Remote and Hybrid Team Building
A new era of work-life balance is upon us. In recent years, there has been a surge in the popularity of remote working. Thanks to advances in technology, it's now possible for people to work from anywhere in the world, and many companies are starting to see the benefits of this arrangement.
For starters, remote working can lead to increased productivity. With no commute and fewer distractions, workers can focus more on their work and get more done in their day. Additionally, remote working can save companies money. They don't have to provide office space or subsidize commuting costs. And they can also tap into a global talent pool. A significant factor of being able to work from anywhere is being able to have a better work-life balance. Workers can have more control over their time and how they use it, leading to improved mental health and overall well-being. It's no wonder that remote working is becoming more and more popular each year.
As more companies go remote or hybrid, teams across the globe look for ways to stay connected with colleagues. Giving employees a sense of belonging is essential since virtual teams are far from each other. Team building exercises help establish bonds inside and outside of the workplace. Online team-building games are necessary to retain company culture across remote teams, especially since remote working has become popular. Soon you’ll see 28 virtual office game ideas to help your company stay connected.
Why Remote Working is so Popular
Remote work is here to stay. According to their projections, 25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022, and remote opportunities will continue to increase through 2023.

Since remote working is becoming more and more popular, it is vital to make sure that your company is still providing a great work environment. Building company culture is crucial in keeping employees happy and connected. Working remotely may get lonely sometimes, but if you check in on your coworkers and provide activities for teams to get to know each other, your company culture will be more robust.

Productivity is Increased
The most significant benefit to employers would be the increased productivity of their employees. A study done by Staples Advantage found that telecommuters are 26% more productive than their in-office counterparts.
Bryan Robinson from Forbes stated, “In a study of over 500 office workers, we found that those who work from home are actually 26% more productive than their in-office counterparts. The results also showed that 88% feel they can get their best work done outside the office and 80% would take a pay cut to telecommute full time.”
With no need to physically be in the office, employees can take care of their work with more energy and flexibility in their schedules. This improved productivity can lead to a more efficient workplace, and fewer wasted hours.
Flexible Schedules
One of the best things about working remotely is that it allows for more flexible schedules. According to a survey by Owl Labs, 79% of remote workers say they have a better work-life balance since they started working remotely. Flexible schedules are great for remote workers because it helps them feel like they have more control over their time. It also allows them to be more productive when working, leading to improved results and better quality projects to be completed. Employees can easily balance their work with other commitments by working remotely, and this increased flexibility can lead to a more productive and satisfied workforce.
Hire Top Candidates
Since remote work is becoming more popular, it opens up the pool of potential candidates for companies. Companies are no longer limited to hiring people who live close to their offices. This can help to improve the quality of the workforce, as well as diversity. Diversity helps to promote creativity and new perspectives, which overall plays a massive role in team-building exercises. With new thoughts and ideas shared, a diverse workforce can help create more well-rounded teams.
Employers can widen their pool of potential candidates by offering remote work opportunities. This can lead to hiring the best and brightest employees who may not have been available otherwise.
Decrease Stress
Remote working can help to decrease stress levels for employees. One major source of stress that’s eliminated by being remote is commuting to and from work. Employees also have more control over their environment, which can lead to a more relaxed workday. Decreased stress levels are important for remote workers because it helps them be more productive and efficient and increases overall happiness in their day to day lives.
Less Commute Time
Since remote workers are not commuting to and from an office, they have more time to focus on their work. This can include spending time with family, working on hobbies, or taking care of errands. This is important for remote workers because it helps them have a better work-life balance. It also helps be more productive when they are working because they are not wasting time commuting.
Why Team Building Is Important
With the rise of remote work, there has also been a need for more virtual office games that help with team building for remote workers. Just because people are working remotely doesn't mean they can't have fun and bond with their colleagues. In fact, there are many online team-building games that can be just as effective as in-person team-building exercises.

