Building strong teams remotely is challenging. Recent research shows that 4 in 10 jobs now allow some amount of remote work (Robert Half, 2025). Yet 60% of managers find it more challenging to evaluate and connect with remote employees compared to in-office teams (SHRM, 2024). With teams now split between remote and hybrid arrangements, it’s harder to build the trust and camaraderie that drive high performance and job satisfaction.
Virtual team building activities can help solve this problem. When done right, they create genuine connections, improve communication, and boost team morale in ways that translate directly to better collaboration and results. The key is choosing activities that feel authentic rather than forced, and that work in digital environments.
In this guide, we'll explore 25 proven virtual team building activities designed specifically for remote and hybrid teams. These aren't your typical trust falls, they're practical, engaging activities designed for busy professionals that deliver measurable improvements in team dynamics.
We organized our team building activities by time commitment and purpose for easy selection. Feel free to jump to the section that best fits your needs:
Virtual team building differs significantly from in-person activities. Without physical presence, you need to be more intentional about creating engagement and connection. The most effective virtual team building activities share several key characteristics:
Clear structure and purpose: Team members need to understand not just what they're doing, but why it matters for team performance. Activities should have obvious connections to real work challenges or team dynamics.
Active participation for everyone: Unlike in-person settings where some people can blend into the background, virtual environments require deliberate inclusion. The best activities ensure every team member has a meaningful role.
Technology that enhances rather than hinders: The platform and tools should feel intuitive and support the activity's goals. Technical difficulties can quickly derail team building efforts and create frustration instead of connection.
Authentic interactions: Forced fun rarely works, especially in virtual settings. Effective activities create natural opportunities for team members to share perspectives, solve problems together, or discover common interests.
Selecting the right activity depends on several factors that smart team leaders consider before planning:
Team size and dynamics - different activities work better for different group sizes:
Available time - match your activity to realistic time constraints:
Team development stage - consider where your team is in their working relationship:
Platform capabilities - leverage your tool's features:
Cultural considerations - ensure activities work across different:
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These activities work perfectly as meeting openers, energy boosters during long sessions, or quick team check-ins. They're designed to create immediate connection without requiring significant time investment.
Time: 5-8 minutes
Group size: 3-12 people
Platform needs: Video conferencing capabilities
Have each team member share a 30-second update about something happening in their life outside of work. This could be a hobby they're pursuing, a book they're reading, a place they visited, or a challenge they're facing. Set a timer to keep things moving and ensure everyone gets a turn.
Why it works: Creates personal connection and helps team members see each other as whole people, not just work roles.
Pro tip: For larger teams, use breakout groups or virtual tables with 3-4 people each, then have one person from each room share a highlight with the full group.
Time: 5-10 minutes
Group size: 4-15 people
Platform needs: Video conferencing with custom virtual backgrounds
Ask team members to choose a virtual background that represents something meaningful to them: a place they've traveled, somewhere they want to go, or something that reflects their personality. Have each person briefly explain their choice.
Why it works: Provides a natural conversation starter and reveals personal interests and aspirations.
Pro tip: For teams that meet regularly, make this a monthly tradition where everyone shares a new background with a different theme (dream vacation, favorite movie, childhood memory).
Time: 5-7 minutes
Group size: 3-20 people
Platform needs: Video conferencing capabilities
Go around the group and have each person share one small win from the past week, either personal or professional. Encourage the team to give quick applause or positive reactions after each share.
Why it works: Builds positive momentum and helps team members learn about each other's priorities and achievements.
Pro tip: Keep the energy high by having people share rapid-fire style, and celebrate enthusiastically after each win.
Time: 6-10 minutes
Group size: 4-25 people
Platform needs: Video conferencing with polling feature
Present work-related "would you rather" questions and have team members vote and briefly explain their choices. For example:
Why it works: Reveals work preferences and values while generating discussion about team dynamics.
Pro tip: Use polling features to see results instantly, then discuss the most interesting splits.
Time: 3-5 minutes
Group size: 3-30 people
Platform needs: Video conferencing with chat function
Ask team members to post an emoji in the chat that represents how they're feeling today, then have a few people explain their choice. This works especially well for larger teams where verbal check-ins would take too long.
