Team Building Charades

120 moments from office life to act out, sorted by format: solo, pairs, the whole team or a video call.

Team Building Charades

Fixing a wobbly desk with folded paper

Next step Funny scenes for one actorThe full deck of charades ideas

All 120 team building charades prompts

Solo 44

  • Adjusting an office chair Pull a lever under the seat, drop with a jolt, pump back up and test the backrest.
  • Assembling a desk from a flat box Read the sheet, turn it over, count the screws, fit a panel, and find one screw left at the end.
  • Badging in at a door that will not open Tap a card on the reader, push, bounce off, tap again more slowly, then wave at someone inside.
  • Carrying a full mug back to your desk Tiny steps, eyes on the rim, elbows out, and freeze whenever someone passes.
  • Carrying a tall stack of boxes to the supply room Lean back under the pile, peer around the side and feel for the door with one foot.
  • Clearing a paper jam from the printer Open the side flap, tug out one torn strip, then another, close it, and watch the light blink again.
  • Counting stock in the stockroom Point along a shelf counting, write on a clipboard, lose your place and start the shelf again.
  • Eating lunch at your desk Fork in one hand, mouse in the other, eyes on the screen, and brush crumbs off the keys.
Show all 120 team building charades prompts (112 more)

Solo, continued

  • Emptying the office dishwasher Open the door into a cloud of steam, stack the mugs, and hold one up that is still dirty.
  • First morning in a new job Arrive early, greet the room, sit at a bare desk and open every drawer to find it empty.
  • Fixing a wobbly desk with folded paper Rock the desk, fold a sheet small, slide it under one leg, rock again and nod.
  • Giving a new teammate the office tour Walk backward like a guide, point out the kitchen, the exits and the printer, and wave at every desk.
  • Guiding a delivery truck into the loading dock Stand behind it, beckon with both hands, show the gap shrinking, then hold up a flat palm.
  • Handing out printed agendas Walk around a table, deal one sheet to each seat, and come up one short at the last chair.
  • Hanging a framed certificate straight Tap in a nail, hang the frame, step back, nudge one corner, step back, nudge the other.
  • Herding cats Shoo small things toward a doorway with both arms, lose one on the left, fetch it, and lose two on the right.
  • Hunting for a free meeting room Peer through one glass door after another, laptop under your arm, mouthing sorry each time.
  • Hurrying to a meeting on another floor Check your watch, grab a laptop and a notebook, walk fast, then compose yourself at the door.
  • Keeping all the plates spinning Spin a plate on a stick, start a second, and dash back to the first as it starts to wobble.
  • Labeling your lunch for the shared fridge Write on a sticker, press it on the box, add a second sticker and tuck the box behind the milk.
  • Locking up at the end of the night Switch off the lights one by one, set the alarm, hurry out before the beeps stop, and test the handle.
  • Looking for your badge Pat every pocket, check the bag, the jacket and the desk, then find it hanging around your own neck.
  • Moving the goalposts Line up a kick, stop, pick up one post, carry it three steps over, and look innocent.
  • Moving to a new desk Load a box with a plant, a mug and a keyboard, carry it across the room and set each thing out again.
  • Packing your bag at the end of the day Close the laptop, coil a cable, pocket the badge, push the chair in and switch off the lamp.
  • Passing the baton Run on the spot with a stick held out behind you, slap it into a hand ahead and slow down, relieved.
  • Pinning a notice to the bulletin board Hold a sheet up, push in four pins, step back, tilt your head and straighten it.
  • Presenting with a clicker that will not advance Face the room, click at the screen, click harder, shake it, aim it over your shoulder and smile on.
  • Proofreading a printed report Follow each line with a pen, circle something, flip back two pages and circle it there too.
  • Putting out fires all day Sit down to work, spot a fire, stamp it out, sit, spot another behind you, and end up holding a hose.
  • Raising the bar Lift a bar from knee height to shoulder height, step back and size up the jump.
  • Refilling the printer paper Tear open the pack, fan the sheets, slide the tray out, load it and push it home with your hip.
  • Reinventing the wheel Chisel at a block, stand back, roll it along, and admire a plain round wheel as if nobody had seen one.
  • Restocking the snack shelf Open a carton, line the bags up in rows, hold one a moment too long and put it back.
  • Setting up a projector Carry it in, hunt for the cable, plug in, wait, then level the picture with a folded sheet under one foot.
  • Signing for a delivery Take a big box, scribble on a small screen with one finger and stagger off with the box.
  • Testing the microphone before a big meeting Tap it, mouth one two, wince at the squeal and hold it further from your face.
  • Thinking outside the box Mime the four walls of a box around you, tap your head, climb out over the side and look back at it.
  • Untangling the cables under a desk Crawl under, follow one lead with your fingers, pull it, and look up as a lamp goes out above you.
  • Waiting for the elevator with your hands full Hug a stack of boxes, press the button with an elbow, then a knee, and watch the floor numbers.
  • Watering the office plant Tip a small can, lift one drooping leaf, prop it up and give it a quiet word of encouragement.
  • Wearing many hats Put on a hat and do one job, swap the hat and do another, faster each time, until you wear three at once.
  • Wiping a whiteboard that will not come clean Rub in big circles, lean in, breathe on the board, rub again, then read the label on the marker with dread.
  • Writing on a flip chart Uncap a marker, write big, run out of room at the edge and squeeze the last letters in.

