Remote work has transformed how we collaborate, but it's also created new challenges for building strong team connections. At 5 Blue Software AB, we understand that distributed teams need intentional approaches to foster the camaraderie and trust that once happened naturally around the office coffee machine.
The good news? Remote team building can be just as effective as in-person activities when done right. Here's our proven list of activities that actually work for remote teams.
Before diving into the activities, let's look at what the research tells us. The numbers paint a clear picture of why intentional team building is crucial for remote teams.
The Remote Work Reality:
The Impact of Team Building:
When team members feel connected to their colleagues, they're more likely to share ideas, ask for help, and stay with the company long-term. The data proves that investing in team connection isn't just nice to have—it's essential for business success.
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective. Schedule random 15-minute video calls between team members who don't regularly work together. Use tools like Donut for Slack to automatically pair people up weekly or biweekly. These informal conversations help recreate the spontaneous interactions that happen naturally in physical offices.
The key is making these optional but encouraged. Forced fun rarely works, but giving people permission and structure to connect casually often does. Provide conversation starter prompts for those who need them, but let the conversations flow naturally. Many teams find that these brief connections lead to better collaboration and understanding across departments.
Gaming isn't just for teenagers. Multiplayer online games provide natural opportunities for teamwork, problem-solving, and laughter. Consider options like:
The key is choosing games that don't require gaming expertise. You want activities where everyone can participate on equal footing, from the avid gamer to someone who's never picked up a controller. Keep sessions to 30-45 minutes and make them a regular monthly or bi-weekly event.
Two Truths and a Lie is particularly effective because it's fast and easy to integrate into regular team meetings. During onboarding or project kickoffs, this game sparks laughs while helping people learn memorable details about their colleagues. The casual competition and shared laughter create bonds that translate into better workplace relationships.
Combine professional development with team bonding by hosting monthly lunch and learn sessions. Team members can volunteer to present on topics they're passionate about, whether that's a technical skill, a hobby, or an interesting industry trend. Provide a stipend for lunch delivery so everyone can eat together while learning something new.
This approach serves double duty: it builds expertise sharing into your culture while giving team members a platform to showcase their interests and knowledge. Record the sessions for those who can't attend live, and you're building a valuable knowledge library. The informal lunch setting makes learning feel less like training and more like friendly knowledge exchange.
Remember show and tell from elementary school? It works brilliantly for adults too. Dedicate the first 10 minutes of team meetings to having someone share something from their workspace, talk about a hobby, introduce a pet, or discuss a recent accomplishment. This humanizes remote colleagues and helps everyone see each other as whole people, not just voices on calls.
Create a rotating schedule so no one is surprised, but keep participation voluntary with easy opt-out options. The personal stories and glimpses into colleagues' lives create empathy and understanding that improve every future interaction. You'll be surprised how much easier it is to collaborate with someone after learning about their passion for woodworking or meeting their rescue dog.
Create month-long challenges that team members can participate in asynchronously. The beauty of these challenges is that they work across time zones and schedules. Examples include:
Use a dedicated Slack channel or Teams space to share updates, encourage each other, and celebrate milestones. The asynchronous nature means people across different time zones can participate equally. Weekly highlight roundups keep momentum going, and small prizes or recognition for participation (not just winning) keep it inclusive and fun.
Photo challenges work particularly well for async engagement. Encourage team members to share a recent photo from their camera roll and explain why they chose it. This adds a human touch to your team chat without adding meeting time, and the stories behind the photos often reveal surprising insights about colleagues.
Music is universal. Create a shared team playlist on Spotify or Apple Music where everyone contributes songs. You might theme it around motivation, focus music, or just songs that make people happy. During virtual social events, play the playlist in the background. It's a small touch that makes team members feel heard and connected.
The playlist becomes a living artifact of your team's personality. You'll discover surprising musical common ground and learn about colleagues through their song choices. It's one of the easiest activities to implement but creates ongoing connection every time someone plays the shared playlist while working.
Host monthly trivia sessions using platforms like Kahoot or Quizizz. Mix questions about general knowledge with fun facts about team members, company history, or industry-specific topics. Keep it light and make sure prizes are distributed widely rather than always going to the same competitive individuals.
