, and Christmas Scavenger Hunt.

Bobbing for Worms

Halloween picture bingo, stocking surprise.

Bobbing for Worms is a classic Halloween game that brings laughter and excitement to any gathering. This entertaining activity is suitable for all ages, but it’s especially popular among tweens and teens. Each player is given a plate with a gummy worm covered in delicious whipped cream. The challenge is to retrieve and eat the gummy worm without using your hands.

It’s a messy and hilarious game that requires paper plates, a gummy worm for each player, and some canned whipped cream. Get ready for a memorable Halloween experience filled with laughter and friendly competition.

Halloween Picture Bingo is a festive twist on the traditional game, perfect for the Halloween season. Each player receives a bingo card adorned with Halloween-themed images, each paired with a unique number for easy identification. The objective is simple: mark off the images as they are called out, aiming to get a row of four either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. To add to the excitement, players can use Halloween candy as markers, adding a sweet and thematic touch to the fun.

This quick and enjoyable activity is ideal for gatherings, particularly among children, combining the holiday spirit with the thrill of the game.

Stocking Surprise is a fun and interactive game that adds excitement to holiday gatherings. This is suitable for all age groups and encourages participants to use their senses to guess the hidden items in stockings. To play, you will need socks, non-breakable items as stocking fillers, and safety pins to seal the stockings. Players explore the contents of their stockings without looking and make educated guesses based on touch, smell, and sound. Once everyone has made their guesses, the contents are revealed, creating a surprise element.

To make the game even more enjoyable, you can customize the stockings with small toys or candies for children, and novelty items or mini puzzles for teens.

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Outdoor Team Building Activities

November 30, 2021 Rob Sayers Outdoor Sports , Physical Challenges , Team Building Activities 0

This revised Outdoor Team Building Activities guide contains hundreds of team building activities with step by step instructions. Outdoor team building activities are a great way of developing leadership, teamwork skills and finding out how well you work as part of a team.

Outdoor Team Building Activities Ideas

This is just a brief introduction to outdoor team building.  For a complete guide, I have set up a website dedicated to team building. You can find over 100 ideas for outdoor team building activities and free guides for team building activities for kids , teens and adults .

The most popular team building activities tend to focus around team coordination, trust, leadership, communication and team bonding.

Use the resource list below for more specific ideas for outdoor team building activities:

• Ice Breaker Games
• Quick Team Building Activities
• Team Building Activities for Kids
• Team Building Activities for Teens
• Team Building Activities for Adults
• Leadership Skills
• Problem Solving Activities
• Physical Team Building Activities
• Team Bonding Activities
• 40 Popular Outdoor Team Building Activities
• Corporate Events
• Corporate Retreats
• Team Building for Sports Teams
• Military Team Building

What are Outdoor Team Building Activities?

Outdoor team building activities and games are designed to create a challenge that enables you to show how you work in a team. You can discover whether you are more comfortable as a team leader or as a team player.  Doing team building activities outdoor enables everyone t get away from the normal work or educational environment and discover more aobut themselves on neutral ground.

Taking part in outdoor team building activities and working as part of a team helps you to develop personal skills, leadership skills, team skills, communication skills and problem solving skills.

Part of the team building challenge is to actually get on and work out how to solve the problem given to you. In the early stages, it helps to encourage all members of your team to come up with ideas on how to solve the task given to you. If you pay attention and listen to what they say, you will be able to work out what strengths each member of the team has.

Why Bother With Team Building Activities?

Life is full of challenges, and one the biggest challenges is to work with others in society. To get the best from your working life, you will need to work out how to work in a team. So, when those team building activities are thrown at you, rise to the challenge and show them what you’ve got.

How to Run Successful Team Building Activities and Games

Define the Purpose of the Team Building Activities

The team building challenge should have a clearly defined goal to strive for. To be worth doing, the goal should be challenging but achievable. If the goal seems too impossible, it stops being challenging and becomes demoralising.

Team building activities should be relevant to the team.

There needs to be some motivation for undertaking the challenge. Give the teams a reward, prize, the thrill of doing it (fun stuff and adventure), or the satisfaction from achievement and winning.

Fun should be a primary factor in all team building activities for teens and adults. These free fun team building ideas are proven to develop teamwork. Some team building courses focus on taking people out of their comfort zone to see how they perform under stress. They end up alienating people who then disengage from the team building process.

A lot of people need an incentive or motivation to participate in a team building game. Some are shy, or just not outdoors people. Not everyone enjoys physical exercise, especially if it exposes your weaknesses.

Work to Your Strengths

These team building activities for teens will help teens to identify their strengths and also how they can improve. If there are problems in the team, then the team should be mentored to demonstrate how things could be done. Rather than point out mistakes and weaknesses, advice and guidance should be given. This should be done positively, and help to show how things should be done and how it is achievable by working as a team.

