Team Building Games You Can Play on Zoom

Zoom has become the default platform for remote team meetings, but it's capable of so much more than just video calls. With features like screen sharing, breakout rooms, whiteboards, and polls, Zoom offers everything you need to run engaging team building games that bring your distributed team closer together.

Whether you're looking for quick 10-minute activities or hour-long immersive experiences, here are the best team building games designed specifically for Zoom.

Why Zoom-Specific Games Work

Zoom offers unique features that make it perfect for team building:

Breakout Rooms: Split large teams into smaller groups for more intimate activities
Screen Sharing: Share games, presentations, or collaborative whiteboards
Whiteboard: Draw, brainstorm, and collaborate in real-time
Polls: Quick voting and decision-making
Chat: Side conversations and quick responses
Reactions: Non-verbal participation for quieter team members

Best Team Building Games for Zoom

1. Virtual Pictionary

Zoom Features Used: Screen sharing, whiteboard
Time: 15-30 minutes
Team Size: 4-12 players

One person draws on Zoom's whiteboard while others guess what they're drawing. Rotate through drawers, and keep score if you want to add competition.

How to Play:

Enable the whiteboard feature in Zoom
Choose a drawer (they share their screen with whiteboard)
Set a timer (1-2 minutes per round)
Others type guesses in chat or unmute to shout answers
Rotate to the next drawer

Pro Tip: Use Zoom's annotation tools to let multiple people draw simultaneously for a collaborative twist.

2. Zoom Trivia

Zoom Features Used: Screen sharing, polls, chat
Time: 20-45 minutes
Team Size: Any size

Create a trivia presentation and share your screen. Use Zoom polls for answers, or have teams discuss in breakout rooms before responding.

How to Play:

Prepare trivia questions in a slideshow
Share your screen with the presentation
Use polls for multiple-choice questions, or chat for open-ended answers
For team play, use breakout rooms for discussion, then return for answers
Keep score and announce winners

Pro Tip: Mix company-specific questions with general knowledge to make it relevant and fun.

3. Two Truths and a Lie (Zoom Style)

Zoom Features Used: Chat, reactions
Time: 10-15 minutes
Team Size: 4-20 participants

Classic icebreaker, enhanced with Zoom features. Share statements in chat, use reactions to vote on which is the lie.

How to Play:

Each person types three statements in chat (two true, one false)
Others read and use reactions (thumbs up/down) to guess the lie
Reveal the truth and let people share follow-up questions

Pro Tip: Use Zoom's "raise hand" feature to manage who shares next, keeping it organized.

4. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Zoom Features Used: Video, chat
Time: 10-20 minutes
Team Size: Any size

Call out items and have people race to find and show them on camera. Perfect for getting people moving and sharing their personal spaces.

How to Play:

Create a list of items (e.g., "something green," "your favorite mug," "a book you've read")
Call out items one at a time
First person to show the item on camera gets a point
Continue until you've gone through the list

Pro Tip: Mix easy items with creative challenges ("something that represents your mood") to keep it interesting.

5. Zoom Charades

Zoom Features Used: Video, reactions
Time: 15-30 minutes
Team Size: 4-12 players

Classic charades, adapted for Zoom. One person acts out a word or phrase while others guess.

How to Play:

Prepare a list of words/phrases (use a random word generator)
One person acts out (mute yourself to avoid giving hints)
Others guess in chat or unmute to shout answers
Rotate actors

Pro Tip: Use Zoom's virtual backgrounds to add themed settings (beach, space, etc.) for extra fun.

6. Breakout Room Brain Teasers

Zoom Features Used: Breakout rooms, screen sharing
Time: 20-30 minutes
Team Size: 8-20 participants

Split into breakout rooms to solve puzzles or brain teasers, then return to share solutions.

How to Play:

Prepare puzzles or brain teasers
Split into breakout rooms (3-5 people each)
Give teams 10-15 minutes to solve
Return to main room and have each team present their solution
Discuss different approaches

Pro Tip: Use screen sharing in breakout rooms so teams can collaborate on shared documents or whiteboards.

7. Zoom Bingo

Zoom Features Used: Screen sharing, chat
Time: 15-20 minutes
Team Size: Any size

Create bingo cards with Zoom-related squares ("Someone's pet appears," "Someone unmutes accidentally," "Virtual background used") and play during your meeting.

How to Play:

Create bingo cards with Zoom meeting scenarios
Share cards via screen share or email
Mark squares as things happen during the meeting
First to get bingo wins

Pro Tip: Make it work-related ("Someone mentions a deadline," "Coffee mug appears") to keep it relevant.

8. Show and Tell

Zoom Features Used: Video, screen sharing
Time: 10-15 minutes
Team Size: 4-12 participants

Have everyone share something interesting from their workspace or home. This works great for getting to know teammates personally.

