Finding Zoom games for large groups can be an incredibly daunting task. With the Covid-19 pandemic forcing modern workplaces to rely on connecting and building a team virtually, there are more online games for large groups available than ever before.

However, the problem arises in knowing exactly which virtual team building activities are worthwhile, and which are just a waste of your time and resources. That’s why we’re here to help. In this post, we will cover 11 different virtual team building games that can be used on Zoom and off Zoom. This way you can spend less time researching the best games for your large virtual team and more time playing them!

  How do you engage a large team virtually?

Poor team engagement, whether in person or over the internet, can have drastic consequences on the performance of an organization. Poorly engaged employees can lead to a high turnover rate, increased costs, and organizational stagnation.

As I am sure many modern-day leaders know, engaging employees in an office is hard enough. You can round them up and force them to listen, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be engaged. So, how do you go about the even harder task of doing it online? Here are some ideas:

• Stay connected. One thing that doesn’t change whether a business is online or in-person: things should be kept consistent, streamlined, and organized. When using virtual platforms, such as Zoom, schedule staff meetings, incorporate video calls, and set up ways in which people can easily share work, thoughts, and ideas.
• Encourage health and wellness. Whilst some people enjoy rolling out of bed and straight into work in the morning, working online most definitely isn’t for everyone and it is crucial to look out for and support the mental health and well-being of those employees who find remote working tough. Encourage your team to do yoga, take daily walks, or take some time out for therapy.
• Be sociable. You might not be able to pass a fist pump in the office as you wander by your favorite colleague or pop in for a 5-minute weekend catch-up, but you can find other ways to socialize. Channels for pointless chit-chat or adding in regular video calls is a great way to keep things social. However, the best way to be sociable online? Get the team involved in some virtual team building activities for large groups (more on this below!)

What Zoom games can you play on Zoom with a large group?

As you read above, making remote work as sociable as possible is undoubtedly one of the best ways to get your large group engaged virtually. However, according to this team building statistics survey, only 20% of companies team build monthly or more often. Sadly, this means that business leaders are missing crucial opportunities to develop strong and trusting relationships.

One of the largest online platforms used for business operations, and for team building activities, is Zoom. Today it is estimated that Zoom registers over 3.3 million annual meeting minutes. That’s a lot of minutes, so it’s likely that you, our dear reader, are using Zoom and frantically looking for ways to engage your large virtual team.

Designed for teams of over 100 employees to play online, these are the instructions on how to play the best online games that can be played on Zoom, for large groups (and trust us, there’s a lot on there!).

1.   How to play trivia on Zoom with a large group?

Trivia is well-known for testing your knowledge whilst being incredibly fun and providing an exciting way to create trusting bonds. Trivia is played with a prepared list of questions and the aim of the game is to answer the most questions correctly (emphasis on the correctly, otherwise we’d all be winners).

Due to the simple nature of the game, Trivia can easily be played using Zoom to create an engaging game for large teams. Here’s how to play Trivia on Zoom:

• Write your own trivia questions on a piece of paper before play starts. Questions should test the general knowledge of your team and can include anything from “Who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize?” (Answer: Marie Curie) to “What is the earth’s largest continent?” (Answer: Asia).
• As you will be playing with a large team, it’ll be quicker to divide your team into smaller even groups and let them compete against each other.
• Read out the questions and the first person to shout out the correct answer wins a point for the team.
• Play for as long as you want and then tally up the scores and award the winning team!

Note: Alternatively, you can play as single players but to avoid it taking forever, cap the play at around 50 questions.

2.   How to play jeopardy on Zoom with a large group?

Much like the popular TV show, team building Jeopardy will challenge your team to showcase their general knowledge in a friendly competition. A bit like trivia, you are challenged to answer multiple questions in a specific category.

Here’s the easiest way for teams to play Jeopardy on Zoom:

• Download the Jeopardy slideshow template from Jeopardy Labs and input your questions and answers (Tip: You could throw in a few work-related questions to really keep your team on their toes!)
• Set up a Zoom meeting and share your screen so that everyone can see the Jeopardy Labs template.
• Divide your large team into smaller teams.
• Begin playing Jeopardy by clicking on a square to show the question.
• Players can win points for their team by answering the question correctly before anyone else. Once they’ve answered click on the box to reveal the answer.
• Play through all your pre-made questions and then tally up the scores and award your winning team.

