19 Online Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Adults

Here is our list of the best online scavenger hunt ideas for adults.

Online scavenger hunt ideas for adults are tips and tricks for a virtual activity where players find specific items and complete challenges in a given timeframe. Examples include photo challenges, riddles, and award ceremonies. The purpose of these activities is to promote team building and problem-solving while allowing employees to have fun at work.

These ideas are similar to remote employee engagement ideas, online game night ideas, and online party games.

This list includes:

• funny Zoom scavenger hunt lists for adults
• free online treasure hunt games
• scavenger hunt ideas for remote employees
• creative online treasure hunt ideas
• remote scavenger hunts for work

Here we go!

List of online scavenger hunt ideas for adults

Online scavenger hunts are the perfect team building activity for your remote team. Here are our top online scavenger hunt ideas for adults.

1. YouTube video list

Hosting a YouTube video scavenger hunt is a lively way to engage friends or colleagues online. For this scavenger hunt, ask teammates to find links for videos fitting a set of guidelines.

Here is an example of what teams could look for:

• A funny cat video with over a million views
• A tutorial for learning a new dance move
• A short documentary about an interesting topic
• A popular music video released in the last month
• A TED Talk on an inspiring subject
• A video showing a unique life hack
• An animated short film
• A cover of a well-known song performed by an amateur musician
• A science experiment or demonstration
• A trailer for an upcoming movie

Internet-savvy colleagues will have a great time going head-to-head in this YouTube-themed contest!

2. QR code list

Organizing a QR code scavenger hunt is an interactive way to keep participants on their toes. To host this experience, create a series of QR codes, each leading to a different clue, challenge, or piece of information. Participants use their smartphones or tablets to scan codes and reveal the next step in the hunt.

Here are some examples of what the codes could lead to:

• A riddle or puzzle
• A trivia question about the host’s favorite movie
• A virtual escape room challenge
• A short video message from the host
• A secret code or cipher to solve
• A funny meme or image
• A hidden clue in an online document
• A surprise bonus challenge
• A playlist of recommended songs
• A virtual museum tour

You could hide QR codes in all sorts of digital spaces, like social media, company websites, and internal communication channels or documents.

3. Sound scavenger hunt

A sound scavenger hunt challenges participants to use their senses to solve the clues! During this experience, play clips from songs, movies, or nature. Then, participants must find links to the source of the sound.

Here are some examples of sounds you could play:

• The sound of a lightsaber
• The roar of a specific movie monster, like Godzilla
• A movie character’s distinctive laugh
• The theme song from an animated film
• A specific musical instrument
• The opening chords of a well-known song
• A snippet from a famous classical composition
• Birdsong from a specific bird species
• The call of a nocturnal animal, like an owl or cricket
• The buzzing of bees or other insects
• The distant howl of a wolf or coyote

This scavenger hunt is an engaging way to challenge participants’ listening skills and memories.

4. Virtual geography hunt

Going on a virtual geography hunt is a fantastic way to explore the world from the comfort of your home. You can start by making a list of countries, landmarks, or geographical features. Then, give clues that lead participants to discover and learn about them online. Participants can use search engines, online maps, and virtual tours to find the answers.

Here are some examples of geographical locations:

• The capital city of Brazil
• The tallest mountain in Africa
• The longest river in South America
• The location of the Great Barrier Reef
• The northernmost country in Europe
• The largest desert in the world
• The southernmost point of Africa
• The birthplace of the Renaissance in Italy

This scavenger hunt promotes geographical knowledge and helps participants virtually travel.

5. Out-of-office list

If you are looking for funny Zoom scavenger hunt lists for adults, then we recommend creating an out-of-office scavenger hunt list. This scavenger hunt list aims to have employees search for items associated with vacation and time off. To make this list fun for players, we recommend incorporating home office supplies and items you would take with you on vacation.

Here are a few items to include in your out-of-office scavenger hunt list:

• 2023 calendar
• Plane ticket
• Travel pillow
• Hawaiian shirt
• Beach towel
• Souvenir from a past trip
• Postcard from a tropical location
• ​Travel-sized toiletries
• ​Carry-on luggage
• ​Digital camera
• ​Hand sanitizer wipes
• Headphones ​

The right items can make employees feel like they are preparing to leave their home office for a relaxing vacation.

6. Self-care list

A self-care treasure hunt is one of the best remote scavenger hunts for work. For this theme, incorporate various wellness items, such as candles, face masks, and essential oils. You can also award a spa gift card to the scavenger hunt winner.

