Top 7 Fun Virtual Team Events to Energize Remote Employees
Not every team event has to be a big production—but the right one can brighten the day, spark real conversation, and help remote teams feel more connected. The best ideas bring a sense of fun without adding another item to the calendar or to-do list.
At The Offsite Co., we've tested hundreds of virtual formats to figure out what actually lands with remote teams. We specialize in experiences designed for participation, not passive watching—events that deliver real connection, not just another calendar obligation.
Below, we've collected seven of the best virtual team events that bring the right mix of structure, silliness, and genuine collaboration. Whether your team's spread across time zones or just needs a creative jolt between deadlines, these events deliver.
Why Your Team’s Energy Is a Priority
There’s a reason why teams that laugh together last together: laughter and entertainment build the kind of personal chemistry that improves how people work and communicate. For remote teams, moments of play are often the only place that company culture truly comes to life.
It’s how new hires feel included, how long-timers feel valued, and how everyone remembers that they’re not just a floating head on a Zoom tile.
Here’s what fun helps build:
Cultural glue. Moments of play create shorthand, inside jokes, and shared identity.
Psychological safety. A team that plays together is quicker to speak up, ideate, and take risks.
Momentum. Laughter breaks tension, restores energy, and reminds people why they show up.
It doesn’t need to be complicated. A 45-minute team challenge, a weird trivia round, a collaborative mini-game—these are small moments with big returns. When done well, fun becomes the bridge between remote work and real connection.
Top 7 Fun Virtual Team Events to Energize Remote Employees
When your team’s spread across cities, screens, and time zones, a shared laugh or challenge can go a long way. These fun virtual team events are designed to wake up the room, spark new connections, and turn remote days into something more than just back-to-back calls.
1. Virtual Trivia Showdown
Fast-paced trivia that goes beyond generic bar questions. Think themed rounds—pop culture deep cuts, company history callbacks, "who said it in Slack?" forensics—that get brains firing and teammates laughing at their own confident wrong answers.
Run it tournament-style with small teams competing for bragging rights, or go all-in with buzzers, sound effects, and a live leaderboard that updates after every round. The best trivia formats mix easy wins with hilariously obscure questions that spark debate and trash talk in the chat.
What makes it work:
Levels the playing field—everyone has random knowledge to contribute
Easy to customize with company inside jokes or department-specific rounds
Keeps energy high with rapid question pacing
Works great as a recurring monthly tradition
Best for: Teams of 10–100 who love friendly competition and don't mind getting called out for confidently wrong answers.
2. Online Pictionary or Doodle Relay
A drawing game that plays like charades meets whiteboard chaos. One person draws while their team frantically guesses in the chat. The twist? Most people genuinely can't draw, which makes it funnier. Stick figures become abstract art. Simple prompts turn into complete mysteries.
For an extra layer of absurdity, run it relay-style: one person draws for 20 seconds, then passes the "pencil" to the next teammate who continues the drawing without knowing what it's supposed to be. By the end, you've got a collaborative masterpiece that looks nothing like the original prompt.
What makes it work:
Low barrier to entry—being "bad" at drawing makes it more entertaining
Instant visual comedy that translates well on screen
Encourages quick thinking and creativity under pressure
Generates screenshot-worthy moments teams reference for weeks
Best for: Creative teams of 8–50, or anyone who claims they "can't draw at all" (they're usually the most fun).
3. Virtual Escape Room Challenge
Small groups collaborate to crack digital clues and "break out" of a themed situation before time runs out. You're trapped in an alien ship. You're locked in a haunted library. You're racing against another team to defuse a digital bomb (it's fine, it's fake).
The best escape rooms layer puzzles that require different skills—logic, pattern recognition, wordplay, teamwork—so everyone has a moment to contribute. Add a countdown timer, dramatic background music, and the occasional red herring, and you've got a format that keeps people locked in (pun intended) from start to finish.
What makes it work:
Forces real collaboration—no one person can solve it alone
Natural icebreaker through shared problem-solving
Scalable with multiple rooms running simultaneously
Creates "we did it!" moments that bond teams
Best for: Teams of 12–60 who love puzzles and don't mind a little (fake) pressure.
