Top 8 Team Building Activities for Remote Workers in 2025

The shift to remote work has transformed how we collaborate, but it's also created a new challenge: building genuine team cohesion from a distance. Spontaneous office chats and shared lunches are gone, leaving a potential void in personal connection that can impact morale, creativity, and productivity. This guide moves beyond generic advice to provide a curated list of impactful, actionable team building activities for remote workers.

We'll explore 8 dynamic options, from Virtual Escape Rooms to Online Cooking Classes, all designed to foster collaboration and strengthen the bonds that turn a group of individuals into a unified team. To foster a truly connected remote team, it's crucial to implement a robust internal communications strategy that supports these efforts.

More importantly, we'll show you how to effortlessly organize these events using tools you already use daily. By integrating a handy planner like Be There, you can streamline the entire process, managing invitations and scheduling directly within Slack and Google Calendar. This approach removes the friction from planning, making it simple to bring your team together, no matter where they are. Let’s dive into the activities that will help your team connect and thrive.

1. Virtual Escape Room

A virtual escape room is one of the most immersive team building activities for remote workers, translating the excitement of a physical escape room into a digital format. Teams join a video conference and work collaboratively to solve a series of interconnected puzzles, find clues, and complete a mission within a set time limit. This activity tests communication, logic, and problem-solving skills under pressure.

Leading providers like The Escape Game and Breakout Games offer live-hosted experiences where a guide is in a physical room, acting as the team's eyes and hands via a live camera feed. This setup encourages clear, concise communication as participants must direct the host's actions to progress. It’s a fantastic way to energize your team and break away from routine work tasks.

✦How to Make It a Success

To ensure everyone has a great experience, focus on preparation and follow-up.

• Choose the Right Challenge: Select a theme and difficulty level that matches your team's experience and interests. Starting with a beginner-level room is often best to avoid frustration.
• Keep Groups Small: Limiting teams to 4-6 people ensures everyone can actively participate and contribute their ideas.
• Post-Game Debrief: After the game, hold a brief meeting to discuss what went well, identify communication strengths, and reflect on the problem-solving process.

Pro Tip: Assign a facilitator or team captain before starting. This person can help keep the team on track, manage time, and ensure quieter members have a chance to voice their ideas.

For a quick overview, here are the key details for planning a virtual escape room event.

This summary highlights how the 60-90 minute format is perfect for an engaging afternoon session, while the small team size maximizes individual participation.

✦Streamlining Your Event with Be There

Organizing even the most exciting team building activities for remote workers can be a logistical headache, especially for companies using Slack for communication and Google Calendar for scheduling. Coordinating across different time zones is a common challenge. This is where a tool like Be There becomes invaluable. As it integrates seamlessly with both platforms, you can create the event directly in Slack, allowing team members to RSVP instantly. Be There then automatically adds the event to their Google Calendar, sending reminders and ensuring everyone shows up on time and ready to play.

2. Online Cooking Class

An online cooking class is one of the most hands-on and engaging team building activities for remote workers, bringing colleagues together in their kitchens via a video call. A professional chef or a skilled team member leads the group in preparing a specific dish, turning a simple meal into a shared, interactive experience. This activity fosters informal conversation, creativity, and a strong sense of camaraderie as everyone chops, stirs, and tastes together.

Many companies, from large organizations like Airbnb to remote-first pioneers like Buffer, have used virtual cooking to connect their teams. By featuring recipes from different cultures, you can also celebrate team diversity. Leading providers like Sur La Table offer guided virtual classes, but you can also create a more personal event by having a team member share a favorite family recipe. It's a wonderful way to build relationships beyond project deadlines and work-related chat.

✦How to Make It a Success

Careful planning is the key ingredient for a fun and seamless culinary event.

• Send Ingredients in Advance: Share a clear ingredient list and equipment needs at least a week before the class. For a premium experience, consider using a service to deliver pre-portioned ingredient kits to each participant.
• Choose an Accessible Recipe: Select a dish that is relatively simple and doesn't require specialized kitchen tools. Be sure to suggest common substitutions for ingredients to accommodate dietary restrictions.
• Encourage Social Interaction: The goal isn't just to cook; it's to connect. Encourage team members to share cooking stories or family traditions related to the dish, and end the event with a virtual "dinner party" where everyone eats their creation together.