Here are a few more objects to include in your self-care scavenger hunt list:

• Self-help book
• Adult coloring book
• Crayons
• Hand sanitizer
• Framed family photo
• Spa face mask
• Sleeping mask
• Weighted blanket
• Bathrobe
• Candle
• Bottle of essential oil
• Bath salts

Creating a list of items for a self-care scavenger hunt is a great reminder of employees’ everyday self-care items in their homes. Finding these items can encourage employees to put these items to use and practice more self-care in their personal lives.

7. Ultimate challenge list

If you want your teammates to get moving, then we recommend hosting an ultimate-challenge-themed scavenger hunt. The objective of this scavenger hunt is to have players complete challenging activities. This exercise is among the best free online treasure hunt games.

Here are a few tasks to add to your ultimate challenge scavenger hunt list:

• Recreate a popular TikTok dance
• Do a handstand
• Record a weather report from your window
• Make the craziest face in a selfie
• Greet a delivery driver in your neighborhood
• Make an ice cream sundae with one unique ingredient
• Move around the furniture in your home office
• Recreate a popular meme
• Wear a winter coat and a summer hat

Creating an ultimate challenge-themed scavenger hunt is an excellent way for employees to show their creativity while getting active.

8. Holiday-themed list

If you want to bring your team together during the holiday season, then creating a holiday-themed list is one of the best scavenger hunt ideas for remote employees.

Here are a few items to include in your holiday-themed scavenger hunt list:

• Candy cane
• Santa hat
• Wrapped gift with a bow
• Menora
• Homemade pie
• Egg nog
• Ugly sweater
• Homemade ornament
• Champagne flute
• Noisemaker

Keeping your remote team connected during the holiday season can be difficult. Hosting a holiday-themed scavenger hunt is a great way to bring employees together for a fun activity during a joyous season.

9. Fitness list

One of the best scavenger hunt themes is a fitness theme. A fitness scavenger hunt aims to have players search for objects related to exercise. In addition, you can also have players get active by having them complete tasks like jumping jacks and push-ups.

Here are some items to include in your fitness-themed scavenger hunt list:

• Yoga mat
• Five-pound dumbbell
• Baseball cap
• Boxing gloves
• 32-ounce water bottle
• Protein powder
• Do 50 jumping jacks
• Take a quick walk around your neighborhood
• Choreograph a 60-second dance routine
• Do five push-ups

Hosting a fitness-themed scavenger hunt can get employees moving and motivate them to be more active. We suggest awarding a gym membership to the winner of this scavenger hunt.

10. Search the web list

One of the best remote scavenger hunts for work is an internet theme. The objective of this scavenger hunt theme is to have employees search the web for information related to your company.

Here are a few items to include in your internet scavenger hunt list:

• Mission and values statement on the company website
• The company CEO’s LinkedIn profile
• YouTube interview with a company employee from 2020
• Job posting for a digital marketing manager at your company
• The company CMO’s Twitter profile
• A link to the company handbook
• Company blog post from 2021
• A company social media post from 2019
• List of employee benefits
• A five-star customer review
• A one-star customer review

Putting together a list of information and details related to your company is a great way for employees to become familiar with the company’s online presence.

11. Chef’s list

If you are hosting your event during lunch, we recommend holding a chef-themed scavenger hunt. This list consists of items that are commonly found in kitchens.

Here are some objects to include in your chef’s scavenger hunt list:

• Your  favorite  snack
• Traditional food from your culture
• Your favorite bottle of wine
• A sentimental item in your kitchen
• Your go-to cookbook
• Takeout menu from your favorite restaurant
• Your daily coffee flavor
• Your most used spice
• ​A food that is always in your kitchen

At the end of your hunt, bring players together to share their findings on Zoom. A chef-themed scavenger hunt can inspire employees to try new foods after seeing their teammates’ kitchen items.

12. Photo challenge

Scavenger hunts are the perfect opportunity to get team members away from their desks. We recommend hosting a photo challenge scavenger hunt where players use their phones to take pictures of unique items.

Here are a few tasks to include as part of your photo challenge scavenger hunt:

• Your favorite coffee or tea mug
• The view from your desk
• Your most recent meal
• Photo with a stop sign
• Selfie with your pet
• Local landmark
• Water fountain
• Your favorite blanket
• Snow boots
• DVD collection
• Filled bookcase

A photo challenge is a unique way for employees to share their photography skills and get to know one another. Plus, your team members can enjoy snapping photos and making new memories. These games make the best online scavenger hunt ideas because your team will be left with mementos of the fun.

13. Funny riddles and clues

If you are looking for creative online treasure hunt ideas, then we recommend using riddles and clues. As part of this theme, develop various riddles that guide players to a specific object in their home. If the player finds the correct object, they receive one point for correctly solving the riddle.

