HR teams have a lot on their plates: hiring, onboarding, handling employee concerns, and keeping everything running smoothly.

With so much going on, team-building activities often get pushed aside. But here’s the thing, when HR teams work better together, everything else runs more smoothly.

A few fun team-building activities don’t have to be another task on the to-do list. With the right games, it’s easy, quick, and actually fun!

Whether it’s a five-minute icebreaker or a friendly challenge, these activities help HR teams communicate better, solve problems faster, and enjoy their work more.

And the best part? They don’t take much time or effort; just a willingness to play.

Ready to bring your team closer? Let’s dive into some fun and easy HR team-building games!

Why Team Building Is Important for Your HR Team

HR teams spend a lot of time building connections with others, but what about their own team? Just like any department, HR works better when its members communicate well, trust each other, and feel engaged. Strong teamwork isn’t just a nice-to-have—it directly impacts productivity, morale, and overall company culture.

Here’s why team-building matters:

It Boosts Employee Engagement

Disengaged employees don’t feel connected to their work or their team. They’re more likely to leave, struggle with motivation, and contribute less. Highly engaged teams see a 23% increase in profitability.

The right HR team-building activities bring employees together, boost morale, and make work more enjoyable. Whether it’s an in-person event or a virtual team-building activity, these experiences create a sense of belonging and keep employees engaged.

It Strengthens Workplace Relationships

Employees who build strong relationships with other team members are seven times more engaged at work. A supportive environment fosters trust, open communication, and collaboration between group members.

Individual team members who feel connected to their colleagues are also more likely to contribute ideas and work together effectively.

It Encourages Growth & Development

People want to improve their skills, but traditional training can feel like a chore. Team-building activities offer a hands-on way to develop problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills while keeping things fun and interactive.

It Improves Communication

Miscommunication leads to frustration, mistakes, and lower productivity. In fact, 86% of employees and executives say poor communication is the leading cause of workplace failures.

Many team-building games specifically encourage better listening, clearer expression, and teamwork under pressure.

It Promotes Collaboration

Collaboration is one of the most valued skills in any workplace. 75% of employers say teamwork is “very important,” yet 39% of employees feel there isn’t enough collaboration in their workplace.

The right games help teams practice working together in a stress-free setting, making collaboration a habit.

Easy & Fun HR Team-Building Games to Try

HR teams thrive when they communicate well, collaborate effectively, and build strong relationships. These games create opportunities for team bonding, making work more enjoyable while reinforcing teamwork, problem-solving, and engagement.

Quick Icebreakers (Great for Meetings & Intros)

These quick icebreaker games are perfect for warming up conversations, breaking awkward silences, and getting teammates comfortable with each other. Whether you're kicking off a meeting, introducing new hires, or just looking for a fun way to start the day, these activities help build connections, spark conversations, and bring energy to your team.

1. This or That

Number of Players: 2+ players

This or That is a fun and lighthearted icebreaker where players must choose between two options—no explanations are needed (but debates are encouraged!). It’s a quick way to spark conversations, uncover fun preferences, and bring the team closer.

To play, a set of choices is presented, and each player selects their favorite from each pair. The game is played in Slack with Braid, where teammates make their selections and compare results once everyone has voted.

Sample choices:

You’ll quickly discover if your team is Team Dark Chocolate 🍫 or Milk Chocolate 🥛, prefers Hats 🎩 or Scarves 🧣, and celebrates Cupid 👼 or St. Valentine 💘.

Once the game starts, players receive five pairs of options and must choose one from each set. There’s no right or wrong answer—just quick decisions! After everyone has made their selections, Braid automatically compiles the results and shares a summary in the Slack channel.

Seeing which choices were the most popular (or the most divisive!) makes for a great conversation starter. Some teammates might bond over shared preferences, while others may end up debating why pineapple does or does not belong on pizza.

With endless choices and a fast-paced format, This or That is an effortless way to add fun to your team’s day while getting to know each other better!

2. Two Truths and a Lie

Number of Players: 3+ players

Two Truths and a Lie is a classic icebreaker that helps teammates learn fun and surprising facts about each other. Each player takes turns sharing three statements about themselves—two that are true and one that is a lie. The rest of the team must guess which statement is false.

To play, one person shares three statements, and teammates take turns guessing which one is the lie. After everyone has made their guesses, the player reveals the false statement, often leading to laughs, follow-up questions, and unexpected stories. The key to making this game exciting is choosing a lie that’s believable and truths that sound unusual or surprising.

This game works well in both small and large groups, whether played in person, over a video call, or through a chat thread. It’s a great way to encourage storytelling, uncover shared interests, and build stronger workplace connections.

