Library of teambuilding games & icebreakers

Torpedo
Agile games

Torpedo

Torpedo is a fun activity that involves some players being partially “blind.” It works best with teams of more than 5 members, and there’s a slight amount of coordination needed without members being able to see, so make sure you’re using an open, clear area free from any dangerous hazards.

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Agile games

Torpedo is a fun activity that involves some players being partially “blind.” It works best with teams of more than 5 members, and there’s a slight amount of coordination needed without members being able to see, so make sure you’re using an open, clear area free from any dangerous hazards.

Set up:

Form two or more teams. Each team lines up, one behind the other, and each person puts their hands on the person’s shoulders in front of them. Everyone needs to close their eyes, apart from the member at the front and the person at the back. Slowly, everyone steps forward, and the back person guides the “torpedo” by tapping the left or right shoulder of the person in front, to turn. The objective is to hit another “torpedo” while maintaining coordination, which makes this a great exercise in clear signaling and trust.

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Water-tight cup relay
Office games

Water-tight cup relay

A water-tight relay is a great game to get everyone active, if a little bit wet! You’ll need 2 or more teams, a cup for each player, and a source for refilling water. The objective is to carry water in a cup to a teammate, creating a relay chain until all water is collected at the end.

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Office games

Water-tight cup relay

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A water-tight relay is a great game to get everyone active, if a little bit wet! You’ll need 2 or more teams, a cup for each player, and a source for refilling water. The objective is to carry water in a cup to a teammate, creating a relay chain until all water is collected at the end.

Set-up:

  1. Carry water carefully: Create teams with an equal number of members, each member should be the same distance away from their teammate. The first person in the line is given a full cup of water. They move to the second person and pour water into their cup. They can only pour water backward over their head!
  1. Continue the chain till the end: Each member repeats the action until the last person pours their water into one large container. The first member in the line then gets another full cup and repeats. Put a measurement on the final container (3 or 4 full cups of water), and the first team to reach the line wins.

Speed does not always beat a steady hand in this game. Try this one out as a fun Friday activity. Just make sure you’re away from electrical equipment!

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Local Legends Expedition
Amazing race challenges

Local Legends Expedition

The Local Legends Expedition is a quest for untold stories that have shaped your city's culture and history. By delving into local folklore, you'll piece together intriguing narratives and enrich your understanding of the community's roots. This adventure isn't just about exploration; it's about teamwork and research that illuminate the city's unique character.

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Amazing race challenges

Local Legends Expedition

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The Local Legends Expedition is a quest for untold stories that have shaped your city's culture and history. By delving into local folklore, you'll piece together intriguing narratives and enrich your understanding of the community's roots. This adventure isn't just about exploration; it's about teamwork and research that illuminate the city's unique character.

Instructions

  • Form teams with an interest in history and storytelling.
  • Provide a list of clues related to local legends.
  • Teams conduct research, interview locals, and gather information.
  • Collaborate to weave together the stories into a cohesive narrative.
  • Share your newfound knowledge and insights with each other.

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Night watchman
Theater games

Night watchman

Both small groups and big groups can benefit from this exercise. The game involves players imitating a statue under the watch of a “night watchman”. They should try to move without getting caught. You’ll have to choose a night watchman at the beginning of the game; this person can move about freely while everyone else should behave like a statue. Players can try to take steps, but the night watchman must not see them move. If they see someone move, that person is out of the game. In some variations, the night watchman can do things to make the players move, but they shouldn’t touch them directly. You can also make this a no-winner game where the last person caught moving becomes the new night watchman.

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Theater games

Night watchman

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How to play Night watchman

Both small groups and big groups can benefit from this exercise. The game involves players imitating a statue under the watch of a “night watchman”. They should try to move without getting caught. You’ll have to choose a night watchman at the beginning of the game; this person can move about freely while everyone else should behave like a statue. Players can try to take steps, but the night watchman must not see them move. If they see someone move, that person is out of the game. In some variations, the night watchman can do things to make the players move, but they shouldn’t touch them directly. You can also make this a no-winner game where the last person caught moving becomes the new night watchman.

