Looking for Ways to Team Build Remotely? This list of Games to Play with Remote or Hybrid Teams Can Help.

This list aims to compile games and activities that can be easily played with remote or hybrid teams over Zoom calls without much setup required for team casual chats.

Feel free to suggest in the comments if you find more! Credit for the initial version of this list goes to Beatrix Jones.

Online Tabletop Game Collections

Here are some collections of various card games and board games that are worth browsing to find your favorites:

• Card Games: https://playingcards.io/ 
  • Description: This site provides online versions of several classic card games (like Crazy Eights, Hearts, and Go Fish) as well as a handful of board games. 
  • # of Players: varies, depending on the game
  • Setup: none – synchronized online game space
• Board Games: https://netgames.io/games/ 
  • Description: This site provides online versions of several popular physical board games: One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Secret Hitler, Codenames (see another version below), Spyfall, Love Letter, and Avalon.
  • # of Players: varies, depending on the game
  • Setup: none – synchronized online game space, also set up to be playable on mobile devices
• Even More Board Games: https://en.boardgamearena.com/ 
  • Description: This site provides online versions of many, many different board games! There’s too many to list here, so check out the link above for more information.
  • Here’s a few suggestions (with max number of players in parentheses): Can’t Stop (max 4), Yahtzee (max 5), Just Desserts (max 5), Flaming Pyramids (max 6), Celestia (6 max), Martian Dice (max 10), Haiclue (max 12)
  • # of Players: varies, depending on the game (and there’s a lot)
  • Setup: players will need their own (free) accounts – otherwise, this is a synchronized online game space, also set up to be playable on mobile devices. Some games do require a premium subscription to be able to play, but all the suggestions linked above are free.

Online Tabletop Game One-offs

Here are some more online versions of classic tabletop and party games, this time from sites that are each dedicated to a single game:

• Codenames: https://codenames.game/ 
  • Description: This is an online version of the game Codenames, in which players split into two teams, each with one spymaster who provides clues to try to get their teammates to guess the right codenames while avoiding enemy agents! (a version of this is also available at the link to netgames above, but this version has the graphics from the branded board game)
  • # of Players: 4 – 64
  • Setup: none – synchronized online game space
• Taboo: https://playtaboo.com/ 
  • Description: This is an online variant of the party game Taboo (similar to CatchPhrase), in which players split into teams and a designated clue giver tries to get their team to guess the main word in time by only saying related words!
  • # of Players: 6 or more
  • Setup: none – synchronized online game space
• Puzzles: https://jigsawpuzzles.io/  
  • Description: It doesn’t get more simple than this – online multiplayer jigsaw puzzles! Start a puzzle and work as a team to put it together.
  • # of Players: any
  • Setup: the person sharing their screen must have an account in order to create a private room
• Scattergories: https://scattergoriesonline.net/ 
  • Description: This is a variation on Scattergories, in which players are given a category and a letter and then must name things in those categories beginning with that letter. Bonus points are awarded for unique answers!
  • # of Players: any
  • Setup: none – synchronized online game space, just need to create a private game
• Pictionary: https://skribbl.io/ 
  • Description: This is an online version of Pictionary, in which players create drawings to get their teammates to guess a given word or phrase
  • # of Players: up to 12 players
  • Setup: none – synchronized online game space, just need to create a private game
• Drawasaurus https://www.drawasaurus.org/
  • Description: Drawasaurus is a drawing & guessing game for your phone, tablet or PC. Do your best to draw the word you are given while players from around the world try to guess it!
  • # of Players: up to 16 players

Original Online Games

Here are games that specifically utilize the online format:

• Among Us: https://innersloth.com/gameAmongUs.php
  • Description: Among Us is a multiplayer social deduction game in which ten players are put inside an alien spaceship, with each player assigned to one of two roles: “crewmate” or “impostor.” Free download on PC, iPhone, and Android.
• GeoGuessr: https://www.geoguessr.com/ 
  • Description: GeoGuessr takes advantage of online mapping tools (including Google StreetView) to create a fun exploration experience. The player is dropped in the middle of an unknown location and must guess where they are based on clues from the environment.
  • # of Players: one person to play, as many people as you’d like to help guess!
  • Setup: account required for the person who shares their screen – some modes are free, others may require a paid subscription, but there’s lots of options

Virtual Escape Rooms & Adventures

Here are some virtual escape rooms (and similar sort of formats) for some team-based puzzle solving:

• Digital Escape Rooms from the Campbell County Public Library: http://www.cc-pl.org/digital-escape-rooms 
  • Description: Librarians at the Campbell County Public Library have put together a series of themed digital escape rooms! From space exploration to murder mystery, these escape rooms take place through a Google Form with lots of puzzles that help you learn something along the way!
  • # of Players: one person to share screen, as many as you want to help solve (ignore the age recommendations – we can vouch that they’re good fun for adults too)
  • Setup: none required, but it’s a good idea to have a pen and paper at the ready!
• Escape It: https://www.escapeit.xyz/rooms.html 
  • Description: A group of college students put together this collection of 3 timed escape rooms that feature full interactive graphics. There are multiple difficulty settings for two of them, and the website provides time estimates.
  • # of Players: one person to share screen, as many as you want to help solve 
  • Setup: none required

Online Experiences

• Airbnb Online Experiences, https://www.airbnb.com/s/experiences/online
  • ‘True vs False’ Funny Historical Game
  • Joy To The Team – A Virtual Magic Show & Magic Lesson

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