Pro Tip: Appoint a "Host" for the call who isn't the chef. This person can manage technical issues, spotlight different participants' kitchens, and facilitate conversation with icebreaker questions to keep the energy high.

Here’s a video showing how a virtual team building cooking class typically works.

✦Streamlining Your Event with Be There

Organizing a cooking class involves more than just picking a recipe. You have to coordinate RSVPs, send ingredient lists, and manage reminders. This is where a tool like Be There simplifies the process for companies using Slack and Google Calendar. Because it lives right inside your workspace, you can create the event in Slack, attach the recipe and shopping list, and let team members RSVP with one click. Be There automatically adds it to their Google Calendar and sends out reminders, ensuring everyone has their ingredients ready and shows up on time for a delicious team building session.

3. Digital Scavenger Hunt

A digital scavenger hunt is one of the most versatile team building activities for remote workers, encouraging participants to explore their digital and physical surroundings to complete a list of challenges. Teams or individuals search for specific items, solve riddles using online resources, and complete creative tasks, all while sharing their progress via a shared channel or platform. This activity boosts creativity, resourcefulness, and friendly competition.

Companies like Zapier and GitLab famously use scavenger hunts to connect their global teams, incorporating company trivia, cultural landmarks from employees' locations, and fun photo challenges. Platforms such as GooseChase and Scavify provide dedicated apps to manage clues and submissions, creating an interactive and seamless experience. It’s a dynamic way to get people moving, thinking outside the box, and sharing a few laughs.

✦How to Make It a Success

To create an engaging and inclusive scavenger hunt, focus on variety and clear communication.

• Create a Mix of Tasks: Include challenges that cater to different strengths, like online research riddles, finding specific items at home, and creative photo or video tasks. Learn more about creative team building ideas to get inspired.
• Test Your Tech: Before the event, thoroughly test any apps, websites, or communication channels you plan to use to ensure a smooth technical experience for everyone.
• Set Clear Boundaries: Clearly define the rules, time limits, and scoring system. This ensures the competition remains fair and fun without becoming stressful.

Pro Tip: Incorporate company culture into the hunt. Add clues related to company values, inside jokes, or recent project milestones to make the activity feel more personal and relevant to your team.

✦Streamlining Your Event with Be There

Setting up a multi-stage event like a scavenger hunt requires precise coordination, especially with a distributed team. Getting everyone online for the kickoff and wrap-up can be tough. The Be There app simplifies this for companies whose workflow is centered on Slack and Google Calendar. You can create the event in Slack, and everyone can RSVP with a click. Be There automatically syncs the event to their Google Calendar, sending reminders so no one misses the starting whistle. This automation lets you focus on crafting fun challenges instead of chasing RSVPs.

4. Virtual Book Club

A Virtual Book Club is a structured reading group where remote team members select, read, and discuss books together over video calls. Meetings typically occur monthly to explore themes, share insights, and draw connections to work and life. To make your Virtual Book Club even more dynamic and interactive for team building, consider incorporating these engaging book club activity ideas from Books In Order. This format fosters intellectual connection and shared learning among colleagues while reinforcing your culture of continuous growth.

Companies of all sizes use this approach:

• Basecamp’s leadership book club tackles management and entrepreneurship titles
• InVision’s design-focused group dives into creativity and innovation
• Patagonia aligns its club with environmental and sustainability themes

✦How to Make It a Success

• Choose Shorter Reads or Chapters: Start with novellas, essays, or select chapters to keep discussions focused and accessible.
• Rotate Discussion Leadership: Assign a new facilitator each session to distribute responsibility and showcase different perspectives.
• Distribute Questions in Advance: Share 3–5 open-ended prompts a week before the meeting so everyone can prepare.
• Offer Audio Book Options: Support diverse learning styles and accessibility with narrated versions.
• Leverage a Book Budget or Library: Provide stipends or a shared digital library to lower barriers to participation.

Pro Tip: Create a dedicated Slack channel for ongoing commentary. This keeps enthusiasm alive between sessions and surfaces conversation threads for the next meeting.

✦Streamlining Your Event with Be There

Organizing and reminding busy remote teams can be challenging. For companies that rely on Slack and Google Calendar, Be There (https://be-there.co) offers a perfect solution. You can set up Virtual Book Club events directly in Slack. Team members RSVP instantly, and Be There handles the rest, sending automatic Google Calendar invites and reminders. This seamless integration ensures everyone shows up ready to discuss, keeping your team engaged and connected through well-executed team building activities for remote workers.