Consider forming random teams for each session to help people interact with colleagues they don't work with daily. The collaborative nature of team trivia encourages communication and strategy discussion. It's competitive enough to be exciting but social enough that even people who aren't trivia buffs enjoy participating. The laughs that come from ridiculous wrong answers are just as valuable as getting questions right.
Start a team book or podcast club that meets monthly to discuss a selected title. Let team members vote on selections to ensure buy-in. This works particularly well for topics related to your industry, leadership, or professional development, but don't be afraid to choose fiction or entertainment content occasionally.
The discussions that emerge often reveal new perspectives and commonalities among team members. Someone's interpretation of a business book chapter might spark an idea that improves your processes. A fiction discussion might reveal shared values and approaches to problem-solving. The intellectual connection complements the social bonding from other activities.
Not everyone is available at the same time, especially for global teams. Use asynchronous video tools like Loom or Flipgrid for activities where team members record short videos when convenient. Ideas include:
Team members can watch and respond when it fits their schedule, making this ideal for teams spanning multiple time zones. The video format adds personality and warmth that text-based async communication lacks, while the flexibility respects everyone's schedule. It's particularly valuable for helping new team members get to know everyone without requiring synchronized meeting time.
Create a program where team members can teach each other skills during short virtual sessions. Someone might offer a cooking class, another teaches basic photography, someone shares Excel shortcuts, or another leads a meditation session. This celebrates the diverse talents within your team while building connections through learning.
The informal teaching environment reveals hidden talents and creates opportunities for team members to shine outside their job descriptions. The person who's quiet in technical discussions might light up teaching others about their hobby. These glimpses into colleagues' expertise and passions build appreciation and respect that strengthens working relationships.
Don't let milestones pass unnoticed. Celebrate birthdays, work anniversaries, project completions, and personal achievements with virtual parties. Send surprise delivery packages, create custom video montages, or organize group cards signed by everyone. Making people feel valued and remembered strengthens team bonds significantly.
The effort put into celebrations communicates that team members matter as individuals, not just as workers. A surprise birthday cake delivery or a video compilation of congratulations messages creates emotional moments that people remember long after the event. These celebrations become part of your team culture and the stories people tell about what makes your workplace special.
Schedule optional virtual coworking sessions where team members log on to work silently together, with cameras on. Just being present with colleagues, even virtually, can reduce feelings of isolation. Include brief check-ins at the start and end, but keep the middle portion focused on individual work.
This mimics the experience of working side-by-side in an office without requiring conversation or attention. The ambient presence of colleagues provides comfort and accountability. Many remote workers find that having coworkers "nearby" helps them focus better and feel less isolated, especially those who live alone or struggle with the solitude of remote work.
Some consider this one of the most fun remote team-building activities. Virtual karaoke nights let team members sing their hearts out and enjoy lighthearted entertainment together. It works best in small groups or regional squads where people already share some social comfort level.
Set up a karaoke platform or use YouTube karaoke tracks with screen sharing. The key is creating a judgment-free zone where people feel safe being silly. Whether someone has a beautiful voice or can't carry a tune, the laughter and shared vulnerability create lasting connections. Don't be surprised when the quietest team member turns out to have hidden vocal talents.
Arrange a virtual paint and sip event where team members follow an art instructor's guidance while enjoying their beverage of choice. Ship painting supplies to everyone beforehand or provide a list of materials to gather. As people paint, they chat, compare progress, and discuss each other's artistic interpretations.
This activity is particularly effective for milestone celebrations and works well with diverse talent pools where visual creativity builds shared memories. The non-competitive creative environment allows people to relax and connect in ways that differ from typical work interactions. Everyone takes home a souvenir of the experience, and the imperfect paintings often become conversation starters in future video calls.
Invite colleagues to give virtual tours of their remote working locations, favorite spots in their hometown, or even their homes. Team members can share their screens while walking through Google Street View, show pre-recorded videos of local landmarks, or give live video tours of meaningful places.
