Here is our list of the best fun activities for groups.
Fun activities for groups are exciting games, events, and exercises that help employees socialize and bond. Examples include Flip the Bottle, Spotlight, and Sneak a Peek. These activities help promote team bonding and collaborative workforces.
These activities are similar to games to play with groups and team building games.
This list includes:
- fun activities for large groups
- fun activities for small groups
- fun activities for groups of adults
- fun activities for work groups
- fun mindfulness activities for groups
Let’s get started!
List of fun activities for groups
From Three-Legged Race to Lucky Coin, here are examples of fun group activities.
1. Spotlight
Spotlight is one of the top fun activities for work groups that challenges players’ critical thinking skills to create new stories.
Here is how to play:
- Gather in a circle in the dark.
- The host stands in the middle of the circle with a flashlight.
- The host randomly shines the light on a player.
- That player has five seconds to say a sentence to kick off the story.
- The host then moves the light to another player, who adds the next line.
- Repeat until the story is complete or each player has a turn.
For an extra touch, you can give points for creative and funny lines that add a twist to the story. Spotlight is a great way to spark creativity and teamwork!
2. Name That Thing
You can play Name That Thing as a fun icebreaker activity.
Here is how to play the game:
- Blindfold one player.
- The other players will bring an object near them.
- The blindfolded player has to guess the item only by touching it.
- Players earn one point for each correct guess.
- Whoever has the most points at the end wins!
Teams can make this game fun by bringing up unusual and oddly shaped objects. Random objects like a cutlery item will also make the game fun as members make wrong guesses and make the whole team laugh.
3. Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament
Rock paper scissors is a classic game, and you can give it a fun team building twist by running it tournament style! This activity is among the best fun activities for large groups, so the more the merrier!
Here is how to play:
- Pair players up.
- Each pair plays rock paper scissors, and the first to win two out of three games takes the round.
- The winner’s partner becomes their cheerleader, cheering them on like, “Go, [Winner’s Name]!”
- Winners find another winner to challenge, with both sets of cheerleaders supporting them.
- Keep going until the last two winners face off. Each will have a team of cheerleaders.
- The last player standing is the ultimate winner!
This game is a great addition to your team building roster because it requires no prep or materials. Plus, teams will get practice rooting for each other.
Here are some other great budget-friendly team building ideas.
4. Sneak a Peek
Sneak a Peek is a fun game that tests employees’ thinking skills and memory.
Here is how to play:
- Form teams of four or five.
- Give teams clay or Play-Doh.
- The host builds a sculpture with clay in a hidden spot.
- One player from each team looks at the sculpture for ten seconds before returning to their team to recreate the object.
- All teams have five minutes.
- The host checks the sculptures, and the most accurate one wins.
Teams collaborate, have a good laugh, and create funny clay structures together. This game is a great way to test teamwork and communication skills.
5. Caught in the Beam
Caught in the Beam is a fun game for a night out with your employees.
Here is how to play the game:
- Pick a spot with hiding places like bushes, trees, or buildings.
- Choose one player to have the flashlight.
- When the game starts, the remaining players run, and the one with the flashlight tries to catch them in the beam.
- The goal is to avoid getting caught.
- Players run and hide in different spots.
- Whoever gets caught gets the flashlight and becomes the seeker.
- The gameplay continues for as long as you would like.
This activity is a great workplace outing idea. You can encourage teamwork by helping each other hide in the dark.
6. Hooked Together
Hooked Together is a great team mindfulness activity. As one of the top fun mindfulness activities for groups, this game fosters collaboration in challenging situations.
To organize Hooked Together:
- Have employees form a large circle.
- Tie teammates together by their wrists and ankles.
- Choose an activity, such as wrapping a present, building a Lego structure, or solving a puzzle.
- Put the required items in the center of the circle.
- Set a timer for five to ten minutes.
- While tied together, teams collaborate to complete the task within the time frame.
Hooked Together promotes teamwork, laughter, and a lively atmosphere. This activity is a great icebreaker before a meeting or retreat.
