10 Virtual Team-Building Games to Boost Engagement for Remote Employees

1.Introduction

As the world continues to navigate the pandemic, remote work has become the new norm. With this shift, companies have had to adapt to new ways of managing teams and maintaining employee engagement. One of the major challenges faced by companies is how to build and maintain a strong team culture while working remotely. Virtual team-building games are a great way to overcome this challenge and boost engagement for remote employees. In this article, we will discuss 10 virtual team-building games that can help your team stay connected, improve communication, and foster a sense of community despite being physically distant.

1.1.What are virtual team-building games?

Virtual team-building games are activities or exercises that are designed to promote collaboration, communication, and teamwork among remote employees. These games can range from simple icebreakers to more complex challenges, and they are intended to help employees feel connected and engaged with their colleagues despite working from different locations. Virtual team-building games can also help to improve productivity, boost morale, and foster a sense of community within a remote workforce.

1.2.Why are they important for remote employees?

Virtual team-building games are important for remote employees because they help to create a sense of belonging and foster teamwork despite physical distance. Remote work can be isolating and lead to feelings of disconnection from colleagues. Team-building games provide an opportunity for remote employees to interact with each other in a fun and engaging way, building relationships and improving communication. They also help to boost morale and increase engagement, leading to higher productivity and job satisfaction.

1.3.Benefits of virtual team-building games

Virtual team-building games offer numerous benefits for remote employees, including increased engagement, improved communication, and strengthened teamwork. These games provide a fun and interactive way for team members to connect and build relationships, despite being physically distant. Additionally, virtual team-building games can boost morale and reduce feelings of isolation, which are common among remote workers. By promoting a sense of community and collaboration, these games can also enhance productivity and overall job satisfaction.

2.Types of virtual team-building games

There are various types of virtual team-building games that can be played to boost engagement among remote employees. Some of these games include:

1. Virtual Scavenger Hunt: This is a game where team members are given a list of items to find online or within their homes. The first person or team to find all the items on the list and show proof wins the game.

2. Virtual Trivia: This game involves asking team members questions on various topics, with the first person or team to answer correctly getting a point. It can be a fun way to boost knowledge sharing among team members.

3. Virtual Escape Room: This is a game where team members are given a set of puzzles to solve and clues to find in order to escape a virtual room. It can be a great way to encourage teamwork and problem-solving skills.

4. Virtual Karaoke: This game involves team members taking turns to sing their favorite songs over a video call. It can be a great way to lighten the mood and boost morale.

5. Virtual Pictionary: This is a game where team members take turns drawing and guessing each other’s drawings. It can be a fun way to encourage creativity and teamwork among team members.

These are just a few examples of virtual team-building games that can be played to boost engagement among remote employees.

2.1.Icebreakers

Icebreakers are a great way to start any virtual team-building activity. They help to create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and set a positive tone for the rest of the session. Here are a few icebreakers you can use before diving into the virtual team-building games:

1. Two Truths and a Lie: Each team member shares three statements about themselves, two of which are true and one of which is false. The other team members have to guess which statement is the lie.

2. Pictionary: This classic game can be adapted to a virtual setting by using a whiteboard or drawing tool. Divide the team into pairs and have one member of each pair draw a picture while the other member guesses what it is.

3. Name That Tune: Play a snippet of a song and see who can guess the title and artist first. This is a fun way to get everyone involved and show off their music knowledge.

2.2.Collaborative games

Collaborative games are a great way to boost engagement and build team spirit among remote employees. These games require individuals to work together towards a common goal, fostering a sense of unity and cooperation. Some popular collaborative games include virtual escape rooms, online trivia contests, and digital scavenger hunts. These games not only promote teamwork, but also encourage creativity and problem-solving skills.

2.3.Communication games

Effective communication is crucial for any team to function successfully, especially for remote employees. Communication games can help team members improve their communication skills and build stronger relationships. Some examples of communication games for virtual teams include:

1. Two Truths and a Lie: This game encourages team members to share personal information about themselves, helping to build trust and connections between team members. Each person shares two true statements and one false statement about themselves, and the other team members have to guess which one is the lie.

2. Virtual Scavenger Hunt: This game requires team members to work together to find items or complete tasks on a virtual scavenger hunt list. It encourages communication and collaboration, as well as problem-solving skills.

