Here is our list of the best team building games.
Team building games are training activities designed for human resource workers. Examples include packing up your troubles, two truths and a lie, blind drawing, and salt and pepper. These activities aim to improve the teamwork, communication, and active listening skills of employees.
This list includes:
- team building games for employees
- team building games for college students
- online team building games
- team building games for managers
Here we go!
List of team building games
Team building games are both beneficial and fun for groups of coworkers. Here is our list of some creative team building games for employees.
1. Pack Up Your Troubles
To work together, it is essential to know each other. The best method for bringing teams closer is to solve workplace problems together.
For this game, the participants will write a problem they have been facing and toss it in a pile. You will then shuffle the papers around, and the participants will randomly pick one out. Finally, all participants will brainstorm ways to overcome each problem.
In a group setting, you can expect better solutions because the group members will brainstorm ideas and present the best possible solution.
2. Guess The Baby
Guess The Baby is an icebreaker that can get you closer to your coworkers and establish common ground.
Each participant will bring one of their baby photos. All members will place their pictures in a pile, and the game will start by picking out one photograph at a time and guessing which coworker it is.
You can also play this on Zoom if you are working remotely. However, be sure to send in the pictures beforehand so the host can arrange them and display them on their screen for the audience to see.
3. Two Truths And A Lie
Two Truths And A Lie is an exciting game that can help you learn unique things about your coworkers!
The game revolves around players making three declarations, one of which is a total fabrication. The other participants will have to figure out which statement is true. Make sure that your statements are interesting.
For example, you can tell your hair was red in high school, or you speak six languages! Since this game does not require any preparation or materials, you can also play it remotely, making it one of the best online team building games.
4. Desert Survival
This game can take many forms, but it is common among work teams.
In Desert Survival, the participants will be presented with a scenario in which their plane has crashed into a desert. Then, the members will think of three items they need to survive. This game is more of a group activity than an individual one.
The teams will have to listen to what other members say and come up with three items everyone will prioritize. This game requires the skill to persuade others, think of creative solutions and work together. All these characteristics make the exercise among the best team building games.
This game also allows the employees to observe how the other employees can use their way of speaking and negotiating to overpower others.
5. Silly Debate
In this game, two players will play at a time. Thus, Silly Debate is ideal for small groups.
The participants will get a silly topic to debate and have ten to 15 minutes to prepare their speech. The debate must be convincing and use sound logic while also being silly.
You cannot go wrong with this game because it will be hilarious either way!
Examples topics :
- Cats or dogs?
- Burgers or Pizzas?
- Are clowns funny or scary?
If one participant talks in favor, then the other participant must oppose. For example, if one participant says that cats are better, then the other participant will debate how dogs are better than cats while including all the silly and funny elements they can.
6. Classify This
To play this game, you will place 20 to 25 objects on a table in front of you. Each participant will grab a piece of paper and make four columns. The participants will then classify all the items into four categories. The categories can be whatever they feel is suitable for the objects on the table.
For example, the objects like jackets, heaters, gloves, and caps can come under the category ”winter.”
In the end, the employees will share their papers and go over the sheets of the other players. The participant with the most accurate and creative categories will be the winner.
7. Bonding Belt
For this game, the participants will need a rope or duct tape.
You will form groups of six participants each and tie the group together in a circle, with all the participants standing. You will also mark starting and ending points in a large area, such as the parking lot. The groups will have to start on the marked point and reach the end point without falling. Adding obstacles such as barricades made out of boxes can make this activity more interesting. The team that reaches the endpoint in the shortest time will be the winner.
8. Human Snakes
Human Snakes is one of the most interesting team building games for college students. The game requires coordination and improves team building. To play Human Snakes, you have to divide participants into teams of five to six.
Each team will form a single line, grabbing onto the shoulders of the player in front. This game is unique because all the participants will be blindfolded aside from the participant at the very last. The team will have to pass through an obstacle course that will be prepared beforehand. The participant at the very back of the line will help navigate the team by giving instructions. To make the game fair and effective, try not to let the other groups see the course before they play.
9. Broken Telephone
Broken Telephone is a very popular game among coworkers and children in many countries. Plus, you are sure to get some laughs!
To play the game, you do not need any supplies or preparation. You can start the game by standing in a line or a circle. One player will think of an interesting phrase or sentence and whisper it in the ear of the player ahead. Next, the participant will whisper what they understand into the next person’s ear. This game will continue until you reach the last employee. The last player will speak out about what they think has been said to them.
10. Verbal Memory Wall
Verbal Memory Wall is a great activity to recall and share exciting memories related to the workplace. All you need are post-it notes. Simply give each participant a post-it note and have them write down a workplace-related activity. Once you are done, go over each post-it note and ask the participants to share a memory related to what is written.
For example, if one participant has written about working late, you can tell a memorable incident when you were at the workplace late at night.
11. Blind Drawing
For this game, you will need to divide all participants into pairs. You will hand one person a blank paper and pen while the other will get a word to describe. The other participant will have to describe the word in a way that instructs the one drawing and helps them draw it on their sheet. For example, if the word is ‘sun,’ you will describe it by instructing the other person to draw a circle in the middle of the page, followed by straight lines reaching outwards all around the circle. The team that gets it right in the shortest time will win. This game is great for teams because it promotes clear communication and active listening.