7. The Wink of Death
The Wink of Death is a unique and fun game for your group.
Here is how to play:
- Gather players in a circle, and give each one a card. Only one of the cards should be a joker.
- The player with the joker is the murderer, and they secretly wink at others to “kill” them.
- The murderer’s goal is to wink at all players without getting caught.
- Players who get winked at step back.
- Players watch closely to guess the murderer.
- If participants guess incorrectly, then they are out. If players guess correctly, then they win!
- If the murderer is not caught by the end, then they win.
The Wink of Death is a fun way for team members to bond and play a guessing game!
8. Guess The Song
Guess The Song is a great team building activity that encourages employees to communicate and collaborate.
Here is how to play the game:
- Make a playlist of songs.
- Divide members into teams, and assign a leader to each team.
- Start playing the song.
- Teams must guess the title of the tune.
- To answer, only the leader of each team will raise their hand.
- The team that raises their hand first will guess.
- Teams that answer correctly get a point.
- The team with the most points at the end wins.
You can play multiple songs and record the scores on a scoreboard. Also, if one team guesses incorrectly, then you can give a chance to the second hand raised.
Here is an article on the top motivational workplace songs.
9. Chess Competition
Chess Competitions are a great intellectual challenge. These fun activities for small groups promote decision-making and strategic thinking among employees.
To facilitate this activity:
- Divide participants into two teams of six to eight players each.
- Teams decide on chess piece colors through a coin toss.
- Match players from opposing teams to play a round of chess.
- Set a 30-minute timer for each match.
- Pairs aim to win within the given time. If there is no clear winner, then the player with the most captured pieces wins.
- The team with the highest number of individual winners at the end of the time limit wins overall!
Alternatively, you can hold the games in rounds, giving teams points for each round won. Chess is one of the top ways to encourage strategic thinking in the office.
10. Paper Tower
Paper Tower is an engaging group activity! Participants build tall structures using only paper, without tape or glue.
To set up the game:
- Divide players into teams of three to four.
- Give each team several sheets of paper.
- Set a ten-minute timer for the activity.
- Teams aim to build a stable paper tower within the given time.
- If a tower crashes, then the respective team is out of the game.
- When time is up, the team with the tallest standing paper tower wins!
To add a fun twist, consider offering prizes for teams who build uniquely shaped paper towers. Also, encourage players to experiment with different patterns and styles for bonus points.
11. Body of Words
Body of Words is a team building game that fosters cooperation and teamwork. Players work together to physically form the letters of a chosen word within a time limit.
Here is how to organize the activity:
- Divide employees into teams of four to six members.
- Prepare a list of words with one fewer letter than the team size. For example, choose five-letter words for a team of six.
- Assign a word to each team.
- Set a timer for three to five minutes.
- Players form the chosen word with their bodies.
- The first team to accurately spell their word within the time limit wins!
This activity promotes teamwork and develops leadership skills among teammates.
12. Lucky Coin
Lucky Coin is an enjoyable activity for adult groups. This activity encourages team bonding through shared stories.
To organize this game:
- Collect coins from the past decade.
- Place the coins in a bowl or hat.
- Pass the bowl around for each participant to pick a coin.
- Teammates share happy memories from the year written on their chosen coin.
Ideal for new teams, Lucky Coin serves as a quick icebreaker. This game fosters engaging conversations and uncovers shared interests.
13. Charcuterie Night
Charcuterie Night is a lively team activity featuring music, customized charcuterie boards, and games.
To organize this experience:
- Set up a food station with gourmet treats, meats, crackers, and fruits.
- Play music to enhance the atmosphere.
- Divide participants into teams of three to four.
- Set a timer for three to five minutes.
- Each team assembles a charcuterie board using the provided items.
- Players vote for the most visually appealing board.
- Teams then get to eat their charcuterie boards and play games.
For a fun variation, provide charcuterie kits and bring in a chef for personalized board-making guidance. Be sure to consider dietary preferences, swapping meats for vegetables and fruits for vegetarian or vegan team members.
