Let’s be honest—when someone says “team building,” most of us immediately picture awkward trust falls, forced fun, and someone yelling “Fun fact!” while we try not to cry into our coffee. Now make it virtual and you’ve basically got the Zoom version of watching grass grow in 240p. But hey, it doesn’t have to be a digital snooze-fest. With the right virtual team building activities, you can actually have fun. Like, real fun. The kind where people laugh, bond, and maybe create a shared inside joke about someone’s accidental cat filter incident.
Whether your team is sprinkled across five time zones or just really committed to the “Oops, my mic’s not working” act, creating moments of real connection matters more than ever. Because let’s face it—people want to feel like they’re part of something more than a never-ending chain of passive-aggressive email threads.
So, in this post, we’ve rounded up 25 virtual team building activities that are so not boring, your team might actually thank you. Seriously. No weird icebreaker circles. No “let’s go around and say our spirit animal” nonsense. Just fun, low-pressure ideas that’ll get your team talking, laughing, and possibly even saying “Okay fine, this was kinda great.”
Team Building Explained: What It Is and Why It Works
Team-building often sounds like one of those things that’s good for you but nobody really wants to do. Like flossing. Or reading the company handbook. But when it comes to remote teams, virtual team building activities are basically the social vitamins that keep everyone from turning into disconnected avatars floating through the workday. They’re how we remind each other, “Hey, I’m more than just a mysterious profile picture and overly formal email sign-off.”
Sure, working from home is great. You get to wear fuzzy socks during meetings and eat cereal at 2 PM without judgment. But there’s a dark side too—hello, loneliness. Gallup says 1 in 4 remote workers feels isolated on the regular, and let’s be real, that’s not great for morale. That’s where quick, weird, kinda-fun team-building breaks swoop in like a virtual superhero. A silly trivia game, a “show us your pet” round, or a mildly chaotic drawing contest can reset the vibe in minutes.
And no, it’s not just about giggling on Zoom and pretending your camera froze when it’s your turn to talk. Real team building builds trust, emotional muscles, and lowkey superpowers. Because when your crew feels like an actual team—not just digital strangers with overlapping deadlines—magic happens. And also, fewer “per my last email” passive-aggressive exchanges. Win-win.
The Power of Team Building Activities: What Your Team Gains
Sure, on the surface it looks like you're just gathering everyone to laugh awkwardly over Zoom—but behind the fun, there’s real teamwork magic happening. You’re not just building vibes, you’re building skills. Problem-solving, collaboration, figuring out who’s secretly a trivia wizard—virtual team building activities help people find their strengths, work together, and maybe even enjoy it (wild, I know).
The right activity can crank up productivity, boost confidence, and spark innovation like a microwave full of metal (okay, don’t actually try that). And let’s not forget: remote work can get lonely. Like “talking to your plant and assigning it tasks” lonely. Team building gives remote folks a real sense of connection, which can be the difference between thriving and slowly melting into their desk chair.
The best part? You don’t need a birthday, milestone, or national “Pretend to Care Day” to run one. Honestly, next Tuesday works. Or tomorrow. Or right now—just grab your team, fire up a goofy game or meaningful challenge, and start turning coworkers into something better: people who actually enjoy working together. Here come 25 virtual team building activities your crew will actually have fun with—yes, fun. For real this time.
Try These 20 Virtual Team Building Activities
1-Virtual Health Screenings for Employees
Let’s face it—your remote team is probably one Slack notification away from a full-on existential spiral. That’s where virtual team building activities like online wellness sessions come in. These aren’t just feel-good fluff. They give your team space to breathe (literally), reset, and focus on their mental and physical well-being. A little guided meditation, a fun icebreaker, and boom—suddenly people remember what calm feels like.
A solid session might include deep work tips, yoga poses that don’t require turning into a pretzel, or even “how not to panic before your next meeting” strategies. It's a win-win: people feel better, stress levels drop, and your team starts showing up like the healthy, mindful champions they are. Plus, “belly breathing before a presentation” is now a real thing, and honestly? Kinda magical.