Enhance Company Culture
When it comes to company culture, there are a few things to consider when working with remote and hybrid teams. One of the most important is that company culture should be designed to work for everyone, no matter where they are located. This means that team members should feel like they are part of a cohesive unit, even if they are not in the same physical space.
There are a few ways to achieve this. One is to make sure that company culture is based on core values that everyone can agree on. These values should be something that everyone can get behind, regardless of their location. Team members should be encouraged to connect with each other online. This can be done through virtual office softwares mixed with asynchronous communication. By staying connected, team members will feel like they are part of a larger group, even if they are not in the same place.
Retaining Employees
Company culture is also important for keeping team members happy and engaged with their work. When team members feel like they belong to a positive and supportive community, they are more likely to stay with the company long term. This can be especially helpful for companies that have a remote or hybrid workforce. By creating a strong company culture, companies can ensure that their team members feel valued and appreciated, no matter where they are located.
Pros and Cons of Remote Working
Pros of Remote Work
The pros of remote work are many. For one, it gives you more flexibility to live the life you want. If you want to take time off to travel or spend time with family, you can do so without stressing about work life balance. Additionally, remote work can help reduce stress levels because you're not stuck in traffic on your way to work or dealing with a stressful office environment. You’re able to choose your environment and still stay connected with your colleagues throughout the day with virtual workspaces and asynchronous communication tools.
Cons of Remote Work
A downside to remote work includes feeling a sense of isolation from time to time. This can be prevented by getting a virtual office tool that brings back the socialization and camaraderie that comes with working in a physical office environment. It's important to make your remote teams stay connected with fun activities throughout the week and still have impromptu moments to chat with their coworkers.
Pros and Cons of Hybrid Working
Pros of Hybrid Work
There are several pros to hybrid work. A big pro of going hybrid is that it can save you a lot of time and money. With a hybrid work arrangement, you can complete some work at home and some work in the office. This can be helpful if you have a long commute or if you need to save money on childcare costs.
Hybrid work can help you stay organized and focused. When you have a designated work space at home and specific hours for working, you are less likely to procrastinate or become distracted. Your work-life balance can be improved as well. By working from home some days, you can reduce the stress that comes with working long hours or traveling for work. Hybrid work can make you more productive by allowing short breaks throughout the day to run errands or take a walk. This will help you zone in on your tasks to accomplish them without having to worry about life tasks that get in the way.
Cons of Hybrid Work
There are also a few cons to consider when weighing the pros and cons of hybrid work. You may find yourself becoming distracted when working at home, but this can easily be fixed if you have the right tools. Virtual offices help you stay in touch with coworkers throughout the day to help complete tasks or get questions answered if you’re stuck.

How to Build Camaraderie Across Remote Teams
When working with remote teams, it is important to create a sense of camaraderie among team members. This can be done in a few ways:
1. Organize team-bonding activities.
Get the team together for a video call and play some games, or have them all take part in a scavenger hunt. You could also have everyone make a team video or send each other funny memes. Anything that will help team members feel like they are part of a group will help improve communication and collaboration.
2. Establish shared goals.
Make sure everyone on the team is aware of the goals of the project and how their individual tasks contribute to the overall goal. When people feel like they are working towards something larger than themselves, they are more likely to feel invested in the project and work collaboratively.
3. Use tools that promote communication.
There are many tools available that can help remote teams communicate better. Virtual office softwares, like Kumospace, task managers, and file-sharing programs can all help ensure that everyone is kept up-to-date on what is happening within the team and has easy access to the information they need.
23 Best Virtual Game Ideas for Team Building
Kumospace is a great virtual office software to utilize in online games for team building. The great part about this virtual workspace is that there are several games already built in and custom items which you can add in your own game links. That way, everything is accessible from the comfort of your own virtual office.
1. Where Do You Stand?
The online team building game, “Where Do You Stand?” is a great way for people to get to know each other’s opinions better in a fun and interactive way. The game can be played with medium to large sized groups and is a good way to get everyone moving around the virtual office. The game can vary in time depending on how many questions you use; in general allow for 5-15 minutes as a good range. This online team building game is a great way to break the ice and get everyone interacting with each other in a fun and positive way.
When playing online in your virtual office, you will need to create three sections for team members to sit. On one extreme side of the room will be one opinion, and on the other extreme side of the room will be the opposite opinion. Make sure there is enough space for people to sit in the three sections.
You will then ask everyone several questions and they will respond by standing somewhere in the room according to their opinion based on the question. For example, if you ask people “chicken tenders? or chicken nuggets?” people will stand on the left hand side if they strongly prefer chicken tenders, and they will stand on the right hand side if they strongly prefer chicken nuggets. If they are neutral, they will stand in the middle.
This game is a great way to get to know your team members and learn about their opinions on various topics. It's also a lot of fun!
2. Virtual Chess
Looking for a fun way to stay connected with your coworkers or friends? Why not try online chess?! Kumospace's online chess feature lets you play against others or the computer, making it a great way to bond with others or challenge yourself. And there's no need to worry if you're not a skilled chess player; there are options for players of all levels. So whether you're a newbie or a pro, online chess is a great way to have some fun and stay sharp with your team.