3. Telephone Pictionary: This game is a fun and creative way to encourage communication and teamwork. Each team member writes a phrase or sentence, and then passes it on to the next person who has to draw a picture of it. The next person then writes a new phrase or sentence based on the picture, and so on.

These are just a few examples of communication games that can help remote employees build stronger connections and improve their communication skills.

2.4.Problem-solving games

Problem-solving games are a great way to get remote employees engaged and working together. These games typically involve a challenge that the team must work together to solve, whether it’s a puzzle, a riddle, or a complex scenario. By working together to solve the challenge, team members can build trust and collaboration, as well as develop their problem-solving skills.

2.5.Team-building activities

Team-building activities are essential for boosting employee engagement and productivity. With remote working becoming more prevalent, virtual team-building games have become an effective way to connect remote employees and foster teamwork. In this article, we’ll explore 10 virtual team-building games that can help to boost engagement for remote employees.

3.Examples of virtual team-building games

1. Online Trivia: This game is a great way to get team members engaged and having fun. You can create your own trivia questions or use a pre-made template.
2. Virtual Escape Room: This game is perfect for remote teams who enjoy problem-solving and working together. There are many online escape rooms available, or you can create your own.
3. Virtual Scavenger Hunt: This game is a fun way to get team members moving and working together. You can create a list of items for them to find around their house or neighborhood.
4. Virtual Pictionary: This game is a classic and can be played easily online. It’s a great way to get team members using their creativity and communication skills.
5. Virtual Charades: Another classic game that can be played online. This game is a great way to get team members working together and using their communication skills.
6. Online Board Games: There are many online board games that can be played with remote teams. Games like Monopoly, Scrabble, and Settlers of Catan are all available online.
7. Virtual Talent Show: This game is a fun way to get team members sharing their talents and getting to know each other better. You can have team members perform songs, dances, or even magic tricks.
8. Virtual Cooking Challenge: This game is a great way to get team members working together and being creative. You can have team members cook the same dish using their own ingredients, or you can have them come up with their own recipes.
9. Virtual Book Club: This game is a great way to get team members reading and discussing books together. You can choose a book and schedule online meetings to discuss it.
10. Virtual Movie Night: This game is a fun way to get team members relaxing and having fun together. You can choose a movie and schedule a time for everyone to watch it together online.

3.1.Two truths and a lie

Two truths and a lie: This game is a classic icebreaker that can be easily adapted to virtual settings. Each team member takes turns sharing three statements about themselves – two truths and one lie. The rest of the team has to guess which statement is the lie. This game is a great way for team members to get to know each other better and build trust.

3.2.Virtual scavenger hunt

A virtual scavenger hunt is a fun and interactive way to engage remote employees. To organize a virtual scavenger hunt, create a list of items that employees need to find in their homes, such as a book, a plant, or a coffee mug. Then, use a video conferencing tool to share the list with the team and set a time limit for the hunt. The first person or team to find all the items wins the game!

3.3.Online trivia

Online trivia games are a fun and interactive way to build team spirit and engagement among remote employees. You can use platforms like Kahoot, Quizlet, or TriviaMaker to create customized quizzes based on your company’s history, culture, or industry. You can also add some fun elements like pop culture references or memes to make the game more exciting. Online trivia games can be played individually or in teams, and you can even offer prizes for the winners. The best part is that you can play them anytime, anywhere, and they require minimal setup or equipment.

3.4.Escape room

Escape rooms are a fun and challenging virtual team-building game that can be played remotely. There are many online platforms that offer virtual escape rooms where team members can work together to solve puzzles, riddles, and clues in order to escape a virtual room. This game requires communication, problem-solving skills, and teamwork, making it an excellent choice for remote teams looking to improve their collaboration and engagement.

3.5.Virtual team-building bingo

Another fun game to play with remote teams is virtual team-building bingo. This game encourages employees to interact with one another and learn more about their colleagues. To play, create a bingo card with different tasks or questions in each square. For example, one square could say ‘Find someone who has lived in a different country’ or ‘Share a photo of your pet’. Employees then have to interact with one another and cross off squares on their bingo card as they complete each task. The first person to get a full row or column wins!