Back-to-back virtual meetings are exhausting. But a 5-minute game at the top of your next call? That changes the energy and actually gives people a chance to connect.
Gallup's State of the Global Workplace report found that 25% of remote workers struggle with loneliness, compared to only 16% of in-person workers.
To combat that stat, you need to prioritize community so your employees can feel seen, heard, and known. By kicking off a virtual meeting with a 5-minute game, you can help break the ice, re-energize your team, and create a relaxed atmosphere where conversation can flow. This helps team members get to know each other on a personal level and form real connections.
Team-building activities also help build trust, increase collaboration, and boost team morale. By participating in fun online team-building games, remote workers can collaborate, share ideas, and build camaraderie. This helps foster a positive, supportive work environment, which can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction.
Try these 5-minute games for virtual meetings to build a more connected team:
Something in Common
Virtual Background Show & Tell
Pictionary Story
Scavenger Hunt
Totally Random Slideshow
Embarrassing Story Swap
5-Minute Yoga
Low Stakes Debate
Bucket List Mix Up
Desk Decorating Contest
1. Something in Common
A quick connection-building icebreaker where small groups race to find the most unique thing they have in common. Best for bringing your team together.
Time: 5-15 minutes | Players: 4-16 people
This 5-minute game is all about discovering new qualities that you have in common with your colleagues. The goal is to identify the most distinctive experience you share with your partner or group, so encourage everyone to go beyond “What’s your favorite color?”
You’ll form richer connections (and probably laugh more!) when everyone opens up to share their weird quirks, embarrassing moments, or favorite memories.
How to Play
Split your meeting attendees into groups of 2-4.
Tell each group they have 4 minutes to find the most unique thing they have in common with everyone else in their group.
Once the 4 minutes have gone by, bring everyone back together.
Have 1 person from each group share their “Something in Common.”
The group with the most unique answer wins! (Although the real prize is the new connections your team will form with each other.)
Note: Depending on the video conferencing software you use, you may need to split into breakout rooms or move around your virtual office so each group can brainstorm their “Something in Common” independently. In Gather, simply walk your group over to your own meeting room – no setup required.
Example Prompts
Weirdest hobby you had as a kid
Thrilling experiences (like skydiving, ziplining, etc.)
Favorite concert you’ve ever been to
High school clubs or sports you were involved in
Most unique pet you’ve ever owned
2. Virtual Background Show & Tell
A whole-team icebreaker where everyone answers a question by changing their video background to a photo. Best for engaging large groups.
Time: 5-10 minutes | Players: 4-50 people
This team activity is an easy way to involve your whole team in a short game while also helping you learn more about each other.
The host will ask the group a question, and instead of answering verbally, everyone will reveal their answer by changing their video background to a picture.
After everyone has updated their background, the conversation flows naturally – we guarantee you’ll need to ask some follow-up questions or dig into the backstory behind some of the pictures!
An example of a conversation in Gather with a virtual background set. This conversation is in Office View, so you can still see your virtual office. (Unlike Meeting View, which shows a traditional video grid. Learn more about meetings on Gather.)
How to Play
Make sure your meeting software gives you the option to change your background, and that your team knows how to do this. (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Gather all offer this feature.)
The host asks an icebreaker question to the group.
Everyone has 30 seconds to download a photo or take a screenshot that answers the question.
Upload the photo into your background options in your meeting software.
Turn on the new background to reveal your answer.
Give everyone 30 seconds to look at all the backgrounds. Encourage everyone to unmute to ask follow-up questions, make observations, or just laugh together!
Repeat as many times as you want before you start your formal meeting agenda.
Example Questions
Least favorite city you’ve ever been to?
If you were an Instagram influencer, what product would you promote?
If you could be any exotic animal, what would you choose?
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
What do you think aliens look like?
3. Pictionary Story
A collaborative drawing game where each person adds to a shared whiteboard scene. Best for kicking off a brainstorming session.
Time: 5-20 minutes | Players: 4-12 people
Pictionary has become a common game for remote teams thanks to the wide variety of whiteboard apps and shared drawing tools. To put a twist on this classic 5-minute game, turn your team’s drawings into a collaborative illustrated story.
After the first person draws their object and everyone correctly guesses what it is, leave it on the whiteboard. The second person to draw must add to the scene in a way that contextually makes sense. Not only is it a fun exercise in creativity, but it’ll also help your team practice building on each other’s ideas – the perfect activity right before a virtual brainstorm!
How to Play
You’ll need a virtual whiteboard where your team can draw and make shapes together.
If you're using Gather, you can use an interactive whiteboard, so you don't even have to switch windows or screen share.