14. Visit a Museum
Visiting a local museum is a valuable learning experience! Employees get to learn about diverse cultures and histories.
To organize this activity:
- Choose a nearby art, science, or history museum.
- Print museum maps for each teammate to avoid getting lost.
- Teammates explore different museum sections, sharing insights and learning together.
- Consider offering branded shirts with the company name and logo for easy team recognition.
- End the tour with questions to test employees on what they learned.
This activity enhances learning, encourages team bonding, and promotes a unified team identity.
Museum Hack offers the best museum tours around!
15. Great Minds Think Alike
Great Minds Think Alike is a unique game that strengthens connections by finding folks with similar interests. This game is a great icebreaker for events.
Here is how to play:
- Give each player a pen and paper.
- Ask questions like:
- What’s your go-to summer food?
- Favorite expensive car?
- Must-have travel item?
- Beloved animated movie character?
- Players have ten seconds to jot down their first answers.
- Compare responses when the game ends.
- Players with matching answers get one point.
- The player with the most points at the end wins!
This game helps those with the same answers bond as they discuss their shared interests.
16. Three-Legged Race
A Three-Legged Race is a fun game suitable for small and large groups. In this game, teammates will race toward the finish line while being tied together.
To organize this activity:
- Find an open grass field.
- Split players into pairs.
- Tie each pair together by their legs.
- Use chalk or a cone to mark the start and finish lines.
- At the sound of a whistle, the pairs will race toward the finish line.
- The first team to reach the finish line wins the game.
Teammates need to listen to each other and communicate during this activity, as speed alone is not enough to win. If players rely only on speed, then they may fall. Strategy and team effort are important in this activity.
Check out this list of other outdoor team building activities.
17. Slide and Drink
Slide and Drink is one of the top fun activities for groups of adults! Teams go down a waterslide to reach the end and drink from bottles, making it ideal for open fields or beach settings.
To organize this experience:
- Choose an open field with fresh grass.
- Lay out a waterslide on the grass and pour on soapy water.
- Divide players into teams of three to four.
- Arrange bottles of water, soda, or beer on a table at the end of the slide.
- Players slide, grab a bottle, and finish it before the next teammate’s turn.
- The first team to finish all their assigned drinks wins.
To make this game more challenging, add a time limit of five to ten minutes. The time limit encourages teams to complete the challenge quickly.
18. Scary Storytelling
Telling spooky tales encourages team bonding and allows members to share their experiences with colleagues.
In this activity, you can ask all participants to come prepared with a real-life paranormal incident they faced. Alternatively, teams can discuss their favorite fictional ghost story. Then, all members will sit in a circle and share their stories turn by turn. You can make the environment more spooky by turning off the lights and giving one flashlight to the storyteller, who will put the light beam under their face while talking.
By the end of the activity, employees will learn a lot about their coworkers through their experiences. This exercise is perfect for the Halloween season!
19. Bottle Flip Challenge
Bottle Flip Challenge is a simple and entertaining activity that tests endurance and critical-thinking skills.
To organize the Bottle Flip Challenge:
- Set up a table with various foods, like grilled meat, snacks, or pizza.
- Fill a plastic bottle halfway with water.
- The first player flips the bottle, aiming to stand it up on the table. If it falls, then the next player takes a turn.
- Once a player flips the bottle, they can eat from the food table until another teammate succeeds. The objective is for players to eat as much as possible.
- The teammate with the most successful bottle flips at the end wins.
You can customize the buffet based on preferences and allergies. The Bottle Flip Challenge is a fun way to eat snacks, laugh, and test players’ agility.
Conclusion
Fun activities for groups are engaging activities that employees can use to get to know each other better, form stronger bonds, and build good friendships outside work. In addition, these activities promote teamwork and help workers engage better with each other. For example, the teammates can visit locations in their city and learn about its history or visit an arcade arena to play games. Colleagues can also organize fun activities and challenges to play together.
Next, check out small group team building activities and ways to have fun at work.