35+ Best employee engagement games for the workplace

One thing you don’t want for your workplace is an environment where your employees spend their days glued to their screens, barely making eye contact. 

A workplace lacking engagement creates employees who aren’t motivated to give their best.

Unfortunately, this is the case for many offices in the US. A Gallup study found that only 31% of employees are actually engaged, the lowest recorded in the past decade. 

You can turn things around in your workplace with employee engagement games or even employee reward ideas. This guide will provide just the information you need to get started with employee engagement ideas.

We’ll share fun employee engagement activities, along with practical tips to make your workplace fun and engaging.

35+ employee engagement games for the workplace

Now that you know that it takes more than paying their salaries and employee benefits to motivate employees at work, let’s look at some practical ways you can engage your employees. We have divided them into categories, with pricing, organizational level, and the type of teams they are best suited for.

Team building games

These games build connections among your teams, especially for departments that typically don’t get to work together:

1. Escape room challenge

Which game allows your teams to work together on achieving a common goal better than trying to figure out an escape plan together? You can book a professional escape room or create your own office version.

• Price: **
• Best for: Problem-solving teams, IT departments, project managers
• Organization level: **
• Format: In-person or virtual
• Players: Small groups

2. Wellness challenges

Using an employee engagement software like Teamupp to create challenges makes it easy for your team to work together since it’s a centralized platform. You can run step competitions, photo challenges, quizzes, or wellness activities (swimming, running, cycling, and more!) that employees can work on together.

• Price: *
• Best for: Any team size, especially hybrid workforces
• Organization level: *
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Large group, small group

3. Office treasure hunt

Hide treasures, and have groups of employees pulled from various departments work together to find them.

• Price: *
• Best for: Small to medium teams who work in the same location
• Organization level: **
• Format: In-person
• Players: Small groups
• Tip: You can find several templates and ideas for this online.

4. Cooking competition

Everybody eats, so why not make your team members cook up different dishes with limited ingredients and a time limit?

• Price: **
• Best for: Creative teams, food enthusiasts
• Organization level: **
• Format: In-person
• Players: Small groups

5. Two truths and a lie tournament

This classic game is sure to create an avenue for your workers to learn more about one another.

• Price: *
• Best for: New teams, remote workers getting to know each other
• Organization level: *
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Any size
• Tip: You can make it more engaging by awarding points to employees who come up with the most creative, undetectable lies.

Problem-solving and strategy games

These activities challenge teams to think critically and work together:

6. Business simulation games

Your employees can form groups to create fictional companies and develop business plans.

• Price: *
• Best for: Leadership development, business-minded teams
• Organization level: **
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Small to medium groups

7. Puzzle relay races

Use different types of puzzles and let teams take turns through stations. The fastest group wins.

• Price: *
• Best for: Detail-oriented teams, mixed skill groups
• Organization level: *
• Format: In-person
• Players: Medium to large groups

8. Innovation challenges

Have teams develop creative solutions to real workplace problems. Give them limited time and resources, then have groups present their ideas.

• Price: *
• Best for: Creative teams, departments facing actual challenges
• Organization level: **
• Format: Online, in-person
• Players: Small groups

9. Strategy board games tournament

Host a tournament for games like Settlers of Catan, Risk, or Root.

• Price: **
• Best for: Strategic thinkers, competitive personalities
• Organization level: *
• Format: In-person
• Players: Small groups

Wellness and fitness games

Physical and mental wellness activities can help reduce stress while keeping employees engaged. Here are some ideas:

10. Walking meetings

Encourage employees to take certain meetings while walking—either outdoors for fresh air or indoors in a large space. This boosts creativity, helps reduce screen fatigue, and adds natural movement to the workday.

• Price: *
• Best for: Teams with lots of desk time or brainstorming sessions
• Organization level: *
• Format: Hybrid (in-person walks or virtual “walk and talk” calls)
• Players: Small groups or one-on-one
• Tip: Suggest a weekly walking meeting slot to make it a habit without disrupting schedules.

11. Office Olympics

Set up silly Olympic games like desk chair races, rubber band shooting contests, or paper airplane competitions.

• Price: *
• Best for: Playful teams, stress relief
• Organization level: *
• Format: In-person
• Players: Large groups

12. Mindfulness challenges

Use guided meditation apps or bring in instructors for short mindfulness sessions.

• Price: **
• Best for: High-stress teams, wellness-focused groups
• Organization level: *
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Any size

13. Fitness class competitions

Organize yoga, dance, or fitness classes to encourage healthy habits.