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Consistency
Relationship-building activities

Consistency

You know that friend who's always got your back? Consistency is like that—being reliable, so colleagues know they can count on you. It's the secret ingredient for building trust and teamwork. Consistency activity - Recognition raffle: Establish a recognition program that rewards consistent behaviors and contributions. Introduce a system where colleagues can earn tickets or tokens for displaying consistent positive actions, such as punctuality, collaboration, or going the extra mile. Collect the earned tickets and hold regular raffle drawings where participants have a chance to win small rewards or incentives. Celebrate the winners and highlight their consistent efforts to reinforce a culture of reliability and teamwork. ‍ This activity motivates colleagues to maintain a high standard of performance and contributes to a harmonious and supportive work environment.

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Relationship-building activities

Consistency

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You know that friend who's always got your back? Consistency is like that—being reliable, so colleagues know they can count on you. It's the secret ingredient for building trust and teamwork.

Consistency activity - Recognition raffle:

  • Establish a recognition program that rewards consistent behaviors and contributions.
  • Introduce a system where colleagues can earn tickets or tokens for displaying consistent positive actions, such as punctuality, collaboration, or going the extra mile.
  • Collect the earned tickets and hold regular raffle drawings where participants have a chance to win small rewards or incentives.
  • Celebrate the winners and highlight their consistent efforts to reinforce a culture of reliability and teamwork.

This activity motivates colleagues to maintain a high standard of performance and contributes to a harmonious and supportive work environment.

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Top ten things
Team building games

Top ten things

In this quick and easy exercise, you simply go around the (virtual) room and have everyone list the first ten words that come to mind based on a prompt. You can pick really straightforward subjects or get more creative. For example, if the topic is “Top vacation destinations”, have each person list their top ten places they’d like to visit. Or, maybe you ask for top ten names for a new puppy, or the ten worst date night destinations.

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Team building games

Top ten things

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How to play Top ten things

In this quick and easy exercise, you simply go around the (virtual) room and have everyone list the first ten words that come to mind based on a prompt. You can pick really straightforward subjects or get more creative. For example, if the topic is “Top vacation destinations”, have each person list their top ten places they’d like to visit. Or, maybe you ask for top ten names for a new puppy, or the ten worst date night destinations.

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Magic box
Improv games

Magic box

Here’s a simple game that always goes down well with small groups – especially when it’s a new team that’s still getting to know each other. FYI, Magic box also works well when you need an improv game that’s less daunting or full-on.

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Improv games

Magic box

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Here’s a simple game that always goes down well with small groups – especially when it’s a new team that’s still getting to know each other. FYI, Magic box also works well when you need an improv game that’s less daunting or full-on.

How to play Magic box

To play, you’ll first have to assemble a box full of random objects. It doesn’t matter what goes inside! The stranger and more varied, the better. Candy bars, coffee cups, plants, pictures, water bottles, business cards, books…you name it.

With your box ready, the fun can start. Each person sits in a circle and takes turns picking out an item. They then have to tell the group something about themselves that relates to that object.

The trick is to do it without overthinking. Heck, this is improv! They can make something up entirely if they want to. Play it that way and the group could then try to figure out whether it was a true story or not. Bonus points if whoever’s telling the story can link it to a central topic or theme of the workshop.

Whatever version of this game you play demands quick thinking and creativity from participants. It can also showcase their personalities and help the team learn more about each other, becoming a closer group as a result.

As an aside, Magic Box can also be played by remote teams. All you need is a virtual box of items (a web tool like this can be helpful) that people select at random. We’ll go through more examples of remote improv games later.

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Wanna spoon
Minute to win it games

Wanna spoon

Using only a spoon, players should attempt to transfer as many ping pong balls as they can from one bowl to another - no hands! Hands would be allowed if you drop the ball on the ground but then they should be placed back into the original bowl for another attempt. Whoever moves the most ping pong balls in the minute timeframe wins.

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Minute to win it games

Wanna spoon

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How to play Wanna spoon

Using only a spoon, players should attempt to transfer as many ping pong balls as they can from one bowl to another - no hands! Hands would be allowed if you drop the ball on the ground but then they should be placed back into the original bowl for another attempt. Whoever moves the most ping pong balls in the minute timeframe wins.

