Keeping employees engaged is no easy task, especially when teams are spread across different locations. As an HR team, your role goes beyond managing policies and payroll—you’re also responsible for fostering a workplace where employees feel connected, valued, and motivated.

One of the most effective ways to achieve this? Team-building activities that bring employees together, whether they’re in the office or working remotely. These activities help break the ice, encourage collaboration, and create a sense of belonging, all while making work more enjoyable.

Whether you're looking for virtual games to engage remote employees or in-office games to strengthen team bonds, we’ve got you covered.

Here are some of the best HR-approved team-building games to boost connection, communication, and fun!

Virtual HR Games for Remote Teams

Keeping remote employees engaged can be challenging, but the right team-building games help bridge the gap and create meaningful connections. Braid, a Slack app designed for team bonding, offers a variety of fun and interactive games that bring remote teams together effortlessly.

Enjoy Braid’s games in just a few clicks. Add Braid to your Slack workspace and grant the necessary access. Once installed, open Braid’s game library using the /braid command or start a game instantly by typing “/braid [game name]” in any Slack channel. Choose a channel, set up teams, and pick a time limit—then let the fun begin!

Here are some HR-friendly virtual games you can play with your team using Braid:

Wordsmith

Wordsmith is a fast-paced word-building game where players race against the clock to create as many words as possible from a set of letters. The longer and more complex the word, the higher the score! HR teams can use Wordsmith as a fun brain workout to keep employees engaged while strengthening their vocabulary and quick-thinking skills.

Go to Braid’s game library or type “/braid Wordsmith” in Slack to start. Players receive a random set of letters and must form words before time runs out. At the end, the leaderboard reveals who’s the ultimate wordsmith!

Typing Test

This game turns typing speed and accuracy into a fun, competitive challenge. Employees type out a passage as fast as possible, but precision matters—mistakes slow them down! HR professionals can use Typing Test as a quick break activity to boost productivity. It’s perfect for teams who spend a lot of time typing emails, reports, or chats.

To play, go to Braid’s game library or type “/braid TypingTest” in Slack. Players race against the clock, aiming for the highest word-per-minute (WPM) score while minimizing errors. In the end, they’ll see their rankings and how they compare to teammates.

Picture Puzzle

A visual guessing game where players use a hint and visual clues to identify an image. Picture Puzzle encourages quick thinking and friendly competition, making it a fun way to engage employees and add variety to the workday. This game is perfect for remote employees or solo play, giving employees a chance to recharge while challenging their observation skills.

Simply head to Braid’s game library or type “/braid PicturePuzzle” in Slack to start. Look at the image and use the hint to guess the correct words. The player who solves it in the fewest guesses wins!

Word Link

A creative word association game where players build a chain of words, but with a twist—the last letter of each word must be the first letter of the next one. The challenge? Keep the chain going without repeating words or breaking the pattern! Word Link is perfect for HR-led team-building sessions, fostering quick thinking, creativity, and communication.

To get started, go to Braid’s game library or type “/braid WordLink” in Slack. Braid provides a starting word, and players take turns responding with a word that follows the last-letter rule. The longer the chain, the better!

This or That

A lighthearted decision-making game where employees must choose between two options, like "Work from home or office?" or "Morning meetings or afternoon meetings?" This or That sparks fun conversations and helps employees learn more about each other in a relaxed setting.

Questions can even be customized to fit your team’s preferences, making it a versatile and engaging activity. HR teams can use This or That as an easy icebreaker for team meetings, onboarding, or casual team bonding.

Start by visiting Braid’s game library or typing “/braid ThisorThat” in Slack. Braid presents a series of questions, and players quickly select their answers. After each round, teams can discuss their choices, leading to fun debates and laughter.

Trivia

A knowledge-based game covering topics like history, pop culture, and industry-specific questions. Trivia is a great way for HR teams to encourage learning, engagement, and friendly competition in the workplace. Whether used for a quick mental break or a structured team event, it’s a fun way to bring employees together.

To start, visit Braid’s game library or type “/braid Trivia” in Slack. Players select a category and answer timed multiple-choice questions. Braid keeps track of scores and reveals the winner at the end!