2-Showdown in Five
Need a quick, hilarious way to get your team talking? Enter Showdown in Five—a crowd-friendly gem that’s part confession circle, part chaos, and 100% fun. Everyone raises one hand with five fingers up, and then someone (host or brave team member) starts calling out life experiences like, “Put a finger down if you’ve ever hit ‘Reply All’ by accident.” It’s simple, fast, and weirdly revealing. Yes, Greg has been skydiving.
It’s one of those virtual team building activities that just works—especially with larger groups where breakout rooms feel like punishment. You can crown the first person to lose all five fingers the “oversharer champion,” or reward the last one standing for their mysterious life. Either way, it's guaranteed to loosen everyone up and spark some much-needed laughter before diving into work stuff.
3-Coffee Breaks
Some days, your brain just needs a break from spreadsheets, strategy talks, and pretending you know what “synergize cross-functionality” means. Enter: the virtual coffee break. It’s not a meeting. It’s not a brainstorm. It’s just… you, your weird mug, and coworkers talking about their dog’s Halloween costume or why oat milk suddenly costs more than rent. No pressure, no agenda, just vibes. You come, you sip, you disappear mid-sentence if needed. Beautiful.
And weirdly enough? It works. Out of all the virtual team building activities, this one sneaks in under the radar and makes people actually like each other. There’s no awkward small talk about Q4 projections—just chaotic discussions about Netflix, DIY disasters, and who’s secretly raising houseplants like children. It’s messy, it’s random, and somehow, it brings your team closer together than any icebreaker ever could. Bonus points if someone brings snacks they can’t share.
4-The Tree or Bob Ross
Think 20 Questions meets Bob Ross meets a rubber ball on a road trip to Canada—that’s The Tree or Bob Ross in a nutshell. One person (aka “The Post”) picks a secret identity, which can be literally anything: a traffic cone, a memory, a feeling of mild regret, you name it. The rest of the team bombards them with endless questions, trying to figure it out. But here’s the catch: answers are always in the form of “It’s more like a tree” or “more like Bob Ross.” That’s it. That’s the answer format. Deeply confusing? Yes. Weirdly effective? Also yes.
This gem is perfect for your list of virtual team building activities because it encourages creative thinking, friendly chaos, and some truly unhinged debates (“Wait, how is a goldfish more like Bob Ross??”). As the questions evolve, players can even swap out the comparison—“more like a tree or a pile of leaves?” “more like a stapler or a cloud?”—until someone finally guesses that the secret identity was, in fact, a sad balloon. It’s silly. It’s smart. It’s chaos. Your team will love it. Or be very confused. Ideally both.
5-Two Truths and a Lie
Two Truths and a Lie: the OG of getting-to-know-you games. It’s simple, sneaky, and surprisingly revealing. Each team member drops three statements—two are true, and one’s a filthy little lie. Then everyone has to guess which one’s the fake. Suddenly you’re learning that Linda used to race go-karts, Raj once met a llama on vacation, and Steve has never seen The Lion King. Chaos. Delightful chaos.
It’s one of those virtual team building activities you can throw into a meeting without warning (the best kind), and nobody needs to prep or download anything weird. Just show up and talk about your life—or lie about it. Either way, it's a hilarious way to break the ice, start real conversations, and give people a reason to talk to each other beyond “Hey, did you update the spreadsheet?”
6-Team Jam: Create a Song Together
Get ready to become the band you never knew your workplace needed. In this musical twist on virtual team building activities, your team joins forces—guitars optional—to write a completely original song, guided by actual musicians who know what they’re doing (so you don’t have to). Whether you're tone-deaf or a shower-singing legend, all you need is a little creativity and the willingness to rhyme something with “synergy.”