3. Speed Networking

Number of Players: 3+ players

Speed Networking is a fast-paced and interactive way to help team members connect through short one-on-one conversations. Large HR teams, new hires, or remote teams looking to build relationships quickly will enjoy this game.

To play, participants are paired up for a two- or three-minute conversation before switching partners. Each round, they answer a fun or thought-provoking question, such as “What’s your dream vacation?” “What’s a skill you’d love to learn?” or “If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?”. Once the time is up, pairs rotate, and new conversations begin.

This game can be played in person, with people moving around the room or virtually using breakout rooms in video calls. The quick conversations help team members break the ice, find common ground, and build stronger workplace relationships in a short amount of time.

Brain Teasers & Problem-Solving Games

These games challenge critical thinking, encourage teamwork, and make problem-solving fun. They’re great for keeping the mind sharp while strengthening team collaboration.

4. Trivia

Number of Players: 2+ players

Are you the office trivia champ or just here for fun? Trivia brings out the friendly competition and tests your knowledge across a variety of categories—from pop culture and history to niche topics like food, TV shows, and even long words!

Once the game starts, players select up to five trivia categories from a diverse lineup, including:

• 📚 Books – Can you name the author or finish that famous quote?

• 🎶 Music – Guess the song, artist, or iconic lyrics.

• 🍔 Food – From world cuisines to weird food facts, get ready to be hungry!

• 🎬 Movies & TV shows – Name that film, spot the famous line, or prove your binge-watching skills.

• 🌍 Holidays & heritage – Test your knowledge of global traditions and cultural history.

Sample Trivia questions:

That's right! The correct answer is Liver-gallbladder surgery.

That's right! The correct answer is Dondurma.

Players receive multiple-choice or open-ended questions directly in Slack. You’ll have only a few seconds to submit your answer before time runs out! Points are awarded for correct responses, and at the end of the game, scores are revealed. Expect surprise winners, fun debates, and those classic “I knew that!” moments.

With a mix of general knowledge and themed trivia rounds, this game is fast-paced, engaging, and endlessly replayable—a perfect way to bring your team together while learning something new!

5. Picture Puzzle

Number of Players: 1+ players

Picture Puzzle is a fun and interactive brain teaser where players solve visual riddles using clues hidden in images. It’s a great way to challenge problem-solving skills, boost creativity, and encourage quick thinking.

To play, a picture appears with a category hint, such as "Famous Movie" or "Common Phrase." Players take turns guessing what the image represents. The goal is to figure out the correct answer in the fewest guesses possible. Some puzzles will be easy to spot, while others require thinking outside the box.

Sample picture to guess:

Once the game starts, players submit their guesses in Slack. If no one gets it right immediately, hints can be used to guide them toward the answer. The player who correctly solves the puzzle with the fewest guesses wins! At the end of the game, the final answer is revealed, leading to some fun surprises and "aha!" moments.

With a mix of logic, observation, and wordplay, Picture Puzzle is an engaging way to challenge your brain while having fun with your team!

6. Riddle Relay

Number of Players: 3+ players

Riddle Relay is a brain-teasing challenge where teams solve riddles one at a time in a relay-style format. It’s a great way to encourage teamwork, logical thinking, and creativity while keeping things exciting.

To play, divide the group into teams. The first player in each team receives a riddle. Once they solve it, they pass the next riddle to the next teammate. The relay continues until the last riddle is solved, and the first team to complete all riddles wins.

To make it more engaging, you can introduce hints, bonus rounds, or a time limit to add an extra layer of challenge. Riddle Relay is a great way to test problem-solving skills, build camaraderie, and encourage quick thinking in a fun and interactive way.

Word & Language-Based Games

These games challenge vocabulary, creativity, and quick thinking, making them perfect for teams that enjoy wordplay and friendly competition. Whether you’re building words, linking them together, or crafting a story one sentence at a time, these games encourage collaboration while keeping things fun and engaging.

7. Wordsmith

Number of Players: 2+ players (best with 4)

Wordsmith is a fast-paced, collaborative word-building game where teams race against the clock to create as many words as possible from a given set of seven letters. It’s a fun and engaging challenge that tests vocabulary, teamwork, and quick thinking.

To play, each team is given seven random letters and must form as many valid words as possible before time runs out. Longer words score more points, and using all seven letters grants a special bonus. Teams communicate and submit words in their private group chat, working together to maximize their score.

Sample Gameplay

The game begins as teams receive their set of seven letters. Players must create as many words as possible before time runs out. The longer the word, the higher the score—plus, using all seven letters earns a special bonus.

