We can all recognize the power of games for problem-solving and team building.
Millions of organizations rely on the strength and cohesion of their teams. Games are a wonderful way of bringing people together and solidifying teamwork.
Gamification is being taken very seriously by world-leading organizations, and 90% of employees say gamification makes them more productive at work.
So that’s why we’re here, to help you bring HR games into the workplace and get your teams flying high!
What exactly are “HR games”?
HR games are fun exercises planned and carried out by HR, to build cohesion and teamwork across the company.
When done right, they allow teams to get to know each other better and develop their soft skills through trials. tribulations and laughter.
There’s a whole world of games out there ready to help boost your teams, so we’ve laid out 22 of the best ones for you to try with your superstar teams today!
Here they are:
Outdoor and out-of-office games
If you’ve got a bit of time for planning, work games out of the office can make for really memorable events. Try these ones out.
1. Office sports day
Kicking off the morning with a day dedicated to all things sporty! Get your teams set up, and ask them all to color-code for the day. Generate some healthy cross-departmental competition by having each department represented by one team color, and become Olympians!
Organize equipment for a sack race, tug-of-war, wheelbarrow race, and any other quick teambuilding activities you can think of. The glory of an office sports day is how much you can customize it to make it more memorable. Rent out some food stalls from local food suppliers and chefs, and get some prizes and a podium for the day’s winners, and it’s smiles all around!
2. Squad karaoke
This one’s less of a competition and more of a chaotic evening of fun! Karaoke is a crowd-pleaser for everyone involved. Some karaoke halls now let you rent out small musical instruments too. Imagine Pamela from HR shaking a tambourine while you belt out some Maroon 5!
You can still add a touch of competition if, after the performances, your teams vote for their favorite singer (just don’t judge too harshly for the shy people!) A day out of the office with karaoke is a lovely way of bringing everyone together for the evening.
3. Balloon race
This one can be done indoors but works better when you take your teams outside, as a fair bit of space is needed. You only need to clear an area, set up obstacles, and bring a bag of balloons. Split your large group into two teams and explain the rules.
Place one balloon between each member in a team, so if you have teams of 5, then 4 balloons are sandwiched between each member’s chest and back. Then each member puts their hands on the shoulders of the person in front, and they need to navigate over and through your obstacle course. The balloon cannot be dropped and needs to be carried to the finish line by your teams. (As a side note, just be considerate of what people are comfortable with beforehand. Better safe than sorry!)
4. Scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts are a fantastic way to give the squad something memorable while appreciating the great outdoors. Simply split all employees into small groups (even better if they’re unfamiliar with each other, as they have a new chance to bond!)
The main crux of the game is to hide objects around the scavenger area, as well as some fun little clues to their location, like a little guessing game. Try out funny little riddles for your teams, like:
Give me a tap and I’ll give you some suds, I come in handy, especially when you’re covered in mud. (Soap)
I’ll protect you from the rain on a stormy day but don’t forget to put me down, or I’ll blow away. (Umbrella)
You’ll see your complexion in my reflection. (Mirror)
The team who finds all hidden objects first is crowned the day’s winner! Try this one out today.
5. “I'm an employee, get me out of here!”
Have you ever seen the hit UK TV show, “I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here”? It’s a show where celebrities sit in the jungle for weeks, and every week someone is voted to do a “bushtucker trial.” A lot of these challenges notoriously had contestants eating disgusting things to stay on the show. You don’t need to use real cooked insects and grubs. Try making a nice smoothie and calling it “beetle juice” or organizing some cakes decorated with parfait bugs on the top.
The show had adventurous high-wire and zipline challenges too, so you could include these if you’re in the right environment. It’s up to you how creative you’d like to get. All in the name of good fun!
Games to use with apps
Our next set of games has a modern twist and utilizes software to keep scoreboards and enable some digital fun. Try these out after downloading!
6. Psych!
“Psych!” is a great little game of wits that works well in the work environment. It was originally developed with Ellen DeGeneres and is a guessing game that crosses over trivia with Cards Against Humanity.
The rules of the game basically involve making up fake answers to real trivia questions. One person then chooses the outrageous, real answer, and wins points for guessing correctly. For each other player you “Psych!” out into choosing your answer you also gain a point. Try this game out in the office in your teambuilding session.