Video call 26

  • A call with a bad connection Move in jerks, freeze, skip ahead, cup a hand at your ear, and give the laptop a shake.
  • A desk stretch between calls Roll your shoulders, link your fingers overhead, twist left and right in the chair, and shake out your wrists.
  • A notification that keeps pinging Work, flinch at a ping, work, flinch again, hunt for the sound, and turn the phone face down.
  • A package arrives in the middle of your call Hear the bell, glance at the door, then the screen, hold up one finger and duck out of frame.
  • A virtual high five Count three with nods, press your palm toward the camera, and hold it there with a fixed grin.
  • Adjusting the laptop camera Tilt the lid down to your chin, up to your forehead, prop it on books, and check the picture.
  • Choosing a virtual background Flick through a few, react to each, lose half your head to the blur, and settle for the plain one.
  • Dialing in from a noisy cafe Cup a hand around the microphone, flinch at a crash behind you, smile an apology and mute yourself.
  • Forgetting your point when your turn finally comes Wait with a hand up, get called on, open your mouth, go blank, check your notes, and stay blank.
  • Logging in with a code from your phone Type a password, grab the phone, mouth six digits, type them too slowly, and wait for a new code.
  • The music is coming from one of your twenty tabs Click tab after tab with growing panic, ear toward the screen, then hit the volume key.
  • Presenting to a grid of switched-off cameras Talk brightly, pause for a reaction, peer at the screen, tap it, and carry on alone.
  • Reaching inbox zero Delete, delete, file, delete, reach the bottom, raise both arms, then watch one more arrive.
  • Reading a very long email Scroll, lean closer, scroll, rub your eyes, check how much is left, and slump.
  • Restarting your computer before a deadline Press and hold, watch a dark screen, drum your fingers, and cheer without a sound when it wakes.
  • Setting your out-of-office reply Type a short note with a smile, press one key with ceremony, close the lid and lean back, hands behind your head.
  • Sharing the wrong screen Click, smile at the room, see their faces, look at your own screen in horror, and click fast.
  • Spilling water next to the keyboard Knock a glass, snatch the laptop into the air, and mop with a sleeve while holding it overhead.
  • Taking notes while trying to keep up Type, look up, type faster, fall behind, look around for help, and keep typing.
  • Talking while on mute Talk with big gestures, stop, read the faces telling you, find the button, and start the whole speech again.
  • Trying to get a word in on a busy call Raise a finger, open your mouth, sit back, lean in again, raise a whole hand, and give up.
  • Typing a long message, then deleting it all Type fast and keen, read it back, wince, hold one key down for a long time, and type two letters.
  • Waiting for a big file to upload Stare at a bar, drum your fingers, look away, look back, and lean in at ninety-nine percent.
  • Working across time zones Yawn in the dark with a mug, wave at the camera, point at a sun over there and a moon over here.
  • Your camera freezes mid-sentence Talk, then lock solid with your mouth open and one hand up, hold it, and jump back to life.
  • Your laptop battery at one percent See the warning, dive under the desk for the charger, feel for the outlet, and surface relieved.