• Price: **
• Best for: Active teams, wellness enthusiasts
• Organization level: **
• Format: In-person or virtual
• Players: Any size
• Tip: Make it inclusive by awarding points for participation and enthusiasm, rather than performance. 

14. Hydration tracking games

Challenge teams to a certain daily water intake goal using apps or trackers.

• Price: *
• Best for: Health-focused teams, desk workers
• Organization level: *
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Any size

Virtual and remote games

These are activities ideal for remote or hybrid teams:

15. Virtual trivia nights

Host regular trivias on pop culture, company history, or industry knowledge.

• Price: *
• Best for: Remote teams, knowledge workers
• Organization level: *
• Format: Remote
• Players: Any size

16. Online gaming tournaments

Organize competitions in popular online games or mobile apps. 

• Price: *
• Best for: Tech-savvy teams, younger employees
• Organization level: *
• Format: Remote
• Players: Any size
• Tip: You can use puzzle games, word games, or even simple arcade-style games that don’t require gaming experience.

17. Virtual coffee chats

Pair people randomly for 15-minute video calls to chat about non-work topics. Remote workers often don’t have the chance for casual conversations. 

• Price: *
• Best for: Remote teams missing social interaction
• Organization level: *
• Format: Remote
• Players: Pairs

18. Digital scavenger hunts

Create lists of items people need to find in their homes, websites to explore, or online puzzles to solve.

• Price: *
• Best for: Remote teams, creative thinkers
• Organization level: *
• Format: Remote
• Players: Small groups

19. Show and tell sessions

Ask team members to present something they’re passionate about. It could be a hobby, travel experience, or personal project.

• Price: *
• Best for: Creative teams, getting to know colleagues
• Organization level: *
• Format: Remote
• Players: Any size

Creativity and innovation games

These activities tap into your teams’ creativity:

20. Art and craft competitions

Provide basic art supplies and challenge teams to create something (drawings, paintings, pottery, and so on) within time limits.

• Price: **
• Best for: Creative teams, hands-on learners
• Organization level: *
• Format: In-person
• Players: Small groups

21. Storytelling relays

One person starts a story, then passes it to the next person after a few sentences.

• Price: *
• Best for: Creative teams, breaking the ice
• Organization level: *
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Any size
• Tip: Ensure everyone contributes to the creative process.

22. Innovation workshops

Create groups and challenge them to create something new. This could be to design a mousetrap or invent a new app. Give points based on creativity over feasibility.

• Price: *
• Best for: Product teams, creative departments
• Organization level: **
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Small groups

23. Music and performance challenges

Ask teams to create original short performances or write jingles. It pushes people out of comfort zones.

• Price: *
• Best for: Outgoing teams, creative types
• Organization level: **
• Format: In-person
• Players: Small groups

Educational and skill-building games

These activities help your teams develop new skills while having fun together:

24. Knowledge sharing presentations

Have team members teach each other random skills they know. Everyone learns something new and gets to be the expert on their topic.

• Price: *
• Best for: Diverse skill teams, knowledge workers
• Organization level: *
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Any size

25. Industry trivia competitions

Quiz team members about your field, competitors, trends, and best practices.

• Price: *
• Best for: Professional development, industry teams
• Organization level: *
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Any size

26. Cross-training challenges

Let different departments teach each other what they do through mini-presentations or hands-on activities.

• Price: *
• Best for: Multi-department groups, breaking down silos
• Organization level: **
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Medium to large groups

27. Language learning games

If your team is diverse, organize activities where people teach phrases in their native languages or learn basic business terms in other languages.

• Price: *
• Best for: Diverse teams, international companies
• Organization level: *
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Any size

Special event engagement activities

These are perfect for holidays, company milestones, or when you want to create memorable experiences:

28. Themed costume contests

Let people dress up for Halloween and compete for the best costume. Include categories so everyone can win something.

• Price: *
• Best for: Fun-loving teams, company events
• Organization level: *
• Format: In-person
• Players: Individual participation

29. Awards ceremony games

Create fun, silly award categories alongside serious recognition. You could try “Most Likely to Have Emergency Snacks” or “Best Zoom Background Curator.”

• Price: *
• Best for: Recognition events, team celebrations
• Organization level: *
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Any size

Seasonal Games

These are activities perfect for holidays or seasons

30. Christmas reading contests

Come up with a list of Christmas-themed novels (or movies) and have team members read them weekly.