This is an especially effective way to shape virtual workplace culture with globally distributed teams. Learning about a colleague's neighborhood market in Barcelona, favorite hiking trail in Colorado, or childhood school in Mumbai creates cultural appreciation and understanding. These personal glimpses build empathy and make the geographic distance feel smaller.
Explore specialized online platforms that offer curated team building activities designed specifically for remote employees. Services like Teambuilding.com, Fundoo Friday, and The Offsite Co provide a wide range of structured activities, from mystery games to cooking classes to competitive challenges.
Many platforms now offer AI-based virtual team building exercises tailored to your team's mood, size, or preference for synchronous versus asynchronous activities. These platforms handle the logistics and facilitation, making it easy to try professional-quality activities without extensive planning. They're particularly useful when your team wants variety or when you need something more elaborate than you can organize internally.
Having great ideas is only half the battle. Here's how to make team building activities successful in your organization.
Get leadership buy-in. When leaders participate enthusiastically, it signals that team connection is valued, not just tolerated. If the CEO joins the trivia night or shares a song for the playlist, team members understand that connection matters at every level.
Make participation easy. Remove barriers by providing clear instructions, handling logistics, and choosing accessible activities that don't require special equipment or skills. If people have to jump through hoops to participate, they won't. Handle the complicated parts so team members can just show up and engage.
Gather feedback regularly. Survey your team about which activities they enjoy and what they'd like to try. Team building should evolve based on your team's preferences, not what worked for someone else's team. What energizes one group might drain another, so stay responsive to your specific team's needs and interests.
Schedule strategically. Respect people's time by scheduling activities during working hours when possible, rotating time zones for global teams, and keeping most activities optional. Nothing kills enthusiasm faster than mandatory fun that conflicts with personal time or consistently excludes certain time zones.
Celebrate participation, not just performance. The goal is connection, not competition. Recognize people who show up and engage, regardless of whether they win games or challenges. Create an environment where trying something new and being present matters more than being the best at everything.
Mix it up regularly. Rotate between different types of activities to appeal to different personality types. Some people love games, others prefer learning opportunities, and others appreciate quiet creative activities. A varied program ensures everyone finds something they enjoy and no one feels perpetually left out.
Remote work has transformed how we collaborate, but it's also created new challenges for building strong team connections. At 5 Blue Software AB, we understand that distributed teams need intentional approaches to foster the camaraderie and trust that once happened naturally around the office coffee machine.
The good news? Remote team building can be just as effective as in-person activities when done right. Here's our proven list of activities that actually work for remote teams.
Before diving into the activities, let's look at what the research tells us. The numbers paint a clear picture of why intentional team building is crucial for remote teams.
The Remote Work Reality:
The Impact of Team Building:
When team members feel connected to their colleagues, they're more likely to share ideas, ask for help, and stay with the company long-term. The data proves that investing in team connection isn't just nice to have—it's essential for business success.
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective. Schedule random 15-minute video calls between team members who don't regularly work together. Use tools like Donut for Slack to automatically pair people up weekly or biweekly. These informal conversations help recreate the spontaneous interactions that happen naturally in physical offices.
The key is making these optional but encouraged. Forced fun rarely works, but giving people permission and structure to connect casually often does. Provide conversation starter prompts for those who need them, but let the conversations flow naturally. Many teams find that these brief connections lead to better collaboration and understanding across departments.
Gaming isn't just for teenagers. Multiplayer online games provide natural opportunities for teamwork, problem-solving, and laughter. Consider options like:
The key is choosing games that don't require gaming expertise. You want activities where everyone can participate on equal footing, from the avid gamer to someone who's never picked up a controller. Keep sessions to 30-45 minutes and make them a regular monthly or bi-weekly event.
Two Truths and a Lie is particularly effective because it's fast and easy to integrate into regular team meetings. During onboarding or project kickoffs, this game sparks laughs while helping people learn memorable details about their colleagues. The casual competition and shared laughter create bonds that translate into better workplace relationships.
Combine professional development with team bonding by hosting monthly lunch and learn sessions. Team members can volunteer to present on topics they're passionate about, whether that's a technical skill, a hobby, or an interesting industry trend. Provide a stipend for lunch delivery so everyone can eat together while learning something new.