Pairs 25

  • A handshake that turns into a fist bump One offers a hand, the other a fist, both swap, swap again, and settle on a wave.
  • A high five that misses Wind up, swing past each other, reset slowly, and line the second one up with great care.
  • A walking meeting Stroll side by side, one talking with both hands, the other nodding, and turn around together at the corner.
  • Bouncing ideas off each other Throw a pretend ball from your forehead to your partner's, and catch it bigger each time until it needs both arms.
  • Building a bridge between two departments Each of you lays planks out from your own wall, and you fit the last plank together in the middle.
  • Carrying a long table through a doorway One at each end: tilt it, turn it, back out, and try again with the table on its side.
  • Giving and taking feedback One holds out a pretend gift with care, the other unwraps it, frowns a little, thinks, and nods thanks.
  • Handing over at a shift change One points around the room listing things and hands over the keys, the other nods and then looks around, lost.
  • Hanging a banner between two ladders Each holds an end up high, one goes up a little, the other down a little, and both step back to look.
  • Holding the elevator for someone hurrying One speed-walks on the spot, the other holds the doors apart with both arms and a foot.
  • The last slice of pizza at the team lunch Both reach, both pull back, each offers it to the other, and then you cut it in half.
  • Learning the coffee machine from a teammate One shows each lever slowly, the other tries it, steam goes everywhere, and both jump back.
  • Meeting someone halfway Start at opposite walls, pace toward each other counting steps, and shake hands exactly in the middle.
  • Moving a filing cabinet on a dolly One tilts it, one slides the dolly under, then wheel it off with one steering and one watching the corners.
  • Passing each other in a narrow corridor Step the same way twice, laugh, and then one of you flattens against the wall.
  • Practicing a presentation on a colleague One presents with big gestures, the other listens, nods, and holds up a finger with one kind note.
  • Seeing eye to eye Disagree in mime from a distance, step closer, bend and stretch until your eyes are level, and shake on it.
  • Shadowing a teammate on your first day One works at normal speed, the other copies every move half a second late, even the stretch.
  • Sharing one umbrella from the parking lot Huddle, walk in step, and each end up brushing rain off one shoulder.
  • Showing a teammate where to click One sits and moves the mouse, one stands behind and points: up, up, left, no, back, there.
  • Splitting the task list down the middle One unrolls a long list, tears it in two and hands half over, and you compare whose half is longer.
  • Tech support over your shoulder One despairs at a stuck screen, the other leans in, presses a single key, and walks off.
  • Two people at a door, each waiting for the other After you, no, after you, both go, both stop, until one bows the other through.
  • Two people sharing one keyboard One types, the other points at the screen, you swap seats, and swap back again.
  • Two people writing on one whiteboard Start at opposite ends, write toward the middle, bump elbows, and draw a line between your halves.

Whole team 25

  • A brainstorm with sticky notes Everyone scribbles on a palm and slaps notes on a wall, then all step back and sort them by pointing.
  • A conference audience during the keynote Sit in rows, nod together, laugh together, photograph the slide together and clap together.
  • A form that needs six signatures A paper goes down the line, each player reads it, stamps it and passes it on, and the last one sends it back to the start.
  • A packed elevator at nine in the morning Stand shoulder to shoulder facing front, shuffle to let one out from the back, and all watch the numbers.
  • A project from kickoff to launch Huddle over a plan, split up to hammer, type and carry, come back together, and all press one big button.
  • A round of applause for a teammate Turn to one player and clap, building to a standing ovation while they wave it down.
  • A stand-up meeting Stand in a ring and take turns to speak for three seconds each in mime, throwing a pretend ball to the next speaker.
  • A team building a tower from spaghetti and tape Crowd around a table, add pieces with care, hold your breath, and all lunge as it leans.
  • A team lunch at one long table Sit in two rows, pass dishes along, all lean in for one story and all laugh at the same moment.
  • A team photo where someone always blinks Line up in two rows, smile, hold it, reset for the blinker, and smile again with some strain.
  • A team pulling in different directions All hold one knot and pull outward like a star, nothing moves, then all turn one way and it slides.
  • A team welcoming a new teammate One walks in shyly, everyone stands, waves and points out a desk, then lines up to say hello.
  • A trade show booth Two stand behind a table handing out pens with a smile, the rest stream past and take pens without stopping.
  • A video call grid, in person Stand in rows like tiles on a screen, each in your own frame: one frozen, one on mute, one far too close.
  • A warehouse team loading a truck Pass boxes hand to hand along a chain, the last player stacks them high, and someone pats the truck to send it off.
  • A well-oiled machine Each player is one part with one repeated motion, linked so that every move sets off the next, smooth and steady.
  • All hands on deck One player waves everyone over, and all grab the same rope and haul it hand over hand, swaying with the ship.
  • An all-hands meeting with time for one question Everyone sits listening, the speaker asks for questions, all study their shoes, and one slow hand goes up.
  • An open-plan office when one phone rings All work with heads down, all heads pop up at the ring, all look at one desk, and all go back down.
  • Getting everyone on board One stands in a pretend boat and beckons, helps each player step in, and the last one hops the gap.
  • Hands in the middle and a team cheer Circle up, stack hands in the air over the middle, nod three times and throw them up together.
  • Picking up the slack One player holds a rope that sags to the floor, the others take hold one at a time, and the rope pulls tight.
  • The whole office on a fire drill File out calmly in a line, send back the one who went for a coat, gather outside and count heads.
  • The whole team in one small meeting room File in, run out of chairs, perch on the table edge and stand along the wall, all facing one screen.
  • The whole team moving office Everybody carries a box in a line and stacks it, while one player directs traffic with a clipboard.

