20 Fun & Cheap Group Activities Ideas: Team Building for Work Place, Outdoor, and More.

Strong teams aren’t built at luxury resorts or pricey offsites. Turns out, it’s the simple stuff that matters most. According to Harvard Business Review, teams that regularly connect through bonding activities see a 25% boost in productivity and feel more satisfied at work.

Whether your team’s remote, hybrid, or working side-by-side in the office, low-cost group activities can spark creativity, strengthen trust, and lift morale — all without stretching the budget.

In this guide, we’re sharing 20 fun and affordable group activities that work for teams of any size. From quick games before a meeting to creative virtual challenges, every idea here is designed to be simple, engaging, and easy to run.

Free & Fun Group Activities You Can Do Anywhere

Looking for quick ways to break the ice, boost energy, or just have some fun with your team? These free group activities require little to no setup and can be done virtually or in person — anytime, anywhere.

1. Two Truths and a Lie

   - Time: 5–10 minutes
   - You’ll Need: Nothing

This classic icebreaker never gets old. Each person shares two true things and one made-up one about themselves, while the rest of the team tries to guess which one’s not real. It always leads to a few laughs and helps people learn something unexpected. Perfect for quick intros or warm-ups.

2. Office Trivia Showdown

   - Time: 15–20 minutes
   - You’ll Need: A few trivia questions

Turn your next meeting or Zoom call into a mini quiz game. Break the team into small groups and run a few rounds of trivia based on pop culture, company history, or random fun facts. Use a simple scorekeeper or online tool to keep track. It’s light, competitive, and easy to set up.

3. 5-Minute Story Chain

   - Time: 5 minutes
   - You’ll Need: Just your team

Someone starts a story with a single sentence, then each person adds to it one by one. It usually takes a funny turn pretty quickly. This is a fast, creative way to get everyone thinking on their feet — and it helps sharpen listening skills, too.

4. Paper Tower Challenge

   - Time: 10–15 minutes
   - You’ll Need: Printer paper, tape, scissors (optional)

Split into small teams and give everyone the same materials. The goal? Build the tallest paper tower in under 10 minutes — no leaning on furniture allowed. It’s fast-paced, a little chaotic, and a fun way to energize the group.

5. Icebreaker Question Roundtable

   - Time: 5–10 minutes
   - You’ll Need: A list of prompts

Kick things off with a quick round of icebreaker questions. Go around the team and ask things like “What was your first job?” or “What’s a food you love that most people think is weird?” It’s simple, relaxed, and a great way to get conversations started.

For more ideas, check out these ice breaker questions for team meetings.

Low-Cost and Free In-Office Activities

Need a break from screens without breaking the bank? These low-cost and free in-office activities are perfect for sparking creativity, laughter, and team spirit right where you work.

6. Themed Dress-Up Day

   - Time: All day (passive)
   - You’ll Need: Costumes or props (totally optional)

Pick a theme — maybe it’s “Retro Day,” “Favorite Movie Character,” or “Dress Like Your Zoom Background.” Then let your team get creative with outfits or props. Toss in a small prize for best costume or just enjoy the good vibes it brings to the workspace. It’s low effort, big fun, and keeps the energy high all day long. For more all-day ideas, check out these team building for work activities.

7. Desk Safari

   - Time: 15–20 minutes
   - You’ll Need: A phone or camera

Pair up teammates and have them mimic animal poses using only their heads and whatever’s nearby on their desks — think coffee mugs, notebooks, or a stapler with googly eyes. Snap the pics, put them in a slideshow, and let the laughter roll. It’s weird, quick, and a great mid-day reset. You can find more bite-sized inspiration in our roundup of 5-minute team building activities.

8. Office Pictionary

   - Time: 20 minutes
   - You’ll Need: A whiteboard or digital drawing tool

Split into two teams. One person from each team draws a mystery word while their teammates race to guess it. Make it themed (work lingo, pop culture, food) or go totally random. Add a timer for some friendly chaos. It’s fast, fun, and gets everyone thinking on their feet.