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Conflict Scenario Cards
Conflict resolution activity

Conflict Scenario Cards

This game is a fun, chatty way to level up those conflict resolution skills. Let's dive into those scenarios, chat it out, and become conflict-solving pros!

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Conflict resolution activity

Conflict Scenario Cards

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This game is a fun, chatty way to level up those conflict resolution skills. Let's dive into those scenarios, chat it out, and become conflict-solving pros!

Materials needed

  • Conflict scenario cards (These are your secret weapons. You'll need to whip them up beforehand.)
  • Some comfy chairs or a chill seating arrangement
  • Optionally, someone to guide the game, like a facilitator or moderator

Instructions

  1. First things first, create a set of scenario cards. Each one should tell a little story about a workplace conflict. Think of disagreements between team members, tricky client situations, or head-butting with colleagues.
  2. Gather your gang in small groups. Aim for about 4-6 folks per group. But if you've got a cozy team, you can play all together as one big, happy crew.
  3. Pass out those scenario cards, but keep 'em face down for now. The suspense is half the fun!
  4. Once everyone's got a card, tell 'em to take a peek and read it solo. Each card gives a little story about a conflict situation – who's involved, what's going on, and why things are heated.
  5. Now, it's time to dive into the drama. Get your group to chat about the scenario. Here's what they should tackle:
  • What's causing this mess?
  • What could be the reasons behind the conflict?
  • How can we fix it in a positive, productive way?
  • Are there different angles to consider?
  1. After giving 'em some time to hash it out (about 10-15 minutes), ask each group to spill the beans. Share what you discussed – the insights, strategies, and solutions you came up with.
  2. After tackling a bunch of scenarios, bring everyone together for a debrief session. Chat about common themes, what worked, and any challenges that popped up. Ask your crew to think about what they've learned.

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Alphabet game
Theater games

Alphabet game

This game involves going through the alphabet and finding words that fit a specific category. For example, you could choose animals as a category. You would start with the letter “A” and the circle would be responsible for coming up with different animals that begin with A, then B, and so on (so relevant answers could be ant, beaver, etc).

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Theater games

Alphabet game

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How to play Alphabet game

This game involves going through the alphabet and finding words that fit a specific category. For example, you could choose animals as a category. You would start with the letter “A” and the circle would be responsible for coming up with different animals that begin with A, then B, and so on (so relevant answers could be ant, beaver, etc).

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Work haiku
Games without materials

Work haiku

Haiku is a type of short form poetry that originated in Japan. Traditional Japanese haiku consist of three phrases composed of 17 phonetic units in a 5, 7, 5 pattern. For this exercise, have everyone come up with their own work-related haiku. They can be funny, observational, or even emotional - but they should all fit the haiku pattern. This is especially important because without materials like pen or paper, you want the poems to be short and easy to memorize and recite. Have everyone tell their poem to the group.This is another activity that is fun as an icebreaker activity, but can also be turned into a competition. You can always give a prize to the most creative entry. Another bonus for this activity is that it can be done in a virtual environment - for example, everyone can play on Zoom.

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Games without materials

Work haiku

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How to play Work haiku

Haiku is a type of short form poetry that originated in Japan. Traditional Japanese haiku consist of three phrases composed of 17 phonetic units in a 5, 7, 5 pattern. For this exercise, have everyone come up with their own work-related haiku. They can be funny, observational, or even emotional - but they should all fit the haiku pattern. This is especially important because without materials like pen or paper, you want the poems to be short and easy to memorize and recite. Have everyone tell their poem to the group.

This is another activity that is fun as an icebreaker activity, but can also be turned into a competition. You can always give a prize to the most creative entry. Another bonus for this activity is that it can be done in a virtual environment - for example, everyone can play on Zoom.

