20 Virtual Team Building Activities to Keep Remote Teams Engaged

Matheen Haneef in Business Insight Nov 20 / 9 minutes ago

Remember the last time your remote team actually engaged well? If you're struggling to recall, that's completely normal. Working from home has its own perks, but building genuine connections through a screen can feel tight.   

However, if you notice some teams stay close even when they sit thousands of miles apart. The reason for this lies in creating fun, intentional moments together. Want to know how? Let’s explore the 20 virtual team building activities that work best to keep remote teams engaged. 

Key Takeaways

• Discover 20 virtual team building activities that work best for remote teams.
• Know how to choose the right activities based on your requirements.
• Best tips to make virtual team building actually work.

1. Virtual Coffee Chats

Casual coffee chats are good options because they invite people to talk like real humans. You just hop on a quick call and vibe. No agenda or no pressure, just genuine conversation over your favorite drink. Who doesn't enjoy a guilt-free break?

Why it works:

• Builds trust through relaxed, personal conversations.
• Encourages people to open up beyond work topics.
• Creates real familiarity that makes collaboration easier.
• Breaks the monotony of back-to-back meetings.

Ever tried bonding with someone while staring at spreadsheets? Exactly. These informal moments remind your team that there are actual people behind those profile pictures.

2. Online Pictionary

Online Pictionary never gets old. You draw terrible pictures and pretend they look like something real. Your team guesses and tries not to cry laughing. The worse the drawing, the better the game becomes.

Pro tips:

• Use drawing platforms with simple controls like Skribbl or Drawasaurus.
• Mix simple yet challenging words to keep team members engaged.
• Set short time limits to increase the hilarious panic.
• Create custom word lists related to your industry for extra fun.

Watching your boss struggle to draw something in under 60 seconds is peak entertainment. These sessions break down barriers fast because nobody looks polished when they're frantically scribbling stick figures.

3. Online Escape Rooms

We love escape rooms because they force everyone to solve problems together without the usual meeting pressure. You watch your most introverted teammate turn into Sherlock Holmes. These puzzle-packed adventures give everyone a chance to contribute their unique thinking style.

Choose escape rooms that offer:

• Story-driven puzzles that keep everyone hooked.
• Built-in timers to add excitement and urgency.
• Team progress tracking so you celebrate small wins together.
• Different difficulty levels to match your team's experience.

How many times can you say that you escaped a virtual dungeon before lunch? I love the fact that people work together naturally when there isn't a spreadsheet in sight.

4. Trivia Battles

Trivia hits the sweet spot between competition and pure fun. You toss in random categories and watch chaos unfold. Everyone gets to show off their weird knowledge while laughing at the questions nobody saw coming.

Best formats:

• General knowledge rounds that level the playing field.
• Pop culture categories for nostalgic debates.
• Team customized trivia based on inside jokes and company history.
• Lightning rounds to keep the energy high.

FYI, your team's secret movie nerd will shine here. The friendly competition brings out personalities you never see in regular meetings, and suddenly everyone's talking about that one impossible question for days.

5. Virtual Scavenger Hunts

These get people out of their chairs, which already feels like a miracle during remote work. You ask teammates to find something funny or oddly specific around their homes. The real magic happens when people share the stories behind what they find.

Examples:

• Find something you bought but never used.
• Grab the weirdest kitchen tool you own.
• Show us your oldest T-shirt that you refuse to throw away.
• Bring back something that makes you smile.

Ever wondered how many unused blenders people hide in their cabinets? More than you think. These hunts really give everyone a peek into each other's lives while creating hilarious moments that become inside jokes for weeks.

6. Virtual Lunch Breaks

You eat together. You chat. You laugh. Sometimes you compare lunches and judge each other slightly. These shared meals recreate the casual office break room moments that remote work steals from us.

Why it works:

• Mimics in-office bonding without the commute.
• Reduces Zoom fatigue by keeping things relaxed and optional.
• Opens space for genuine connection beyond project updates.
• Allows people to share their culture through food.

These feel chill instead of forced. Something is refreshing about seeing your coworkers as regular people who also burn toast or order takeout for the third time this week. No presentation slides required. 

7. Skill Swap Sessions

Do you know how many secret talents your teammates hide? Someone always plays guitar. Someone always bakes fancy desserts. Someone always knows weird Excel shortcuts. These sessions turn hidden hobbies into shared learning moments.

Activities include:

• Quick tutorials on personal skills or interests.
• Live demos where people teach as they go.
• Q and A moments for curious team members.
• Skill challenges where others try it themselves

These sessions make your team feel like a community instead of random people sharing a Slack workspace. Watching your data analyst teach origami or your designer share photography tips reminds everyone they're multidimensional humans without mere job titles.

8. Virtual Game Shows

Your team may treat this like the remote version of Friday night fun. You pick a format like Jeopardy or Family Feud and let the chaos begin. The competitive energy kicks in fast, and suddenly everyone cares deeply about winning.