This approach serves double duty: it builds expertise sharing into your culture while giving team members a platform to showcase their interests and knowledge. Record the sessions for those who can't attend live, and you're building a valuable knowledge library. The informal lunch setting makes learning feel less like training and more like friendly knowledge exchange.
Remember show and tell from elementary school? It works brilliantly for adults too. Dedicate the first 10 minutes of team meetings to having someone share something from their workspace, talk about a hobby, introduce a pet, or discuss a recent accomplishment. This humanizes remote colleagues and helps everyone see each other as whole people, not just voices on calls.
Create a rotating schedule so no one is surprised, but keep participation voluntary with easy opt-out options. The personal stories and glimpses into colleagues' lives create empathy and understanding that improve every future interaction. You'll be surprised how much easier it is to collaborate with someone after learning about their passion for woodworking or meeting their rescue dog.
Create month-long challenges that team members can participate in asynchronously. The beauty of these challenges is that they work across time zones and schedules. Examples include:
Use a dedicated Slack channel or Teams space to share updates, encourage each other, and celebrate milestones. The asynchronous nature means people across different time zones can participate equally. Weekly highlight roundups keep momentum going, and small prizes or recognition for participation (not just winning) keep it inclusive and fun.
Photo challenges work particularly well for async engagement. Encourage team members to share a recent photo from their camera roll and explain why they chose it. This adds a human touch to your team chat without adding meeting time, and the stories behind the photos often reveal surprising insights about colleagues.
Music is universal. Create a shared team playlist on Spotify or Apple Music where everyone contributes songs. You might theme it around motivation, focus music, or just songs that make people happy. During virtual social events, play the playlist in the background. It's a small touch that makes team members feel heard and connected.
The playlist becomes a living artifact of your team's personality. You'll discover surprising musical common ground and learn about colleagues through their song choices. It's one of the easiest activities to implement but creates ongoing connection every time someone plays the shared playlist while working.
Host monthly trivia sessions using platforms like Kahoot or Quizizz. Mix questions about general knowledge with fun facts about team members, company history, or industry-specific topics. Keep it light and make sure prizes are distributed widely rather than always going to the same competitive individuals.
Consider forming random teams for each session to help people interact with colleagues they don't work with daily. The collaborative nature of team trivia encourages communication and strategy discussion. It's competitive enough to be exciting but social enough that even people who aren't trivia buffs enjoy participating. The laughs that come from ridiculous wrong answers are just as valuable as getting questions right.
Start a team book or podcast club that meets monthly to discuss a selected title. Let team members vote on selections to ensure buy-in. This works particularly well for topics related to your industry, leadership, or professional development, but don't be afraid to choose fiction or entertainment content occasionally.
The discussions that emerge often reveal new perspectives and commonalities among team members. Someone's interpretation of a business book chapter might spark an idea that improves your processes. A fiction discussion might reveal shared values and approaches to problem-solving. The intellectual connection complements the social bonding from other activities.
Not everyone is available at the same time, especially for global teams. Use asynchronous video tools like Loom or Flipgrid for activities where team members record short videos when convenient. Ideas include:
Team members can watch and respond when it fits their schedule, making this ideal for teams spanning multiple time zones. The video format adds personality and warmth that text-based async communication lacks, while the flexibility respects everyone's schedule. It's particularly valuable for helping new team members get to know everyone without requiring synchronized meeting time.
Create a program where team members can teach each other skills during short virtual sessions. Someone might offer a cooking class, another teaches basic photography, someone shares Excel shortcuts, or another leads a meditation session. This celebrates the diverse talents within your team while building connections through learning.
The informal teaching environment reveals hidden talents and creates opportunities for team members to shine outside their job descriptions. The person who's quiet in technical discussions might light up teaching others about their hobby. These glimpses into colleagues' expertise and passions build appreciation and respect that strengthens working relationships.
Don't let milestones pass unnoticed. Celebrate birthdays, work anniversaries, project completions, and personal achievements with virtual parties. Send surprise delivery packages, create custom video montages, or organize group cards signed by everyone. Making people feel valued and remembered strengthens team bonds significantly.
