Oktoberfest is all about beer, food, and fun, but you don’t need to be in Germany to enjoy it.
Bring the celebration to your office!
Oktoberfest games are a great way to get the team together in a relaxed, fun setting. Whether it's a stein-holding contest, trivia, or being ridiculous with pretzels, these office party ideas help break the ice, reduce stress, and encourage team bonding. Also, the festive atmosphere lets everyone join in, with or without alcohol, making it an inclusive event for all (but if you want to add these activities to your office happy hour, feel free to 😉).
Before we dive into these 20 Oktoberfest games and activities, make sure to source the following items, as these are a recurring theme throughout:
- Steins (we recommend plastic versions if you can find them, for health and safety)
- A variety of German sausages
- Pretzels
- A source of German music (Youtube, Spotify)
- Non-alcoholic beers (bottles are best as props)
- Brush up on basic German words (Totally optional, but it will give you a slight edge for some of the games)
Let’s get into these, ‘Prost’!
1. Stein holding competition
The stein holding competition is a classic test of strength and focus. The goal? Hold a full stein of water at arm’s length for as long as possible, without giving in!
How to play:
- Fill up a stein with water (no cheating on the amount).
- Hold the stein straight out, arm fully extended.
- No bending elbows, spilling, or switching arms.
- Last person standing with their stein up wins.
Why it’s great for your team: This game brings out friendly competition while pushing people to dig deep. It’s fun, goofy, and encourages determination. Plus, everyone gets to cheer each other on, creating a supportive vibe.
2. Pretzel toss
Pretzel toss is exactly what it sounds like, tossing big ol' pretzels onto beer bottles. It’s like ring toss, but with a snacky twist.
How to play:
- Set up empty beer bottles as targets.
- Give each player a few soft pretzels.
- Stand a few feet back and try to toss the pretzels onto the bottle necks.
- Whoever lands the most wins!
Why it’s great for your team: It’s a fun way to break the ice and get people laughing. Plus, it's low-stakes and lighthearted, making it perfect for team bonding without the pressure. Great for loosening up a serious workday!
3. Beer stein race
The beer stein race is all about balance and a steady hand. Players race to the finish line without spilling the water from their steins.
How to play:
- Fill steins with water.
- Set up a race course (doesn’t have to be fancy).
- Players race to the end without spilling too much water.
- First one to cross the finish line with the most water left wins!
Why it’s great for your team: This game brings a bit of fun and friendly competition into the mix. It gets everyone moving, helps with focus and balance, and keeps things light and playful. It’s the perfect way to break up the workday!
4. Oktoberfest trivia
Oktoberfest trivia is a fun way to test your team’s knowledge of Oktoberfest history, German culture, and beer facts. Get ready for some surprising answers!
How to play:
- Prepare a list of trivia questions about Oktoberfest and German culture.
- Split your team into small groups or have individuals compete.
- Ask the questions and keep score.
- The group or individual with the most correct answers wins.
Why it’s great for your team: It’s a laidback way to engage the group and encourage some friendly competition. Trivia games help improve team collaboration and spark interesting conversations. Plus, everyone learns something new!
5. Yodeling contest
The yodeling contest challenges your coworkers to give their best (and probably funniest) yodel. It’s silly, but that’s the point!
How to play:
- Line up your contestants.
- Each person takes turns giving their best yodel.
- Let the rest of the team judge who yodels the best (or the funniest).
- The loudest cheer wins!
Why it’s great for your team: This is the ultimate icebreaker! It’s ridiculous, fun, and guarantees laughs, which instantly relaxes the atmosphere. It’s great for boosting morale and encouraging people to step outside their comfort zones in a lighthearted way.
6. Bavarian bingo
Bavarian bingo is a twist on the classic game, with cards filled with German food, drink, and culture-related words. It’s Oktoberfest, bingo-style!
How to play:
- Create bingo cards with words related to German culture, food, and Oktoberfest traditions.
- Call out words at random and have players mark their cards.
- The first person to get a full row or column yells “Bingo!”
Why it’s great for your team: Bavarian bingo is a simple game that’s easy to set up and play, yet it fosters light competition. It’s perfect for team bonding, bringing out some good-natured fun while getting everyone in the Oktoberfest spirit!