But this isn’t just about belting out lyrics and pretending you’re on The Voice. Songwriting as a team means real collaboration. People bounce ideas, build on each other’s weird metaphors, and suddenly, your crew is writing verses about project timelines and oddly poetic coffee addictions. It’s silly, fun, and surprisingly powerful. And at the end? You’ve got a one-of-a-kind anthem that your team made together. Mic drop. 🎤
7-Icebreakers
Icebreakers get a bad rap—and honestly, it’s deserved when the questions are things like “What’s your favorite color?” or “How was the weather where you are?” (Yawn.) But we’re not here to bore you into a digital coma. We’re here for the weird, the oddly specific, and the laugh-out-loud kind of questions that make people go, “Wait, what did you just say your Real Housewives tagline would be?”
These kinds of offbeat convos are perfect for warming up a team before the serious stuff starts. Use them at the top of a video call, during your weekly stand-up, or just toss one into Slack and watch the chaos unfold. As far as virtual team building activities go, they’re simple, fast, and require zero prep—just a willingness to get a little weird. And frankly, isn’t that what makes work fun?
8-Wacky Snapshot Showdown
Ever wondered what your coworkers looked like before spreadsheets took over their lives? Or who among them once backpacked through three countries with nothing but a granola bar and a flip phone? Time to find out—with a good ol’ photo challenge. Pick a theme (baby pics, pets, chaotic vacation moments, questionable haircuts from 2009—you know, the classics), collect the photos, and let your team guess who’s who. It’s like detective work, but with less paperwork and more “Oh my god, that’s YOU?”
This one’s a goldmine among virtual team building activities because it invites people to show a slice of real life—the kind that doesn’t involve KPI dashboards. No filters, no pressure, just good stories and lots of laughs. Plus, nothing builds camaraderie quite like realizing your boss once had frosted tips and owned it.
9-Build a Community of Mutual Aid
Most people want to get healthier—drink more water, move their body, maybe even attempt a push-up—but somehow, life keeps getting in the way. That’s where a little team accountability can work wonders. Try creating a shared spreadsheet where everyone tracks small, doable goals like “8 glasses of water a day” or “walk around the block without checking email.” Nothing fancy—just a daily nudge that says, “Hey, you got this.”
As simple as it sounds, turning wellness into one of your virtual team building activities can really shift the energy. When teammates encourage each other, it builds momentum (and mildly competitive chaos). Add some prizes, form smaller groups, and suddenly hydration becomes a team sport. Because nothing bonds people like realizing they all forgot to stretch for three days straight.
10-Books & Banter
Books & Banter is your new secret weapon for quiet bonding, big opinions, and maybe a little light drama (book-related, of course). Starting a team book club might sound old-school, but it’s an underrated gem. People get to share what they thought, politely disagree (or passionately argue), and bond over stories that don’t involve Q3 reports. It’s chill, it’s brainy, and it secretly sharpens communication skills—without anyone realizing they’re “developing professionally.”
As far as virtual team building activities go, this one’s as cozy as it gets. Pick a book by vote, give everyone a few weeks to read (or skim aggressively), then meet online to talk it out. Want to make it even better? Add snacks. Add wine. Add a team member who has a lot of feelings about plot twists. Suddenly, your team’s not just connected—they’re trading book recs and forming unofficial alliances over character choices.
11-Hot One-on-Ones
Hot One-on-Ones is what happens when you mix icebreakers with hot sauce and mild emotional chaos. Inspired by that spicy YouTube show where people cry and confess their deepest secrets after three wings, this version breaks your team into small groups where they answer questions, spill truths, or take on challenges. Refuse? Welp, it's hot sauce time—and it only gets hotter. Think trust falls, but with sweat.
It’s one of those virtual team building activities that trades PowerPoint decks for actual fire. Each person gets a hot sauce tasting kit delivered to their door (yes, really), and an energetic host keeps things flowing while everyone gradually loses their ability to feel their tongue. It's not about strategy—it's about laughing, bonding, and seeing who can still form a sentence after sauce #5. Spoiler: it probably won’t be you.