Ready to level up team bonding? Try Braid today and bring fun, connection, and engagement to your remote team. Schedule a demo or visit Braid’s website to get started—soon available in Microsoft Teams, too!

Icebreaker Games to Kickstart Engagement

Starting a meeting or team event with an icebreaker is a great way to set a positive tone, encourage interaction, and help employees feel more comfortable. Whether your team is remote or in-office, these games break the initial awkwardness and get conversations flowing.

Two Truths and a Lie

A classic icebreaker where employees take turns sharing two true statements and one false statement about themselves. The rest of the team must guess which one is the lie. This game helps employees learn fun facts about each other while keeping things lighthearted.

To play, each participant writes down their three statements. One by one, they share them with the group, who then discuss and vote on the lie. The person reveals the correct answer, sparking conversation and laughter.

Speed Networking

Think of this as a quick-fire introduction session that allows employees to meet and interact in a short time. Employees pair up and have one or two minutes to introduce themselves and answer a fun work-related or personal question.

After time is up, they rotate and meet a new teammate. This game is perfect for onboarding sessions, new team formations, or large company events where employees may not know each other well.

Emoji Storytelling

A creative and engaging way to share experiences using only emojis! Employees send an emoji sequence in a chat (or write them on a whiteboard), and others must guess the story behind it.

For example, an employee might send 🚗💨🏖️🌊 (representing a weekend road trip to the beach). This is a simple way to spark conversations, encourage creativity, and make communication more fun.

Would You Rather?

A lighthearted game where employees must choose between two scenarios, often with unexpected or funny options. The choices can be work-related or just for fun, such as:

• Would you rather work a four-day week with longer hours or keep a regular five-day schedule?

• Would you rather have unlimited coffee at work or unlimited snacks?

HR teams can use this game to ease tension, encourage participation, and make meetings more interactive. It works well in Slack by posting a question and having employees react with emojis to vote.

Human Bingo

Turn introductions into a game by creating a bingo card filled with fun or unique facts (e.g., "Has worked remotely for 5+ years" or "Speaks more than one language"). Employees must find coworkers who match each square, helping them learn about their colleagues in an interactive way.

To play, distribute bingo sheets and give employees a set amount of time to mingle (in-person or virtually) and mark off squares. The first to complete a row wins!

Collaboration-Based HR Games

Teamwork is the foundation of a strong workplace, and collaboration-based games help employees build trust, improve communication, and solve problems together. These games encourage employees to work towards a shared goal while keeping the experience fun and engaging.

Office Scavenger Hunt

A fast-paced game where employees race to find specific items based on a given list. Whether played in person or remotely, this game encourages problem-solving and teamwork as employees strategize how to locate objects quickly.

For in-office teams, create a list of workplace-related items (e.g., "Something blue," "A sticky note with a doodle," "An old conference badge") and have employees find them within a set time.

For remote teams, give participants a digital scavenger hunt list (e.g., "Find and screenshot an email with the word ‘teamwork’" or "Take a picture of your favorite work-from-home setup"). The first team to collect all items wins!

Escape Room Challenge

An interactive problem-solving game where teams work together to solve puzzles and complete challenges within a time limit. Escape rooms boost critical thinking, collaboration, and decision-making—all while creating a fun, high-energy atmosphere.

Teams must communicate effectively, delegate tasks, and use logic to unlock clues. For virtual teams, many online escape rooms allow players to work together in breakout rooms to solve digital puzzles. HR teams can use this game for leadership training or team bonding.

Blind Drawing

A game that tests communication skills! One player describes an image (without naming objects directly), while the other draws based on their instructions. The challenge? The person drawing can’t see the image!

This activity highlights the importance of clear communication and active listening. It’s perfect for training employees on giving and receiving instructions effectively. Teams can compare drawings at the end, leading to lots of laughter and valuable takeaways on miscommunication.

To play, pair employees and give one person an image (e.g., a simple object, an abstract shape, or even a company logo). They must describe it without saying what it is while their teammate draws based on the instructions. The closest match wins!

Tower Building Challenge

A hands-on game that requires teams to build the tallest or most stable structure using limited materials (e.g., paper, tape, or spaghetti and marshmallows). This challenge encourages problem-solving, planning, and teamwork under pressure.