If you're not using Gather, your meeting software might have a whiteboard feature, or you could use a tool like Miro or FigJam.
Select someone to draw first.
You can either let them choose what to draw to start the scene or provide them a prompt to follow.
Once they’ve completed their drawing, have the team guess what it is.
Once you’ve correctly identified the scene, pass the virtual marker to the next person.
Repeat steps 3-5 until each person in your meeting has had a chance to draw at least once.
By the end, you’ll have a whole illustrated story crafted by the teamwork of your meeting attendees.
Ideas for What to Draw
Give each person the choice of adding an Object, Person, or Place to the scene (or alternate between these three types).
Have each person use a random word generator. Whatever word it generates, they have to find a way to add it to the scene.
Pair this activity with icebreaker questions. For example, you could ask the drawer “What’s your favorite snack food?” and then they have to draw the answer into the scene.
4. Scavenger Hunt
A show-and-tell style game where teammates show off objects that explain their personality. Best for days with back-to-back meetings.
Time: 5-15 minutes | Players: 4-10 people
Just because you’re about to start a virtual meeting doesn’t mean your game has to entirely take place in front of the screen.
To encourage everyone to get up and move around, play a quick 5-minute scavenger hunt where each person retrieves objects from throughout their house. Not only can you learn more about your coworkers based on the items they retrieve, but you’ll help everyone step away from the screen for a few minutes. A true gift on days with lots of meetings.
How to play
Before your meeting begins, prepare a list of 1-3 objects you want your team to go find throughout their house.
When the meeting starts, present the scavenger hunt list.
Start a timer for 3 minutes to allow everyone time to move around their house and retrieve their items.
Use the last 2 minutes for show-and-tell. Take turns presenting the objects retrieved and asking follow-up questions.
Example Items to Find
The oldest piece of technology you own
A book you own but have never read
A very tiny object
Something from your garden or yard
The best snack food in your house right now
5. Totally Random Slideshow
A public-speaking game where each team member presents about anything they want. Best for helping the team practice speaking in groups.
Time: 5 minutes | Players: 1 presentation per meeting
The idea is simple: One person prepares a slideshow about anything they want. (As long as it’s work appropriate, of course.) They talk through their slides - and that’s it!
You’re sure to gain new insights into your coworkers while also encouraging them to practice their public speaking skills.
This game works especially well for recurring meetings like a weekly team standup, where you can assign one person to present each week. (Otherwise, you might need more than 5 minutes for everyone to present on the same day.)
How to Play
Assign who’s in charge of the Totally Random Presentation. If possible, give one week’s notice so they have time to prepare their slides.
You can either let the presentation be truly “Totally Random” or you can provide a prompt to give the content a little structure.
Encourage them to make the presentation about 4 minutes long with 1 minute at the end for questions.
When the meeting starts, let the presenter share what they’ve prepared.
End with follow-up questions and conversation from the team.
Example Presentation Prompts
Fully explain your favorite conspiracy theory
Rank the furniture in your house from most comfortable to least
If everyone on the team were a Disney character, who would they be and why?
5 things on Amazon everyone on the team should buy right now
Compare our company competitors to house plants
6. Embarrassing Story Swap
A trust-building exercise where teammates share funny or embarrassing personal stories. Best for breaking down walls before creative meetings.
Time: 5-10 minutes | Players: 4-8 people
It may sound counterintuitive, but research shows that embarrassment leads to more (and more diverse!) ideas. Matt Mochary, a career coach for CEOs, also promotes the practice of sharing shameful moments to build a sense of deep trust within your team.
By encouraging your team to open up about their flaws and awkward moments, you’ll help take the pressure off the meeting to follow. People will be more likely to speak up and share ideas, knowing that their teammates have all experienced moments of embarrassment.
How to Play
Before the meeting, let your team know you’ll be sharing embarrassing stories. (It’ll help everyone be more vulnerable if they have a heads up.)
As the meeting leader, share your story first. Again, this will help everyone feel more comfortable with the exercise.
Continue around the group until everyone has had a chance to share a story.
Take time to laugh and empathize with each person’s story. The goal isn’t to embarrass anyone further, but rather embrace that you’ve all had these moments!
Example Prompts: Tell the group about a time when:
You called someone by the wrong name
A conversation was overheard by the wrong person
Your forgot your wallet/purse
Something embarrassing happened on social media
You messed up at work
7. 5-Minute Yoga
A quick reset where the whole team follows a short yoga video together. Best for stressful/busy days.
Time: 5-10 minutes | Players: Any size
Yoga can help relieve stress, increase energy, and improve focus. If you’re looking for a 5-minute activity that will restore the team’s energy, don’t overcomplicate it – a quick virtual yoga session can be just what the team needs.
