15 Must-Try Virtual Team Building Activities for Small Groups

Looking to keep your small teams engaged and connected, even from a distance? Interactive virtual team building activities for small groups can improve teamwork and enhance productivity. They guarantee a good laugh and wholesome conversations beyond the usual work chatter. From quick icebreakers and creative challenges to fun competitions, there are plenty of options for you to elevate your remote team building experiences. 

Here is our list of the best 15 virtual team building activities for small groups that will help create awesome, shared moments together. These activities are great to bond with your team during onboarding, reconnect after a major project, celebrate milestones, or simply amp up morale during regular check-ins.

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How Do Team Building Activities Benefit Small Groups?

Small remote teams often feel disconnected due to the lack of real-time interactions with their workmates. Virtual team building activities are the best way to bridge that gap and build strong connections. Whether it’s a casual catch-up or a fun group game, these events encourage team members to interact in a casual setting. To maximize the benefits, you can make virtual team building events a regular thing. This will boost overall team performance and improve employee engagement.

15 Best Virtual Team Building Activities for Small Groups

With so many options available like icebreakers, collaborative games, creative challenges, and fun competitions, finding ‘’the one’’ is a tough choice. To make things easier, we have grouped the activities by purpose – icebreakers, collaborative games, fun competitions, creative challenges and team bonding.

Icebreakers

Whether you are welcoming new hires, helping teams connect, or just want to shake off the Monday blues, these icebreakers bring everyone together.

1. Two Truths And A Lie

Number of Participants: 5 – 8
Duration: 25 – 40 minutes

Two Truths and a Lie is the perfect activity for small teams to learn fun things about each other. Each team member spills the tea about themselves with three statements, but one’s a sneaky lie in disguise! The others have to figure out which one’s a fib. But be careful how you say it – one raised eyebrow or a shaky voice, and your coworker might spot your lie.   

We tried this game during one of our Friday team catch-ups, and it had everyone laughing. One teammate said, “I once met Ed Sheeran at an airport, got mistaken for a celebrity in Thailand, and accidentally joined a yoga retreat in Bali”. Everyone thought the Ed Sheeran story was fake — but it really happened, and the yoga retreat turned out to be a lie.  

2. Never Have I Ever

Number of Participants: 3 – 10
Duration: 10 – 15 minutes

The Never Have I Ever game is a classic icebreaker that brings out laughs and unexpected stories of coworkers. Everyone takes a turn saying something they’ve never done, and anyone who has done it reacts with a raised hand or emoji. On platforms like Zoom or Teams, you can even use the “raise hand” feature to keep things quick and visible. The questions revolve around different categories, like work, sports, pop culture, or travel.

We played an office-themed version of the game, and some of our favorite prompts were:

• Never have I ever fallen asleep in a meeting
• Never have I ever shown up late to a Zoom call
• Never have I ever taken a work call in my pajamas
• Never have I ever sent an email to the wrong person

3. JAM (Just A Minute)

Number of Participants: 5 – 10
Duration: 15 – 20 minutes

Just A Minute is a fun game that puts your team’s quick thinking and speaking skills to the test. The challenge is to give an impromptu speech on your topic for one minute without repeating yourself or going off-topic. To amp up the fun, you can add themed rounds like “food love,” “office confessions,” or “TV shows we all love to hate.” Use a timer with a dramatic buzzer to keep the excitement (and the laughs) high.

Here are a few ways to make JAM extra fun:

• Add a “no filler words” rule (no like, basically, or literally)
• Give bonus points for using three random words in one speech
• Have the team vote on the “Smoothest Delivery” or “Funniest Take”.

Collaborative Games

It’s not always easy to be connected when working remotely. These collaborative games will bring your team together through shared goals and interactive challenges.

4. Who Is The Killer?

Number of Participants: 4 – 15
Duration: 60 minutes

If you want to challenge your team’s sleuthing skills and bring out their inner Sherlock, consider Hooray Team’s Murder Mystery games. They have three interesting themes to choose from: Virtual Murder on Candy Cane Lane Mystery, Murder at The Manor, and Virtual Mystery in Hollywood. A lively host joins the session to help you crack codes and guide you along the way.

Every participant in the game has to observe, look for clues, and interrogate suspects to uncover the real culprit before time runs out. Murder mystery games really shine in small groups because everyone gets a chance to participate. You’ll have to ask questions, pay attention to the details, and piece everything together. It gets even the quiet ones to speak up.    