12-Plug and Play Mixer
Plug and Play Mixer is basically a social smoothie—blending icebreakers, breakout rooms, and “wait, did we just become friends?” energy into one fast-paced session. It’s perfect for welcoming new team members, kicking off big meetings, or shaking off that “ugh, another Zoom” vibe. From quirky group questions to mini challenges that are more fun than formal, everything’s designed to get people talking without the usual awkward pause-and-smile routine.
Among the easiest and most adaptable virtual team building activities, this one plugs right into whatever you’re doing—conferences, milestones, random Tuesday chaos—and instantly adds energy. It’s low-lift, high-fun, and totally customizable to your team’s vibe. Whether you’ve got five people or fifty, introverts or extroverts, everyone walks away feeling a little more connected—and maybe slightly more competitive about how fast they can name five cheeses.
13-Invisible Wolf
If your team’s into mystery, drama, and a little bit of betrayal, Werewolf is your game. Think murder mystery meets campfire storytelling but make it Zoom-friendly. Each player gets a secret role—werewolf, villager, medic, or seer—and once night falls (cue the dramatic voice), chaos begins. The werewolves choose a victim, the medic scrambles to save someone, and the seer just quietly judges everyone. Then it’s morning, someone’s mysteriously "gone," and the finger-pointing begins. Trust no one. Especially Carl.
Werewolf is one of those virtual team building activities that forces even the quiet folks to unmute and play along. It’s active, hilarious, and full of wild accusations and surprise twists. Once you’re eaten by a werewolf, you become a ghost—no more talking, just quiet judgment from the sidelines. The game continues until all wolves are eliminated… or the humans are toast. Either way, your team will laugh, scream, and probably never look at each other the same way again.
14-Paint & Chill: A Creative Virtual Escape
Trying to bring your team together without resorting to another awkward icebreaker or forced “fun” breakout room? A virtual painting class might be the exact kind of beautiful mess you’re looking for. It’s creative, calming, and just chaotic enough to keep things interesting—plus, nobody has to change out of their pajama pants or pretend they know what "abstract" means.
No painting skills? No problem. These classes are built for all levels—whether you’re channeling your inner Van Gogh or still haunted by that one art project from elementary school that your mom pretended to like. With a chill instructor leading the way, everyone gets to follow along, splash some color, bond a little, and proudly create a masterpiece… or at least a conversation piece. Possibly titled “Stress in Blue.”
15-Doodle & Decompress: Art Therapy-ish for Your Team
Some days, your brain just needs a break from emails, spreadsheets, and remembering 27 different Zoom links. Enter: a virtual “calm and create” session. It’s the digital equivalent of a deep breath—except with colored pencils and zero judgment for accidentally drawing a giraffe that looks like a sad potato.
Led by a chill instructor who won’t yell if you go outside the lines, this creative break lets your team zone out (in the good way), get a little artsy, and reconnect with themselves and each other. It’s part mindfulness, part art class, part “therapy but with watercolors.” Ideal for boosting mental clarity, melting stress, and gently reminding your team they’re more than productivity machines. Bonus: no glitter cleanup required.
16-Guess The Emoji
Emojis used to be digital sprinkles—cute, optional, slightly chaotic. Now? They’re a full-blown language. And whether you're a thumbs-up enthusiast, a fire emoji addict, or the mysterious one who overuses (why tho?), Guess the Emoji is a hilariously revealing way to bond with your team. Everyone grabs a screenshot of their most-used emojis, sends it in, and the rest of the crew tries to guess who sent what. It’s like detective work, but with way more eggplants.