Team Building Ice Breakers

The aim of ice breakers is to enable team members to get to know each other better. Sometimes you may go away on team building days or team building weekends where you have never met anyone in your team before. This can be a bit daunting. Fear not, there is a simple way to do it.

– Actively Listen – During the ice breaker, go up and introduce yourself and then encourage the other person to talk about themselves. Everyone loves talking about themselves. If you can ask the right questions, you will soon get to learn a little about what they like. You may find you have something in common. You could ask about music, TV, computers, hobbies, sports, or even what they think about team building ice breakers. Just make sure you listen to what they say, and don’t criticise them.

As you talk, you may pick up on skills that they have that will help in your team building activities. Can they tie knots? Are they good at swimming? Can they do first aid? Are they fit? Are they clever?

Read the full list of Ice Breaker Games .

Team Building Activities Ideas

• Human pyramids – How high can you build a human pyramid or tower?
• Egg Toss – How far can you throw a raw egg to a partner who successfully catches it?
• Obstacle courses – Create an assault course or obstacle course and get the teams to race over it. Get them to carry a bucket of water adds to the fun.
• Toxic Area Canister Retrieval – This is one of the most popular team building activities. With equipment provided, rescue a container from a taped off area. Rather than moving toxic waste, I prefer to fill the container with a reward such as sweets, or even dinner that has to be cooked over an open fire.
• Bucket Swimming relay – Get the team to do a swimming relay collecting things from the other end of the pool wearing a bucket on their head, which is actually a real challenge to swim with as it fills up and slows you down.
• Blanket Volleyball – Set up a volleyball court using blankets or large tarps for the net. The teams on either side cannot tell where the ball is coming from, so have to work together to win.
• Crate Stacking – You need proper climbing gear for this one. Rig a safety line and pulley high above the place where you will be stacking your crates. The stacker has to stack the crates into a tower as tall as they can, whilst balancing on the top.
• Bucket on a rope water obstacle course – Get a very long piece of rope or string and weave it across a series of obstacles. Up trees, through bushes, across mud, over walls. Then, feed one end of the string through the handle of a bucket that is full of water. The team then has to get the bucket of water to the other end of the piece of string without spilling any water.
• Firemans relays – Each team has to form a relay chain to get all of the water from one big barrel across an obstacle course and into another barrel at the other end. The race is timed of course.
• Target Practice – Use any projectile to hit a target. Water, paint or flour bombs are the best. The team has to build their contraption for launching their ammo. See which team can fire it the furthest, or get closest to a target.
• Chariot racing – The team builds a chariot and then races across a course.
• Sedan Chair Racing – Sedan chair racing is the same principle as the chariot race, but the team have to carry the sedan chair off the ground with their rider sitting on it.
• Orienteering – The team has to work together to navigate a course finding markers along the way. They have to keep together. The fastest team wins.
• Go Karting – The team can make go karts, or just go somewhere and race proper go karts. They work as a team to see who is fastest.  For a bit more of a rush, try grass karting .
• Geocaching – Using a GPS, you can find hidden caches all over the world using the geocaching.com website. A hitech treasure hunt.
• Scavenger Hunts and Treasure Hunts – Give your teams a list of scavenger hunt items or tasks they have to complete in the time given. To make your teens think, make the description of the items cryptic. A picture of Thomas Jefferson ($5 bill), or a portrait of the Queen (a stamp or money). If completing tasks such as visiting places, they can take a picture to prove they were there.
• Sailing – One way to get the team to work together is to send them on a sailing day. The skipper will teach them how to work as a crew, and they will not only learn how to work together, but also learn a new skill.
• Drops – Drops are where you drop off the team of teenagers somewhere. They then have to work out how to get to a given location in a time limit.  There are plenty of other games you can play using OS Maps. You can make it easier by getting them to travel to a tall building that they can see from the start point. Or you could make it harder by blindfolding them when taking them to the start, so that they don’t know where they are.
• Soap Box Cart Gravity Racing – Use a wooden soap box crate, stick some pram wheels on and race them down hills.
• Now Get Out Of That Challenges – Now Get Out of That was a UK TV programme where teams had to navigate to a given location. There they would be given a puzzle or challenge to solve. Successful completion would give the teams the clue to the next location. The outdoor team building activities included river crossings and working out how to boil some water using only a sheet of paper and a candle.
• Swamp Crossing – Create a swamp, and then the teams have to cross it without touching the ground. They can be provided with a variety of useful and unhelpful equipment. Planks and bricks are commonly used. You can also get the teams to make a bridge.
• The Great Egg Race – Invention to solve a problem such as build a device to carry an egg the furthest over a course, or a rocket/parachute that can bring an egg back safely to earth.
• Monopoly Runs – Monopoly Runs are a race around a virtual Monopoly board. This is easy if you are in London. The team has to visit all of the places named on the Monopoly board as quickly as possible. If you aren’t in London, you can create your own board with place names of where you are.
