Last updated: January 1, 2026

Remote and hybrid teams face unique challenges when it comes to building connections and fostering collaboration. Without the casual water cooler conversations and spontaneous office interactions, teams need intentional activities to maintain engagement and strengthen relationships.

Whether you're looking for quick icebreakers to start meetings, creative games to spark collaboration, or ongoing activities to build culture over time, this guide covers 15+ proven virtual team building activities that work for teams of all sizes.

Quick Icebreakers (5-10 minutes)

Perfect for starting meetings or breaking the ice with new team members. These activities require minimal preparation and can be done in just a few minutes.

1. Hot Seat

A great way to introduce team members and learn about each other's backgrounds. One person sits in the "hot seat" and answers fun, light questions from the team.

How to play:

  • Get everyone on a video call
  • Ask one person to volunteer or rotate through the team
  • Team members ask fun questions like: "What was your favorite band growing up?", "What's on your bucket list?", or "What book would you bring to a desert island?"
  • Keep questions light and personal (not work-related)

Time: 5-10 minutes | Group size: Any

2. Two Truths and a Lie

A classic icebreaker that showcases creativity and helps team members learn interesting facts about each other.

How to play:

  • Before the meeting, ask each person to write down two truths and one lie about themselves
  • During the meeting, each person shares their three statements
  • The team votes on which statement they think is the lie
  • The person with the most correct guesses wins

Time: 10-15 minutes | Group size: Up to 20 (split into breakout rooms for larger groups)

3. Seman Drawkcab (Backward Names)

A simple and fun way for new team members to learn each other's names while having a laugh.

How to play:

  • Each person pronounces their name backward, one by one
  • The group tries to guess the real name
  • Works great even with large groups

Time: 5-10 minutes | Group size: Any

4. Dinner Party

A quick trivia-style game that reveals personality and interests through fun hypothetical questions.

How to play:

  • Ask each team member to name three people (living or dead) they would invite to a dinner party
  • Have them explain why, especially if it's a unique choice
  • Great for sparking conversations and learning about each other's interests

Time: 5-10 minutes | Group size: Any

Looking for more quick icebreaker ideas? Check out our comprehensive guide with 15+ virtual icebreakers perfect for Zoom meetings.

Read: Quick Virtual Icebreakers for Meetings

Creative & Collaborative Games

These activities encourage creativity, improve communication, and help teams think outside the box together.

5. Skribbl.io

A free online drawing and guessing game similar to Pictionary. Perfect for bringing the whole team together for laughs and creative communication.

How to play:

  • Everyone logs into Skribbl.io and joins the same room
  • Players take turns being the artist
  • The artist chooses a word from three options and draws it in 80 seconds
  • Other players guess what's being drawn
  • The fastest correct guess gets the most points

Time: 15-30 minutes | Group size: Any | Cost: Free

6. Can You Hear Me Now?

A game that demands clear communication and active listening. Players describe images using only geometric shapes, challenging the team to draw what they hear.

How to play:

  • One person is the "speaker" and picks a random image
  • Everyone else is an "artist"
  • The speaker describes the image using only geometric shapes (e.g., "draw a long skinny vertical rectangle with three horizontal rectangles...")
  • Artists try to replicate the drawing based on the description
  • Compare results to see how well communication worked

Time: 10-15 minutes | Group size: Any | Cost: Free

7. Guess the Emoji Sentence

A fun and creative game that requires players to communicate using only emojis. Great for sparking laughter and creativity.

How to play:

  • Each person takes turns being the creator
  • The creator comes up with a sentence (related to movies, company culture, or pop culture)
  • They communicate it only using emojis
  • Team members guess what the sentence is
  • Example: 5️⃣ 0️⃣ 0️⃣ 📆 ☀️ ⛱️ = "500 Days of Summer"

Time: 10-15 minutes | Group size: Any | Cost: Free

8. Word Association

A simple game that stimulates creativity and shows how everyone thinks differently. Great for warming up before brainstorming sessions.