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Dice game
Sales team games

Dice game

Sales is a numbers game, and the more thoroughly that your reps understand this, the more motivated they'll be to keep making calls and taking meetings. You’ll need teams of 8 players, so either keep your group small or break larger groups into smaller ones. Give each 8-person team one dice and a timer (set to 30 seconds). Have each person take a turn rolling and have one “secretary” in the group write down the results for every roll. In particular, they should write down each time someone gets a “6”, and record how many tries it takes to get that result. The key is that the players can roll as many times as they want in the 30 second interval. You’ll quickly see people moving a lot faster in order to have more tries at getting the “6” - just the way the overall sales process should work. The faster you move, the more prospects you have, and the more likely you are to get your desired result. It’s a quick visual representation to drive home what makes a truly productive sales person.

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Sales team games

Dice game

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How to play Dice game

Sales is a numbers game, and the more thoroughly that your reps understand this, the more motivated they'll be to keep making calls and taking meetings. You’ll need teams of 8 players, so either keep your group small or break larger groups into smaller ones. Give each 8-person team one dice and a timer (set to 30 seconds). Have each person take a turn rolling and have one “secretary” in the group write down the results for every roll. In particular, they should write down each time someone gets a “6”, and record how many tries it takes to get that result.

The key is that the players can roll as many times as they want in the 30 second interval. You’ll quickly see people moving a lot faster in order to have more tries at getting the “6” - just the way the overall sales process should work. The faster you move, the more prospects you have, and the more likely you are to get your desired result. It’s a quick visual representation to drive home what makes a truly productive sales person.

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Leadership pizza
Leadership games

Leadership pizza

This game allows players to explore their potential leadership strengths by creating their pizza with “skill” toppings.

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Leadership games

Leadership pizza

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This game allows players to explore their potential leadership strengths by creating their pizza with “skill” toppings.

How to play:

Participants draw out a pizza with six slices. They are then asked to put toppings on their pizza, but instead of mushrooms, it’s a skill that they believe they would excel at. Once the pizzas are complete, people present their pizza, explaining why they chose their skills and engaging in a group discussion.

After talking amongst one another, receiving feedback, and discussing their strengths and weaknesses, if you’re willing to take the conversation a step further, everyone revisits their pizza and updates their skills according to feedback.

Materials you’ll need: Paper and general arts and crafts materials. Tables and chairs for drawing surfaces

How many people: Small to mid-sized teams (8-16 people)

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Rolling the dice
Minute to win it games

Rolling the dice

You can’t beat this one for simplicity. Have players break into groups of two and provide a set of dice to each pair. The goal is simple: roll the die and try to get the highest total possible in one minute. So, one person should roll and the other can document the number they get. This should go on as many times as they can in one minute. Whoever has the highest number wins.

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Minute to win it games

Rolling the dice

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How to play Rolling the dice

You can’t beat this one for simplicity. Have players break into groups of two and provide a set of dice to each pair. The goal is simple: roll the die and try to get the highest total possible in one minute. So, one person should roll and the other can document the number they get. This should go on as many times as they can in one minute. Whoever has the highest number wins.

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Memory Wall Game
Team building games

Memory Wall Game

Strengthen team bonds by visually representing shared memories and achievements.

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Team building games

Memory Wall Game

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Strengthen team bonds by visually representing shared memories and achievements.

Materials needed:

  • Large sheets of paper or a designated wall space
  • Markers, colored pens, and any decorative materials

Instructions on how to play:

  1. Assign each team the task of creating a visual representation of their shared memories and achievements on a wall or large sheets of paper.
  2. Encourage creativity in showcasing significant moments, accomplishments, and team milestones.
  3. After completion, each team presents their Memory Wall to the entire group, sharing stories and reflections.

Why it's a great team building game:

  • Memory lane stroll: Encourages reflection on shared experiences, fostering a sense of nostalgia and unity.
  • Visual storytelling: Promotes creativity and collaboration in visually expressing the team's journey.
  • Celebration of success: Recognizes and celebrates achievements, boosting team morale.

Top tip to help the game run smoothly: Provide a variety of materials to spark creativity. Encourage teams to use drawings, quotes, or any artistic elements that resonate with the memories they want to capture.

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Breakfast Guessing
Team energizers

Breakfast Guessing

This game is super simple and doesn’t require any props. Players simply take turns guessing what other colleagues had for breakfast that morning. To make it more interesting, the team can collectively ask up to three questions to narrow down their options. For example, they might ask if it was a cold item, or whether it was savory or sweet. Sometimes people get really creative, asking questions like “Did it come from a blender?” or “Would fancy restaurant serve this food?” Warning: this game does tend to get people thinking about food, so make sure you have a plan in place for your next snack or meal.