Set a timer and have teams construct their towers. The tallest structure that stands for at least ten seconds wins! For remote teams, an alternative version can be a Lego-building challenge where employees follow a set of vague instructions to test how well they interpret information.

Debate Club

A fun way to improve communication, persuasion, and teamwork. Employees form groups and take opposing teams on a workplace-related topic, such as:

• Should meetings be limited to 30 minutes?

• Is remote work more productive than in-office work?

• Should companies adopt a four-day workweek?

Each team presents their argument, counterarguments, and closing statements. This game strengthens critical thinking, public speaking, and collaboration, making it a great HR-led activity for team bonding.

HR Games That Boost Communication

Strong communication is essential for a productive and engaged workplace. Employees need to listen actively, express ideas clearly, and collaborate effectively in person or remotely. These HR-approved games help improve communication skills while keeping things fun and interactive.

Reverse Interview

A game that flips the traditional interview format—instead of answering questions, employees ask them! This is a great way to practice active listening and clear communication while also encouraging employees to think critically.

To play, pair employees and have one take on the role of the interviewer while the other acts as the interviewee. The goal is to ask open-ended questions that go beyond simple yes/no answers, encouraging thoughtful responses. HR teams can use this activity for onboarding, training, or improving leadership skills.

Whisper Challenge

A hilarious game that tests how well employees can communicate without relying on clear audio. One person wears noise-canceling headphones while another reads a workplace-related phrase (e.g., "We have a meeting at 3 PM"). The person wearing headphones must lip-read and guess the phrase.

This game is a great way to show how miscommunication happens and why it’s important to ask clarifying questions. It’s perfect for lightening the mood during meetings while reinforcing the need for clear and direct communication in the workplace.

Story Chain

A collaborative storytelling game where employees take turns adding one sentence at a time to build a story. The challenge? Each new sentence must make sense while continuing the storyline! This activity helps employees think on their feet, practice active listening, and improve storytelling skills—which are key for effective workplace communication.

To play, start with a simple opening like, “One morning, our team found a mysterious email in their inbox…” Each employee adds a sentence until the story reaches a natural conclusion. Remote teams can play this in Slack by having employees add their lines in a thread.

Lost in Translation

This game highlights how easily messages can change when passed from person to person. Employees form a line (or a Slack thread) and pass a message along, but they can only hear or read it once before passing it on. By the time the message reaches the last person, it’s often completely different!

This game reinforces the importance of clarity, repetition, and confirmation in workplace communication. HR teams can use this as a fun reminder to always double-check important details before passing them along.

Non-Verbal Challenge

A game that removes spoken words from the equation, forcing employees to rely on body language, facial expressions, and gestures. One employee picks a phrase or scenario (e.g., "You're running late for a big meeting") and acts it out without speaking, while others guess what’s happening.

This activity helps teams understand the importance of non-verbal cues in communication, making it useful for HR-led training on workplace interactions, presentations, and leadership.

HR Activities for Skill Development

Skill development doesn’t have to be limited to training sessions and workshops. Turning learning into a game makes it more engaging and helps employees retain information better. These HR-led activities encourage employees to build essential workplace skills like leadership, problem-solving, adaptability, and decision-making while keeping them motivated.

Role-Playing Scenarios

A hands-on activity where employees act out workplace situations to develop critical thinking, conflict resolution, and communication skills. HR teams can create scenarios based on real-life challenges, such as handling difficult clients, resolving team conflicts, or negotiating a deal.

In each round, one team member takes on a role (e.g., manager, employee, or customer) while others engage in the scenario. Afterward, the group members discuss what went well and what could be improved. This activity helps teams practice decision-making in a low-risk environment while getting real-time feedback.

HR Trivia Challenge

A workplace quiz that tests employees’ knowledge of company policies, industry trends, and workplace best practices. Trivia encourages engagement, learning retention, and friendly competition—perfect for onboarding or ongoing training.

To play, HR can create multiple-choice questions related to:

• Company values and policies (e.g., “What’s our PTO policy?”)

• Workplace best practices (e.g., “What’s the best way to give constructive feedback?”)