Make it fun with:

• Funny team names that spark trash talk.
• Reward points that build suspense throughout.
• Surprise categories nobody prepared for.
• Bonus rounds for comebacks and dramatic finishes.

Ever watched teammates argue about the capital of something obvious? Comedy gold. These game shows bring out playful rivalries and create memorable moments that people reference long after the scores are forgotten.

9. Two Truths and a Lie

This classic works every single time. You share two truths and one lie. The team guesses the lie. Someone always reveals something shocking that becomes legendary office lore.

Why it works:

• Sparks curiosity and people become really interested in knowing each other.
• Allows people to be vulnerable in a fun and non-stressful way.
• Works with any group size from small teams to large departments.
• Takes minimal setup but delivers maximum team connection.

You learn more in five minutes of this game than in five hours of meetings. The quiet person who skydived last summer? The manager who met a celebrity? These surprise revelations change how teammates see each other forever.

10. Show and Tell

You'll bring something important to you and tell the story behind it. People share pets, books, gadgets, collectibles, and sometimes hilariously unusual items. These personal artifacts give everyone a window into lives beyond work screens.

Benefits:

• Builds empathy by revealing what matters to people.
• Encourages storytelling skills in a comfortable setting.
• Helps people open up without feeling put on the spot.
• Creates conversation starters for future interactions

Ever met someone’s pet on camera? It gives instant joy, right? Whether it's a vintage record collection or a souvenir from an epic trip, these objects carry stories that make teammates feel real and relatable instead of just random names in email threads.

11. Virtual Book Club

You pick a book. You read it. You talk about it. You learn more about your teammates by hearing their takes. These conversations provide insight into people's thinking. What resonates with them and perspectives you never considered.

Make it work by choosing:

• Short books that fit busy schedules.
• Books with discussion questions to guide conversation.
• Fun genres that appeal to different tastes.
• Rotating selections so everyone influences the list.

IMO, fiction works great because people love explaining their favorite characters and debating plot twists. The beauty of book clubs is watching analytical minds and creative thinkers approach the same story completely differently. This sparks conversations that stretch well beyond the final page.

12. Online Workout Breaks

I once joined a remote yoga session, thinking it would feel awkward. It felt amazing. Everyone laughed at their stiff stretches and had a blast. Moving together creates energy that typical meetings can never match.

Options include:

• Yoga sessions for flexibility and work stress relief.
• Quick cardio bursts to get hearts pumping.
• Stretching routines perfect for desk workers. 
• Desk exercises that don't require changing clothes.

Ever tried doing planks during a team call? Try it once. Just once. These workout breaks fight the sedentary remote lifestyle while building camaraderie through shared struggle. Nothing bonds people like collectively groaning through burpees together.

13. Meme Competitions

Who doesn’t love memes? You give a theme and everyone submits their best meme. The team votes for the funniest one. Suddenly, your serious project manager is making jokes about Monday mornings with surprising accuracy.

Why it rocks:

• Encourages creativity in a low-stakes, playful way.
• Creates shared humor that becomes part of team culture. 
• Boosts morale through genuine laughter.
• Reveals personality and wit you don't see in work emails.

You bond instantly when you laugh at the same absurd meme. These competitions tap into internet culture that everyone understands while giving quieter team members a chance to shine through humor instead of speaking up in meetings.

14. Virtual Happy Hour

You bring your drink of choice and relax. You just talk about life instead of work deadlines. Virtual happy hour lets people relax together after a long week of back-to-back video calls.

Ideas:

• Mixology demos where someone teaches signature cocktails.
• Alcohol-free mocktail sessions to keep it inclusive. 
• Themed happy hours like tropical drinks or cozy hot chocolates.
• Rotating hosts who pick the vibe each time.

I once joined a team happy hour where someone brought milk instead of a drink. The key point of this virtual team building activity is showing up and being present without showing what's in your glass. These relaxed moments help teammates see each other as whole people with lives worth celebrating.

15. Pet Introductions

Remote teams secretly love meeting animals more than meeting humans. You introduce your pets. Others do the same. Everyone melts instantly. Even the toughest project deadline feels lighter when a dog crashes the frame.

Why does it always work?

• Pets lighten the mood and break tension effortlessly.
• Conversations feel natural when you're gushing over a cat.
• Everyone smiles, even people having rough days.
• Creates wholesome content for team chat channels later.

Pets never schedule unnecessary meetings, so they already win. These introductions offer non-pet owners a chance to live vicariously while pet parents get to show off their furry coworkers who've been silently attending meetings all along.

16. Virtual DIY Craft Sessions

You pick a simple craft and complete it together. No one needs artistic skills. You just have fun messing things up. The imperfect results matter way less than the shared experience of creating something.

