Virtual Team-Building Activities to Boost Engagement in 2025

This is an expert guest post written by Mariana Gomes from Personality-Quizzes. 

Remote work is no longer just a trend—it has become a fixture in modern-day business. In fact, as of 2024, 40% of the global workforce is engaged in some form of remote or hybrid work, according to McKinsey. With this shift, businesses have discovered that while productivity can remain high, building genuine connections and cohesion among team members requires more intentional effort. 

When teams are dispersed across cities, countries, or continents, casual hallway chats and shared lunches disappear. This lack of informal interaction can lead to isolation, communication breakdowns, and decreased morale. That’s where virtual team building comes in as one of the most effective employee engagement strategies, especially when the activities are structured, creative, and engaging—designed to cultivate connection, boost collaboration, and maintain a strong company culture. 

This guide explores the best virtual team building activities for 2025, organized by category, and includes strategies, tools, and best practices to help build remote team engagement. 

Why virtual team building is crucial in 2025 

Team building activities aren’t just about fun and games—they play a critical role in strengthening trust, encouraging open communication, and fostering a sense of belonging among employees. According to Gallup, highly engaged teams enjoy up to 23% higher profitability. 

But engagement in remote teams can’t be taken for granted. Without shared physical spaces, employees can easily feel disconnected or siloed. That’s why virtual team building requires a unique approach—one that goes beyond standard in-person tactics. 

Virtual team building specifically helps: 

• Break down communication silos 

• Humanize co-workers across screens 

• Reduce employee turnover and burnout 

• Reinforce company values and goals 

• Encourage cross-department collaboration  

The key difference between virtual and in-person team building lies in intentionality. In remote settings, every interaction counts—and the right activities can turn those interactions into meaningful moments. 

Top virtual team-building activities for 2025 

To make this guide easy to navigate, we’ve organized online team-building games into four categories based on objectives and team needs.  

Interactive online games 

These are ideal for energizing teams, encouraging friendly competition, and breaking up the workweek with quick bursts of engagement. They also help improve cognitive agility, communication, and morale.

1. Virtual scavenger hunts

A fast-paced game where team members race to find items in their homes or complete silly challenges, all while on a live video call. 

• Best for: Small to mid-sized teams (4–20 people). 

• Tools: Zoom breakout rooms, Scavify, GooseChase. 

• Skills developed: Creative problem-solving, adaptability, quick thinking, and teamwork. 

• How to play: Participants receive a list of items or photo challenges to complete within a set time. Bonus points can be awarded for creativity and speed. If possible, split teams into breakout rooms for better collaboration. 

• Caveats: This may not be ideal in environments where participants have limited mobility or private space. Ensure all tasks are inclusive. 

2. Online trivia challenges

Test your team’s smarts with themed trivia questions that can be customized to suit the group—be it work-related knowledge, pop culture, or even company history. 

• Best for: Teams of 5–50 people. 

• Tools: Kahoot, QuizBreaker, Water Cooler Trivia. 

• Skills developed: Knowledge recall, collaboration, strategic thinking. 

• How to play: The host asks questions via an app or shared screen, and participants can compete individually or in small teams. Points are awarded for correct and fast answers. 

• Caveats: Ensure trivia is accessible and not biased toward a particular culture or age group. 

• Pro tip: Use the game to reinforce recent learnings from onboarding or training sessions.
  

3. Buzzword Bingo

A low-key yet hilarious way to add fun to meetings. Players mark off buzzwords or phrases commonly used in corporate lingo. 

• Best for: Large virtual meetings (10+ attendees). 

• Tools: Custom bingo cards (e.g., BingoBaker), shared PDFs. 

• Skills developed: Active listening, language awareness, humor as a team lubricant. 

• How to play: Before a meeting, distribute bingo cards with the usual phrases or jargon used in meetings, like “let’s circle back” or “synergy.” Just like in Bingo, the first one to complete a predetermined pattern wins. 

• Caveats: This should be played in the spirit of fun—not to shame speakers. Let leadership model participation. 
• Pro tip: Rotate card phrases every meeting or add new words for variety. 

Creative collaborative projects 

These activities are perfect for sparking innovation, celebrating diversity of thought, and allowing hidden talents to shine. They promote collaboration across departments and creative confidence.