As far as virtual team building activities go, this one’s low-effort, high-entertainment. Bonus: you get to gently roast each other based on emoji habits. ("Michael, are you okay? You’ve used 112 times this week.") No prep, no prizes needed—just drop it into your next virtual hangout as a side game, and let the emoji chaos spark some new inside jokes. Trust us, you'll never look at the sweat smile emoji the same way again.
17-Do-It-Yourself-Craft-Challenge
Forget perfection—this challenge is all about glorious, imaginative mess. In 30 minutes, each team member must build something using only household items. What kind of something? That’s the fun part. It could be a pasta-sculpting utensil made from an egg beater and a fork (true story), or a miniature fortress made of pillows and broken dreams. It’s arts and crafts, but with zero pressure and infinite possibility.
This gem of a game is one of those virtual team building activities that sparks creativity, problem-solving, and the kind of laughter you don’t usually get during budget meetings. It’s not about building a masterpiece—it’s about unleashing your team’s inner child, mad scientist, or misunderstood cardboard architect. Bonus points for the weirdest invention, and eternal glory for anyone who manages to use googly eyes.
18-Murder? On a Zoom Call? Absolutely
There’s been a murder, and no—this time it’s not just the vibe of another Monday meeting. Someone’s taken out your favorite coworker (don’t worry, Karen’s fine... or is she?), and now it’s up to you and your team to solve the crime. Unless, of course, you’re the killer. 😈 In this delightfully twisted online murder mystery, everyone takes on a role, hunts for clues, accuses their coworkers with dramatic flair, and embraces their inner Sherlock or Shady McBackstabber.
As far as virtual team building activities go, this one has it all—mystery, costumes (optional but highly encouraged), suspicious glances, and the undeniable thrill of throwing your boss under the metaphorical bus. It’s perfect for the team that needs a break from spreadsheets and wants to bond over fake crime and fake identities. Warning: may cause excessive laughter and at least one person dramatically yelling, “I KNEW IT WAS YOU!” in a British accent.
19-Personality Profiling
Turns out personality tests aren’t just for dating apps and figuring out why you cry during Pixar movies—they’re also wildly useful for teams. Send out a personality test to your crew (Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, “Which Office Supply Are You?”—dealer’s choice), collect the results, and then host a meeting where everyone finds out who’s a strategic mastermind… and who thrives in creative chaos fueled entirely by iced coffee.
It might sound simple, but it’s one of those sneaky-good virtual team building activities that helps people understand how they tick—and how their coworkers tick differently. Are you working with a sensitive soul or a spreadsheet-loving robot? A visionary or a vibes-only operator? Knowing each other’s quirks makes collaboration smoother, funnier, and way more human. Bonus: you’ll never again wonder why Greg needs three lists to start a task. It’s just...who he is. Respect the lists.
20-Mindful Centering Session
Sometimes, the most powerful virtual team building activities don’t involve scavenger hunts or breakout room chaos—they just involve sitting still and breathing. Wild concept, right? But give your team ten minutes of peace in the middle of the workstorm, and suddenly everyone's a little less edgy and a little more "okay, I can actually do this." Host a guided meditation session via video call (bonus points if you send out tiny care packages with candles, oils, or just a note that says “Please don’t open Slack during this”).
Whether you’ve got a seasoned yogi on your team or just someone who’s watched a few calming YouTube videos, the goal is simple: chill together. Light a candle (real or imaginary), close those laptop tabs, and follow along as you all try to remember what it feels like to breathe. It’s bonding, but the quiet kind. And your team? They’ll thank you with slightly less existential dread and maybe even a centered group chat vibe. Namaste, baby.
21-Compliment Cascade: The Feel-Good Chain Reaction
Some people bask in compliments like they’re sunbathing on a beach in Bali. Others awkwardly smile and whisper “thanks” like you just handed them a cursed object. And then there’s the Michaels of the world—masters of the ol’ “Wow, but have you seen what Jessica did?” deflection. No matter the style, here’s the universal truth: your team lives for appreciation, even if they pretend not to.