• Price: *
• Best for: Publishing or advertising-related teams
• Organization level: *
• Format: Remote, in-person
• Players: Any size
• Tip: Organize a quiz competition at the end of each week’s reading and award gifts to winners.

31. Spring cleaning competitions

Pick a day for each department to clear out as much office junk as possible. The department that clears the most junk wins.

• Price: **
• Best for: Teams that deal with a lot of dirt or paperwork
• Organization level: *
• Format: In-person
• Players: Any size

CSR and impact-based engagement games

These activities focus on making a positive difference, which can be incredibly motivating for many employees:

32. Charity challenge competitions

Teams compete to raise money, collect donations, or volunteer hours for causes they choose.

• Price: **
• Best for: Socially conscious teams, community impact
• Organization level: **
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Small groups

33. Environmental impact games

Track and compete on eco-friendly behaviors like reducing waste, using public transit, or energy conservation.

• Price: *
• Best for: Environmentally conscious teams, sustainability goals
• Organization level: *
• Format: Hybrid
• Players: Any size

Communication and social games

These activities help improve workplace communication:

34. Speed networking rounds

Set up rotating stations where employees have 3-5 minutes to chat with colleagues they don’t normally interact with, then ring a bell to switch partners.

• Price: *
• Best for: Large organizations, breaking down department silos
• Organization level: **
• Format: In-person
• Players: Large groups

35. Human bingo

Create bingo cards with interesting facts about team members. Players try to find colleagues who match each square (like “has traveled to three continents” or “speaks two languages”).

• Price: *
• Best for: New teams,
• Organization level: *
• Format: In-person
• Players: Any size

Recognition and celebration games

36. Peer appreciation walls

Create spaces where team members can post anonymous compliments, thank you notes, or recognition for colleagues’ contributions.

• Price: *
• Best for: Building positive culture, remote teams needing connection
• Organization level: *
• Format: In-person, remote
• Players: Any size

37. Achievement milestone celebrations

You can make anniversaries, project completions, birthdays, and so on fun by giving the celebrant special privileges or fun ceremonies that the whole team can participate in.

• Price:  **
• Best for: Milestone recognition, building company culture
• Organization level: **
• Format: In-person, remote
• Players: Any size

Why organize team-building employee engagement activities?

Naturally, you want to know why employees should spend work hours playing games. The truth is that employee engagement is an investment that pays off for both you and your employees. And when you choose the right employee engagement ideas, the impact is even stronger. Here’s why:

Benefits for employers

Implementing team engagement games is simply investing in your company’s success. According to Finances Online, gamification for employee engagement increases productivity by 50%.

That’s a huge figure, and when you think about it, it follows. Engaged employees are more likely to go above and beyond their basic job requirements because they feel connected to their teammates and the company’s mission.

• Higher productivity (up to 50% increase with gamification)
• Stronger collaboration and teamwork
• Employees more willing to go beyond minimum expectations
• Greater alignment with the company’s mission and values
• A healthier, more motivated workplace culture

Benefits for employees

From your employees’ perspective, fun employee engagement activities provide much-needed breaks from routine work stress. Sitting at a computer all day, every day, can become monotonous. These activities offer an escape and an avenue for people to connect with colleagues on a personal level.

Team-building employee engagement activities can also reduce workplace isolation, especially for remote workers who miss casual office interactions.

• Provide employees with breaks from routine work stress
• Offer an escape from monotony and daily computer tasks
• Create opportunities for personal connections with colleagues
• Reduce workplace isolation, especially for remote workers

Team engagement games FAQ

What makes employee engagement games effective?

For your employee engagement games to be effective, you need to ensure that certain factors are checked:

• Create clear rules that everyone understands and goals that feel achievable.
• The games should allow for both individual contribution and teamwork
• Recognition should feel meaningful to participants.

How often should we organize engagement activities?

This depends on your team size, budget, and energy levels. However, what matters most is the impact of these activities on your teams, not the frequency. You could have engagement activities as often as monthly or once every three months, so far, your team members are getting the engagement they need.

What should we avoid when organizing engagement games?

One mistake you should avoid is making activities feel forced. Your engagement activities will be totally off point if your employees see it as an “HR thing” they can’t get out of when the activities are meant to engage them in the first place.

You should also avoid anything that puts people on the spot unexpectedly or requires personal disclosure they might not be comfortable with. Similarly, don’t use these activities to address serious workplace problems that need direct management attention.