4. Digital Scavenger Hunt
Prompts like "find something that makes you smile," "a coffee mug with a story," or "the weirdest thing within arm's reach" get people up, moving, and revealing fun bits of personality. Set a timer, watch people scramble through their homes, then bring items back to the camera for show-and-tell.
The magic is in the stories. That random mug? It's from a trip to Iceland. That weird object? A gift from a kid. Suddenly you're learning things about teammates you'd never discover in a normal meeting. Add themed rounds (childhood photos, pets, "worst gift you've ever received") to keep the momentum going.
What makes it work:
Gets people moving instead of sitting still
Low stakes, high personality reveals
Easy to run with minimal tech
Sparks organic storytelling and laughter
Best for: Teams of 10–80 who need a break from sitting still and want to see each other's personalities shine.
5. Guess the Workspace
Teammates submit mystery photos of their workspace corners—no faces, just context clues. A plant. A poster. A suspiciously specific mug collection. Then everyone guesses who it belongs to based on vibes alone.
You can run this as a slideshow with live voting, or turn it into a bracket-style tournament. Add a themed twist: "messiest desk," "most plants," "workspace that screams 'I work from a coffee shop.'" The guesses are often hilariously wrong, which makes the reveals even better.
What makes it work:
Reveals personality without requiring people to perform
Generates genuine curiosity and conversation
Easy to prep—just one photo per person
Works well as a quick warm-up or standalone event
Best for: Teams of 10–50 who want low-effort, high-engagement fun with a side of detective work.
6. Themed Costume Call or Prop Party
Set a theme—retro office, movie characters, childhood dream jobs, "what you'd wear if Zoom had no video"—and give everyone 5–10 minutes to show off their fit or grab props from around the house. The results range from wildly creative to hilariously last-minute, and both are equally entertaining.
Award categories keep it lively: "Best Effort," "Most Unhinged," "Somehow Made This Work," "Didn't Even Try But We Respect It." You can theme it around holidays, company milestones, or just lean into pure absurdity. Either way, people remember it.
What makes it work:
Encourages creativity without requiring artistic skill
Breaks the monotony of "professional Zoom attire"
Inclusive—people can go all-in or keep it minimal
Creates shareable moments and inside jokes
Best for: Teams of 10–100 who aren't afraid to look ridiculous and want a format that's pure, unfiltered fun.
7. Remote Cooking Challenge
Assign teams random ingredients, time limits, and themes—"Desserts That Describe Your Job," "Breakfast But Make It Fancy," "Use These Three Ingredients Or Else"—then cook, present, and vote via screens. It's part cooking show, part improv comedy, part genuine culinary chaos.
The pitches are where it gets good. Teams name their dish, explain their "inspiration," and sell it like they're on a competition show. Judging categories include "most creative," "would actually eat this," and "best use of limited resources." You can go hands-on where people actually cook, or keep it conceptual where teams just design and pitch.
What makes it work:
Engages multiple senses beyond the usual screen experience
Natural conversation starter that extends beyond the event
Low stakes, high personality
Easy to scale—full cooking or just concepts
Best for: Teams of 8–50 who need a sensory break from typical virtual formats and don't mind kitchen chaos.
How to Keep Your Remote Events from Feeling Like a Meeting
Virtual team events feel strongest when they match the rhythm of real people, not just the rules of a schedule. When you lead with clarity, set a tone that feels inviting, and build in moments of light surprise, your team shows up with curiosity instead of obligation.
Start with a genuine invite. Share what to expect, why it matters, and how it fits into the bigger picture of connection and culture. Let the experience be clear and casual—something people want to click into.
The best timing lands mid-week and mid-day, when brains are alert and attention spans still have fuel. Add movement. Add story. Let each moment feel like a break that builds something.
Simple structure cues that work well:
Make it feel like an offer. A real invitation sets the tone. The more it feels like a chance to join, the better the turnout.
Use small groups. Breakout rooms spark more talk, more play, and more ease across different energy levels.
Play with humor. Light prompts, team trivia, or custom gifs bring energy into the space right away.
Throw in surprises. Meme slides, weird trivia, on-the-spot polls. The unexpected keeps energy up without adding pressure.