9. Post-it Note Art Battle

   - Time: 15–30 minutes
   - You’ll Need: Post-it notes, a blank wall or whiteboard

Here’s your excuse to go wild with sticky notes. Break into teams, set a timer, and create a mural using nothing but Post-its. You can give it a theme (“ocean vibes,” “office life”) or let creativity take over. When time’s up, vote on the funniest or most epic design. It’s bold, visual, and just the right kind of ridiculous.

10. Silent Line-Up

    - Time: 5–10 minutes
    - You’ll Need: Nothing at all

The challenge? Get your team to line up — by birthdate, time at the company, or even alphabetically — without talking. Only gestures, facial expressions, or interpretive dance allowed. It’s short, surprisingly tricky, and works great as a meeting warm-up or icebreaker for smaller groups.

Budget-Friendly Outdoor Team Building

Want to shake off the screen time? These outdoor team-building ideas are perfect for getting outside, moving around, and reconnecting in a more relaxed setting. Whether you're planning a retreat, a team picnic, or just a casual afternoon event, here’s where to start.

11. Nature Scavenger Hunt

    - Time: 30–45 minutes
    - You’ll Need: A printed list or digital checklist

Head to a local park, split into teams, and hand out your scavenger lists. Look for things like “a heart-shaped rock,” “a tree older than you,” or “something that smells like summer.” Teams can snap photos, collect items, or get creative with selfies. It’s part adventure, part game, and 100% energizing.

Need more inspiration? Here are 50 scavenger hunt ideas to get you started.

12. Human Knot

    - Time: 10–15 minutes
    - You’ll Need: Just your team

Stand in a circle, grab hands with two people not next to you, and try to untangle yourselves without letting go. Sound chaotic? It is. But it’s also a hilarious way to get moving, build trust, and laugh through a little teamwork mayhem.

13. Egg Drop Challenge

    - Time: 30–40 minutes
    - You’ll Need: Eggs, tape, straws, paper, rubber bands, etc.

Give each team the same set of random materials. Their mission? Build something that’ll keep an egg from cracking when dropped from above. Once the build time ends, take turns dropping the creations — and see who saves the egg! It’s a classic, hands-on challenge that blends problem-solving with a healthy dose of suspense.

14. Relay Races

    - Time: 20–30 minutes
    - You’ll Need: Spoons, cones, eggs, or whatever you can find

Make your own wacky relay course with whatever’s lying around — spoon balancing, crab walking, sack races with tote bags... you name it. Teams take turns racing through the course while the rest cheer them on. It’s goofy, energizing, and secretly a team workout.

15. Picnic & Team Games in the Park

    - Time: 60–90 minutes
    - You’ll Need: Food, drinks, and optional games like frisbee, cards, or cornhole

Plan a relaxed afternoon picnic at your nearest green space. Invite folks to bring their favorite snacks, and set up casual games like charades, frisbee, or bean bag toss. It’s low-pressure, fun, and a great way to connect beyond the usual work setting. Bonus points if you bring a speaker and a sunny playlist.

Free Virtual Team Building Ideas

Working remotely doesn’t mean missing out on connection. These virtual team-building activities are easy to organize, cost nothing (or very little), and help your team feel more human — no awkward icebreakers or forced fun required.

16. Online Escape Room

    - Time: 45–60 minutes
    - You’ll Need: A free or low-cost browser-based platform

Choose an online escape room and break your team into smaller groups using breakout rooms. Each group works together to solve puzzles, crack codes, and beat the clock. It’s high-energy, collaborative, and a surprisingly fun way to challenge your team’s problem-solving muscles — all without leaving their desks. 

17. Virtual Show and Tell

    - Time: 15 minutes
    - You’ll Need: Nothing at all

Invite everyone to bring something meaningful — a favorite book, a quirky souvenir, even a snack they swear by — and tell the story behind it. This one works especially well with newer teams or remote coworkers who don’t get many casual moments to connect. The conversations that come out of it are often heartwarming, weird, and unforgettable.