5. Online Trivia Competition

An online trivia competition is a classic and highly engaging choice among team building activities for remote workers, bringing the lively atmosphere of a pub quiz to the virtual workspace. Teams or individuals go head-to-head answering questions across various categories, from pop culture and history to company-specific inside jokes. It’s a versatile activity that promotes friendly competition and helps team members discover shared interests.

Modern platforms like Kahoot! and AhaSlides have elevated the experience with multimedia questions, real-time leaderboards, and interactive features. This format is not just entertaining; it also encourages quick thinking and reinforces team camaraderie. Companies like HubSpot often use marketing-themed trivia to combine fun with professional development, creating a truly unique bonding event.

✦How to Make It a Success

A well-planned trivia game can be a highlight for your team. Focus on variety and inclusion to get everyone involved.

• Vary the Content: Mix general knowledge questions with fun, company-specific rounds like "Guess the Colleague's Fun Fact" or project-related trivia to personalize the experience.
• Create Balanced Teams: Instead of letting people self-select, create diverse teams to encourage cross-departmental interaction and ensure a fair distribution of knowledge.
• Offer Small Incentives: Recognize the winners with small prizes like a gift card, company swag, or even just bragging rights in the company's main Slack channel.

Pro Tip: Use visual and audio rounds, such as "Name That Tune" or "Identify the Movie from a Screenshot," to keep the energy high and cater to different types of thinkers beyond just text-based questions.

For a quick overview, here are the key details for planning your next online trivia competition.

This summary shows how a 45-60 minute trivia session is an ideal length for a fun break without causing screen fatigue, while the flexible team size makes it scalable for any department.

✦Streamlining Your Event with Be There

Coordinating team building activities for remote workers can be complex, even for something as straightforward as trivia. A tool like Be There simplifies this process entirely for teams using Slack and Google Calendar. You can create the trivia event invitation in a Slack channel, where team members can RSVP with a single click. Because Be There connects your communication and scheduling tools, it automatically syncs these RSVPs to their Google Calendar, sends event reminders, and ensures everyone logs on ready for some friendly competition.

6. Virtual Coffee Chat Roulette

Virtual Coffee Chat Roulette is one of the most effective team building activities for remote workers for fostering authentic, one-on-one connections. The concept is simple: team members are randomly paired for a brief, informal 15-30 minute video call to chat about anything other than work. This practice helps break down departmental silos and replicates the spontaneous "water cooler" conversations that are often missing in a remote setting.

Companies like Spotify have famously implemented this with their global 'Fika' program, which encourages the Swedish tradition of a coffee and cake break. Similarly, platforms like Donut for Slack automate the entire pairing process, making it incredibly easy to roll out. These casual chats build trust, improve cross-functional empathy, and help employees feel more connected to the wider organization on a personal level.

✦How to Make It a Success

To ensure these chats are enjoyable and not just another meeting, focus on creating a low-pressure environment.

• Provide Conversation Starters: Suggest a few icebreaker questions or fun topics to help kickstart the conversation and avoid awkward silences.
• Keep It Brief: Stick to 15-20 minute slots. This makes it easy for people to fit into their busy schedules and keeps the interaction light and casual.
• Encourage Cross-Departmental Pairings: Intentionally pair people from different teams who don't normally interact. This is a powerful way to enhance collaboration and understanding across the company.

Pro Tip: Frame the activity as a completely optional "brain break" rather than a mandatory meeting. This encourages genuine participation and prevents it from feeling like a corporate chore.

✦Streamlining Your Event with Be There

While apps can automate pairings, coordinating the actual meeting time between two busy professionals can still be a hassle. This is where a tool like Be There shines for companies using Slack and Google Calendar. Once a pair is matched, one person can quickly create an event invitation in a shared Slack channel. Their colleague can RSVP with a single click, and Be There instantly adds the coffee chat to both of their Google Calendars, complete with a video link and reminders. It's the perfect way to bridge the gap between Slack conversations and scheduled calendar events, ensuring more of these valuable connections actually happen.