3. NY Times Mini Crossword Puzzle
The NY Times Mini Crossword Puzzle is a great way to bond with your coworkers and have some friendly competition. The 5×5 puzzle is perfect for a quick break in your day. You can share your time results with each other to see who the fastest solver is or you can also work together to solve the puzzle as a team-building exercise. Either way, this online game is a great way to spend a few minutes with your coworkers.
Plus, it's completely free to play! You can easily place the link in your Kumospace virtual office and start your morning off with this crossword puzzle.
4. Tetris (AKA Puzzle Game)
Tetris is a classic video game that has been around for decades. It's a simple yet addictive game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The aim of the game is to fill up a line at the bottom of the screen with Tetris blocks. You can move the blocks around and rotate them, and the faster you can do it, the more points you'll score. The challenge lies in making sure that the blocks don't build up too high, as this will make it more difficult to place new ones. Tetris is a great game for online team-building exercises or virtual office game ideas, as it requires strategic thinking and quick reflexes.
In Kumospace, Tetris is called Puzzle Game. You can drag your puzzle game into your virtual office from the edit tab.

5. Two Truths and a Lie
Most people are familiar with the game Two Truths and a Lie, but in case you're not, here's how it works: everyone gets in a circle or close proximity in the virtual office. One by one, each person in the circle says three statements about him/herself. Two of the statements must be "truths," and one must be a lie. The other team members then try to guess which statement is the lie.
This is a great game for remote teams, as it helps everyone learn a little bit more about their coworkers' interests and backgrounds. So if you're looking for ways to build team morale and cohesion, online team-building games are a great option.
6. Video Charades
If you're looking for a fun online game to play with your team, charades is a great option. The objective of the game is for your team to guess the word that you are acting out, as quickly as possible. You can use any type of body language or props to help convey the meaning of the word, but you cannot speak. The other members of your team will take turns trying to guess the word, and for each word that they guessed correctly, your team will earn one point. The game is played for five rounds, and at the end of the game, the team with the most points wins.
Charades is a great way to promote teamwork and communication within your team, and it's also a lot of fun. So if you're looking for a new online game to try out, charades is a great option.
7. Globle
If you're looking for online team-building games, Globle is a great option. Every day, there is a new mystery country, and your goal is to guess the right answer using the fewest number of guesses. Each incorrect guess appears on the globe with a color that indicates how close you are to the Mystery Country. The hotter (redder) the color, the closer you are to the answer. This makes for a fun and challenging game that's perfect for virtual office game ideas. It’s free to play, so you might as well screen share with your team to figure out the country of the day.

8. Scavenger Hunt
Kumospace is a great way to get your team working together and having fun. Using the custom image tool, you can hide items in your virtual office for your teammates to find. The first one to take a picture with all the items on the list wins. You can also split up into teams and the first team to take a picture with each item wins. Kumospace is a great way to bond with your teammates and get everyone working together. Thanks Kumospace!
9. Can you hear me now?
"Can You Hear Me Now?" is one of the best online team building games. It is perfect for people who work in a remote environment to work together and have a little fun. The gameplay is simple. You play this game in a virtual office software, like Kumospace, and nominate one person to be the speaker. The rest of the team members are artists. The speaker uses a random image generator to source a suitable image, and the goal is to describe that image in such a way that the artists can draw it successfully. The artists then have to interpret the description and recreate the image as accurately as possible. "Can You Hear Me Now?" is an excellent way to improve communication skills and can be a great way to build camaraderie amongst employees!
10. Wordle
Wordle is a great online team building game that challenges you to guess a five-letter word in six attempts. Each time you guess, you're told which of your chosen letters are in the target word, and whether they are in the right place. And that's it. You can play Wordle on the New York Times Games site. The object of the game is to guess the five-letter word in as few guesses as possible. To make things more challenging, you're only told which of your chosen letters are in the target word, and whether they are in the right place. This makes Wordle a great game for testing your deductive reasoning skills. So gather up your team and see if you can crack the code!
11. Hangman on the Virtual Whiteboard
Hangman is a classic game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The basic premise is simple: one player thinks of a word, and the other player tries to guess it by guessing letters. If the letter is in the word, the first player writes it in; if it's not, they write it out. The game continues until the second player either guesses the word correctly or runs out of chances. So next time you're looking for a quick game to play with your coworkers, give hangman a try - you might be surprised at how addictive it can be!
The best part of using virtual office software, like Kumospace, is that you can play with your coworkers while using the virtual whiteboard. The whiteboard allows all players to see the hangman screen, while sitting at the comfort of their own homes. The virtual whiteboard is very useful for remote teams, but adding a little fun to it is perfect to keep the energy high and company culture golden.