Why it works: Provides quick emotional temperature check and helps team members adjust their communication style based on how others are feeling.
Pro tip: Use the insights to adjust meeting energy or offer support to team members who might be struggling.
Time: 3-5 minutes
Group size: 3-25 people
Platform needs: Video conferencing capabilities
Have each team member share one word that describes their current state, goal for the day, or feeling about an upcoming project. Go around quickly without explanation, then circle back to ask about any particularly interesting word choices.
Why it works: Forces people to distill their thoughts and creates curiosity about teammates' perspectives.
Pro tip: Theme the words around specific topics like "one word for how this project is going" or "one word for your weekend plans."
These activities help teams practice collaboration skills while working through structured challenges. They're perfect for building problem-solving capabilities and communication patterns that transfer directly to work projects.
Time: 20-30 minutes
Group size: 4-8 people (larger teams can use multiple rooms)
Platform needs: Screen sharing, breakout groups or virtual tables
Create or find online escape room puzzles that require team collaboration to solve. Divide larger teams into groups of 4-8 people, each working on the same or different challenges. Reconvene to share strategies and solutions.
Why it works: Requires communication, delegation, and creative thinking under time pressure: all essential team skills.
Pro tip: Create simple puzzles using Google Forms, shared documents, or presentation slides with hidden clues that teams must find and piece together.
Time: 15-25 minutes
Group size: 4-12 people
Platform needs: Screen sharing, collaborative documents
Present the team with a scenario requiring group decision-making, such as:
Teams must reach unanimous agreement within the time limit.
Why it works: Practices negotiation, listening skills, and finding common ground - crucial for real project decisions.
Pro tip: Discuss what communication strategies helped reach consensus and which created roadblocks.
Time: 20-30 minutes
Group size: 6-20 people
Platform needs: Breakout groups or virtual tables, shared document, presentation space
Give teams a common challenge (like "design a better way to onboard new employees") and have small groups brainstorm solutions. Each group presents their idea in 2 minutes, then everyone votes on the most innovative solution.
Why it works: Encourages creative thinking and presentation skills while building on each other's ideas.
Pro tip: Use a tournament bracket format for multiple rounds if you have time and a larger group.
Time: 15-20 minutes
Group size: 5-15 people
Platform needs: Shared spreadsheet or document
Present a scenario where the team must allocate limited resources (time, budget, people) across competing priorities. Provide realistic constraints and have them work together to create an allocation plan everyone can support.
Why it works: Mirrors real workplace decisions and helps teams practice transparent discussion about trade-offs.
Pro tip: Use scenarios similar to actual challenges your team faces for maximum relevance.
Time: 15-25 minutes
Group size: 4-20 people
Platform needs: Video conferencing, shared document
Create a list of items team members need to find in their home workspace and bring back to show the camera. Include both common items (something red, a book, a snack) and more creative ones (something that represents your personality, your favorite work tool).
Why it works: Gets people moving, sharing personal space, and learning about each other's work environments.
Pro tip: To keep it focused on the job, choose work-related items like "your most useful office supply" or "something that helps you stay organized."
These activities focus on building creative thinking and collaborative skills through structured creative exercises. They help teams practice building on each other's ideas and thinking outside conventional boundaries.
Time: 20-30 minutes
Group size: 4-10 people
Platform needs: Shared document or whiteboard tool
Start a story with one sentence, then have each team member add one sentence in turn. The goal is to create a cohesive, entertaining story that incorporates everyone's contributions. Set themes like "a day in the life of our team in 2030" or "the origin story of our company's mascot."
Why it works: Requires listening, building on others' ideas, and creative thinking: all essential collaboration skills.
Pro tip: Create stories about successful project outcomes or innovative solutions to current team challenges.
Time: 25-35 minutes
Group size: 5-15 people
Platform needs: Screen sharing, virtual whiteboards or paper/markers
Give everyone 10 minutes to create artwork (digital or hand-drawn) based on a prompt like "what teamwork looks like" or "our team's superpower." Then host a virtual gallery walk where each person presents their creation and others offer positive observations.
