22 remote team building activities that aren't another quiz
By the Mission Memories team · Updated
The short answer
Good remote team building activities either run asynchronously, so people take part around their own work and time zone, or are short and structured on a call. A remote photo challenge does the first: teammates join with a link and complete missions like "show us your desk setup" over a day or a week, with a live leaderboard. For calls, short games like show-and-tell or two truths and a lie work well.
Asynchronous activities (fit around work and time zones)
These run over a day or a week, so nobody has to be on the same call.
- Remote photo challenge. Teammates join with a link and complete photo missions at home. Mission Memories runs it with a live leaderboard, free for 5 people.
- Desk setup tour: everyone shares a photo of their workspace.
- Recommendation swap: a shared list of books, podcasts or recipes.
- Step challenge for a week.
- Weekly "win of the week" thread.
- Baby photo or pet photo guessing game.
Remote photo challenge ideas
- Show us your desk setup
- Photo with your office pet (or houseplant)
- The view from your window right now
- Your mug and what's in it
- Your best home-office hack
- Recreate your video-call face in real life
- Something within arm's reach that tells a story
- Your lunch today
- Your favourite spot in your town
- A selfie with your screen showing the team call
Activities for a video call (15–30 minutes)
- Show and tell: one object from your home and why it matters.
- Two truths and a lie.
- Picture this: everyone shares a photo from their camera roll from this month and explains it.
- Virtual coffee roulette: random pairs for 15 minutes.
- Collaborative playlist: everyone adds one song and says why.
- Mini-awards: the team votes on light-hearted awards for the quarter.
Hybrid teams
For hybrid events, choose activities both groups can do equally. A photo challenge works because office and remote players play the same game; add a mix of in-office and at-home missions so neither group is at a disadvantage.
Tips
- Keep it optional, and inside working hours.
- Respect time zones: asynchronous beats a call at 7am for someone.
- Avoid missions that require showing family or home life people might prefer to keep private.
- Share the results: put the leaderboard top three or the best photos on the next all-hands.
Frequently asked questions
What are good team building activities for remote teams?
Asynchronous activities like a remote photo challenge, desk setup tour or recommendation swap, and short call-based games like show and tell or two truths and a lie.
How do you do team building across time zones?
Use asynchronous activities that run over a day or a week, such as a photo challenge with a leaderboard, so everyone can take part in their own working hours.
Is there a free remote team building activity?
Mission Memories is free for teams of up to 5 with 5 photo missions. Teams of up to 40 are £4.99 per event.
Run it with Mission Memories
Free for 5 guests. Guests join with your code from their phone's browser, no app needed.