3.   How to play online game shows on Zoom with a large group?

We’ve all seen a group of strangers walk onto a television game show barely speaking to each other and leaving with lifelong friends. The excitement and team spirit encourage flourishing relationships.

Game shows don’t have to be just for watching on the television. You and your team can have all the excitement of a game show, and reap the benefits of producing life-long bonds, from the comfort of your own homes.

Team Building Hub offers the best online game show for just $28 per player, and here’s how to play it:

• Follow the Zoom link sent to you by Team Building Hub.
• Log into the call where you’ll be greeted by a host.
• Answer a few icebreaker questions, split into breakout rooms, then compete for points and badges. There’s also an expert host there the whole time to keep everyone engaged and make virtual team building fun!

4.   How to play icebreaker question games on Zoom with a large group?

Designed to be quick, fun, and interesting, icebreaker questions will get your team so excited that they’ll be unable to keep as cool as ice (pardon the pun).

There are numerous ways to ask teams icebreaker questions, but we think the simplest is to DIY over Zoom. Here’s how to set up an icebreaker team building session to get your team to know one another a little better:

• Create a list of icebreaker questions. Ideally, you should have as many questions as you have number of people in your team. Here is a list of 160 best ice breaker questions you can use.
• Go around the (virtual) room and ask each team member a different ice breaker question. If you have time, you can open the room up for discussions after each question.
• Extra way to play: At the end, you could ask employees what their teammate answered to a certain question. For example, “Jane, I asked Erica whether she prefers Apple or Microsoft, what did she answer?” This is a way to build bonds (and check if they were paying attention!)

5.   How to play online murder mystery games on Zoom with a large group?

Murder mystery is often associated with dinner parties for adults seeking a bit of entertainment. However, these fantastically fun social events can be carried out on Zoom. Participants will act out a murder story and will have to figure out which character is the killer!

We believe when it comes to slightly more complicated games, such as murder mystery, you should leave it to the people who know how to do it best. Here at Team Building Hub, we’ve developed online mystery games with different themes, and this is how you play them:

• Log into a Zoom call with your team and meet your guide who will ensure everyone is ready to participate.
• Answer some icebreaker questions and have your team split up into smaller teams of 8 players.
• Review surveillance footage, evidence reports, and much more to solve the mystery before the other teams!

6.   How to play scavenger hunt on Zoom with a large group?

Whether played in person or over the computer, scavenger hunts provide amusing and out-of-the-box ways to engage a team. They are sociable and require some moving around, which can be incredibly beneficial after a day of sitting at a desk!

To play a traditional scavenger hunt with only a Zoom meeting, pen, and paper:

• Create a list of five household objects you want your team to collect. Examples include a toilet roll, a book, a pair of matching socks, or a rolling pin.
• Set up a Zoom meeting and explain the object you want each team member to come back with.
• Send them away with a 2-minute time limit.
• The first person to come back with ALL the correct items wins (you can award second and third place if you like).
• Carry on for as many rounds as you like. We recommend 3 to 4 rounds for the ultimate scavenger hunt fun!

7.   How to play a virtual escape room on Zoom with a large group?

Escape rooms are heart-raising and thrilling ways to get your employees racing against the clock to be crowned the winning team. For just $32 a player, Team Building Hub has developed a virtual escape room that will be sure to wow your team. It has plenty of themes to choose from, including an undersea research laboratory, a prison break, and an art heist.

To play any of these compelling games, just:

• Follow the Zoom link sent by Team Building Hub and log on to meet your host and room guide.
• Complete the game with access to your teammates, a 360-degree view of the room, a live feed from the host, and an inventory of everything you’ve examined so far.
• Work through the puzzles and clues until you have successfully broken out of your chosen room!

8.   How to play charades on Zoom with a large group?

I’m sure you’ve all spent many family occasions playing charades. If you have, you’ll understand the fun and excitement it creates. Why not bring this cheer onto a team Zoom meeting? Ridiculously incorrect guesses will lead to great laughter and team bonding.

It’s a great game as it enhances creative thinking and encourages the quieter members of a team to work to step out of their comfort zone. This is far less intimidating on Zoom rather than in person, so it’s a win-win situation.