How to Play:

Give people 30 seconds to grab something interesting
Go around and have each person show and explain their item
Keep it to 30-60 seconds per person

Pro Tip: Set a theme ("something that makes you happy," "your favorite work tool") to add structure.

9. Virtual Escape Room

Zoom Features Used: Breakout rooms, screen sharing
Time: 60-90 minutes
Team Size: 4-12 participants

Use online escape room platforms and work together to solve puzzles. Breakout rooms can be used for different puzzle stations.

How to Play:

Choose an online escape room platform
Share your screen with the game
Work together to solve puzzles
Use breakout rooms if you want teams to work on different puzzles simultaneously

Pro Tip: Platforms like Escape the Room or Mystery Escape Room work well. SquadGame adventures offer similar immersive experiences with team insights.

10. Zoom Drawing Game

Zoom Features Used: Whiteboard, screen sharing
Time: 15-30 minutes
Team Size: 4-8 players

Similar to Pictionary but with collaborative drawing. One person starts a drawing, others take turns adding to it.

How to Play:

Enable whiteboard and give everyone annotation access
First person draws something (30 seconds)
Next person adds to it (30 seconds)
Continue until everyone has contributed
Guess what the final drawing represents

Pro Tip: Use Zoom's shape tools and colors to make drawings more interesting.

11. Word Association Chain

Zoom Features Used: Chat, reactions
Time: 5-10 minutes
Team Size: Any size

Start with a word, and each person says the first word that comes to mind. Go around quickly to create a chain.

How to Play:

Start with a word (e.g., "teamwork")
Each person types the first word that comes to mind in chat
Continue the chain
See where it ends up

Pro Tip: Use work-related starting words to make it relevant, or fun words to lighten the mood.

12. Virtual Background Contest

Zoom Features Used: Virtual backgrounds, reactions
Time: 10-15 minutes
Team Size: Any size

Have everyone use a themed virtual background, then vote on favorites using reactions.

How to Play:

Announce a theme (e.g., "favorite vacation spot," "dream workspace," "favorite movie")
Give people 2 minutes to find/upload a background
Everyone shows their background
Use reactions to vote on favorites
Announce winners

Pro Tip: Take screenshots of the best backgrounds to share later as a team memory.

Advanced Zoom Features for Team Building

Breakout Rooms for Large Groups

Breakout rooms are perfect for:

Small Group Discussions: More intimate conversations than main room
Parallel Activities: Multiple teams working on different challenges simultaneously
Team Competitions: Competing teams in separate rooms, then returning to compare

Screen sharing enables:

Shared Whiteboards: Multiple people drawing simultaneously
Online Games: Play browser-based games together
Presentations: Share trivia, puzzles, or instructions

Polls for Quick Decisions

Use polls for:

Voting: Choose between game options or activities
Trivia Answers: Quick multiple-choice questions
Team Preferences: Understand what activities your team enjoys

Tips for Successful Zoom Team Building

Test Technology First

Before your event, test screen sharing, breakout rooms, and whiteboard features to ensure everything works smoothly.

Have a Backup Plan

Technology can fail. Have simpler alternatives ready if screen sharing doesn't work or if someone has connection issues.

Set Clear Instructions

Zoom games require clear communication. Share instructions in chat, use screen sharing for visual guides, and check that everyone understands before starting.

Use Chat for Shy Participants

Not everyone is comfortable speaking. Use chat for responses, allowing quieter team members to participate fully.

Keep It Moving

Set timers and stick to them. Zoom fatigue is real, so keep activities engaging and moving quickly.

Making Zoom Team Building Regular

The most effective teams make connection a regular practice:

Weekly Quick Games: 10-15 minute activities at the start of team meetings
Monthly Deep Dives: Longer sessions with breakout rooms and complex games
Quarterly Events: Extended team building with multiple activities

FAQ: Team Building Games on Zoom

Do I need a Zoom paid account for team building games?

Most games work with free Zoom accounts. Breakout rooms require a paid account, but many activities work without them. Screen sharing and whiteboards are available on free accounts.

How do I manage breakout rooms effectively?

Assign a facilitator to each room, set clear time limits, and use Zoom's broadcast feature to send messages to all rooms simultaneously.

What if someone has technical difficulties?

Have simpler backup activities ready. Also, consider having a tech-savvy team member available to help troubleshoot.

Can these games work for very large groups (50+ people)?

Yes, but you'll need to adapt. Use polls for large groups, or break into multiple smaller sessions. Some games work better with smaller groups.

How do I keep everyone engaged?

Mix activities, use chat for participation, set clear time limits, and make sure everyone has a role. Consider having observers participate via reactions or chat.

Ready for Structured Team Building?

While free Zoom games are great for regular connection, structured experiences like SquadGame adventures offer deeper insights into team dynamics. These AI-powered adventures combine entertainment with actionable feedback, helping teams understand how they collaborate and where they can improve.

Explore SquadGame Adventures →

Start with one Zoom game this week and watch your team's engagement and connection grow.