5 Quick and Fun Games to Energise Your Next Team Meeting
Let’s face it: even the best teams can hit a meeting slump. Agendas grow lengthy, energy dips, and suddenly your group’s most animated contribution is the clack-clack of keyboards as they multitask. But here’s the good news: fun doesn’t have to derail productivity. With the right approach, games can reset focus, encourage collaboration, and bring fresh energy into the room—all in under 10 minutes.
In this guide, you’ll find five games that work whether your team is gathered around a table, dialing in remotely, or juggling a hybrid setup. They’re easy to adapt, require zero prep, and best of all—they’ll turn “Another meeting?” into “What’s the game today?”
Ready to shake things up? Let’s dive in.
Key Considerations
Match the Game to the Team
Different groups respond to different activities. Consider team size, familiarity, and the meeting’s purpose when choosing a game.Balance Fun with the Right Tone
Some meetings call for an energy boost, while others need a serious focus. Use games where they fit naturally—not as forced distractions.Keep It Short & Simple
A game should recharge, not derail. Stick to 5-10 minutes, and choose activities that are easy to explain and quick to play.The right game at the right time can turn an ordinary meeting into a productive, engaging experience. Now, let’s get into five that actually work.
The 5 Quick and Fun Games to Energise Your Next Team Meeting
Once your meeting agenda is set, take a moment to pinpoint potential dips in engagement—those moments where attention might wane. Games aren’t just great for re-energising the room; they’re also a perfect way to kick off a meeting on a high note. A quick, well-placed activity sets the tone, gets people talking, and builds momentum for the discussion ahead. That’s your cue to introduce these five quick games, designed to add energy, spark creativity, and bring people together in a fun and engaging way.
1. Storytime
How to Play:
- Form Pairs: Split the group into pairs and assign one person as A and the other as B.
- Start the Story: A begins telling a story, while B periodically throws in random buzzwords that A must incorporate into the story on the spot.
- Switch Roles: Once A finishes, swap roles so B becomes the storyteller and A provides the buzzwords.
Why it works
This game is perfect for breaking the ice, especially with strangers or shy team members. It encourages people to fumble, improvise, and be creative in a safe, playful space. If your team is about to brainstorm, this is a great way to loosen up rigid thinking and boost improvisational skills.
2. Emoji Storytelling
How to Play:
Each participant creates a short story using only emojis. Once completed, the rest of the team works together to decode the message and interpret the story’s meaning.
For an added challenge, turn it into a competition by awarding points for:
- The most accurate interpretation
- The most creative use of emojis
Why It Works
This game encourages creative communication, gets people thinking outside the box, and adds a tech-savvy, interactive twist to team engagement. It’s a fun way to see how different minds interpret the same visual clues!
3. Say the Same Thing
How to Play:
Two or three players begin by simultaneously saying a random word. They then try to think of a word that connects both original words and say it together on a countdown. The goal is to eventually say the same word at the same time. If they don’t match, they continue using their last two words as inspiration.
Why It Works
This game sharpens quick thinking, word association skills, and teamwork. It’s simple, requires no materials, and often leads to hilarious, unexpected connections.
4. One Word at a Time
How to Play:
Players take turns adding one word at a time to build a collaborative story. Start with a simple prompt like “Once upon a time…” and watch the tale spiral into hilarious, unexpected directions.
Why It Works
This game sharpens quick thinking, word association skills, and teamwork. It’s simple, requires no materials, and often leads to hilarious, unexpected connections.
5. Psychic Alphabet
How to Play:
- Form a Circle: Have the team stand in a circle, ensuring there are at least five participants.
- Set the Objective: The group’s goal is to recite the alphabet sequentially, with each person contributing one letter at a time.
- Begin the Exercise: Without any predetermined order, participants will start saying the letters of the alphabet. If two or more people speak simultaneously, the group must start over from ‘A’.
- Maintain Flow: Encourage participants to avoid using prolonged silence as a strategy; the exercise should flow naturally.
- Debrief: After several attempts or upon completion, discuss with the team what strategies worked, what challenges they faced, and how they overcame them.
Why It Works
This activity enhances focus and group awareness. It requires participants to be attuned to their teammates’ cues, promoting active listening and collective synchronization. The debriefing session provides insights into group dynamics and highlights the importance of communication and patience in collaborative tasks.
Games should energise, not distract. Keep them short, relevant, and easy to jump into. A well-placed activity can re-energise the room and keep engagement levels high.
Adapting Games for Different Settings
Not every team looks the same, so the way games are played shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. The best activities are the ones that work with your team’s setup, whether you’re in a packed conference room, a Zoom call, or managing a mix of both. Here’s how to make these games work for different team structures.
Large Teams
More people means more energy—but also more room for chaos. Keep things structured and engaging with a few simple tweaks.
- Break into Smaller Groups: Instead of playing as one big team, divide into groups of 3-5. This keeps conversations flowing and ensures everyone gets a turn.
- Use a Facilitator: A designated game host can guide the activity, manage time, and keep things moving.
- Modify the Rules: For games like Find 10 Things in Common, set a shorter time limit or challenge groups to come up with unique answers to avoid repetition.
Virtual Meetings
Screen fatigue is real, and keeping a virtual team engaged takes effort. A few tweaks make all the difference.
- Use Chat Features: Games like Say the Same Thing work well when answers are typed simultaneously in the chat.
- Leverage Breakout Rooms: For Two Truths and a Lie or Find 10 Things in Common, smaller groups in breakout rooms create a more personal connection.
- Keep It Interactive: Encourage reactions, polls, or quick responses to keep everyone involved, even if they’re muted.
Hybrid Teams
Balancing both in-person and remote participants requires extra consideration to ensure everyone stays engaged.
- Pair Up In-Person and Remote Participants: For activities like One Word at a Time, have an in-room participant partner with a virtual teammate to make sure remote voices are heard.
- Use Shared Online Tools: Whiteboards or shared docs can help hybrid teams collaborate effectively.
- Equalize Participation: Assign an “engagement buddy” to ensure remote participants aren’t overshadowed. For example, during “One Word at a Time,” the buddy might prompt, “Alex, you’re on Zoom—what’s your next word?” This small nudge keeps the game inclusive and dynamic.
The best team games aren’t just fun—they’re adaptable. A few simple adjustments make sure everyone, no matter where they are, can jump in and enjoy. The key? Keep it inclusive, keep it simple, and most importantly, keep it engaging.
Pro Tip: Always debrief after a game! Ask, “How did this activity make you feel?” or “What surprised you?” This 1-minute reflection reinforces the game’s purpose and ties it back to your team’s goals.
Wrapping Up: Energise Your Team with Fun
Adding quick, fun games to your sessions can make team collaboration smoother and more engaging. They bring energy, spark creativity, and help teammates connect, making meetings more productive and enjoyable.
The key is to stay flexible. Tailor each game to fit your team’s unique dynamics, whether you’re working with a large group, navigating virtual meetings, or balancing a hybrid environment.
Ready to transform your meetings? Start with one game from this list and watch energy—and ideas—start flowing. And if you’ve already found a team-building gem, share it in the comments below! We’d love to hear what makes your team laugh, connect, and collaborate better.
Have a game that works wonders for your team?
Or looking for more ways to keep engagement high? Get in touch and let’s find the perfect game to energise your team!
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