Here are some riddles and clues to include in your online treasure hunt:

• The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
  • Answer: Footsteps.
• What has keys but cannot open locks?
  • Answer: A piano.
• I fly without wings. I cry without eyes. Wherever I go, darkness follows me. What am I?
  • Answer: A cloud.
• The person who makes it sells it. The person who buys it never uses it. What is it?
  • Answer: A coffin.
• I’m tall when I’m young and short when I’m old. What am I?
  • Answer: A candle.
• I have cities but no houses. I have mountains but no trees. I have water but no fish. What am I?
  • Answer: A map.
• What has a heart that doesn’t beat?
  • Answer: An artichoke.
• What has a head and a tail, is brown, and has no legs?
  • Answer: A penny.

Adding riddles to your scavenger hunt is the best way for players to think critically while building their problem-solving skills.

Tips for hosting an online scavenger hunt

Hosting scavenger hunts online is one of the top ways to bond with your team. Below are some tips to help you create and run a successful hunt.

1. Themed email invitations

Creating exciting email invitations is one of the best ways to get team members pumped about a scavenger hunt. Your invitations should include essential details like meeting links and the game’s basic rules.

We recommend making your game a themed event and asking players to dress according to the theme. For example, a holiday-themed game might motivate players to wear ugly sweaters, whereas a sports-themed game might encourage employees to wear their favorite jerseys. Incorporating a theme into your invitation is a great way to get team members engaged and excited before the fun begins.

2. Host with the most

When organizing your scavenger hunt, one of the most important steps is to assign a host to the activity. The host’s responsibility is to make sure the game runs smoothly. From managing the Zoom meeting to keeping players engaged, your host is essential to your game. For example, at the beginning of the game, the host explains the scavenger hunt rules, so team members know how to play. At the end of the game, the host helps add up points and determine the winner.

Your scavenger hunt host should be an organized and outgoing team member who can effectively lead a group of employees through a fun game experience.

3. Round rules

There are many ways to structure and organize your scavenger hunt. We recommend splitting your game into different rounds and adding up points after each round. For example, you can assign five items to one round and then give players five minutes to explore their homes searching for those items. At the end of five minutes, have all players regroup on camera to show their items to team members. Players will receive one point for each item.

​Splitting your game into different rounds is a great way to break up the activity and keep players active.

4. Scav Slack channel

If you want to build excitement while informing participants of updates, we recommend creating a Slack channel. The topic of your Slack channel should be your upcoming scavenger hunt. For example, you could name the track #2023-Company-Scav.

In this channel, employees can compete, taunting each other and boasting about their accomplishments. In addition, the game’s host can use the medium to remind players of time limits and game rules.

Hosts can also use the Slack channel to get tricky and add extra challenges to the scavenger hunt. For example, halfway through the game, the host can send a message that reads: “@channel – Great job so far! With 25 minutes left on the clock ⏱️, here’s a new challenge: Head outside and snap a picture of a broken traffic light ?. This task is tricky, so whoever can complete this challenge gets an extra 20 points. Good luck!”

Organizing your game into a designated Slack channel is one of the best online scavenger hunt ideas.

5. Award ceremony

One of the best ways to keep players engaged is by providing incentives. The opportunity to win valuable prizes will motivate players to participate and win.

Here are a few examples of fun prizes:

• Digital gift card to Starbucks or Dunkin’
• One extra day of PTO
• Gym membership
• Subscription to the Calm meditation app
• Free e-book
• Amazon gift card
• Company T-shirt
• Cash

At the end of your scavenger hunt, you can host an award ceremony where you give prizes to first-, second-, and third-place winners and runner-ups. Awards are a great way to boost excitement for this team building activity.

6. Activity reflection

After your scavenger hunt, reflect on the experience with attendees. During this time, you can ask for feedback and initial thoughts from players who have completed the game.

Here are a few questions to ask participants as they reflect on their experience:

• Rate your scavenger hunt experience on a scale of one to ten.
• Which object was the most difficult to find?
• Which object was the easiest to find?
• What rules would you change for future scavenger hunts?
• Do you feel closer to your teammates after completing this activity?
• Did you enjoy participating in the online scavenger hunt?

Reflecting on the activity and collecting feedback from participants can help you improve your game for future players.

Conclusion

Online scavenger hunts are an exciting way to bring your employees together for a fun team building game. Plus, this activity can help your employees be active and avoid their desks. The best part about hosting an online scavenger hunt is that you will face little to no costs. This activity is an inexpensive way to boost your team’s morale through a fun activity.

Next, check out our lists of online games for large groups, online game show ideas, and Microsoft Teams games for online offices.