Popular options:

• Painting sessions with easy tutorials that everyone can follow.
• Origami projects that start simple and get ambitious.
• DIY decor like customized mugs or plant holders. 
• Clay modeling where imagination runs wild. 

You get major bonding points when you all laugh at your art disasters. Watching your finance guy struggle with folding paper or your designer create something hilariously lopsided levels the playing field beautifully. These sessions prove perfection is overrated.

17. Online Karaoke

I know this sounds terrifying, but it brings teams closer faster than anything else. You share your screen, play the instrumental, and sing your heart out. The performance creates instant connection and unforgettable memories.

Why it works:

• Breaks barriers by putting everyone in the spotlight equally.
• Encourages boldness in a supportive, judgment-free environment.
• Creates memorable moments people reference for months. 
• Reveals hidden talents and hilarious song choices.

Ever tried singing 90s hits at 10 AM? Highly recommend. If someone hilariously butchers the lyrics, these sessions remind everyone that being human means being imperfect and having fun anyway.

18. Virtual Debate Club

Debates don't need to feel formal. You pick silly topics and let people argue passionately. Watching logical thinkers defend absurd positions with full conviction is entertainment at its finest.

Great debate topics:

• Is pineapple on pizza a crime or a culinary genius?
• Does cereal count as soup and why does it matter?
• Is a hotdog a sandwich or its own category?
• Should toilet paper roll over or under?

People reveal their true selves during these debates. Trust me. The competitive spirits emerge, the overthinkers analyze every angle, and the jokers throw in ridiculous arguments that somehow make sense. These lighthearted battles create energy without any real stakes.

19. Wellness Challenges

You pick weekly wellness goals and track them together. You encourage each other and check in often. These shared commitments make personal health feel less isolating when everyone's working from home.

Types of challenges:

• Daily steps to get people moving throughout the day.
• Water intake goals because everyone forgets to hydrate. 
• Sleep tracking for better rest and energy levels.
• Meditation sessions to manage stress collectively.

These challenges turn healthy habits into friendly competition. The accountability factor works well when teammates cheer each other on. Remote work blurs boundaries, so prioritizing wellness together reminds everyone that burnout helps nobody.

20. Online Talent Show

Everyone showcases something they enjoy. It could be singing, juggling, designing, coding tricks, impersonations, or even weird skills. These shows celebrate the full person behind the work profile.

Why it works:

• Builds confidence by giving everyone their moment to shine.
• Celebrates uniqueness instead of conformity.
• Brings out unexpected surprises that change team dynamics.
• Creates appreciation for talents beyond job descriptions.

Someone always has a wild skill that shocks everybody. Your quiet developer does magic tricks. Your accountant plays harmonica. These revelations make Monday morning meetings feel different because you suddenly see colleagues as multitalented humans worth knowing beyond their work contributions.

How to Choose the Right Activities

Choosing the right activities actually matters if you want real engagement from your team members. Have you ever tried throwing a super corporate activity at a casual team? It flops instantly because it feels forced and disconnected.

Consider:

• Team personality and what matches their vibe.
• Group size since some activities work better with smaller crowds.
• Time zones so nobody feels left out or exhausted.
• Activity difficulty to avoid frustrating beginners or boring experts.
• Budget constraints and available resources.

Always ask for quick feedback. People tell you what they enjoy without holding back. A simple poll or casual check-in reveals preferences faster than guessing. The goal is finding activities that feel natural for your specific team, not copying what worked somewhere else.

Tips to Make Virtual Team Building Actually Work

These lessons came from trial and error by watching what works. Let's find out some vital tips:

• Keep sessions short: Team members don't like long team building sessions like a 2-hour marathon. Just keep it to 30-45 minutes max.
• Rotate activities: Variety helps keep things fresh and prevents burnout from repetitive formats.
• Give people options: Forced fun backfires. Let participation feel voluntary, not mandatory.
• Add humor: Light jokes help everyone relax and drop their professional guard.
• Track what your team enjoys: Stick to what sparks energy without going behind what looks good on paper.

Ever noticed how a simple plan works better than an overengineered one? Same idea here. The best virtual team building feels effortless without just another task on someone's calendar.

Wrapping Up

Teams love virtual team building because it keeps remote work lively instead of lonely. When you bring people together intentionally, you build stronger relationships. Your team communicates better. You laugh more. You get things done without feeling drained. Try a few of these 20 virtual teams building activities and see which ones your crew vibes with.

FAQs

Q1: How often should we do virtual team building activities?

It depends on the team's schedule and the level of energy. One activity every week or every two weeks is a common practice of most teams, which has a successful outcome. The trick is to establish a routine without boring people. 

Q2: What if some team members don't want to participate?

Don't try to force people to participate because some people need time to warm up to group activities. Make participation optional and keep the door open. So, reluctant teammates join once they see others having genuine fun.

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