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Team energizers

Breakfast Guessing

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How to play Breakfast Guessing

This game is super simple and doesn’t require any props. Players simply take turns guessing what other colleagues had for breakfast that morning. To make it more interesting, the team can collectively ask up to three questions to narrow down their options. For example, they might ask if it was a cold item, or whether it was savory or sweet.

Sometimes people get really creative, asking questions like “Did it come from a blender?” or “Would fancy restaurant serve this food?” Warning: this game does tend to get people thinking about food, so make sure you have a plan in place for your next snack or meal.

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One-question icebreaker
Meeting icebreakers

One-question icebreaker

Looking for a virtual trust-building activity that’s a little simpler than the one above? Try the “One-question icebreaker”. A versatile game that you can use for any occasion, you can boost the bond between teammates in just a few minutes.There isn’t a lot to this one! You simply open up a group video call with a single, thought-provoking ice-breaker.The question itself could be silly or serious, work-related or totally random. Whatever the case, you give everyone on the call a chance to answer it and let those responses spark further discussion.

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Meeting icebreakers

One-question icebreaker

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Looking for a virtual trust-building activity that’s a little simpler than the one above?

Try the “One-question icebreaker”. A versatile game that you can use for any occasion, you can boost the bond between teammates in just a few minutes.

There isn’t a lot to this one! You simply open up a group video call with a single, thought-provoking ice-breaker.

The question itself could be silly or serious, work-related or totally random. Whatever the case, you give everyone on the call a chance to answer it and let those responses spark further discussion.

Here are a few proven ice-breaker questions you could use:

  • What’s the worst fashion decision you’ve ever made?
  • What’s your biggest irrational fear and why?
  • Who was your first celebrity crush?
  • If you could go on any game show, which one would you choose?
  • Which emoji do you use more than any other?
  • What’s the first bill you’d pass if you became president today? Why?
  • If you won one million dollars, what’s the first thing you’d buy? Why?
  • Which 3 celebrities would you want with you in a survival situation? Why?

What you need:

  • If you’re good at thinking on your feet, then you don’t need anything for this trust-building exercise. However, it never hurts to prepare a few killer ice-breaker questions in advance.

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Green Light, Red Light
Active listening activity

Green Light, Red Light

Imagine a workplace activity that draws inspiration from the intense suspense of "Squid Game" while honing active listening skills. That's "Green Light, Red Light" – a thrilling and enlightening game that can elevate your workplace communication.

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Active listening activity

Green Light, Red Light

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Imagine a workplace activity that draws inspiration from the intense suspense of "Squid Game" while honing active listening skills. That's "Green Light, Red Light" – a thrilling and enlightening game that can elevate your workplace communication.

How to play

  1. Assemble your colleagues in a designated space where you have room to move.
  2. Choose one person to be the "Leader" and the rest as "Followers." The Leader stands at one end, and the Followers form a line facing them.
  3. The objective is for the Followers to reach the Leader without being caught moving when the Leader says "Red Light."
  4. The Leader begins walking away from the Followers, shouting "Green Light!" This is the signal for Followers to advance towards the Leader.
  5. At any point, the Leader can yell "Red Light!" and turn around. When this happens, Followers must freeze immediately. Anyone caught moving is out of the round.
  6. The game continues until one of the Followers reaches the Leader without getting caught moving. That person becomes the new Leader.
  7. After each round, take a moment to discuss the importance of listening carefully to verbal cues and rotate roles so everyone has a chance to lead.

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Coffee talk sessions
Virtual team building

Coffee talk sessions

Coffee talk sessions offer a simple, relaxing break in the day. Teams hop on a virtual call for 15 minutes, grab a coffee (or tea), and chat about anything but work. It’s the virtual water cooler chat you didn’t know you needed.This is an easy way to stay connected, share stories, and unwind—especially when everyone’s remote and missing those casual office moments.