7. SpaceTeam
SpaceTeam is another app that’s a barrel of fun to use as an HR game. 2 to 8 players works best. It’s a fantastic example of what social gaming can and should be. It has been described as a "cooperative shouting game for phones and tablets”.
Players work as one unit, a “SpaceTeam,” aboard their spaceship. Each person controls a different part of the ship, but orders come in on someone else’s screen. Players need to shout commands to teammates (so be conscious of quiet-areas, too). Try this one out with a free download!
8. Heads up
Another global phenomenon, the Heads Up game is enjoyed by millions around the world. One of the best things about Heads Up is the almost limitless number of players. Hundreds of players can play simultaneously.
The game itself plays a bit like word charades. A player lifts the phone to their heads, facing outward, so other players can see the word, but not the person holding the phone. The player’s teammates shout out clues to the word, without using the actual word itself. A timer comes with the app for chaotic fun (we love the “accents” challenge the most).
Office games
If you’re not planning to head out anywhere, these games are perfect to set up and run while in-office. Minimal prep needed!
9. Guess the baby photo
This is a game that comes with a twist of childhood memories and nostalgia. Ask every person to bring in a photograph of themselves in early childhood (the older the better!). Then every person puts this photo into a box, and the group draws the photo at random.
Each player can try to guess who in their team is represented in the photo. The results are hilarious, as each player tries out their detective skills to guess which photo is who. Try this one out for a relaxed session with your teams.
10. Broken Telephone
If you’re from the UK, you might know this game by the name “Chinese Whispers.” Broken Telephone encourages extremely careful communication between members, and the results can be hilarious.
You need to get everyone into a really long line, or a circle. The first player is given a word (by you) and they have to whisper the word or sentence into the ear of the person next to them. Person 2 then whispers the word to person 3, and so on, until one cycle is completed. Mishaps and miscommunications happen, so just roll with it if the last person says a completely different sentence!
11. Blind drawing
“Blind drawing” is a fun communication game that is loved in ESL classrooms. Bring it to life in an office meeting room too. To set the game up, you need two teams, a whiteboard with markers, and one volunteer “artist” from each team (give them nicknames like Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, and Dali).
The artists need to leave the room. Once they’re out, you need to draw something in a notebook so everyone in the room can see. Make it fun and detailed for an extra challenge. Then invite your artists back in, put a big timer on the screen, and each artist’s teammates need to describe the picture. The artist who replicates your drawing most closely wins!
12. Minefield
Make sure you’ve got a clear, empty room for this one. “Minefield” requires one contestant to be blindfolded, and the rest of their team to help them as an audio guide. Set up a basic obstacle course in the empty room, with everyday office equipment like desks and chairs.
The blindfolded person needs to rely on the callouts of their teammates to get through the obstacle course to the finish line. Careful listening is needed so that the blindfolded person doesn’t get mixed up with who is calling out to them. Try it with a timer for added carnage!
13. Two truths and a lie
Here’s a tried-and-tested classic that works fantastically as a work-based team activity. “Two Truths and a Lie” takes a little explaining if you’ve never played before, but it’s a great way for everyone to get to know one another better.
Each person needs to create 3 sentences about themselves. 2 statements need to be true, while 1 sentence needs to be a massive lie! Ask a person to read their sentences aloud, and everyone else needs to guess which one is the lie. Award 1 point for a correct guess, and play until best of 3!
14. Who am I?
This one’s quite similar to the electronic version of “Heads Up” which we mentioned earlier. Each player will use a Post-it note and stick it to their head, with each note having the name of a famous person or celebrity on it. Instead of taking it in turns like in “Heads Up,” all players can play at once, so you can space the game out over a corporate evening of activities.
Get a little bit obscure with your celebrities, or choose to keep it simple if you have international teams. Enjoy this one anywhere you and your teams are!
15. Human snakes
Here’s another game of blindfolded chaos! “Human Snakes” works best with smaller teams of 4 to 6 people. Each team needs to form a line, or a “snake shape” with their hands up on the shoulders of the person in front. Every person in the snake is blindfolded, apart from the person at the back of the line.
Each team then needs to navigate an obstacle course of your choosing. The person at the back of each line will need to give out crystal-clear instructions to help their blind teammates through. This is a fantastic team energizer for your employees to loosen up.
