18 Games To Play On Zoom With Coworkers

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In today’s remote work landscape, where screens and distances often separate teams, the importance of team building and maintaining connections cannot be overstated. The rise of remote work has necessitated new approaches to fostering bonds and a sense of belonging among colleagues. 

If your team works from different corners of the world, playing games on Zoom can be a fantastic way to bond, unwind, and have fun together. 

In this article, we explore 18 games to play on Zoom that are perfect for online play, offer unique opportunities for team building and collaboration, and provide a good dose of laughter.

Playing games on Zoom with coworkers can offer several benefits, especially in a remote work environment where team bonding and social interactions might be limited.

Here are some of the advantages:

• Enhanced Communication: Many Zoom games require clear and effective communication among team members to strategize, make decisions, and achieve common goals. By playing games that emphasize communication skills, teams can improve their ability to convey ideas, listen actively, and work together.
• Strengthening of Team Relationships: Games played on Zoom can foster trust among team members as they provide a platform for coworkers to interact in a more relaxed and social setting. These improved connections can build relationships and lead to better problem-solving in a work environment.
• Boosted Employee Morale: Engaging in enjoyable activities with coworkers can significantly boost employee morale. These fun and lighthearted interactions can create a more positive and enjoyable work environment. Higher morale often leads to increased job satisfaction, a more motivated workforce, and improved overall well-being.
• Break from the Monotony of Regular Work: Zoom games allow team members to take a break, unwind, and recharge, ultimately preventing burnout and maintaining overall well-being. This break from the routine can boost creativity, reduce stress, and enhance focus when returning to work tasks, increasing productivity and job satisfaction.

Playing games on Zoom with coworkers can be a great way to build team morale and have fun. The choice of games can depend on your team’s preferences and the size of your group.

Here are 10 free games to play on Zoom with coworkers:

1. Charades

Charades is a word-guessing game where employees act out a word or phrase without speaking, and their teammates have to guess what it is based on their actions. 

• How to Play on Zoom: On Zoom, use the video feature to spotlight the actor and have employees guess through chat or by unmuting. The actor can use gestures, facial expressions, and body language to convey the word or phrase. Zoom’s video spotlighting helps ensure everyone can see the actor.
• Unique Benefits: Charades uncover hidden talents and provide a fun way to break the ice among coworkers, fostering a sense of friendship.

2. Pictionary

Pictionary is a classic game where employees draw a word or phrase without using letters or numbers, and their teammates try to guess what they’re drawing within a certain time limit.

• How to Play on Zoom: Use the whiteboard feature of Zoom for real-time drawing and share screens with other coworkers. You can divide the employees into teams and take turns drawing and guessing. Set a time limit for each round.
• Unique Benefits: Pictionary encourages creativity, fosters friendly competition, and provides insights into your coworkers’ problem-solving abilities and artistic talents.

3. Home Scavenger Hunt

Home Scavenger Hunt is an indoor treasure hunt game where employees are given a list of items or clues to find within their home. Players race against the clock to locate and collect these items, fostering creativity and excitement in a familiar environment.

• How to Play on Zoom: In a Zoom Home Scavenger Hunt, the host shares a list of items, and employees search their homes to find and display them on camera within a time limit. Award points for each item found, and declare the winner based on points accumulated.
• Unique Benefits: A home scavenger hunt offers a unique way to learn about your coworkers’ living spaces and personal tastes. This game is an entertaining way to bond with colleagues while exploring their environments.

4. Name, Place, Animal, Thing

Name, Place, Animal, Thing is a word game where employees choose a letter and write down a name, a place, an animal, and a thing that starts with that letter. The goal is to think quickly and creatively to fill each category with relevant words, starting with the chosen letter.

• How to Play on Zoom: When playing this game on Zoom, designate one player to choose a letter and set a time limit. Employees then write down their answers and share them verbally or in the Zoom chat after the time limit expires, and they compare their responses.
• Unique Benefits: This game promotes quick thinking and creativity as employees aim to create unique responses based on the given letter. It’s a fun way to challenge language skills and engage in wordplay.

5. Hangman

Hangman is a word-guessing game where one employee thinks of a word, and the others try to guess it by suggesting letters. If a guessed letter is not in the word, a part of a hanging man is drawn, and the goal is to guess the word before the entire Hangman figure is completed.

• How to Play on Zoom:  To play Hangman on Zoom, one employee acts as the host and shares their screen to display the blank spaces for the word and the Hangman drawing area. Employees take turns guessing letters, and the host updates the word and draws the Hangman as needed until someone guesses the word or the Hangman is fully depicted.
• Unique Benefits: Hangman encourages critical thinking, vocabulary, and wordplay. It’s an engaging way to challenge your coworkers’ language skills and stimulate friendly competition.

6. Guess the Baby Picture

In Guess the Baby Picture, employees share a baby picture of themselves while others attempt to identify the person in the photo. 

• How to Play on Zoom: To play on Zoom each employee shares their pictures through screen sharing, and other employees guess who the baby in the photo is. After everyone has shared their picture, reveal the answers to see who guessed correctly.
• Unique Benefits: This game allows coworkers to learn more about each other’s past and creates a fun and engaging atmosphere. It’s an excellent icebreaker that promotes a sense of shared history within the team.

7. Who is it?

“Who is it?” is a guessing game where one employee describes an object in their room without revealing it, and others try to guess the object based on the description.

• How to Play on Zoom: To play “Who is it?” on Zoom, employees take turns describing objects in their rooms without showing them, and others guess the objects based on the descriptions.
• Unique Benefits: This game promotes creativity as employees provide clues and ask questions.

8. Word Association

Word Association is a game where employees say a word related to the previous word, forming a chain of associated words.