7. German word challenge
The German word challenge tests how well your team can decipher common German words. Some are simple, but others, like Wissenschaft (science), can be tricky and hilarious to guess if you're not familiar with the language!
How to play:
- Prepare a list of German words (mix of easy and difficult ones).
- Show the words to your team and ask them to guess the meaning.
- Whoever gets the most correct answers wins.
Why it’s great for your team: This game is not only fun but also a great way to learn a few new words. It sparks curiosity and laughter, especially with more complicated words, making for a lighthearted team-building moment.
8. Pretzel eating relay
The pretzel eating relay is a race against time, and dryness! Teams compete to eat a line of pretzels as fast as possible, but beware, those pretzels are much drier than they look.
How to play:
- Line up pretzels for each team.
- Each player must eat a pretzel before the next teammate can start.
- The first team to finish all their pretzels wins.
Why it’s great for your team: It’s fast-paced and surprisingly difficult! The challenge of chewing those dry pretzels brings out laughter, as well as a shared struggle that helps bond the group. A fun break from the usual office tasks!
9. Musical stein pass
Musical stein pass is like musical chairs but with a stein. When the music stops, whoever is holding the stein is out. For a true Oktoberfest vibe, play some German drinking music to set the mood!
How to play:
- Everyone forms a circle and passes around an empty stein.
- Start the music (preferably some upbeat German drinking tunes).
- When the music stops, whoever is holding the stein is out.
- The last person standing wins.
Why it’s great for your team: This game combines movement, music, and tension, making it a fun and interactive experience. It’s a great way to energize the team and keep the atmosphere light and festive. Perfect for any Oktoberfest-themed day!
10. Beer cap pyramid
The beer cap pyramid is a simple yet competitive game where participants race to build the tallest pyramid out of bottle caps. It’s all about balance and patience!
How to play:
- Provide each team with a stack of bottle caps.
- Set a timer and have teams stack caps into a pyramid shape.
- The tallest pyramid at the end of the timer wins.
Why it’s great for your team: This game encourages focus, patience, with a bit of engineering skill. It’s a lighthearted way to foster problem-solving and teamwork, while keeping the mood fun and laidback.
11. Bavarian hat decorating
Get creative with Bavarian hat decorating! Employees are given supplies to design and personalize their very own Bavarian hats, think feathers, buttons, and ribbons.
How to play:
- Provide plain hats and a variety of decorating supplies.
- Set a time limit and let everyone get creative with their designs.
- Have a hat parade and let the team vote on the best design.
Why it’s great for your team: This activity allows employees to tap into their creative side, making it a relaxing and enjoyable break. It’s also a great conversation starter and a fun way to encourage individuality and self-expression.
12. Guess the brew
In guess the brew, blindfolded participants try to guess different types of non-alcoholic beers or sodas by taste alone. It’s trickier than it sounds, especially with similar flavors!
How to play:
- Set up a tasting station with a variety of non-alcoholic beers or sodas.
- Blindfold participants and give them small tastings.
- They must guess the brew based on taste alone.
- The person with the most correct guesses wins.
Why it’s great for your team: This game sparks curiosity and sensory awareness, while offering plenty of laughs. It encourages focus and participation, bringing everyone together in a relaxed, playful environment. Plus, it’s great to use anytime, why not add this to your Fun Friday Activities arsenal?
13. Oktoberfest karaoke
Oktoberfest karaoke invites coworkers to sing along to traditional German songs or tunes with that festive Oktoberfest vibe. It’s all about having fun and embracing the Oktoberfest spirit!
How to play:
- Set up a karaoke machine with traditional German songs or festive Oktoberfest tunes.
- Each participant picks a song and gives it their best shot.
- Cheer for every performance, judging can be based on enthusiasm rather than skill!
Why it’s great for your team: This game encourages everyone to loosen up and enjoy themselves. It’s a perfect icebreaker that breaks down barriers and fosters camaraderie in a relaxed, fun way.
14. Stein obstacle course
The stein obstacle course is a test of balance and precision. Participants must carry a stein through an obstacle course while spilling as little water as possible.