12. The Story Game
In The Story Game, you will divide the participants into teams of five to six players. One of the team members will start the game by writing a sentence on a piece of paper. That sentence will be the beginning of a story. The participant will then pass the sheet on to the next player, who will read the sentence and write another sentence that follows the previous one. Before passing the paper, the player will fold the top of the paper in a way that the first sentence is not viewable. This step will give the next person only the very last sentence to rely on to come up with the next line.
The players will continue writing sentences until they have reached the last teammate. Then, you can unfold the paper and read out the entire story. You can also read the stories made up by other teams and give the win to the most creative and unique tale! Since you do not need much for this activity, you can also play the game online, making it among the best team games.
13. Goodie Bag Skits
Goodie Bag Skits is one of the best team building games that needs some preparation before playing. Just like other team building games, this exercise also calls for several groups. Each group will get a goodie bag with random objects inside. Their task is to create a skit in 30 minutes using the items provided. All of the objects in the bag must appear in the skit. The team with the best act will get a prize.
14. Two Sides To A Coin
Two Sides To A Coin is a great game to share incidents and spread positivity in the workplace. As the only game requirement is direct communication, you can also do this exercise with remote teams.
You can play this game in pairs with a coin. You can assign one side of the coin to each player, and whatever side shows up, that player will start the game.
The participant will tell you something negative that happened to them in the past. Then, you will talk to them, ask related questions, and shed some light on the positive aspect of the incident. Through this discussion, the other participant may learn or work on themselves.
You will also switch roles and play again. This activity is enjoyable because it encourages coworkers to open up and get to know each other better. This game also allows the participants to see their negative experiences from a different perspective.
15. Birthday Lineup
Birthday Lineup requires all employees to stand next to each other in a straight line. You can blindfold some of the participants and then ask everyone to rearrange themselves in the order of their birthdays. Then, you can remove the blindfolds and start the game.
While this game sounds easy, the challenge is that participants cannot speak! The players must use hand motions or other signs to communicate their birthdays. You can make this game extra challenging by setting a time limit.
16. Salt And Pepper
Salt And Pepper is one of the best team building games that force you to think and communicate with other participants. In this game, the players will have a piece of paper stuck on their backs with a word written on it. The player’s task is to find a partner with the associated word on their back. To achieve this end, players must move about the space asking questions to guess what is written on their paper.
Here are some pair words you can use:
- Salt and pepper
- Sun and moon
- Day and night
- Dark and light
- Dawn and sunset
- Fall and rise
The participants will only get yes or no replies to make this game more challenging.
17. The Barter Puzzle
If you are looking for team building games for managers, then this game is a sure fit. You can play the game by dividing into three to four groups and solving jigsaw puzzles of the same difficulty level. The twist in the game is that pieces of puzzles will be mixed. Some pieces of your puzzle will be mixed with the puzzle on the other table. Similarly, you might have some pieces of the puzzle at another table. You must negotiate with the other teams to retrieve your pieces.
You can get your pieces by exchanging the pieces and members or coming up with other creative solutions. Since this game tackles negotiation, teamwork, and problem-solving, it is great for leaders.
18. Human Knot
To play Human Know, the players will stand in a circle. The players will reach out their hands in front of them, and two other participants will hold each of the hands. However, players cannot hold the hand of the player next to them. If you want to make this game even more interesting, ensure that you have many folks playing.
The goal is to untangle the human knot without letting go of anyone’s hands. This activity will take a lot of discussion and problem-solving.
19. Talking In Circles
Talking In Circles focuses on verbal and non-verbal communication and teamwork. To play this game, you will divide into groups and have the participants stand in a circle. Then, you will put a string in the middle but tie both ends together to form a loop. Next, all participants on the team will put on blindfolds and grab onto the string. The players will then get a shape like a square, star, or kite, which they will have to create using the string.
You can also ask the players to play the game without talking instead of blindfolding them.
20. Egg Drop
Egg Drop is a popular game that brings out employees’ team building, coordination, and problem-solving skills. For this game, you will divide into groups and give every team an egg. The goal is to design a carrier for the egg so it does not break when dropped from a two-story-high window.
Before playing the game, you will provide each team with items they can use to create the package. These materials can include newspaper, rubber, plastic, and tape. Every group will have one to one and a half hours to make their carriers, and the team that makes the most effective one will be the winner.
21. Codenames
Codenames is a board game that is also playable online. Being one of the most fun HR online games, this game works great as an icebreaker, but you will have to spend some time trying to understand the rules.
To play the game, you will form two teams of four players. One participant from each group will be the spymaster. The spymaster will be able to see everyone, including the opposing team’s codenames. The game’s layout is a 5×5 word grid with the codenames of both teams and an ‘assassin.’ The spymaster will give hints about their team’s names, and the team will have to pick the correct word.
Here is an example:
If the codename for one of the team members is tennis, then the spymaster can hint at it by saying table or court. If the members pick correctly, then they get the point. If they pick out a codename belonging to the opposing team, then the other team gets the point. If they pick out the assassin, then the team instantly loses.
Conclusion
Team building games are great as icebreakers or challenging activities that you need once in a while to make work more enjoyable. More importantly, these games help you improve yourself at work and your relationships with coworkers so you can work on your team building and communication skills. Playing these games at corporate events can strengthen group dynamics and help attendees make stronger connections.
Next, read about event planning tips for corporate events.
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