To play charades online:

• Get your large team to join a Zoom meeting and split the team in half to form two teams that are competing against each other.
• Pick a theme that the player must act out, for example, animals, household objects, movies, television series.
• Alternating between the teams, each team member will act out a different object (without speaking!)
• The first person to guess the correct object wins a point for their team.
• This game can carry on for as long as you like. We suggest carrying on until every player has had the chance to act out their object!

 What are good games to play with a large group online outside of Zoom?

Although Zoom is an incredibly popular way for teams to communicate, there are other ways in which team building activities can be carried out. Using another platform, whether that is a phone application or online website, to play team building games can help to keep things fresh and exciting. In return, this should keep your team members engaged and eager to get involved.

There are various games that can be played online and we’ve included the very best of the best below. And hey, if the games we’ve listed below don’t quite grab your attention or you want to know more about team building activities, there are a number of virtual event planning companies that you can contact directly to see what they can do outside of Zoom for you and your large team.

1.   How to play Trivia online with a large group?

Playing trivia over an application or website makes it quick-witted, fun, and saves a lot of time trying to find a variety of questions like you would have to do in the DIY version.

Places like Trivvy allow teams of any size to play trivia in a simple, complication-free fashion. Everything is in the one place: you get a trained quizmaster to keep things fun and engaging, and you’ll get access to themed rounds, quickfire modes, and even visual questions. But don’t limit your search for the best non-Zoom trivia game here. There are plenty of virtual trivia games. Here’s a list of the 23 best virtual trivia options that we love, and we’re sure you will too. 

Whether your team is filled with trivia whizzes or those who just want to get to understand their colleagues a little better, there will be a virtual trivia game for you.

2.   How to play Pictionary online games with a large group?

Having a creative mind forces us to think differently and from new perspectives. What better way to get those creative juices flowing than with a friendly game of Pictionary?

Get your virtual team members to download Skribbl, one of the most popular virtual Pictionary games there is. Available in many languages, Skribbl will ask team members, who can be based anywhere in the world, to take turns drawing something. The drawing is based on 1 of 3 word options that players are given, and they have only 80 seconds to draw something. Teammates must then guess what has been drawn and whoever has the most of their drawings correctly guesses wins. Whether you’re a budding Picasso or not, Pictionary is a fun game for all.

3.    How to play crossword online games with a large group?

Crosswords aren’t just for geriatrics, they are excellent ways for people of any age to tease their brains, learn new things, and create a bit of friendly competition between workplace teams.

I am sure you have completed a crossword before, even if it was only to pass time. But just in case you haven’t, a crossword is a puzzle consisting of a grid of squares in which words are arranged vertically and horizontally and are guessed according to clues, which can sometimes be very hard!

A fantastic way to engage your team in a crossword is to incorporate websites such as Fun Trivia. Team members can all complete the same puzzle in the fastest time, and then scores can be emailed in or posted on a communication channel (i.e., Slack).

Using a virtual app for crosswords is a great way to get your team competing to be the crossword king. Whether you have it as a singular team building activity one afternoon, or a leader board that runs over a few weeks, you should consider incorporating crossword challenges into your team building experience. 

4.   How to play scavenger hunt online games with a large group?

We outlined the DIY scavenger hunt earlier in this post. Although a great (and free) way to play scavenger hunt, it can be testing to the imagination having to come up with all the objects yourself.

Applications such as Scavify, which allows groups to complete various scavenger hunts and track their progress, can save you from endlessly having to come up with new scavenger hunt items. Other applications allow teams to play scavenger hunts without even leaving their seats. With the flick of their thumb, they will find things hidden in various landscapes or pictures… a bit like Where’s Waldo.

If this way of scavenger hunt gets your taste buds tickling, then here’s a list of 25 virtual scavenger hunt games that can be enjoyed by everyone in a large team.

That’s a wrap!

There you have it, the very best virtual team building activities for large groups, that can be played on Zoom and off Zoom.

Some activities, such as Zoom icebreaker questions, are free, easy to use, and don’t take very long. Others, such as Team Building Hub’s virtual escape rooms or murder mystery games are more involved and come with an experienced host to guide you through. As a result, these virtual team building activities come with bags full of amusement and fun and will get your virtual team engaged and involved.