Top 10 Team-Building Activities for Remote and Hybrid Teams

Managing a remote or hybrid team comes with challenges. With team members spread across different locations, it’s easy for communication to become fragmented and relationships to feel transactional. Thoughtfully designed team-building activities can bridge that distance—building trust, boosting morale, and helping teammates connect beyond their day-to-day tasks. They also strengthen collaboration and company culture, and can even boost morale—especially among remote workers.

But here’s the thing: how do you make online interactions feel fresh and meaningful when everyone’s already spending most of their workday on screens? How do you create genuine moments of connection without piling on more screen fatigue?

A great first step is to ask your team. Try an anonymous survey where people can vote on the types of activities they’re most interested in (on- or off-laptop, synchronous or async), suggest their own ideas, and share how much time they’d feel comfortable dedicating to team-building.

The key is to respect employees’ need for personal space while still fostering connection. As much as possible, let them opt in or participate on their terms.
Below are ten team-building ideas—some digital, some offline—to help you bring your people together in creative, flexible ways.

On-Laptop Team-Building Activities

For teams who enjoy some screen time together, here are some fun and interactive crowd-pleasers.

1. Online Pictionary (or other Drawing Games)

Looking for something simple and hilarious? Online Pictionary is an evergreen that requires zero artistic talent. There are plenty of free platforms where teams can take turns drawing and guessing words live, or you can go analog with markers and paper held up to your webcams. Teams can compete in rounds, and the combination of creativity, guessing, and a little chaos gets everyone involved.

Here’s how it works: One person is given a word or phrase to draw (no speaking or writing letters allowed!) while the rest of the team guesses what it is. You can use random word generators online or make a custom list based on your company culture or industry. It’s a super low-stakes way to break the ice and get folks laughing together.

2. Collaborative Storytelling & Creative Writing Games

Here’s another way to get creative with your remote team exercises. These games can be played via any video call, and they’re a great way to tickle your team’s imaginations into action:

• One Sentence Story Building – One person starts with a sentence, then the next adds another, and so on. You can do this live in a video call or use a shared document so people can add to it at their own pace. Expect plot twists, weird tangents, and unexpected genius.
• Virtual Mad Libs – One person hosts, asking teammates for random words (a noun, a verb, an adjective, etc.) to fill in the blanks of a pre-written story. Once all the words are in, the host reads the final, usually ridiculous and surreal team “masterpiece” out loud.

And remember: creativity isn’t just fun—it’s fuel. It’s a core skill in today’s workplace, helping teams problem-solve, stay flexible, and keep pace in fast-changing environments.

3. Digital Scavenger Hunts

Need a mid-day energy boost? Digital scavenger hunts get people moving and thinking. A host reads out challenges or clues one by one, and participants race to complete each task before time’s up.
Some fun examples:

• Show an object tied to a personal fun fact.
• Solve a riddle that leads to a hidden link on the company website.
• Snap a photo that represents your favorite hobby.

Tailor it to work-related themes or keep it more freestyle, as you prefer.

Off-Laptop Team-Building Activities

Try these activities to enhance your team’s connection without adding to their screen time.

4. Walk & Talk Meetings

Skip the video call and schedule audio-only check-ins where teammates take a walk (or sit) somewhere outside while chatting. The exercise and fresh air promotes well-being and can lead to more relaxed, creative conversations.

5. Offline Challenges with a Shared Goal

Boost your team-building with some motivating, non-work-based independent challenges:

• Fitness Bingo – Employees complete simple exercises like stretching or short walks, checking off items on a bingo-style card. The first to complete a full line or pattern can win a small prize or bragging rights.
• Cooking Challenge – Each team member tries a themed recipe, such as “comfort food” or “international dish,” and shares their results through photos or a quick write-up. You can even compile everyone’s creations into a fun digital recipe book.
• Mindfulness Challenge – Participants complete a daily practice like journaling, meditation, or gratitude listing, and share their reflections at the end of the week. It’s a great way to promote wellness and spark meaningful conversation.

6. Book, Podcast, or Music Club

Pick a shared piece of content—like a book, a podcast episode, or a playlist—for the whole team to explore on their own time.

How it works: Rotate who picks the content or let the team vote. Then set aside a bit of work time (say 30–60 minutes a week) so participation doesn’t feel like “extra.” Sharing can happen asynchronously—through chat threads, shared docs, or short voice notes—so people can contribute in a way that fits their schedule and style.

7. Random Acts of Kindness Week

Invite teammates to do something kind in their own community—help a neighbor, write a thank-you note, donate time or resources. Set up a shared board where people can (anonymously or not) share what they did.

8. Outdoor Team Adventures (For Hybrid Teams)

If some teammates are local, set up in-person meetups like picnics, hikes, or community service. For remote folks, try a “solo adventure challenge” where everyone completes an outdoor activity and shares photos or stories.

9. Handwritten Notes Exchange

Instead of sending yet another Slack message, set up a pen-pal system where employees mail—yes, actual mail!—handwritten postcards or small gifts to a teammate. It’s a simple way to encourage thoughtfulness and spark personal connection, all without adding more screen time.

10. DIY Team Art or Photo Challenge

Pick a fun, offline theme like:

• “Peaceful moment of the week” 📸
• “Sketch your workspace in 5 minutes” 🎨
• “Write a haiku about your job” ✍️

Then share the results in a team-wide document or gallery.

Conclusion

Remote and hybrid teams thrive when connection is intentional—and fun. Give your team space to co-create the kinds of activities they actually want to try. Mix in different styles (on-laptop, off-laptop, synchronous, async) and see what sticks.

Keep it flexible, low-pressure, and inclusive. Lead by example, communicate clearly, and most importantly—enjoy the ride!