How to play:

  • Give your team a word
  • Ask them to say (or write) the first thing that comes to mind
  • Continue associating based on the previous word
  • After a few rounds, compare responses to see each person's unique association journey

Time: 5-10 minutes | Group size: Any | Cost: Free

Logic & Problem-Solving Activities

Challenge your team's problem-solving skills and logical thinking with these engaging activities that require teamwork and strategic thinking.

9. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Energize your team and improve teamwork with a fun virtual scavenger hunt. Create a list of items people typically have around the house and see who finds them first.

How to play:

  • Create a list of random household items (the more creative, the better)
  • Give the whole team 5 minutes to find the items
  • Spotlight each person or team as they find items
  • Whoever finds the most items wins
  • Examples: "An egg cracked into a wine glass", "Sunglasses on a soft toy", "A piece of clothing with fruit on it"

Time: 5-15 minutes | Group size: Any | Cost: Free

10. Fox, Chicken, and Grain (Logic Puzzle)

A classic logic puzzle dating back to the 9th century that challenges teams to think strategically and work together to solve a problem.

The Problem:

A farmer needs to get a fox, a chicken, and a bag of grain across a river but can only carry one item at a time. If left alone together, the fox will eat the chicken, and the chicken will eat the grain. How can the farmer safely get all three across?

Solution:

  • Carry the chicken first (leaving fox and grain safely together)
  • Go back and get the grain
  • Bring the chicken back
  • Leave the chicken and take the fox across
  • Finally, go back to get the chicken

Time: 10-15 minutes | Group size: Any | Cost: Free

11. Object Memory

A team-building activity that demonstrates the power of collaboration and communication. Teams work together to remember more than individuals can alone.

How to play:

  • Write down 30 words on a virtual whiteboard
  • Share your screen for 30 seconds
  • Ask individuals to write down as many words as they remember
  • Split into small groups
  • Have groups work together to remember more words and pool their results
  • Compare individual vs. team results to show the power of collaboration

Time: 10-15 minutes | Group size: 5-20 | Cost: Free

Ongoing & Asynchronous Activities

Build team culture over time with these activities that don't require everyone to be online at the same time. Perfect for distributed teams across time zones.

12. Donut (Virtual Coffee)

Recreate those spontaneous office coffee conversations with Donut, a Slack integration that randomly pairs team members for virtual coffee chats.

How it works:

  • Install Donut in your Slack workspace
  • Set up a dedicated channel
  • Donut automatically pairs team members on a recurring basis
  • Pairs receive a direct message encouraging them to meet for virtual coffee
  • Great for helping new hires meet teammates they might not interact with otherwise

Time: 15-30 minutes per pairing | Group size: Any | Cost: Free for up to 24 participants

13. Virtual Book Club

Bring together team members who love reading for regular discussions. Can be done synchronously or asynchronously via Slack or email.

How to set it up:

  • Create a Slack channel or email thread for the book club
  • Nominate a leader each month to choose the book
  • Set a reading schedule
  • Meet virtually to discuss (or discuss asynchronously in the channel)
  • Can be adapted for any shared interest (movies, TV shows, podcasts, etc.)

Time: Ongoing | Group size: Any | Cost: Free

14. The Jukebox (Monthly Playlist)

Create a shared Spotify playlist with a monthly theme. Team members add songs that fit the theme, creating a collaborative music experience.

How to set it up:

  • Create a Spotify playlist with a monthly theme
  • Examples: "The first band I saw in concert", "Songs that always energize me", "Summer vibes", "Halloween jump scares"
  • Share the playlist with your team
  • Team members add songs that fit the theme
  • Play during team meetings or share in Slack

Time: Ongoing | Group size: Any | Cost: Free

15. Recipe Share

Celebrate the diversity of your team by sharing recipes and favorite dishes. Food brings people together, even virtually.