How to play:
- Set up an obstacle course with twists, turns, and maybe even some hurdles.
- Fill each participant's stein with water.
- The goal is to complete the course while spilling the least amount of water.
- The person with the most water left at the finish wins.
Why it’s great for your team: This game combines fun and challenge, helping participants improve focus and coordination. It’s a playful way to get people moving and working together, while laughing off the inevitable spills!
15. Pretzel string eating contest
The pretzel string eating contest is a hilarious race to see who can finish a pretzel hung on a string without using their hands. Spoiler alert: it’s harder than it looks!
How to play:
- Hang pretzels from strings at mouth height.
- Participants must eat the entire pretzel without touching it with their hands.
- The first person to finish their pretzel wins.
Why it’s great for your team: This game is all about lighthearted competition and guaranteed laughs. It brings out everyone’s playful side, making it an ideal activity to boost team spirit while encouraging a bit of silliness.
16. Bier pong (non-alcoholic version)
Bier pong (water version) is a twist on the classic party game, using water-filled cups instead of beer. Teams take turns tossing a ping-pong ball into the other team’s cups.
How to play:
- Set up 10 cups in a triangle formation on each end of a table.
- Fill the cups with water.
- Teams take turns trying to land a ping-pong ball in the opposing team’s cups.
- The team that eliminates all the other team's cups first wins.
Why it’s great for your team: It’s a fun, lighthearted way to boost team collaboration and hand-eye coordination. The game keeps things competitive while being casual enough to encourage bonding without pressure.
17. Guess the weight of the sausage
In guess the weight of the sausage, a large sausage is hung in the office, and employees take turns guessing its weight. It’s a simple but surprisingly tricky challenge!
How to play:
- Hang a large sausage in a visible spot.
- Each employee writes down their guess for the sausage’s weight.
- The closest guess wins!
Why it’s great for your team: This game brings out everyone’s competitive and curious side. It’s a light and easy activity that sparks conversation and can be a quirky focal point in the office for the day.
18. Oompah band challenge
The Oompah band challenge is a creative and chaotic game where teams use random objects to form their own Oompah band and perform their best Oktoberfest-style tune.
How to play:
- Divide employees into teams and give them random objects (like pots, pans, or stationery).
- Each team creates an “instrument” from the objects.
- Teams perform their best Oompah band tune for the group.
- The team with the best performance, judged by the audience, wins!
Why it’s great for your team: This game is perfect for encouraging creativity, teamwork, and out-of-the-box thinking. It’s hilarious and lets employees embrace their playful side, all while fostering collaboration and a sense of unity.
19. Oktoberfest photo booth
The Oktoberfest photo booth is a fun and festive way to capture memories from the event. With props like steins, Bavarian hats, and giant pretzels, employees can snap silly photos to commemorate the day.
How to play:
- Set up a booth with Oktoberfest-themed props.
- Provide fun items like steins, pretzels, Bavarian hats, and lederhosen.
- Employees take turns posing and snapping photos, solo or in groups.
- Encourage everyone to share their photos for a fun keepsake.
Why it’s great for your team: A photo booth adds a lighthearted, creative element to the event. It’s a great way to get people mingling, loosen up the atmosphere, and capture some candid, fun moments to look back on later.
20. German song lyrics game
The German song lyrics game tests your team’s knowledge of famous German songs by challenging them to match the correct lyrics with the song title. It’s a mix of music and brainpower!
How to play:
- Create a list of famous German songs and their lyrics.
- Mix up the lyrics and hand them out to participants.
- Players must match the correct lyrics to the song title.
- The player with the most correct matches wins.
Why it’s great for your team: This game is a unique way to boost cultural awareness and have a good laugh as everyone tries to figure out the lyrics. It encourages team participation, keeps things light, and brings a playful sense of challenge to the event.
Booking an off-site for September or October? Add in these Oktoberfest games!
If you’re planning a team retreat this September or October then why not add some Oktoberfest-inspired fun to the mix! Whether it’s lighthearted competition or a work night out, these activities are perfect for bringing your group together and creating lasting memories.
And hey, why stop there? You could even make a last-minute dash to Germany for the real deal!
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