12. Virtual Trivia
If you're looking for a fun way to spend some time with your coworkers, virtual trivia is a great option. There are plenty of trivia generators online that you can use to create your own custom trivia game. The one from Let's Roam allows you to personalize the questions based on your team's interests and knowledge. Trivia is a great way to bond with your colleagues and have some fun competition. So get creative and see who knows the most about geography, music, pop culture, and more.
13. The Hat Game
The Hat game is a great way to improve your team-building skills and have some fun with your coworkers. The object of the game is to guess as many words as possible in 60 seconds. The player who guesses the most words wins the game.
The game is played by choosing a number of words, 5-10 nouns, and writing them down on small pieces of paper. These papers are then placed in a hat. The players then split into pairs and move into a circle in the virtual office, alternating who describes and guesses the words after each full circle. The host sends a Private Chat to the person whose turn it is to describe the word to their partner. When they guess a word, they are sent the next word per private chat. If they cannot guess the word within 60 seconds, it is the next pair's turn. The host keeps the scores and declares the winner at the end of the game. "The Hat" is a great way to improve your teamwork and have some fun at the same time.
14. Bingo
Bingo is one of the most popular games in the world, and for a good reason. It's easy to learn, and can be played during team-building events for your company. Plus, it's a great way to socialize and have some fun with coworkers you may typically not work with daily. With the advent of technology, there are even more ways to enjoy bingo. One of the most popular is to play virtual bingo. With Bingo Maker, you can host a game with as many players as you like and even personalize the Bingo board to make it work-friendly. So if you're looking for a fun way to include the whole team or want to try something new, virtual bingo is worth checking out.