Each team gets a unique letter set and starts brainstorming words. Every second counts, so players must think fast and type even faster!

As teams submit words, points are calculated instantly based on word length and complexity. The more words found, the higher the score.

When time runs out, the leaderboard reveals which team dominated the round. Players can see who entered the first word, the highest-scoring word, and the average score per player.

This fast-paced challenge keeps teams thinking quickly and strategizing together. As each round progresses, players improve their word-building skills while having fun!

8. Word Link

Number of Players: 2-10 players

Word Link is a fast-paced word association game where players take turns connecting words based on their first and last letters. It’s an exciting way to challenge vocabulary, boost quick thinking, and spark friendly competition.

In Braid, the game begins with a starting word, either randomly generated or chosen by the players. The next player must come up with a new word that starts with the last letter of the previous word.

Sample gameplay:

MonkeY ➡️ YogurT ➡️ TunneL ➡️ LanterN ➡️ NapkiN ➡️ NectaR ➡️ RoboT

The game continues for up to 20 turns or until the players run out of words. You can customize the game by setting your own starting word and allowing rematches for another round.

With its simple rules and endless possibilities, Word Link is a fun and engaging way to test vocabulary skills, encourage creative thinking, and keep the team entertained!

9. Story Chain

Number of Players: 3+ players

Story Chain is a collaborative storytelling game that tests creativity, quick thinking, and teamwork. Each player adds a sentence to build a story together, but with one twist—the sentence must start with the last word of the previous sentence!

For example:

• Player 1: “The HR team had a great idea for team-building.”

• Player 2: “Team-building events bring employees closer.”

• Player 3: “Closer friendships lead to better collaboration.”

The challenge is to keep the story flowing smoothly while making it fun and engaging. You can set a theme (e.g., mystery, adventure, workplace humor) or let the story develop naturally.

Story Chain is a great game for sparking creativity, encouraging collaboration, and having a few laughs along the way!

Competitive & Fast-Paced Challenges

These fun team-building exercises bring energy, excitement, and friendly competition to the workplace. Whether it’s a race against the clock or a test of skills, these challenges keep teams engaged, motivated, and ready to compete. Perfect for adding a burst of fun to the workday, they encourage quick thinking, teamwork, and a little bit of bragging rights!

10. Typing Test

Number of Players: 1+ players

Think you have the fastest fingers? Typing Test is a high-speed challenge where players race against the clock to type a given text as quickly and accurately as possible. It’s a fun and competitive way to test your typing skills while improving an essential workplace ability.

To play, each participant is given a random passage to type. The challenge is to type the text as fast and accurately as possible before the test times out after two minutes. Players are scored based on words per minute (WPM), accuracy, and completion rate.

Sample passage:

Once the test ends, Braid automatically calculates and displays the results in the Slack channel. The player with the highest final score takes the title of Typing Champion. Along the way, players will also learn interesting facts hidden in the passages they type, making every round both educational and entertaining.

With a mix of speed, precision, and competition, Typing Test is a fun way to challenge your team while sharpening an everyday skill!

11. Scavenger Hunt

Number of Players: 3+ players

Scavenger Hunt is a fast-paced, problem-solving challenge that gets players moving, thinking, and racing against the clock. Whether played in person or virtually, this game is a great way to bring excitement and teamwork into the workplace.

To play, create a list of tasks players must complete before time runs out. These can include:

• Find something blue on your desk.

• Take a selfie with your pet.

• Send a GIF that represents your mood.

• Solve a riddle posted in the chat.

Players submit proof of their completed tasks through Slack, and the first person or team to finish wins. For an added challenge, you can introduce bonus rounds or require players to team up and strategize.

With its mix of quick thinking, teamwork, and friendly competition, Scavenger Hunt is a fun way to energize the team while keeping everyone engaged.

12. Office Olympics

Number of Players: 3+ players

Office Olympics brings a competitive twist to everyday office tasks by turning them into mini-games. It’s a fun way to boost morale, encourage teamwork, and break up the workday with a little friendly rivalry.

To play, create a series of short challenges and assign points to each round. Examples include:

• Fastest email draft – Who can type out a professional email the quickest?

• Best doodle – A quick sketch competition judged by the team.

• Typing race – A mini version of Typing Test to see who’s the fastest.

• Trivia round – A quick game of general knowledge or company trivia.

Players compete across multiple events, and at the end, the person with the most points wins the Office Olympics title! This game is great for both in-person and remote teams and can be customized to fit your team’s style.

Creative & Fun Team Challenges

These games bring out the creative side of your team while keeping things lighthearted and engaging. Whether it’s building the perfect playlist, describing images in unexpected ways, or telling a story using only emojis, these challenges spark creativity and strengthen teamwork.