If anyone on your team happens to be a yoga professional or enthusiast, they may be interested in leading this practice. If not, you can screen share a YouTube video for everyone to follow along.
How to
Let the team know you’ll be starting the meeting with a very light yoga session. While it won’t be strenuous, they may want to move their chair or refill their water.
Screenshare a short yoga video or have a teammate lead the session.
Follow along! And remind everyone: The primary goal is to take a deep breath and stretch together. (No one will judge actual yoga ability during this session.)
5-minute yoga videos you can use
Yoga at Your Desk (6:24)
5-Minute Break - Office Yoga (6:05)
5-Minute Seated Stretch (5:29)
Quick and Easy Stretches to do while Sitting at your Desk (5:19)
5-Minute Office Stretch (5:52)
8. Low Stakes Debate
A critical-thinking game where two teammates argue opposite sides of an irrelevant topic. Best for getting the team laughing.
Time: 2-5 minutes | Players: 2-8
In a healthy work environment, everyone should feel comfortable speaking their mind, even if they disagree with someone. A fun way to practice these hard conversations is with a Low Stakes Debate.
In other words, a debate that has absolutely nothing to do with anything work-related. It’s an exercise in critical thinking and logical arguing without the risk of real-world consequences.
How to Play
Before the meeting begins, choose a debate topic and present the prompt to the team.
Get two volunteers to argue for each side (or assign the roles – it’s fun even if you don’t personally agree with the argument you’re assigned)
At the start of your meeting, kick off the debate by giving 1 minute to each person to make their case.
After each person talks, give the rest of the meeting attendees 1 minute to ask follow-up questions.
Take a vote on who won the debate. The only prize is bragging rights about a very low-stakes topic.
Example Debate Topics
Debate two songs or artists, such as Photograph by Nickelback vs All Star by Smash Mouth.
Debate what’s the best dessert. For example, Monkey Bread vs Banana Split.
Debate the value of two Pantone colors, like Viva Magenta vs Very Peri.
Debate made up holidays like National Pancake Day vs Squirrel Appreciation Day.
Debate the best office utensil, such as ballpoint pens vs coffee mugs.
9. Bucket List Mix Up
A guessing game where teammates try to match anonymous bucket-list items to the right coworker. Best for building long-lasting connections.
Time: 5-10 minutes | Players: 4-12 people
One reason virtual meetings can feel so draining is that your team gets stuck in the details of day-to-day work. To remind everyone of the bigger picture, take 5 minutes to guess items on each other’s bucket lists.
Not only will this get your team thinking about long-term goals, but it could also help form true connections outside of work-related projects.
How to Play
Before the meeting, ask everyone to share one bucket list item with you.
The bucket list item could be completely random, or follow a prompt so they’re all within the same theme.
Once you’ve collected all the answers, place them on a slide or in your agenda.
At the start of your meeting, read off all the answers.
Take turns guessing which answer belongs to which member of the team.
Example Prompts
One place you want to travel to in the next 5 years
Your realistic dream job
A new hobby you really want to learn
A travel experience (like seeing the northern lights or climbing Mount Everest)
Someone famous you’d like to meet
10. Desk Decorating Contest
A creative challenge where teammates decorate their physical or virtual desk. Best for a quick creative reset.
Time: 5-10 minutes | Players: 4-8 people
Give everyone a chance to express themselves with a quick desk decorating challenge (either their actual desk at home or their virtual desk in Gather). Set a theme like seasonal or 'full of favorites' and let the creativity run wild. When 5-minutes are up, come back together for a quick show-and-tell.
How to Play in Gather
Before your meeting, create your virtual office on Gather (it's free for 30 days!)
Invite your team and have everyone claim their desk (you can share this Getting Started Guide)
At the start of the meeting, tell everyone to decorate their desk. If you sit near each other and have ambient audio turned on, you can talk while you decorate.
When 5 minutes is up, look around and vote for a winner!
A group of desks in Gather’s own virtual office. You can really get a sense of everyone’s personality!
Conclusion
These quick virtual team games are an easy way to start building connections and reduce meeting fatigue. You can combat feelings of isolation while also increasing team morale and productivity.
By fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment, remote teams can thrive and achieve their goals more effectively. Not to mention, build a better remote team culture.
Looking for more games to play? Try these free online games. (Many of them are automatically included in Gather as interactive games!)
Make your virtual workday more engaging
5-minute games are great, but they're short-lived. Where most remote collaboration tools are built for meetings, Gather is built for the moments in between. With a virtual office, your remote team can move around and talk naturally before, during, and after the call ends.
Want to know if Gather is right for your team? Get started with a free 30-day trial.