5. Scavenger Hunt Showdown

Number of Participants: 5 – 20
Duration: 60 minutes 

The scavenger hunt game is perfect for small teams that enjoy solving clues and tracking hidden objects. At Hooray Teams Scavenger Hunt, a game master leads the event and drops the list of hidden items over a shared platform. Team members must race against the clock to locate the hidden items. The objects can be anything, like an antique coin, a fridge magnet, or even a pair of mismatched socks. 

Here are some fun and quirky prompts we used in our recent scavenger hunt event:

• Find something that makes a sound
• Find a food item you always have in your kitchen
• Find a book in the horror genre
• Find something that has a picture of an animal on it
• Find something with a recycling logo on it

6. Can You Escape The Room?

Number of Participants: 5 – 15
Duration: 60 minutes

Challenge your team to crack codes and solve mysteries in Hooray Teams’ virtual escape room game. It is perfect for small teams, giving everyone a chance to take on a role and share their ideas. Teams have four interesting escape rooms to choose from: Mafia 360, Dungeon Things, Patient 360, and The Alchemist. 

Our team of eight members recently played the Alchemist escape room. With quick thinking and teamwork, we located the Philosopher’s Stone and escaped the library before the order of the Alchemists arrived.     

Fun Competitions

Fun competitions can boost team engagement and create a lively atmosphere. These games encourage healthy rivalry while keeping everyone engaged and entertained.

7. Virtual Team Trivia

Number of Participants: 5 – 15
Duration: 60 minutes

If your team loves a witty challenge, Hooray Teams’ Virtual Trivia makes a great choice for your next team building event. A trivia master hosts the game in 4 to 5 rounds of fast-paced questions. The topics can range from anything general to themed formats, like Disney Trivia, Earth Day Trivia, Easter Trivia, Juneteenth Trivia, or Olympics Trivia. 

Teams must use critical thinking skills to rack up points and stay ahead. Virtual trivia brings out your team’s competitive side and keeps small groups engaged. Plus, Hooray Teams also lets you customize the trivia themes to match your team’s interests and preferences.

8. Office Olympics Games

Number of Participants: 5 – 15
Duration: 60 minutes

If you’re looking for some high-energy office competition, the Office Olympics by Hooray Teams offers the perfect way to engage your team. Choose from a wide range of Olympic-themed games like trivia, scavenger hunts, and image puzzles for a thrilling experience.

A dedicated host leads the session and divides your team into groups of three to eight players. A lively host walks you through the activity lineup and explains the ground rules before the game starts. Your mission? Score the most points in every category to claim victory. To customize the session according to your team’s preference, simply make a request to the event coordinators. 

9. Virtual Pictionary

Number of Participants: 5 – 10
Duration: 60 minutes

Looking for easy virtual team building exercises for small groups to test your team’s drawing and communication skills? Hooray Teams’ Virtual Pictionary is all about thinking fast and getting creative with your coworkers. Using a virtual whiteboard, players take turns sketching prompts while their teammates try to guess them before time runs out. 

A friendly host will be with you throughout the session to give random prompts and keep the game moving. The prompts can pop up from anywhere – movies, sports, pop culture, or even everyday objects. You can also customize the game with any themes or topics you have in mind.

Creative Challenges

If you are bored with the same old games and craving something different, these creative challenges can be a great addition to your spice up your team building event.

10. Desert Island

Number of Participants: 7 – 14
Duration: 45 – 60 minutes

Team bonding, survival skills, and a whole lot of laughs – Desert Island checks all these boxes for a small group activity. You are stranded with your team on a desert (virtual) island. Each player gets to bring just one survival item, such as a fishing net, a lighter, rope, or a knife. 

Once everyone picks their item, each player explains why they chose it and how it could help their team survive. You must collaborate with your team and brainstorm ideas to create a survival plan with the help of the chosen items. Want to level up the challenge? Switch the island to a mysterious cave, a frozen wasteland, or an alien planet, as tough settings spark wilder ideas.

11. Virtual Team Bingo

Number of Participants: 5 – 25
Duration: 60 minutes

Are you looking for luck-based team builders for small groups? Hooray Teams’ Virtual Bingo is a great pick to keep things light and engaging. Every player receives a digital bingo card before the game. The card features prompts that can be anything from numbers, pictures, symbols, or even riddles. 