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Virtual team building

Coffee talk sessions

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Coffee talk sessions offer a simple, relaxing break in the day. Teams hop on a virtual call for 15 minutes, grab a coffee (or tea), and chat about anything but work. It’s the virtual water cooler chat you didn’t know you needed.

This is an easy way to stay connected, share stories, and unwind—especially when everyone’s remote and missing those casual office moments.

How to play:

  • Set up a 15-minute virtual coffee break.
  • Join the call with your favorite drink and talk about anything non-work-related.
  • Enjoy a casual chat and a little break from the day!

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Championship showdown
Large group games

Championship showdown

Championship showdown lets you stretch out the fun with a long-term tournament. Whether it’s chess, trivia, or something quirky like a fitness challenge, teams compete over time until one winner emerges.It’s like office bragging rights, but official. And hey, it’s a great way to keep everyone invested while getting some friendly competition going.

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Large group games

Championship showdown

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Championship showdown lets you stretch out the fun with a long-term tournament. Whether it’s chess, trivia, or something quirky like a fitness challenge, teams compete over time until one winner emerges.

It’s like office bragging rights, but official. And hey, it’s a great way to keep everyone invested while getting some friendly competition going.

How to play:

  • Pick a game or challenge (chess, trivia, anything really).
  • Set up a bracket for teams or individuals.
  • Whoever makes it to the top wins and gets the glory!

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Product descriptions
Sales team games

Product descriptions

Choose a random item within your reach and give each player up to 60 seconds to pitch to other participants.

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Sales team games

Product descriptions

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For this game, you need a large space to accommodate everyone.

Here is what to do:

  1. Have all players get together and form a circle.
  2. Choose a random item within your reach and give each player up to 60 seconds to pitch to other participants.
  3. Have everyone focus on the notable features and try not to repeat a sellable attribute that another participant mentions.
  4. Any player who cannot remember a feature within 60 seconds leaves the game.
  5. The last standing player is the winner.

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Compliment train
Virtual team building

Compliment train

This simple no-prep activity keeps the aim of positive reinforcement and maximizes a productive atmosphere. It is so simple it can be run during a virtual water cooler chat. Each person in the group simply chooses one other attendee, and then that person chooses someone who hasn’t been complimented yet and tells them something positive they’ve done.The effectiveness of this simple activity comes from the fact the complimenting is done at a peer-to-peer level, rather than from management.

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Virtual team building

Compliment train

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How to play Compliment train

This simple no-prep activity keeps the aim of positive reinforcement and maximizes a productive atmosphere. It is so simple it can be run during a virtual water cooler chat. Each person in the group simply chooses one other attendee, and then that person chooses someone who hasn’t been complimented yet and tells them something positive they’ve done.

The effectiveness of this simple activity comes from the fact the complimenting is done at a peer-to-peer level, rather than from management.

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Under 18 Achievements
Meeting icebreakers

Under 18 Achievements

It can be really interesting to learn more about people’s backgrounds, particularly if they aren’t from your area. You never know who was their high school lacrosse champion, or moved here from Japan. Kick off your icebreaker exercise by having everyone share the biggest accomplishment they achieved before turning 18.

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Meeting icebreakers

Under 18 Achievements

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How to play Under 18 Achievements

It can be really interesting to learn more about people’s backgrounds, particularly if they aren’t from your area. You never know who was their high school lacrosse champion, or moved here from Japan. Kick off your icebreaker exercise by having everyone share the biggest accomplishment they achieved before turning 18.

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Chubby bunny
Virtual team building

Chubby bunny

Two players go head-to-head, adding, placing and holding marshmallows in their mouth one by one. After each marshmallow has been added, each player tries and say the phrase “chubby bunny,” as clearly as possible.Players keep adding a marshmallow until the judge declares a players “chubby bunny,” to be unintelligible.

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Virtual team building

Chubby bunny

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A classic, if you ask me. This game can get a little embarrassing, so it's a nice icebreaker!

How to play Chubby bunny

Two players go head-to-head, adding, placing and holding marshmallows in their mouth one by one. After each marshmallow has been added, each player tries and say the phrase “chubby bunny,” as clearly as possible.

Players keep adding a marshmallow until the judge declares a players “chubby bunny,” to be unintelligible.

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