Every event creates its own momentum. With the right design, you get moments of laughter, camaraderie, and insight—and that’s what keeps culture alive when everyone’s on separate Wi-Fi networks. Let the format serve the feeling. Let the vibe feel real. That’s the shift that matters.
The Offsite: Changing the Way Remote Teams Gather
Remote work has reshaped how teams gather. At The Offsite, we build events that fit that shift. Whether your team is scattered across time zones or Slack threads, we make it easy to connect.
We design events with flexible tech that works across every platform—Zoom, Teams, Hangouts, Webex, Skype—with global facilitation across time zones and formats built for actual participation. No awkward icebreakers. No forced fun. Just experiences that get people talking, laughing, and working together in ways that feel natural on screen.
Here's what you should expect from something built right:
Seamless tech experience—no weird logins, clunky platforms, or mid-event crashes
Professional facilitators who know how to read a room and keep energy high, even digitally
Activities designed for engagement—real laughter, friendly competition, and genuine conversation
Formats that scale— Whether you've got 10 people or 100, the experience stays smooth
24/7 global facilitation—We run events across every time zone so no one joins at 3am
Breakout room coordination—Small group activities managed live so you don't have to troubleshoot
Custom options available—weave in company inside jokes, milestones, or industry-specific themes
Zero prep required—participants just show up—no shopping lists, downloads, or homework
From treasure hunts and space missions to collaborative storytelling and music video challenges, we've got options for every team vibe and goal. Explore our full lineup here and find the event that fits your crew.
Click, Book, and Watch the Fun Unfold
We've designed our fun virtual team events to spark real moments—inside jokes, side chats, shared wins—that last longer than the meeting invite. With 24/7 facilitation and support across any platform your team uses, we create smooth, engaging experiences for teams of all shapes and schedules. With a 97% year-over-year client retention rate, teams keep coming back because the events actually work.
If you’re ready to bring your people together in a way that actually feels good, you’re in the right place. Browse our lineup, choose what fits, and book your event with us today. We’ll take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best fun virtual team events for remote employees who are tired of Zoom?
The best formats break away from typical video call structure—think clue races where teams compete to solve puzzles, space-themed escape challenges, or cooking competitions where people pitch dishes on camera. Activities like trivia showdowns, digital scavenger hunts, or themed costume calls work because they give people clear roles, quick pacing, and natural moments to laugh. If it feels like a game instead of a meeting, you're on the right track.
How do you keep introverts engaged during virtual team events?
Design formats with multiple ways to participate. Breakout rooms create smaller, less intimidating spaces. Activities like "Guess the Workspace" or digital scavenger hunts let people contribute without a constant spotlight. Chat participation counts, screen-off moments are okay, and prerecorded submissions work just as well as live ones. Introverts engage more when they can choose their level of visibility.
What's the ideal length for a virtual team event to avoid screen fatigue?
60 to 90 minutes is the sweet spot—long enough to build momentum, short enough to avoid fatigue. Start strong with a quick icebreaker, move into the main activity with clear pacing, and wrap with a celebratory debrief. If planning something longer, build in a 5-minute break at the halfway point where people can step away.
How do you plan a fun virtual event when your team spans multiple time zones?
For teams spanning 3-4 time zones, find a middle-ground time and run one live session. For truly global teams spanning 8+ time zones, host the same event twice at different times or use asynchronous elements paired with shorter regional live sessions. The Offsite Co. facilitates events 24/7 across all time zones.
What makes your virtual team events different from free Zoom games we could run ourselves?
We custom-build every experience with live professional hosts, interactive tech that actually works, and real-time facilitation. You get seamless delivery across any platform, dynamic pacing, breakout room coordination, and tech support so nothing crashes mid-event. If you've ever DIY'd a team event and spent half the time troubleshooting tech, you'll feel the difference.
Can you customize virtual events to match our company culture or inside jokes?
Absolutely. We build custom trivia rounds with company-specific questions, personalize scavenger hunt prompts, theme escape rooms around your industry, and weave in inside jokes or milestone celebrations. Whether you want to reference a notorious Slack thread, celebrate a recent win, or roast your CEO (respectfully), we'll work it into the format.