4. Digital storytelling sessions

A collaborative activity where each participant adds one sentence or paragraph to continue a developing story. 

• Best for: Teams of 5–15 people. 

• Tools: Google Docs, Zoom, Miroz 

• Skills developed: Spontaneity, creativity, narrative thinking, team alignment. 

• How to play: Start with a prompt or the first line of a story, then take turns adding to it—either live or asynchronously. 

• Caveats: Works best with teams comfortable with creative expression; avoid forcing participation. 

5. Virtual art or craft workshops

Team members learn or share a hands-on skill, like drawing, collage-making, or origami, often led by a facilitator or peer. 

• Best for: Small to mid-sized teams (5–20 people). 

• Tools: Zoom, YouTube livestreams, mail-out kits. 

• Skills developed: Patience, mindfulness, fine motor coordination, peer appreciation. 

• How to play: Schedule a live session or share video instructions. Encourage everyone to turn on cameras and chat casually as they create their piece. 

• Caveats: Be mindful of the accessibility of materials—consider offering kit stipends or alternatives. 

• Pro tip: Tie into seasonal themes (e.g., Valentine’s cards, Diwali lanterns).
  

6. Personality tests & strengths sharing

A meaningful exercise where team members take a validated assessment and reflect on their unique strengths and styles. 

• Best for: Teams looking to deepen connections and collaboration (5–25 people). 

• Tools: StrengthsFinder, Big Five, DISC. 

• Skills developed: Emotional intelligence, empathy, communication, self-awareness. 

• How to play: Ask participants to complete the test in advance. During the session, share insights, strengths, and surprises in small breakout groups. 

• Caveats: Use only scientifically backed tests. Avoid turning insights into labels. 

Wellness and mindfulness activities 

These activities support emotional well-being, resilience, and focus. They’re also especially effective in reducing work-related fatigue and stress.

7. Group meditation or breathing sessions

Short, guided sessions to reset the nervous system and improve concentration. 

• Best for: Any team size (especially good for 5–50 people). 

• Tools: Headspace for Work, Insight Timer, Calm. 

• Skills developed: Mindfulness, emotional regulation, stress reduction. 

• How to play: Use a live guide or pre-recorded session; schedule sessions regularly or before high-stakes meetings. 

• Caveats: Participation should be voluntary; avoid requiring people to turn cameras on. 

8. Virtual fitness or step challenges

Light, friendly competition to encourage movement and break sedentary habits. 

• Best for: Mid-sized to large teams (10–100+). 

• Tools: Fitbit, Apple Health, Strava groups, MoveSpring. 

• Skills developed: Healthy habit-building, accountability, perseverance. 

• How to play: Set weekly or monthly goals for steps, workouts, or minutes of activity. Celebrate wins in company channels. 

• Caveats: Be sensitive to differing physical abilities. Emphasize personal goals over comparison. 
• Pro tip: Pair challenges with wellness webinars or mini prizes.
   

9. Mindful journaling moments

A quiet activity where participants write for 5–10 minutes based on a self-reflective prompt. 

• Best for: Small to mid-sized teams (5–30 people). 

• Tools: Shared prompts via Google Docs or Notion, virtual timer. 

• Skills developed: Self-awareness, emotional literacy, focus. 

• How to play: Share a prompt (e.g., “What are you grateful for today?”), set a timer, and invite optional sharing afterward. 

• Caveats: Journaling is personal—so never require sharing. Maintain a judgment-free zone 

• Benefit: Positive expressive writing is a strategy used by different institutions and organizations to improve mental health and well-being.
  
  

Social and informal gatherings 

Designed to foster authentic relationships and replicate the camaraderie of in-person office culture.

10. Virtual coffee chats

Randomized or scheduled informal video calls between coworkers. 

• Best for: Any team size (ideal for 1-on-1 or triads) 

• Tools: Donut (Slack), Zoom, Google Meet. 

• Skills developed: Cross-functional rapport, empathy, networking. 

• How to play: Set up recurring pairings or open signups. Keep it casual—no agenda, just conversation. 

• Caveats: Some may feel awkward at first, so it would help to offer conversation starters. 
• Pro tip: Encourage participation by leadership to normalize casual bonding. 

11. Home office show & tell

Each person shares an object from their home—it could be a plant, book, or pet. 

• Best for: Teams of up to 25 people. 