An energetic host calls out the prompts and keeps tabs on the scores. As teams mark off their cards, the excitement builds until someone finally calls out ‘Bingo!’ and claims victory. The game is easy to customize for holidays, company milestones, or team themes.

12. Mystery Box Challenge

Number of Participants: 5 – 10
Duration: 60 minutes

The Mystery Box Challenge is a thrilling and unpredictable team activity that keeps everyone on their toes. Each team will receive a sealed box with mystery items to complete a creative task. You might have to design a new product, whip a quick no-fire dish, or even solve a puzzle using the given items.

Your team will need to think fast and collaborate to present your creation before time runs out. If you want to amp up the fun, you can set bonus points for finishing early or completing a secret mission hidden in the box. 

Team Bonding

If you are looking to bring your small team closer, check out these engaging team bonding activities that’ll help your team reconnect.

13. Virtual Cheese Tasting

Number of Participants: 3 – 15
Duration: 60 minutes

Hooray Teams Virtual Cheese Tasting offers teams a fun yet delicious hands-on experience when it comes to virtual team building activities for small groups. It isn’t just about nibbling on cheese—it’s about exploring new flavors, learning quirky facts, and enjoying a fun experience with your team. A cheese expert will guide you through a mouthwatering journey, sharing tasting techniques, pairing suggestions, and insider secrets about the cheese-making process.  

Each participant gets a carefully curated tasting kit sent to their door, complete with artisan cheeses, crackers, or chips, and a tasting guide. If you want to make it more fun, pair your cheese tasting with wine for a richer and more flavorful experience.  

14. Virtual Cocktail Class

Number of Participants: 5 – 12
Duration: 60 minutes

Add a refreshing touch to your list of virtual team building activities for small groups with Hooray Team’s Virtual Cocktail Class. An expert mixologist teaches your team how to craft interesting cocktails from scratch. You will pick up helpful mixing tips and learn more about each cocktail ingredient along the way.

Every participant will receive a DIY cocktail kit before the day of the event. These kits include a selection of spirits, sugar syrups, herbs, garnish, edible glitter, and a handy instruction card. You can also customize the class for non-drinkers with some mocktail options.

15. Virtual Candle Making

Number of Participants: 5 – 10
Duration: 60 minutes

Hooray Teams’ Virtual Candle Making Class is a great addition to your list of best virtual team building activities for small groups. With expert guidance, you and your team will learn to craft your own decorative candles from scratch. The host also shows you how to blend fragrance oils like lavender, rose, sandalwood, or cinnamon, and master the basics of melting and pouring wax.

Each participant will receive a candle-making kit with everything from organic soy wax to colorful dyes and fragrance oils. It is one of the best online team building activities for small groups to bond while creating something beautiful as a keepsake.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to host team building activities for small groups online?

To host an online team building session, select a video conferencing platform like Zoom. Choose a fun activity like bingo, trivia, escape rooms, or wellness workshops. Once you decide on the activity, send out the invites, including any materials or links needed. Assign a host to lead the event and guide the players. Teams looking to enjoy a fully hosted experience can opt for team-building platforms like Hooray Teams for a hassle-free experience.

How long should virtual team bonding activities for small groups last?

Virtual team building activities for small groups usually last for 60 to 90 minutes. Depending on the type of activities, these sessions can run for longer hours as well. 

What are some of the free virtual team building activities for small groups?

Some free virtual team building activities for small groups include bingo, trivia, movie marathons, or Never Have I Ever. You can easily host them on platforms like Google Meet or Zoom.

How many activities should be included in a virtual team building activities for small groups session?

Ideally, there should be one activity in a 60-minute session to keep everyone engaged. You can also conduct an icebreaker activity to set the right tone before the main session.

How to make virtual team building activities for small groups engaging?

Choose interactive and engaging team building activities for work according to your team’s preferences to keep everyone entertained. Initiate discussions with your team members throughout the session to make them feel involved and encourage participation.

How do small group communication activities improve team collaboration?

Small group communication activities help team members open up, exchange ideas, and solve problems together. These activities lead to increased productivity and stronger team unity.

Why are teamwork exercises for small groups important?

Teamwork exercises for small groups are important because they build trust, improve communication, and help teams work together more efficiently.