That’s where the Compliment Cascade comes in—one of the simplest, most feel-good virtual team building activities out there. Kick it off by complimenting one teammate’s recent win, then have them toss the praise to someone else, and so on. It’s basically a relay race of kindness with zero running involved. It’s heartwarming, energizing, and just chaotic enough to make Karen from finance blush. Bonus: it makes remote teams feel seen, and that’s no small thing.
22-Online Puzzle Party: Where Chaos Meets Calm
Looking for a way to bring your team together that doesn’t involve dramatic debates or trust falls? Try an Online Puzzle Party. It’s exactly what it sounds like: your crew gathers on a digital platform to tackle a jigsaw puzzle together—piece by virtual piece. It’s calm, collaborative, and oddly satisfying. Bonus: nobody flips the table when a corner piece goes missing, because… it’s digital. You’re safe.
As far as virtual team building activities go, this one’s a zen zone. People talk, laugh, strategize, and bond while quietly trying to figure out where the heck that one weird-shaped cloud piece fits. It’s low-pressure, strangely therapeutic, and a sneaky way to get your team working together without anyone realizing they’re, well, working together. Plus, finishing the puzzle? That’s a shared dopamine hit you didn’t know your team needed.
23-Show Your Pet Day: Chaos, Cuteness & Cat Bombings
Who needs PowerPoint slides when you’ve got paws, tails, and an emotional support gecko? Show Your Pet Day is exactly what it sounds like—team members hop on a call and introduce their furry (or feathery… or slightly suspicious) friends to the group. Dogs bark, cats walk across keyboards, someone’s hamster gets stage fright. It’s pure, joyful chaos.
This is one of the most wholesome virtual team building activities you can run. Everyone shares quick stories about their pets, what weird things they do during work hours, and which one has unofficially become the team mascot. Even folks without pets can join the fun—bonus points if they improvise with a houseplant named Steve. It’s bonding, it’s hilarious, and honestly, it’s a nice reminder that everyone’s working from home... and definitely not alone.
24-Home Office Tours: Plants, Post-Its & Mild Cable Shame
Ever wondered what your coworkers' desks really look like? Not the cropped Zoom square—the whole glorious mess. With a Home Office Tour, each team member takes a few minutes to walk everyone through their setup. Think of it like MTV Cribs, but with more ergonomic chairs and less questionable lighting.
As far as virtual team building activities go, this one hits different. People swap productivity tips, show off their weirdest desk object (hello, motivational rubber duck), and get real about the cable jungle under their monitors. It’s personal, fun, and surprisingly inspiring—and hey, it’s also nice to know you’re not the only one working next to a laundry basket.
25-Online Karaoke Night: Screaming in Tune (Sort Of)
Ready to hear your coworkers absolutely destroy Bohemian Rhapsody or go way too hard on Let It Go? Online Karaoke Night is your chance to sing your heart out, cheer each other on, and uncover who’s been hiding serious shower-concert energy. No talent required—just enthusiasm and maybe a good pair of headphones (for everyone’s sake).
This is one of the boldest virtual team building activities out there—and it brings the energy. Whether someone’s belting pop hits or mumbling through ‘80s ballads, it’s all about laughing, bonding, and possibly going viral for that one guy who raps every word of “Lose Yourself.” Bonus: nobody has to take a cab home afterward.
Stay Connected, Wherever You Are
Remote work is great until you realize you haven’t spoken out loud in six hours and your closest coworker is a houseplant named Jeff. That’s why virtual team building activities are kind of a big deal. They help your team stay connected, communicate better, and remember that there are, in fact, other real-life humans behind those profile pictures.
Whether it’s trading compliments, solving fake murders, or showing off a very questionable home office setup, these activities remind people they’re part of something bigger than their inbox. So go ahead—schedule that puzzle party, host that chaotic pet parade, and give your team a reason to actually look forward to the next meeting. Slightly messy? Yes. Totally worth it? Absolutely