The effort put into celebrations communicates that team members matter as individuals, not just as workers. A surprise birthday cake delivery or a video compilation of congratulations messages creates emotional moments that people remember long after the event. These celebrations become part of your team culture and the stories people tell about what makes your workplace special.
Schedule optional virtual coworking sessions where team members log on to work silently together, with cameras on. Just being present with colleagues, even virtually, can reduce feelings of isolation. Include brief check-ins at the start and end, but keep the middle portion focused on individual work.
This mimics the experience of working side-by-side in an office without requiring conversation or attention. The ambient presence of colleagues provides comfort and accountability. Many remote workers find that having coworkers "nearby" helps them focus better and feel less isolated, especially those who live alone or struggle with the solitude of remote work.
Some consider this one of the most fun remote team-building activities. Virtual karaoke nights let team members sing their hearts out and enjoy lighthearted entertainment together. It works best in small groups or regional squads where people already share some social comfort level.
Set up a karaoke platform or use YouTube karaoke tracks with screen sharing. The key is creating a judgment-free zone where people feel safe being silly. Whether someone has a beautiful voice or can't carry a tune, the laughter and shared vulnerability create lasting connections. Don't be surprised when the quietest team member turns out to have hidden vocal talents.
Arrange a virtual paint and sip event where team members follow an art instructor's guidance while enjoying their beverage of choice. Ship painting supplies to everyone beforehand or provide a list of materials to gather. As people paint, they chat, compare progress, and discuss each other's artistic interpretations.
This activity is particularly effective for milestone celebrations and works well with diverse talent pools where visual creativity builds shared memories. The non-competitive creative environment allows people to relax and connect in ways that differ from typical work interactions. Everyone takes home a souvenir of the experience, and the imperfect paintings often become conversation starters in future video calls.
Invite colleagues to give virtual tours of their remote working locations, favorite spots in their hometown, or even their homes. Team members can share their screens while walking through Google Street View, show pre-recorded videos of local landmarks, or give live video tours of meaningful places.
This is an especially effective way to shape virtual workplace culture with globally distributed teams. Learning about a colleague's neighborhood market in Barcelona, favorite hiking trail in Colorado, or childhood school in Mumbai creates cultural appreciation and understanding. These personal glimpses build empathy and make the geographic distance feel smaller.
Explore specialized online platforms that offer curated team building activities designed specifically for remote employees. Services like Teambuilding.com, Fundoo Friday, and The Offsite Co provide a wide range of structured activities, from mystery games to cooking classes to competitive challenges.
Many platforms now offer AI-based virtual team building exercises tailored to your team's mood, size, or preference for synchronous versus asynchronous activities. These platforms handle the logistics and facilitation, making it easy to try professional-quality activities without extensive planning. They're particularly useful when your team wants variety or when you need something more elaborate than you can organize internally.
Having great ideas is only half the battle. Here's how to make team building activities successful in your organization.
Get leadership buy-in. When leaders participate enthusiastically, it signals that team connection is valued, not just tolerated. If the CEO joins the trivia night or shares a song for the playlist, team members understand that connection matters at every level.
Make participation easy. Remove barriers by providing clear instructions, handling logistics, and choosing accessible activities that don't require special equipment or skills. If people have to jump through hoops to participate, they won't. Handle the complicated parts so team members can just show up and engage.
Gather feedback regularly. Survey your team about which activities they enjoy and what they'd like to try. Team building should evolve based on your team's preferences, not what worked for someone else's team. What energizes one group might drain another, so stay responsive to your specific team's needs and interests.
Schedule strategically. Respect people's time by scheduling activities during working hours when possible, rotating time zones for global teams, and keeping most activities optional. Nothing kills enthusiasm faster than mandatory fun that conflicts with personal time or consistently excludes certain time zones.
Celebrate participation, not just performance. The goal is connection, not competition. Recognize people who show up and engage, regardless of whether they win games or challenges. Create an environment where trying something new and being present matters more than being the best at everything.
Mix it up regularly. Rotate between different types of activities to appeal to different personality types. Some people love games, others prefer learning opportunities, and others appreciate quiet creative activities. A varied program ensures everyone finds something they enjoy and no one feels perpetually left out.
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