16. Egg drop
“Egg drop” is a construction game that challenges teams to problem solve. The aim of the game is to Using materials like cardboard, cotton wool, popsicle sticks, and scissors, teams build a protective container for a raw egg.
Once time’s up, tell them the egg (in its container) will be dropped from a height. Teams need to hope they’ve built something protective enough to ensure the egg doesn’t crack from the fall. Try this one out, it’s great for critical thinking!
17. Pictionary
Another great word game requiring almost no materials is Pictionary. Create cards with words on them (words that will be fun to draw). It can be great to make 3 categories of cards; easy, medium, and hard, with each scoring 1, 2, and 3 points, respectively.
Split into small teams around a whiteboard. The first person draws the word on the card onto the board, without using letters or words or communicating to their team. Wait for a correct guess, and award points to the winner!
Card and board games
Sometimes the best games need a board and some game pieces. These HR games are great if you set up well beforehand!
18. Good old card game night
Why not take things back to basics and simply enjoy an evening dedicated to card games? We find that card games are actually a fantastic way for international employees to get to know each other better, as many countries and regions have their own rulesets for classic games.
Keep it simple with “Go Fish” or get competitive with Poker! There are so many games to choose from, with some lesser-known-gems like Crazy Eights and Chase the Ace. All you need is one deck, a nice play area, and some food ordered in, and you’re in for a great night of teambuilding fun.
19. Chess
Perhaps you’ve got some really deep thinkers and master strategists amongst your teams. Chess is one of the most beautiful games ever invented. It certainly isn’t the easiest game to pick up for the first time, but it’s deeply satisfying once you’re comfortable.
Minimal prep is required, just a chess board and pieces (and maybe an extra Queen for pawns who make it to the end of the board). Satisfy the urges of deep game-players with an evening of Chess. It will be remembered!
20. Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens is hugely popular now, and after a few games, we can see why. The card-game phenomenon is enjoyed around the world. It’s really easy to pick up, yet difficult to master. Exploding Kittens comes with some amazingly artistic cards and self-explanatory rules.
The objective is to give someone else the exploding kitten card before the end of the game. Pretty simple, but bags of fun. Order a deck in and dedicate a night to exploding kittens (no animals harmed, obviously!).
21. Twister
Another great game requiring a board and a little bit of physical flexibility is the family favorite, Twister. If you haven’t played before, you’re in for a treat. A Twister box comes with a big white mat with 4 different colored dots all over it. You also get a spinning wheel, and players need to spin the wheel and place a body part onto a corresponding dot.
Say for example you spin and get “right hand green.” The next person spins the wheel and might get “left foot blue.” You can imagine the chaos as everyone finds their position and tries not to fall. The game goes on for as long as you can manage!
22. Scenario Jenga
Our final recommendation is a game of “Jenga” but with a little twist. You just need one Jenga set, and divide it between all players. Ask each person to take a pen and write a scenario onto a block. Say, for example, if you want to keep the game work-related, ask people to write down situations that might happen in the workplace.
Keep it serious (like “you see your colleague enter a building area without safety equipment") or make it silly (such as “Count Dracula comes to the reception and asks to speak with the boss”). It’s all up to you. Set up your Jenga board, and as each person pulls a block, they read the scenario and describe what they would do.
Using games to build teams? Get the most out of games on a team-building retreat!
If you’re interested in using unique games to bring work teams together, we implore you to recognize the power of organizing games on a team-building retreat. HR professionals should have their own annual retreat to bring everyone closer together through fun and teamwork!
Here at Surf Office, organizing team retreats is what we do best.
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- Stress-free transfers? We got you! ✅
- Quality-assured accommodations? Check! ✅
- Engaging team-building activities? Our speciality ✅
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- Onsite support, tailored to your needs? Absolutely ✅
Not only this but we also have access to 160+ locations around Europe, APAC, the US, Latin America, and now Africa, meaning the sky is your limit when it comes to choosing the right location for you and your team.
Get the whole squad together, include your HR professionals, and show them how much you care for solidifying them as a team on a retreat. You can even organize a remote team retreat to bring hybrid and remote workers too!
Let us sort out the tricky logistics for you. Spaces are very limited, so get in touch now!