15. Codenames
Codenames is a team-based game that pits two groups against each other in a race to see who can correctly guess all of the Codenames cards. Each team has its designated clue giver, whose job is to get their teammates to guess all the cards correctly. The key to the game is that each card has a word on it, so players have to associate all of the words on their team's cards using other words. One of the game's biggest challenges is that clues can only be one word and can't be proper nouns. However, this challenge is what makes the game so fun and addictive. Players must get creative with their clues to lead their team to victory.
You can find Codenames in Kumospace’s virtual office for free. Click the Edit tab on the right side of the screen and open up “Customize Floor” with a list of options. Select the “Activities” dropdown, and click the red game board with a wolf's drawing labeled 'Word Guess!'. Drag and drop it into your Kumospace. Check out Kumospace Codenames guide.
16. Skribbl
Skribbl is a multiplayer online drawing and guessing game. Players take turns drawing and guessing words, intending to earn points by correctly guessing words before the time runs out. The game can be played with up to 12 players at a time, and there is also an option for single-player mode in case team members want to practice ahead of time. To play Skribbl online, you can create a private game with coworkers. Once you have joined a game, you will be assigned a word to draw. You can use the tools provided to illustrate the word, and other players will have to guess what the word is. If someone guesses correctly, they will earn points. The game ends when the timer runs out or when all words have been guessed. Skribbl is a great way to improve your drawing skills or simply have some fun with your teammates.
17. Rock the Basket
Rock the Basket is easy to play, and all your coworkers will laugh in no time. To start, the host will need to count the number of players and add one less chair into Kumospace. Once everyone is seated, except for the host, the game can begin. The host will start by making a "call-out." The call-out can be any statement referring to the players' lives, personality, achievements, attire—anything that a person can identify. For example, they might call out: "everyone wearing a red shirt, rock the basket." When the call-out happens, everyone wearing a red shirt and the person who made the call-out will need to get up from their chair and quickly find a new seat. The slowest player will no longer have a chair, which makes them the new caller! This game will surely get your team members laughing and interacting with one another in no time.
18. Jackbox
Looking for a fun and easy way to liven up your next virtual office party? Jackbox games are the perfect solution! These multiplayer games can be played via a web browser, making them ideal for virtual get-togethers or used for remote team bonding activities. Plus, with a wide variety of titles to choose from, there's sure to be a game that everyone will enjoy. Here's how to get started:
- Visit jackbox.tv on your computer or download the Jackbox Games app on your mobile device.
- Choose the game you want to play from the selection on the homepage.
- Enter the code that appears on your screen into the box labeled "Your Room Code."
- Click "Play."
- Follow the prompts to begin playing the game!
With just a few clicks, you'll be ready to start playing some of the most popular party games around. So gather up your colleagues and get ready for some remote team bonding!
19. Bang Bang!
Bang Bang is a fun and interactive way to have fun with your remote colleagues. By using your virtual office, like Kumospace, Bang Bang will be super easy to set up.
The game Bang Bang begins when the host randomly sends a secret chat to one player, telling them that they are killer. Since the host knows who the killer is, he/she must sit out during the round since everyone else already knows that they are not the killer.
As the killer moves around the floor and gets close to somebody, they must say: “Bang bang, you’re dead!”. It’s important that nobody else can hear the killer as they say this. Once you’re killed, you need to indirectly move to “the morgue”, which is the plant-fenced square in the center of the floor as the killer continues to kill other teammates.
If you suspect who the killer is when you are still alive, you can use the Broadcast feature at any time and accuse the suspect of being the killer. If you say the wrong person, you’ll be dead and will have to go to the morgue. If you are right, the game starts over.
The old killer sits out the next round, but not before sending a secret chat to the new killer.
For more information on how to play Bang Bang, check out this video.
20. Among Us
Over the past couple of years, the virtual game Among Us got popular. You can now play Among Us on Kumospace. To begin, all colleagues must download the Among Us app, and create a private game for your entire team. One player will be called the "imposter." Their goal is to kill their crew members one by one slyly. The surviving crew members meet up after they die to look at theories about the imposter and who the imposter could be. At the end, they vote for who they think the imposter is.
This virtual game can be played with a group of 4 to 10 people. It is perfect to step away from work and hang out with your remote team.
21. Sidewalk Tag
This online virtual game is a fun and interactive way for your remote team to take a break and let loose. The game of Sidewalk Tag is simple. The first person who’s “It” must then move around the floor to tag the next person, who will replace the first person as “It”. In Kumospace’s version, all players must stay on the sidewalks created.
Pro Tip: Switch the audio setting to Entire Floor in Kumospace so you can hear all the players at the same time.
22. Spies & Assassins
In Spies & Assassins, the organizer assigns people to specific roles and teams within Kumospace. Players move around the space and try to discover if the player they get close to are either opposing team members or friendly spies while using a special code word. When a player meets an assassin then they “die” and have to stay in the spot where they “fell” in Kumospace. You can find the playbook for Spies & Assassins online in Kumospace here.
23. Alphabet Acrobats
Alphabet Acrobats should be played in a virtual office, like Kumospace, and is perfect for groups of 8 or more people. If there are more than 16 people, you can choose to split up into two teams and make a competition out of it. The first team to finish the task first wins.
The objective of the game is to make a letter with your avatars. The host shouts out a random letter and the players need to get into the formation of that specific letter as fast as they can. The last person still moving will have to take the hosts place and shout out the next letter.
Here are video instructions for more information on how to play Alphabet Acrobats in Kumospace.
Other Ways to Encourage Online Team Building
Checking in on coworkers, having impromptu run-ins, and being aware of team dynamics and culture are all great ways to help teams work better together.

Check-In with Your Colleagues
Checking in on coworkers can help you stay connected to their progress and see how they are doing. This can be as simple as sending a quick email or text message every day or every other day. If you notice that someone is struggling, you can reach out and offer assistance.
Have Impromptu Run-Ins
Having impromptu run-ins is another way to stay connected to your team. This can be as simple as walking by someone’s desk or stopping by their office for a quick chat. These interactions can help build relationships and allow you to get to know your coworkers better.
Build Team Dynamics And Culture
Knowing team dynamics and culture is another vital way to encourage online team building. It’s essential to understand the dynamics of your team so that you can best support them. You also need to be aware of the company culture to ensure that your team is heading in the right direction.