How this list was compiled: Every card is a moment from office and team life, and the four groups say who acts it: 44 Solo cards for one actor on their feet, 26 Video call cards for one actor sitting down inside a camera frame, 25 Pairs cards for two actors and 25 Whole team cards, where everybody acts and one player guesses. The deck was screened on 2026-09-20 against the characteristics that United States federal law protects at work, as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lists them at https://www.eeoc.gov/employers/small-business/3-who-protected-employment-discrimination: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and transgender status), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information. No card is about any of these, and none is about a person's body, accent, faith, family, health, pay or boss, a hiring or a firing, a religious or national holiday, alcohol or romance. No card names a company, a product, an app or a real person. The screen is our reading of a public list and is not legal advice. The rules of the usual game follow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charades, read on 2026-09-20, which says that the rules can vary widely, that the performance is silent, that a clock limits the guessing and that a correct guess scores one point. The article mentions teams acting scenes together only as a historical variant and never mentions a relay, so the relay and the round where everyone acts are house formats written for this site. The line under each card is our acting hint, not a rule. The hints keep actors on their feet or in their chair: nobody is lifted, running is done on the spot and everything carried is pretend. Difficulty is our judgment: easy is one clear moment everybody at work has lived, medium is a small scene with a turn in it, and hard is a scene that needs a second beat or a work saying acted literally, such as Herding cats. Card texts were compared with every other deck on the site on 2026-09-20, with a leading a, an or the dropped. No card is shared with any charades deck. Two cards, A stand-up meeting and A walking meeting, are also choices in the this or that questions for work. The printer jam, which the full charades deck and the funny deck each have in their own words, is here as Clearing a paper jam from the printer. Licence: own work

How it works

Team building charades works when every card is a moment the whole office has lived, such as Talking while on mute. This charades team building game sorts 120 of them by format: solo, pairs, whole team or video call.

Read the full guide

Three ways to run it

Two teams is the usual game, with the round timer and the scoreboard. Everyone acts turns it around: choose Whole team, one player looks away, and the rest act the card together for that player to guess. In the relay, below, every team works through the same ten cards at once.

How to run a charades relay game

Pick Solo and a level; on the end card press Print and number ten cards. Each team sends a runner to the host, who shows card one. The runner walks back and acts it. Whoever guesses it goes up next, whispers the answer and sees card two. The first team through all ten wins. Guess in whispers, because the next table is on the same card.

  • For the relay, skip Hard: nine of the ten Hard Solo cards are sayings acted literally, such as Herding cats.
  • Nobody should have to act: let players pass the phone on, or offer Pairs to anyone shy of standing alone.

Questions and answers

Are these charades prompts safe for work?

Every card is a situation, never a kind of person. The deck was checked against the characteristics the EEOC lists as protected at work, and no card is about anyone's body, accent, age, faith, pay or boss. Read the full list under the tool first.

Can you play team building charades on a video call?

Yes. Choose Video call: all 26 cards can be acted sitting down inside the camera frame. The actor opens this page on their own phone, presses Next card and acts to the camera, while the host runs the clock and the scores.

How many people can play, and how long does it take?

The usual game needs four players, in two teams of two, and the deck scores up to six teams. Bigger groups suit the relay, where any number of teams play at once. With one-minute rounds, eight actors is eight minutes of acting plus handovers.

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