Online games are one of the easiest ways to bring a remote team together — if you pick the right ones. The wrong game feels like forced fun; the right one creates the laughter and shared in-jokes that actually build bonds.
Here are 10 online fun games for teams, what each is good for, and how to run them without the awkwardness.
Quick picks
- Best all-rounder: Jackbox Games — party packs that run over screen-share
- Best for word lovers: Codenames — two teams, pure deduction
- Best for big groups: live Trivia or Bingo — scales to 30+
1. Jackbox Games
The gold standard for remote teams. One person buys and screen-shares a Party Pack; everyone else joins from their phone with a room code. Drawing, bluffing and quip games that are genuinely funny. Best for 4–10.
2. Codenames
Two teams race to identify their agents from one-word clues. Brilliant for word-minded teams, free to play online, and surprisingly revealing of how people think. Best for 4–12.
3. Psych
A mobile bluffing game where players invent fake answers to fool each other. Fast, silly and great for breaking the ice with a newer group. Best for 4–8.
4. QuizUp
Real-time trivia across hundreds of topics — let colleagues go head-to-head on subjects they love. A low-stakes way to learn surprising things about each other. Best for pairs or small groups.
5. Chess (online)
For teams with a competitive streak. Run a lightning-chess ladder over a week on a free platform. Asynchronous-friendly, so time zones aren't a problem. Best for 1-v-1 brackets.
6. Draw Something
Turn-based Pictionary-style drawing. Gentle, creative and inclusive — no trivia knowledge or fast reflexes required, so quieter team members shine. Best for small groups.
7. Wordfeud
A Scrabble-style word game played asynchronously over days. Perfect as a slow-burn background ritual for distributed teams who can't always meet live. Best for ongoing 1-v-1.
8. Werewolf (Mafia)
A social deduction classic — villagers vs hidden werewolves, driven entirely by discussion. Run it live over video with a host narrating. The talk is the team building. Best for 7–15.
9. Cards Against Humanity
The irreverent fill-in-the-blank party game, with a free online version. Hilarious — but read the room: the humour is adult, so keep it opt-in and skip it for brand-new or mixed-comfort groups. Best for trusted teams of 4–10.
10. Trivia Crack
App-based trivia across six categories. Easy to spin up a company league, and great as a recurring low-effort ritual rather than a one-off. Best for any size.
How to run them without the awkwardness
- Keep rounds short — 15–30 minutes beats a marathon that fizzles.
- Have a host drive the pace so quieter people aren't talked over.
- Brief the rules up front — nothing kills energy like five minutes of "wait, how do we play?"
- Above ~15 people, split into breakout groups so everyone gets to speak.
Looking for the same games on a specific platform? See our guide to virtual games to play on Microsoft Teams, or the broader round-up of virtual team building activities that actually work.
When a game isn't enough
Quick games are perfect for weekly energy and staying connected. But for a milestone, a new team, or a real morale lift, they're a little light — a game round rarely becomes the story people retell months later.
That's where a hosted experience everyone makes together lands harder. ChefPassport's virtual cooking classes ship ingredients to each person's door and a chef guides the whole team through a meal in real time — the connection of a shared activity, with something delicious at the end.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best online fun games for teams?
For most teams the standouts are Jackbox Games (party packs that run over screen-share), Codenames (word-association in two teams) and a live trivia round. They need no setup from participants, scale to a dozen or more, and create the laughter that builds bonds.
How do you play online games with a remote team?
Most run over a video call with one person screen-sharing, or through a browser link everyone opens. Keep rounds short (15–30 minutes), brief the rules up front, and have a host drive the pace so quieter people aren't left behind.
What group size works for online team games?
Word and party games (Codenames, Jackbox, charades) work best for 4–12. Trivia and bingo scale to 30+ with teams or breakout rooms. Above ~15, split into smaller groups so everyone gets to speak.
Are online games enough for team building, or do you need something more?
Quick games are great for energy and regular connection, but they're light on depth. For milestones or new teams, a hosted experience that everyone makes together — like a virtual cooking class — creates a stronger shared memory than a game round alone.
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