18. Zoom Charades

    - Time: 20–30 minutes
    - You’ll Need: A list of charade prompts

Split up into teams and take turns acting out prompts while others guess — no talking allowed, of course. Use themes like movie titles, office jargon, or random objects to keep it spicy. It’s playful, energetic, and adds a dose of joy to otherwise routine video calls.

19. Online Personality Quizzes

    - Time: 15–20 minutes
    - You’ll Need: A quiz link

Pick a light, fun quiz (think: “What Office Snack Are You?”) and have everyone share their results in the chat. It’s low-key, often hilarious, and gives people something to talk about besides work. Bonus points if you create a custom quiz tied to your company culture — even better if it makes people laugh.

20. Virtual Coffee Roulette

    - Time: 10–15 minutes
    - You’ll Need: Breakout rooms or 1:1 video calls

Pair team members randomly for quick chats over coffee, tea, or whatever they’re sipping that day. It’s a great way to recreate those spontaneous hallway convos that remote work tends to erase. Set it up weekly or monthly to keep those personal connections going strong. For even more remote-friendly ideas, check out virtual team building for small groups.

Bonus Round: Workplace Icebreaker Questions

Icebreakers don’t have to be cringey. These questions are perfect for starting meetings, warming up workshops, or just giving your team a chance to share something fun (or totally random).

Personal & Fun Icebreakers

• What was your very first job?

• What’s a weird food combo you still eat?

• If your life were a movie, what genre would it be?

• What’s your go-to karaoke song?

• Which fictional character do you relate to most?

• If you could time travel, which era would you visit — and why?

• If you had to give a TED Talk right now, no prep, what would it be about?

• Coffee, tea, or something else to start your day?

• If you could snap your fingers and have one superpower during meetings, what would it be?

Career & Work-Oriented Prompts

• What’s your favorite productivity hack or daily routine?

• Who inspires you professionally — and what have you learned from them?

• If you could swap jobs with someone for a day, who would it be?

• What’s been your proudest work moment so far?

• What’s the best team you’ve been on — and what made it so good?

• What’s the first app you open in the morning?

• What’s your go-to local lunch spot?

Creative & Curiosity-Led Starters

• If you could instantly learn one skill, what would it be?

• What’s the most random item on your desk right now?

• What’s something you’ve always wanted to learn but haven’t (yet)?

• What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long day?

Team Building Apps Make Hosting Activities Even Easier

Short on time or fresh ideas? Team building apps can take the pressure off planning — and make the whole experience more fun. Platforms like Deckle let you create real-life challenges that feel custom-built for your team, without the need for spreadsheets or hours of prep.

You can set up everything from goofy scavenger hunts around the office to video tasks like “speak a sentence in a foreign language.” Want Q&A rounds, photo missions, or icebreaker games? You can build it all in just a few clicks. It’s fast, easy, and gives your team something new every time without the planning stress.

Explore more team building tools in our guide to the best scavenger hunt apps

Why Try a Team Building App?

• Create custom games without extra tools or planning headaches

• Run interactive challenges using photos, videos, and quizzes

• Keep your team engaged with new formats and creative ideas

• Save time — the app handles logistics so you don’t have to

• Free for teams with 20 people or fewer

Team Building with Deckle: Easy, Fun, and Totally Budget-Friendly

Team building doesn’t need to be over-planned or overpriced. Whether you’re organizing a big team event or just need a five-minute energy boost before a meeting, these easy activities go a long way in lifting morale and sparking real connection.

Want to take it a step further? If your team has fewer than 20 people, you can even create your own customized team-building event for free using the Deckle App. It's a great way to streamline planning and discover new ideas tailored to your team’s vibe.

Try it out, spark some laughter, and build a better team — without the big budget. Learn more at Deckle.