• Industry-specific knowledge (e.g., “What does GDPR stand for?”)

Employees compete for the highest score, making training more interactive and enjoyable.

Personality Match-Up

An activity where employees take a personality or work style assessment (such as DISC, MBTI, or StrengthsFinder) and then discuss their results with teammates. This helps employees understand different work styles, improve collaboration, and build self-awareness.

After completing the assessment, employees pair up or form small groups to discuss:

• How their strengths contribute to the team

• What work styles they find easiest (or most challenging) to collaborate with

• How they can improve teamwork based on their results

This is a great HR-led activity for team bonding and leadership development.

Decision-Making Challenge

A structured activity designed to improve strategic thinking and quick decision-making under pressure. Employees are given workplace scenarios (e.g., “A major project deadline has been moved up by two weeks. What do you do?”) and must choose the best response from multiple options.

After each choice, the team discusses the pros and cons of their decision, learning how different strategies impact outcomes. This activity helps employees develop leadership skills, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities in an engaging way.

Skill-Building Escape Room

A workplace-themed escape room where teams must solve puzzles and complete tasks to "escape" within a time limit. Each challenge is designed to reinforce workplace skills such as teamwork, time management, and critical thinking.

HR teams can create puzzles based on company policies or real workplace tasks, such as:

• Solving a payroll-related riddle

• Deciphering a company handbook rule

• Unlocking a puzzle with a leadership principle

Teams must work together, delegate tasks, and think creatively under pressure to succeed.

Build a More Connected Team With Braid!

Creating a strong, connected workplace doesn’t happen by chance—it’s built through engaging activities, meaningful interactions, and teamwork. HR games help employees collaborate, communicate, and build essential skills while making work more enjoyable.

Braid makes virtual team-building effortless. With fun, interactive games designed for remote and hybrid teams, Braid keeps employees engaged—right inside Slack. Soon available in Microsoft Teams, it’s the go-to solution for fostering connection and collaboration.

Make virtual team-building easy and fun! Schedule a demo today.

FAQs About HR Games

What are HR games?

HR games are interactive activities designed to engage employees, improve teamwork, and develop workplace skills. These games can focus on areas such as communication, leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving. They can be played in-office or virtually through platforms like Braid for Slack, making them a valuable tool for HR teams looking to build a positive and connected workplace culture.

What are the HR activities for HR?

HR activities for HR professionals focus on boosting employee engagement, training, and organizational development. These activities can include:

• HR team-building games to strengthen relationships and improve collaboration.

• Employee training sessions using role-playing, trivia questions, or skill-based challenges.

• Wellness programs that incorporate stress-relief games and activities.

• Recognition and rewards programs that use friendly competition to boost motivation.

HR teams can integrate games into their activities to make learning more engaging, encourage participation, and build a stronger team culture.

What is the current HR trend?

Some of the biggest HR trends today include:

• AI and automation in HR – AI-powered tools are streamlining recruitment, onboarding, and employee engagement.

• Remote and hybrid work models – Companies focus on keeping remote teams engaged through virtual HR games and digital collaboration tools.

• Employee well-being programs – HR teams prioritize mental health, wellness activities, and work-life balance initiatives.

• Gamification in the workplace – HR professionals are using game-based strategies to improve employee learning, training, and engagement.

HR teams are continuously evolving to create a more engaging, inclusive, and technology-driven workplace.

What are boss rush games?

Boss rush games are video game modes where players face a series of powerful bosses back-to-back, testing skill, strategy, and quick decision-making. While not directly related to HR, this concept can inspire high-pressure workplace challenges, helping employees develop leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving skills in fast-paced scenarios.

What are the best games for team building?

The best team-building games promote collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills while keeping employees engaged. Popular options include:

• Board games like Codenames and Pictionary for strategic thinking and teamwork.

• Obstacle courses that build trust and cooperation through physical or mental challenges.

• Problem-solving activities such as escape rooms and workplace scenario challenges.

• Virtual team-building exercises on platforms like Braid for Slack, featuring word games, trivia, and icebreakers.

HR teams can explore different options to find their employees' favorite games, ensuring team-building is both fun and effective.