• Tools: Zoom, Slack threads. 

• Skills developed: Storytelling, connection, vulnerability. 

• How to play: Add a 5-minute show & tell segment to meetings. Let people share one item and its story. 
• Caveats: Make participation optional to respect privacy.

12. Virtual book or film club

Choose a book, podcast, or movie to explore and discuss monthly. 

• Best for: Voluntary teams of 5–15. 

• Tools: Zoom, Goodreads, Notion. 

• Skills developed: Critical thinking, discussion skills, cultural awareness. 

• How to play: Pick accessible materials and meet casually to reflect and discuss. Team members can take turns as facilitators. 

• Caveats: Keep the tone light—this should be leisure, not some homework. 

13. Remote bake-off or recipe swap

Team members cook the same dish or share recipes, then show off their creations. 

• Best for: Food-loving teams of 5–20. 

• Tools: Zoom, shared recipe docs. 

• Skills developed: Creativity, patience, sharing culture. 

• How to play: Pick a theme, set a date, and cook together or show off results. Vote on fun categories (“Most Likely to Burn”). 
• Caveats: Be mindful of dietary restrictions or access to ingredients and equipment.

14. Online photo challenges

Participants take photos based on fun themes and share them asynchronously. 

• Best for: Teams of any size. 

• Tools: Slack threads, Google Photos, Padlet. 

• Skills developed: Observation, appreciation, playfulness. 

• How to play: Choose a weekly theme (e.g., “colors,” “Monday mood”) and invite everyone to post. Members can vote for winners or just simply enjoy the photos. 
• Caveats: Encourage inclusivity—avoid judging the equipment or quality. 

All these can be activities for large groups and small groups. For bigger groups, it may be easier to divide participants into smaller groups, but make sure to diversify group members from different departments to encourage employees to meet and collaborate with people from other work groups. 

Popular tools for virtual team building 

To make your team-building initiatives more engaging and seamless, the right tech tools are essential. Below are some of the most trusted virtual collaboration tools: 

Zoom 

Still the leader for video conferencing, with breakout rooms, whiteboards, and polling for interaction. 

Microsoft Teams 

Ideal for enterprise-level organizations. Built-in integrations like task boards, chat, and video make it great for consistent team engagement. 

Miro 

A visual collaboration platform perfect for brainstorming, digital games, and shared team projects. 

Slack 

Beyond its messaging capabilities, Slack supports custom integrations like Donut, Poll Everywhere, and custom bots for social interaction. 

Kahoot & QuizBreaker 

Both platforms provide easy ways to host trivia, personality quizzes, and team games that encourage participation. 

Scavify 

Designed for digital scavenger hunts and gamified team building, including scoring systems and photo/video submissions. 

When choosing tools, consider your team’s size, tech-savviness, and preferences. Simplicity often beats sophistication when accessibility is your goal. 

Best practices for a successful virtual team building 

To ensure your efforts deliver real results, follow these best practices:

1. Schedule thoughtfully

Be mindful of time zones, workloads, and meeting fatigue. Shorter, more frequent touchpoints often work better than long quarterly events.

2. Encourage inclusivity

Ensure virtual games for teams are accessible across different time zones, physical abilities, and cultural backgrounds. Not every activity will appeal to everyone—mix it up regularly.

3. Get feedback—and act on it

After each session, send a short survey. What did people enjoy? What would they change? Use this input to refine future sessions and increase buy-in.

4. Align activities with goals

Want better cross-team collaboration? Choose a project-based activity. Trying to reduce stress? Opt for wellness or social gatherings. Don’t just aim for “fun”—aim for outcomes.

5. Keep it optional sometimes

Not every activity should be mandatory. Allow employees to engage at their comfort level to avoid burnout or resentment. 

Final thoughts 

Virtual team building in 2025 isn’t just a “nice-to-have” perk—it’s a competitive advantage. As remote and hybrid teams become the norm, companies that invest in connection, collaboration, and well-being will see stronger performance, greater retention, and more innovative cultures. 

Whether you're introducing digital scavenger hunts or diving into a strengths-based personality test, the key is to choose activities that resonate with your team, align with your goals, and foster a sense of belonging. 

Keep experimenting, keep evolving, and—most importantly—keep connecting. 

This is an updated article that was originally published by Maria Chambi in 2020.