Why it works: Encourages creative expression and helps team members see different perspectives on shared experiences.
Pro tip: Use simple tools like MS Paint or even hand-drawn pictures held up to the camera.
Time: 30-45 minutes
Group size: 4-12 people
Platform needs: Digital whiteboard tool, breakout groups or virtual tables
Walk through a mini design thinking process: define a problem (5 minutes), ideate solutions individually (10 minutes), share and build on ideas (15 minutes), and prototype the best solution (15 minutes). Use real team challenges for maximum relevance.
Why it works: Teaches structured creative problem-solving while addressing actual team needs.
Pro tip: Tools like Miro or Google Jamboard work well for visual collaboration. For teams using Engageli, the interactive tables feature combined with table whiteboards provides an excellent space for small groups to collaborate on different aspects of the challenge simultaneously.
Time: 20-30 minutes
Group size: 5-15 people
Platform needs: Shared whiteboard or document
Instead of brainstorming solutions, brainstorm ways to make a problem worse. For example, "How could we make our team meetings as unproductive as possible?" Then flip each bad idea into a positive solution.
Why it works: Removes pressure to be immediately positive and often generates more creative solutions than traditional brainstorming.
Pro tip: Helps teams identify current practices that might be hindering their effectiveness.
Time: 20-25 minutes
Group size: 4-20 people
Platform needs: Video conferencing, shared document
Challenge team members to describe their work experience, team role, or current project in exactly six words. Share them anonymously first, then reveal authors and discuss what resonated.
Why it works: Forces concise thinking and often reveals insights about team dynamics and individual perspectives.
Pro tip: Share some examples to get inspiration flowing, such as "Always asking questions, sometimes finding answers" or "Spreadsheets are my love language, seriously."
These longer activities focus on building personal connections and team relationships. They're ideal for team retreats, quarterly meetings, or dedicated team building sessions where you have more time to invest in relationship building.
Time: 30-45 minutes
Group size: 6-20 people
Platform needs: Breakout groups or virtual tables, timer
Pair team members randomly for 10-15 minute coffee chats in small groups. Provide conversation starters like "What's something you've learned recently that surprised you?" or "What's a skill you'd love to develop?" Rotate pairs 2-3 times so everyone meets multiple teammates.
Why it works: Creates one-on-one connection opportunities that are often missing in remote work environments.
Pro tip: Send conversation starters to your team in advance so people feel prepared and conversations flow naturally.
Time: 30-50 minutes
Group size: 4-12 people
Platform needs: Screen sharing capability
Have each team member share something from their workspace, a tool they love, or a project they're proud of. Give everyone 3-5 minutes to present and answer questions. Focus on work-related items but encourage personal stories about why these things matter to them.
Why it works: Helps team members understand each other's work styles and creates opportunities to share expertise.
Pro tip: Variation themes can include favorite productivity tools, workspace setup tours, or "something I made outside of work."
Time: 45-60 minutes
Group size: 4-15 people
Platform needs: Video conferencing with good audio/video quality
Choose a simple recipe everyone can make simultaneously (like a smoothie, simple cocktail, or no-bake snack). Share the ingredient list in advance, then cook or mix together while chatting. Enjoy your creations while continuing to socialize.
Why it works: Creates a shared experience and natural conversation while people work with their hands.
Pro tip: Offer both alcoholic and non-alcoholic recipes, and consider dietary restrictions when choosing recipes.
Time: 30-40 minutes
Group size: 5-20 people
Platform needs: Presentation sharing, polling tools
Before the session, collect interesting facts about each team member (favorite travel destination, hidden talent, unusual hobby). Create a trivia game where people guess which fact belongs to which teammate.
Why it works: Reveals surprising things about teammates and creates natural follow-up conversations.
Pro tip: To prepare, send a simple form asking for 2-3 interesting facts about themselves that others might not know.
Time: 45-60 minutes
Group size: 4-12 people
Platform needs: Video conferencing capabilities
Choose a short business book, article, or podcast that everyone experiences before the session. Discuss key insights and how they apply to your team's work. Focus on practical applications rather than academic analysis.