7. Remote Team Show and Tell

A Remote Team Show and Tell is one of the simplest yet most effective team building activities for remote workers, adapting the classic classroom concept for the virtual workplace. Team members take turns giving a short, 5-10 minute presentation on a video call about something meaningful to them, such as a hobby, a personal project, a unique skill, or even their pet. This provides a structured way for colleagues to share personal interests and connect on a human level.

Companies like Atlassian and Trello have successfully used variations of this activity, from "Personal Passion Presentations" to pet show-and-tells, to foster a stronger sense of community. By creating a space for non-work-related sharing, teams can discover common interests and see each other as well-rounded individuals, which strengthens bonds and improves collaboration.

✦How to Make It a Success

To transform a simple idea into a memorable team event, focus on structure and creating a positive atmosphere.

• Set Clear Guidelines: Provide a simple framework for presentations, including a strict time limit (5-10 minutes) and a prompt, like "share a hobby you're passionate about."
• Create a Safe Environment: Emphasize that it's a judgment-free zone. This encourages vulnerability and ensures everyone feels comfortable sharing.
• Keep a Rotation Schedule: Maintain a simple schedule to ensure everyone gets a chance to present over time without feeling pressured to participate in every session.

Pro Tip: Kick off the first session with a team lead or a more outgoing team member. Their example can set a positive and engaging tone for future presentations.

This activity is a low-cost, high-impact way to build camaraderie and recognize the diverse talents within your team. For more ideas on valuing individual contributions, you can explore different employee recognition program examples.

✦Streamlining Your Event with Be There

Scheduling a recurring event like a weekly Show and Tell can become a chore. Be There simplifies this process for companies whose daily operations live in Slack and Google Calendar. You can set up the recurring event directly in a Slack channel, where team members can see the schedule and get automatic notifications. Be There syncs the event to everyone's Google Calendar, sending reminders so no one misses their turn to share or support a colleague. This seamless workflow is a massive time-saver for event organizers.

8. Virtual Volunteer Project

A virtual volunteer project is one of the most rewarding team building activities for remote workers, allowing teams to collaborate on a meaningful community service initiative entirely online. Colleagues work together on projects like providing digital literacy training, offering virtual mentorship, or performing skill-based pro bono work for non-profits. This activity builds camaraderie while making a genuine social impact.

Leading organizations like VolunteerMatch and United Nations Volunteers connect corporate teams with a wide range of virtual opportunities. For example, a marketing team could develop a fundraising campaign for an environmental charity, or an engineering team could help a small non-profit build a functional website. It's a powerful way to align company values with team action and boost team morale.

✦How to Make It a Success

To create a fulfilling experience, focus on alignment and celebrating the team's contribution.

• Choose a Relevant Cause: Allow team members to vote on a cause or charity that resonates with them. This increases personal investment and enthusiasm.
• Utilize Professional Skills: Select a project where your team can apply their professional expertise. This makes the contribution more significant and gives employees a chance to shine.
• Celebrate the Impact: After the project, share the results with the entire company. Document the team's achievement, whether it’s funds raised, people mentored, or a problem solved for a non-profit.

Pro Tip: Set clear expectations and time boundaries from the start. Define the project scope, roles, and the total time commitment required to ensure the volunteer work fits comfortably within everyone's schedule.

✦Streamlining Your Event with Be There

Organizing a virtual volunteer project involves coordinating multiple people, often across different departments and time zones. This logistical challenge is simplified with a tool like Be There, which is specifically designed for the Slack and Google Calendar ecosystem. You can create the kick-off meeting or work sessions as an event directly in Slack. Team members can RSVP with a single click, and Be There automatically adds it to their Google Calendar, sending reminders to keep everyone aligned and ready to contribute.