• Balance on a brick – How many people can balance on a brick at once? You can use any surface to hand, such as a milk crate. Or how many can you get in a phone box or in a car.
• Blindfold tent pitching – This is straightforward, but is prone to lots of cheating and peeking.
• Blindfold instructions – This trust building game involves a member of the team being blindfolded and guided by voice around an obstacle course. If more than one team goes at once, this adds lots of confusion as the people who are blindfolded are not sure if the instructions are for them or not.
• Construction – Get the team to build something. Anything.
• Lego structure copy – Make a Lego structure out of different coloured bricks and place it in the next room. Each team is given a set of bricks to build an exact copy of the Lego structure.
• Follow the plans – Give each team a set of plans that tell them how to do or build something. What you don’t tell them is that you have not given them a full set of instructions. Take one page from each set of instructions and put it into the instruction for another team.
• Be dramatic – If you live in NYC or San Francisco, there are some great theatre improvisation sessions that you can go to. The team building sessions get everyone working together, having fun, and even performing some comedy.
• Human Marble Run – Give each member of the team a length of gutter or drainpipe. The team has to convey a tennis ball or golf ball from one place to another by rolling the ball from one piece of gutter to the next.
• Learn a new sport – Sharing the learning experience is a great way to get a team to bond.
• Chocolate making  or cooking – Make a giant bar of chocolate
• The Search Party – Practice carrying out a search party. You could even get the real emergency services involved for the practice and education.
• Raft Building – Give them lots of poles, ropes and large barrels to lash together to form a raft. Then have a race or get them to cross a river.
• Egg Tower Construction – Yes it’s the “build a tower using drinking straws and tape to support an egg.” No need to say any more.
• The levitating Stick or Helium Stick – This team building activity involves the team getting into two rows facing each other. Everyone holds out their index finger and you place a lightweight cane or stick so that it rests on everyone’s fingers. The team then have to lower the stick to the ground whilst keeping their fingers in contact with the stick. What happens is that someone will usually apply more pressure on the stick and it will go up a bit. Someone else realises that their finger is not longer touching the stick so they raise their finger. The stick then ends up magically levitating up into the air as everyone lifts their fingers. It takes coordination to get the stick to the ground.
• Bridge Building and other river crossings – Create a virtual river using two long pieces of rope. Give the teams equipment to make a bridge. If you are feeling adventurous, do it over a real stream or river.
• The Wall – Find an assault course that has a ten foot wall in it. The team has to get everyone over the wall.
• Water Barrel Swap – Tie a pulley to a tree branch and pass a rope through it. Tie a barrel to each end of the rope. Fill one barrel with water. Then fence off an area around the barrels. The challenge is to swap positions of the barrels without anyone touching the floor inside the fenced off area, or touch the barrels.
• Human Knot – Everyone crowds together and randomly holds someone else’s hands. They then have to unravel themselves without letting go.
• Circle Lap Sit – Get everyone into a circle. Everyone then turns to face the person to their left. They all then sit on the lap of the person behind. If done at the same time, everyone ends up sitting on a lap self supporting. If not, people fall on the floor.
• Parachute Games – Take one large parachute and play team building games with it.  A brilliant bit of kit for teamwork is the Artoflifer Hole Tarp .  This is a tarp with colored holes of different sizes that the team has to hold to direct different sized balls down the correct holes.  Really challenging but excellent for team building outdoors and indoors.
• Location Hunt from Photo – Give the teams a set of photos of places in the area. They then have to go to those places and prove they were there.
• Dragon Boat Racing – Get the team working together to paddle a dragon boat in a race. Rowing is another idea.
• Canoe catamaran trust – Using two canoes, balance beams between them and the team leader sits on the beam. Teams then canoe a course around the lake
• Canal Lock Navigation – Guide a canal boat through a lock
• Technology Transmissions – Get the teams to use technology to solve a puzzle or challenge.
• Group plank skiing – You need two planks with loops of rope attached to them. The team stands with a foot on each plank holding the rope. They then have to walk the plank skis to the end of the room or field.
• White water Rafting – Send your teens white water rafting. They need to listen to the instructor and work together to paddle in the right direction.
• Paintball – Paintball can be a great way to get teams to work together. They will need to formulate plans, adapt them during the game, and work together to win.
• Water Fights – Using water fights as a team building activity gives you plenty of scope to adapt to your environment. You can use rivers, lakes, boats, or just two large barrels of water at each end of a field for them to refill from.
• Wide Games – Games played over a wide area, usually at night. The most popular is capture the flag.
• Balance Board – Balance a ball on a large sheet of hardboard. As a team carry it around a course without the ball falling off. A bit like egg and spoon races.

This outdoor team building activities list is an ever growing free resource, so bookmark this page for when you need ideas for more team building.

Read my Team Building Activities page for a complete guide to team building for all ages, business, education and military.

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