Virtual team games wheel

How to play each one

• Emoji check-in: everyone posts one emoji in the chat for how their week is going, then two or three people say why.
• 60-second scavenger hunt: call out an item (something blue, a mug with writing on it, something older than you). First to show it on camera, or describe it in the chat, gets the point. Play five rounds.
• One-word story: in call order, each person adds one word. After three rounds, someone reads the story back.
• Whiteboard draw and guess: one person draws a word on a shared whiteboard while the others guess in the chat. The drawing words wheel supplies the words.
• Guess the fun fact: collect one fact from each person by message beforehand, read them out, and let the team guess whose each one is.
• Bring an object: everyone has 60 seconds to grab something from their desk or shelf and tell the story behind it.
• Alphabet chain: pick a category, such as foods, and each person names one for the next letter. Skip X if you’re feeling kind.
• Rate your week 1–10: a number and one sentence. Quick, and a useful pulse check for managers.

Trivia, riddles, would you rather, this or that, word association, rapid-fire questions and a shout-out round (thank a colleague for something specific) need only a short list you write in advance.

Running games on a call

1. Share your screen and press F for full screen, so the wheel is big enough on small laptop screens.
2. Spin, explain the game in one sentence, and say how long it runs. Ten minutes is plenty at the start or end of a meeting.
3. Call on people in a set order: the order of tiles on screen, or a quick draw with the random name picker. On calls, being invited to speak feels easier than jumping in.
4. With more than 12 people, use breakout rooms of four or five and let each room play its own round.

Make remote games inclusive

• Cameras optional: every game here works with the camera off.
• Time zones: play during a meeting that already sits in everyone’s working day, not as an extra event at 9 p.m. for half the team.
• Language: word games are harder in a second language. For international teams, lean on emoji check-in, this or that and the scavenger hunt.