How to set it up:

  • Create a Slack channel like #foodiefinds or #recipestoshare
  • Team members share photos and recipes of their favorite dishes
  • Optional: Have weekly themes (e.g., "comfort food", "holiday traditions", "breakfast favorites")
  • For extra engagement, host virtual cooking demonstrations

Time: Ongoing | Group size: Any | Cost: Free

Premium Virtual Team Building Experiences

For teams looking for immersive, story-driven experiences that go beyond simple games, premium virtual team building platforms offer professionally designed adventures that create lasting memories and meaningful connections.

Immersive virtual island adventure game for team building

Premium platforms like SquadGame offer immersive, story-driven virtual adventures designed specifically for remote and hybrid teams. These experiences typically feature:

  • Compelling narratives that require real collaboration and decision-making
  • Real-time collaboration tools for teams to work together
  • Team analytics and insights into collaboration patterns
  • Flexible scheduling options for global teams across time zones

When choosing a premium platform, look for options that align with your team's size, budget, and goals. Many platforms offer free trials or demos to help you find the right fit.

Why Virtual Team Building Matters

Combat Remote Isolation

Remote workers are more prone to loneliness and disengagement. Regular team building activities help maintain connections and prevent isolation.

Improve Communication

Virtual team building exercises help teams practice clear communication, active listening, and collaboration skills that translate directly to work.

Build Trust & Relationships

Without casual office interactions, teams need intentional opportunities to build trust and get to know each other beyond work tasks.

Boost Morale & Engagement

Fun activities break up the monotony of remote work, boost morale, and increase overall team engagement and productivity.

Tips for Successful Virtual Team Building

1

Keep It Short

Don't expect employees to work eight hours and then stick around for two more. Include activities in your regular schedule, not as add-ons.

2

Provide the Right Tools

Ensure everyone has access to video conferencing platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.) and messaging tools. Test technology beforehand.

3

Foster the Right Attitude

Assign a well-liked team member to encourage participation and help everyone relax. Make it clear that participation is fun, not mandatory.

4

Mix It Up

Don't do the same activity every time. Rotate between quick icebreakers, creative games, problem-solving activities, and ongoing initiatives.

5

Respect Time Zones

For global teams, offer asynchronous activities or rotate meeting times so everyone can participate without working odd hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you do team building virtually?

Virtual team building can be done through video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Google Meet. Activities range from quick 5-minute icebreakers to longer collaborative games. Popular options include online drawing games like Skribbl.io, virtual scavenger hunts, logic puzzles, and ongoing asynchronous activities like book clubs or shared playlists. The key is choosing activities that work well in a digital format and don't require physical proximity.

What is the best 5-minute virtual team building activity?

The best 5-minute activities include "Hot Seat" where team members ask fun questions to one person, "Two Truths and a Lie" for quick icebreaking, "Backward Names" for name learning, or "Dinner Party" where people share who they'd invite to a hypothetical dinner. These require minimal setup and can be done at the start of any meeting to boost engagement and connection.

How do you engage remote teams?

Engage remote teams through regular virtual activities that build connection and trust. Mix quick icebreakers, creative collaborative games, problem-solving challenges, and ongoing asynchronous activities. Use tools like Slack integrations (Donut for coffee chats), shared playlists, book clubs, or recipe sharing channels. The most important factor is consistency—make team building part of your regular schedule, not an afterthought.

What are free virtual team building activities?

Many excellent free virtual team building activities exist. Free options include Skribbl.io (drawing game), virtual scavenger hunts using household items, logic puzzles like the "Dog, Rice, and Chicken" problem, emoji sentence guessing games, word association exercises, and asynchronous activities like book clubs or shared Spotify playlists. Most video conferencing platforms have built-in features for breakout rooms and screen sharing that enable these activities without additional costs.

Resources & Further Reading

For more ideas and insights on virtual team building, check out these guides from SquadGame and other authoritative sources:

SquadGame Blog

External Resources