Side-by-Side Comparison of 8 Remote Team Activities

Activity	Implementation Complexity 🔄	Resource Requirements ⚡	Expected Outcomes 📊	Ideal Use Cases 💡	Key Advantages ⭐
Virtual Escape Room	Medium to High 🔄🔄	Stable internet, video conferencing tools ⚡⚡	Improved problem-solving, communication skills 📊📊	Team collaboration, remote engagement, skill-building	High engagement, measurable performance, scalable ⭐⭐
Online Cooking Class	Medium 🔄	Ingredients, kitchen equipment, chef/video setup ⚡	Builds personal connections, practical skills 📊	Social bonding, cultural exploration, fun learning	Fun atmosphere, inclusive dietary options ⭐
Digital Scavenger Hunt	High 🔄🔄🔄	Digital tools, content creation time ⚡⚡	Enhanced creativity, research skills, digital literacy 📊	Flexible timing, team creativity, culture integration	Customizable, asynchronous option, impactful ⭐
Virtual Book Club	Low to Medium 🔄	Books (purchase or access), scheduling ⚡	Long-term relationships, critical thinking 📊	Intellectual engagement, professional development	Cost-effective, supports introverts ⭐
Online Trivia Competition	Low 🔄	Trivia platform/tools, question prep ⚡	Knowledge building, competitive fun 📊	Large groups, competitive personality engagement	Easy setup, high engagement, customizable ⭐
Virtual Coffee Chat Roulette	Low 🔄	Scheduling tool, pairing algorithm ⚡	Organic relationships, reduced isolation 📊	Casual socialization, new hire integration	Low time investment, natural conversation ⭐
Remote Team Show and Tell	Low 🔄	Video conferencing, scheduling ⚡	Empathy building, presentation skills 📊	Sharing personal interests, team bonding	Reveals personal sides, memorable experiences ⭐
Virtual Volunteer Project	High 🔄🔄🔄	Coordination, project management tools ⚡⚡⚡	Meaningful social impact, teamwork skills 📊	Social responsibility, values alignment, skill use	Builds purpose, company culture, networking ⭐

From Planning to Participation: Making Your Virtual Events a Success

We've explored a variety of engaging team building activities for remote workers, from the collaborative thrill of a Virtual Escape Room to the relaxed camaraderie of a Virtual Coffee Chat Roulette. Each idea offers a unique way to bridge the digital divide, turning isolated employees into a connected, cohesive unit. However, the success of these initiatives doesn't just depend on choosing the right activity; it hinges on consistent, frictionless execution.

The core takeaway is that virtual team building is not a one-time fix but an ongoing strategy. A single, well-run trivia night is great, but a steady rhythm of diverse, accessible events is what truly builds a strong remote culture. The goal is to make participation feel like a welcome break, not another administrative task on an already long to-do list.

✦Making Consistency Effortless

The primary obstacle to consistency is often the logistical headache of planning. Juggling Slack threads, sending manual calendar invites, and chasing RSVPs is a time-consuming process that can discourage even the most enthusiastic managers. This administrative burden is precisely where thoughtful planning and the right tools make a world of difference.

By streamlining the event management process, you remove the barriers to participation for everyone. When team members can RSVP with a single click and automatically receive all necessary information and calendar invites, they are far more likely to join. This ease of access transforms team building from a "maybe" to a "must-attend."

Key Insight: The easier it is for your team to discover, join, and prepare for an event, the higher your participation rates will be. Reducing administrative friction is paramount for building momentum.

✦Actionable Steps for Lasting Impact

To transform these ideas into a successful program, focus on creating a sustainable system. Here are your next steps:

1. Survey Your Team: Don't guess what they'll enjoy. Use a simple poll to gauge interest in activities like a virtual cooking class, a book club, or an online trivia competition.
2. Create a Simple Calendar: Plan a quarter's worth of activities in advance. Aim for a mix of low-commitment events (like coffee chats) and more structured ones (like a digital scavenger hunt) to cater to different schedules and personalities.
3. Automate the Logistics: This is the most crucial step. Instead of managing everything manually, leverage a tool that integrates directly into your existing workflow. For teams using Slack and Google Calendar, a solution like Be There is a game-changer. It allows you to create an event, manage RSVPs, and sync calendars directly within Slack, eliminating chaotic DMs and missed invitations.

Ultimately, mastering the art of virtual team building is about more than just fun and games. It’s about intentionally creating a workplace where every employee feels seen, valued, and connected to a shared purpose. By investing in these team building activities for remote workers and the systems that support them, you are investing directly in your company's most valuable asset: its people. The result is a more engaged, collaborative, and resilient team, ready to tackle any challenge together.

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Ready to eliminate the logistical chaos and make your virtual events a guaranteed success? Be There streamlines event management directly within Slack, syncing seamlessly with Google Calendar to boost participation and save you hours of administrative work. Try Be There today and focus on what truly matters: building a connected and thriving remote team.