Why it works: Creates shared learning experiences and helps teams develop common language around important concepts.
Pro tip: Choose a single article or 20-minute podcast instead of a full book for busy teams.
Time: 30-40 minutes
Group size: 4-15 people
Platform needs: Video conferencing capabilities
Go around the group and have each person share specific appreciation for another team member's recent contribution. Encourage specific examples rather than general praise. End with everyone sharing one thing they're grateful for about the team as a whole.
Why it works: Builds positive team culture and helps people feel valued for their specific contributions.
Pro tip: For larger teams, use a structured format where each person recognizes the teammate to their "right" in the participant list to ensure everyone receives recognition. Alternately, assign partners ahead of time to give people time to decide on an appreciation to share.
These comprehensive activities are designed for deeper team development work. They're perfect for team retreats, quarterly planning sessions, or when you want to address specific team dynamics and performance challenges.
Time: 60-90 minutes
Group size: 4-15 people
Platform needs: Collaborative document, breakout groups or virtual tables
Work together to create or update your team charter, including communication norms, decision-making processes, conflict resolution approaches, and shared goals. Use breakout groups or virtual tables for small group discussions on different charter elements, then reconvene to build consensus.
Suggested implementation structure:
Why it works: Creates explicit agreements about how the team will work together and provides a reference point for future challenges.
Pro tip: Make the deliverable a living document that the team can reference and update as they grow and change.
Time: 60-75 minutes
Group size: 4-12 people
Platform needs: Collaborative whiteboard tool, breakout groups or virtual tables, shared documents
Work together to identify individual strengths, map how they complement each other, and optimize team roles and responsibilities based on these insights. This activity helps teams understand how to leverage each member's unique capabilities for maximum collective impact.
Suggested implementation structure:
Why it works: Helps teams understand how to work more effectively by playing to individual strengths while identifying areas where the team might need additional support or development.
Pro tip: Use this workshop when teams are taking on new projects, after organizational changes, or when performance feels suboptimal despite good individual contributors.
Time: 75-90 minutes
Group size: 5-15 people
Platform needs: Collaborative documents, breakout groups or virtual tables, presentation sharing
Guide the team through structured scenario planning to anticipate future challenges and opportunities, then develop strategies for maintaining team effectiveness under different conditions. This builds strategic thinking and team resilience.
Suggested implementation structure:
Why it works: Builds strategic thinking capabilities while helping teams prepare for uncertainty and change. Creates shared understanding of potential challenges and proactive approaches to address them.
Pro tip: Use real scenarios relevant to your industry and organization. This works especially well for teams facing significant organizational change, market shifts, or growth phases.
The most effective virtual team building goes beyond one-time activities. Here's how to create lasting impact:
Build regular rhythms
Connect activities to real work
The best team building activities create skills and connections that directly improve work performance. After each activity, spend a few minutes discussing:
Measure what matters
Track the impact of your team building efforts through:
Adapt based on feedback
Pay attention to what resonates with your team and what falls flat. The best team building programs evolve based on team preferences and changing needs.
Start with work-focused activities that clearly connect to team performance. Activities like the Consensus Challenge or Innovation Tournament feel more like skill-building than traditional team building.
Focus on the Quick Connection Builders section. Even 5 minutes of intentional team building can make a difference when done consistently.
Use activities with clear structure and roles for everyone. Collaborative Storytelling and Six-Word Memoirs ensure everyone contributes equally.
Choose asynchronous elements when possible, or rotate meeting times so the burden doesn't always fall on the same team members. Consider shorter, more frequent activities rather than long sessions.
Building strong remote teams requires more than just good activities: it requires the right platform and approach to make collaboration feel natural and engaging. While these 25 activities can work on any video conferencing platform, teams using advanced collaboration tools often see dramatically better results.
Remember: team building isn't a one-time event – it's an ongoing investment in your team's success. Start with one activity that feels right for your team, then build from there. Your team's improved communication, stronger relationships, and better collaboration will make the time investment worthwhile.
Looking for more ideas on building effective remote teams? Explore our virtual learning resource hub for free downloadable guides.