Looking to bond with your remote team? Here are 10 online games that can help strengthen your team’s connection, improve collaboration, and add some fun to your workday:
These games not only provide a break from the routine but also help build trust, improving communication, and fostering a sense of community among remote colleagues.
Benefits of Online Games for Virtual Team Bonding
Playing games online is great for teams that work from different places as they make everyone feel like they’re in it together, using different apps can help people work better together to build trust and friendships.
6 Online Games to Play with Remote Colleagues
1. Skribbl.io
Ease of Access
Virtual team bonding can be fostered by getting into Skribbl.io since it is easy. You don’t need to download anything or sign up. Just go to their website, pick a username, and use the room name your team leader shares. You can start playing right away, which is great for teams working from different places.
Team Engagement
Skribbl.io keeps everyone involved. You take turns drawing and guessing what the drawings are. There’s also a chat for talking and making jokes. Even the quiet folks on the team tend to join in more during the game.
Collaboration and Communication
Talking and working together is key in Skribbl.io. You need to draw so that others can guess the word right. There’s a lot of chatting and giving hints for tough drawings. You also need to pay attention to the guesses and think about what others are saying.
Fun Factor
Playing Skribbl.io is a lot of fun. There’s always laughter because of the surprising drawing skills, from really good to funny bad ones. The game moves fast, keeping everyone excited. Jokes from the game often become fun memories for the team.
Compatibility with Large Groups
Skribbl.io can have up to 12 players, which is perfect for bigger teams. More players mean more fun drawings, more people to help guess, and better team bonding. The only small issue is with many people playing, waiting for your turn can slow things down. If the team is too big, you can make more rooms so everyone gets to play.
2. Jackbox Games
Ease of Access
Jackbox Games are straightforward for virtual team bonding. Only one team member needs to buy the game. Then, they can share their screen over a video call, and everyone else joins by visiting the Jackbox website on their device. There’s no need to download anything or create accounts, making it easy for everyone to jump in from different locations.
Team Engagement
Jackbox Games get everyone involved with fun and funny challenges. Players might draw something silly or come up with clever answers. There’s usually a lot of laughing, and even the quieter folks in the team tend to join in more.
Collaboration and Communication
While Jackbox Games aren’t all about teamwork, they do get people talking. Sharing thoughts on the funny drawings or answers can lead to conversations that wouldn’t happen during regular work. This helps team members chat more freely.
Fun Factor
Jackbox Games are all about having a good time. They ask players to be creative, think quickly, or make each other laugh. The games move fast, keeping everyone excited. Jokes from the game can turn into shared laughs that bring the team closer.
Compatibility with Large Groups
Most Jackbox Games work for up to 8 people at a time. If the team is bigger, players can take turns. This way, everyone gets to play and stay involved. With more people, the games get even more fun because there are more ideas and laughs.
3. Tabletop Simulator
Ease of Access
Tabletop Simulator lets remote teams play board games together online. Only one person needs to buy the game. They can then share their screen and send a link to everyone else. Teammates just click the link to join, no downloads are needed. This makes it super easy to have a game night, even if your team is spread out.
Team Engagement
Tabletop Simulator has tons of games, like board, card, and party games, all in 3D. This means there’s something for everyone. Seeing the game pieces move on-screen as if you were playing in person makes it fun and gets everyone involved.
Collaboration and Communication
Lots of games on Tabletop Simulator need you to work together, make deals, or try to trick the other players. This means you’ll be talking a lot with your team to plan your next move, share ideas, and figure out strategies. These chats during the game help you work better together.
Fun Factor
What’s fun about Tabletop Simulator is playing games you know in a new way. The 3D makes it feel a bit different and can lead to unexpected moments that are really funny. Plus, you can change the rules to fit your team. Just playing and hanging out makes for a great time.
Compatibility with Large Groups
Most games on Tabletop Simulator can have up to 10 players or more. If you have a really big team, you can set up more than one game at the same time. The person who bought the game can check on each group. Also, you can switch games so everyone gets to play with different people. It works well for big teams that are working remotely.
4. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Ease of Access
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is simple to understand for basic virtual team bonding. Only one person needs to buy and download the game. Then, they share their screen on a video call. The rest of the team just needs to look at the manual online and join the call. No extra downloads. This makes it easy for the whole team to start playing together, even if they’re not in the same place.
Team Engagement
In this game, there’s a bomb that needs to be defused with teamwork. One person describes the bomb, while the others use the manual to figure out how to defuse it. Everyone needs to talk and listen well, which gets everyone involved.
Collaboration and Communication
Talking clearly is key in this game. The person with the bomb needs to describe it well so the team can find the right instructions. There’s a lot of talking back and forth to solve the puzzles and defuse the bomb in time. Working well together is really important.
Fun Factor
Defusing the bomb is thrilling! The puzzles challenge you to think differently, and there’s a real rush as the clock ticks down. When you solve a puzzle, everyone feels great. It’s a fun way to work together and have a good laugh.
Compatibility with Large Groups
This game is great for larger teams because many people can look at the manual and help out. Having more team members means more ideas for solving the puzzles. The only thing is, only one or two people can see the bomb at once. But you can take turns so everyone gets a chance to play.
5. Among Us
Ease of Access
Among Us is a game you can download for free on your phone or computer. To play, one person sets up the game and gives out a code that everyone else uses to join. You don’t need to make an account. Just type in your name and the code, and you’re ready to play together online.
Team Engagement
In Among Us, you’re either a crewmate trying to complete tasks or an impostor trying to sabotage the team. The crewmates need to figure out who the impostors are. This mystery keeps everyone on their toes.
Collaboration and Communication
The game makes you work together. Crewmates have to talk about what they’ve seen and decide who might be an impostor. Impostors talk in secret to plan their moves. Being good at listening and convincing others is important in this game.
Fun Factor
It’s exciting to try and catch the impostors or to trick the crewmates if you’re an impostor. The game is fast-paced, and things can change quickly. Laughing at surprises or funny moments helps the team feel more connected.
Compatibility with Large Groups
Among Us is good for groups of 4-15 players. With more people, the game gets more interesting because there are more tasks and more clues. If you have a lot of people, you can start multiple games so everyone gets a turn. The only downside is you might have to wait longer between turns.
6. Virtual Escape Rooms
Ease of Access
Virtual escape rooms are simple for remote teams to get into. Usually, just one person needs to buy the game. Then, they can share their screen on a video call, and everyone else just watches and plays along. No need for anyone else to download anything. This makes it easy for the whole team to play together.
Team Engagement
Virtual escape rooms make everyone work together by giving each person a part to play or a puzzle to solve. Everyone shares ideas and helps out. Even the quiet folks might have to step up when it’s their turn. It’s a great way for everyone to feel like they’re part of the team.
Collaboration and Communication
Talking is super important in a virtual escape room. You’ll need to let others know what you find, ask questions, and suggest ideas. You have to listen carefully to put all the clues together. Everyone needs to chip in and talk to figure things out.
Fun Factor
Virtual escape rooms are just as exciting as the real thing. There’s a timer, and you have to find clues and solve puzzles to ‘escape.’ It’s a fun challenge that gets everyone involved and working together. There’s a bit of competition, too, which makes it even more fun.
Compatibility with Large Groups
Virtual escape rooms are good for big teams, too. More people means more ideas and help. If there are a lot of you, you can split into smaller groups, each working on different parts of the puzzle. The only tricky part is if there are too many people, it can get a bit messy and loud. But if someone is in charge and keeps things organized, it works out fine.
Virtual Team Bonding: Tips for Organizing Online Game Sessions
Setting up fun game times for your team when everyone works from different places needs a bit of planning. Here’s how to do it:
Choose a Convenient Time
Look at when everyone is free and pick a time that suits people in different time zones, If you can, plan it during normal work hours.
Select Games Strategically
Think about how big your team is, how well you all get along, what skills you have, and what you like. Try different kinds of games so there’s something for everyone when positioning some virtual team bonding activities.
Encourage Participation
Let everyone know the game time is for getting closer as a team. Make sure everyone gets how to play the games.
With a little bit of planning and effort to get everyone involved, playing games online can be a great way to make your team feel more together. The main thing is to make sure no one feels left out.