• How to Play on Zoom: To play Word Association on Zoom, designate a starting player who says a word. The next person rapidly responds with a word connected to the previous one, which continues in a circle.
• Unique Benefits: Word Association is an engaging way to enhance vocabulary and creativity within the team. It fosters quick thinking and encourages employees to make unique connections between words. 

9. Five Things

Five Things is a creative and descriptive game in which one employee provides a category or topic, and others must quickly list five things related to that category. 

• How to Play on Zoom: On Zoom, designate a “category provider” who offers a topic, and employees take turns listing five things related to it before a set time limit expires.
• Unique Benefits: This game encourages brainstorming, creativity, and quick thinking as employees provide imaginative responses, making it an excellent exercise for stimulating creativity.

10. Brain Teasers and Riddles

Brain Teasers and Riddles are puzzle games that involve challenging questions, problems, or statements that require creative and logical thinking to solve. Employees take turns presenting brain teasers or riddles to the group, who then attempt to solve them. 

• How to Play on Zoom: To play Brain Teasers and Riddles on Zoom, employees present a brain teaser or riddle to the group while others attempt to solve it in a limited time.
• Unique Benefits: This game provides an opportunity to challenge and stimulate problem-solving abilities and critical thinking within the team.

Here are some virtual games to play on Zoom with your coworkers:

1. TriviaNerd

TriviaNerd is a quiz game that challenges employees with questions on various topics. It’s a great way to test your general knowledge and learn interesting facts.

• How to Play on Zoom: One employee can host the quiz and share their screen with the trivia questions and multiple-choice options. Employees can submit their answers in the chat or through a survey link.
• Unique Benefits: TriviaNerd encourages learning and collaboration, as employees can discuss answers and share their knowledge. It’s an engaging way to build community within the team.

2. Codenames Online

Codenames is a word game where players provide one-word clues to help their team guess the correct words on a grid. It’s a challenging game of word association.

• How to Play on Zoom: Use an online version of Codenames, such as Codenames Online, and share the screen with employees via Zoom. Divide your employees into teams and take turns providing clues and guessing.
• Unique Benefits: Codenames enhance vocabulary and word association skills while encouraging employees to think critically and strategically.

3. Virtual Game Night

A Virtual Game Night combines different games, including trivia, charades, and pictionary, for a fun-filled evening of various activities.

• How to Play on Zoom: Designate a host or moderator who presents different games throughout the evening. Employees can join in the fun and enjoy a mix of interactive games.
• Unique Benefits: Virtual Game Night offers variety and excitement. It’s a fantastic way to break the routine and bond with coworkers over various entertaining activities, making it ideal for team-building.

4. Virtual Escape Room

Virtual Escape Room is an online version of the famous real-life escape room experience, where employees work together in a virtual environment to solve puzzles, find clues, and accomplish tasks to escape from a themed scenario within a set time limit.

• How to Play on Zoom: Many companies offer online escape room experiences that you can book. Teams can participate together over Zoom, collaborating to solve the puzzles and complete the mission.
• Unique Benefits: Virtual Escape Rooms enhance critical thinking and teamwork. They create a sense of shared accomplishment as coworkers work together to achieve a common goal.

5. Virtual Murder Mystery

In a Virtual Murder Mystery, employees take on character roles and work together to solve a fictional murder case. It’s an interactive and immersive storytelling experience.

• How to Play on Zoom: Assign characters and provide clues and scripts to employees. They will interrogate each other and piece together the mystery over Zoom.
• Unique Benefits: Virtual Murder mysteries encourage creativity, role-playing, and storytelling. They build a sense of suspense and intrigue, making them an excellent choice for social team-building.

6. Virtual Jeopardy

Virtual Jeopardy is an online adaptation of the classic quiz show. It challenges employees with a range of trivia questions in a competitive format.

• How to Play on Zoom: One person can create a Jeopardy game using templates available online. Share the screen and have employees divided into teams to answer questions.
• Unique Benefits: Virtual Jeopardy encourages competition and sharpens general knowledge. It adds a touch of excitement and fosters collaboration among team members.

7. Quiplash

Quiplash is a virtual game where employees respond humorously to prompts, and others vote for the funniest answer.

• How to Play on Zoom: Use platforms like Jackbox Games to host Quiplash sessions. Share your screen via Zoom and have employees join the game with a room code. Then, they create witty responses via their smartphones.
• Unique Benefits: Quiplash is all about creativity and humor. It promotes laughter and camaraderie, making it an ideal game for light-hearted, team-building fun.

8. Heads Up!

Heads Up! is a guessing game where one person holds a card with a word on their forehead, and others give clues to help them guess the word.

• How to Play on Zoom: Employees can use the Heads Up! app or other online versions. One person shares their screen via Zoom while the rest take turns giving clues. The screen sharer can tilt their camera downward to mimic holding a card on their forehead.
• Unique Benefits: Heads Up! is a quick and engaging game perfect for team interaction and fun competition.

Related Article: If you’re looking for games to break the ice, check out our article 15 ice breakers for virtual meetings.

Whether you’re planning a virtual party team-building event or want to have some online fun, here are some tips to help you organize and play games on Zoom:

• Set Up Ground Rules: Establish clear ground rules for the games to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience. Define the rules for scoring, taking turns, and maintaining good sportsmanship.
• Plan Ahead and Test Tech/Tools: Prepare by choosing the games, setting up the necessary Zoom features, and testing any tools or platforms you’ll use. Ensure that everyone knows the technology and is comfortable with the game mechanics.
• Be Mindful of Time Zones: When scheduling games, consider the time zones of all employees to ensure that everyone can join at a convenient time. Use tools like time zone converters to help with scheduling.