13. Team Playlist Challenge

Number of Players: 2+ players

Music brings people together, and this challenge lets your team create the ultimate playlist that represents their collective vibe. Whether it’s motivational anthems, nostalgic throwbacks, or songs that define your team, this game is all about sharing personal favorites and discovering new tunes.

To play, divide the team into groups and assign a theme (e.g., "Songs That Motivate Us" or "Best Throwback Hits"). Each group curates a playlist of 5-10 songs that fit the theme. Once all playlists are submitted, the team votes on their favorite based on creativity, uniqueness, or just pure good vibes.

With endless music possibilities, Team Playlist Challenge is a fun way to bond over shared tastes while adding some energy to the workday!

14. Blind Drawing

Number of Players: 3+ players

Blind Drawing is a hilarious communication challenge that tests how well players can describe and interpret images—without ever seeing them! The results? Unpredictable, funny, and always entertaining.

To play, one player is given a random image (it could be an object, an animal, or even a famous landmark). They must describe the image using only words—no gestures, hints, or peeking allowed! Meanwhile, another player draws based on the description alone. Once the drawing is complete, everyone compares it to the original image and shares a laugh.

This game highlights the importance of clear communication while keeping the team entertained. Whether the drawings turn out accurate or completely ridiculous, Blind Drawing is guaranteed to create fun moments and team bonding.

15. Emoji Storytelling

Number of Players: 2+ players

Can you tell a full story using only emojis? Emoji Storytelling is a fun and creative challenge where players must communicate an idea, event, or phrase without using any words. The challenge is for others to guess what the emojis mean!

For example:
🍕➡️🚗➡️🏠➡️🤤 (Ordering pizza, picking it up, bringing it home, enjoying it!)

To play, one player creates an emoji sequence that tells a short story. The rest of the team takes turns deciphering the meaning. You can set a theme (e.g., "A Day in My Life" or "A Famous Movie") or let creativity run wild!

Emoji Storytelling is a lighthearted way to challenge creative thinking while having fun with the universal language of emojis!

Bring Your HR Team Closer With Braid!

HR teams spend so much time supporting employees, but building strong connections within their own team is just as important. The right team-building games improve communication, strengthen trust, and create a more engaged, collaborative workplace.

With Braid, adding fun and interactive team-building games to your HR team's routine is effortless. Whether it’s a quick icebreaker before a meeting or a competitive challenge to break up the day, Braid makes it easy to play directly in Slack—no extra setup required.

Ready to bring your team together in a fun and engaging way? Schedule a demo today and start building a more connected and collaborative HR team! 🎉

FAQs About HR Team-Building Games

What are HR games?

HR games are team-building activities designed to strengthen collaboration, improve communication, and boost employee engagement. These games help HR teams bond while also reinforcing essential leadership skills like problem-solving, active listening, and teamwork. Whether it’s a quick icebreaker in Slack or a structured challenge, HR games make the workplace more connected and enjoyable, ultimately contributing to a winning team.

How can I make HR fun?

HR becomes more fun when it’s engaging, interactive, and people-focused. Adding team-building games, friendly competitions, and creative challenges to meetings or workdays keeps things lively. Tools like Braid make it easy to introduce quick games in Slack that bring teams together without extra effort. A little fun goes a long way in boosting morale and creating a positive work environment!

What are the 7 major activities of HR?

HR teams handle a wide range of responsibilities, but their work often falls into these seven key areas:

1. Recruitment & hiring – Finding and onboarding the right talent.

2. Employee relations – Creating a positive workplace culture.

3. Training & development – Helping employees grow and improve leadership skills.

4. Compensation & benefits – Managing pay, perks, and incentives.

5. Compliance & policies – Ensuring workplace regulations are met.

6. Performance management – Evaluating and improving team productivity.

7. Workplace engagement & well-being – Keeping employees happy, motivated, and connected.

Adding team-building games into these areas can help HR professionals stay energized, engaged, and effective in their work.

What is a 5-minute team energizer?

A 5-minute team energizer is a quick, interactive activity that helps teams wake up, reset, and refocus during the workday. These can be icebreaker questions, short problem-solving games, or physical activities like a quick stretch break.

Some great 5-minute energizers in Braid include:
🔥 This or That – A fast-paced preference game to get people talking.
🎲 Trivia – A quick knowledge challenge to test your team.
🧩 Picture Puzzle – A visual brain teaser to spark creative thinking.

Short games like these bring energy, improve focus, and create stronger team connections—without taking up too much time!