If your office feels more like a spreadsheet graveyard than a space buzzing with energy, it's time to bring in a little play. Believe it or not, the right office games can turn a sluggish workday into a surprisingly productive one and build real connections between employees. Whether you're managing a tight schedule, a hybrid workplace, or just looking for some quick wins to lift the mood, we've got you covered.
Let’s dive into the best games to play in the office that are actually fun, super easy to conduct, and perfect for teambuilding.
The 8 Best Office Games That Don’t Feel Like Forced Fun
1. Office Charades – No Props Needed
Setup time: 2 minutes
Players: 3–12
Duration: 10–20 minutes
Good for: Fridays, icebreakers, post-lunch slumps
Split your team into two groups. Just like classic charades, players act out a phrase, movie, object, or action, but make it office-themed for extra laughs. Try categories like “Worst Zoom Habit,” “Boss on Deadline,” or “Monday Morning.”
🟢 Why it works: Fast, energetic, and always hilarious. One of the best games to play with coworkers who don’t know each other well yet.
2. The Emoji Translation Game – Language Learner Edition
Setup time: 5 minutes
Players: Any
Duration: 10–15 minutes
Good for: Language learners, global teams, Friday fun
Show a series of emoji sequences (e.g., 🍕🕒 = “Pizza time”) and challenge the team to decode them into full English sentences. Twist: Each answer must be in English and must use a new word or expression they've recently learned.
Want to make it educational? Use this game as a springboard to start learning together. Many teams use EWA’s corporate English learning platform to boost their vocabulary and confidence before playing. With just a few minutes a day on EWA followed by a game round during break, you’ll turn casual fun office activities into a shared language journey that sticks.
🟢 Why it works: Combines humor and learning, perfect for corporate teams working on their English and looking to level up in a playful way.
3. Who’s Desk Is It?
Setup time: 15 minutes (prepare photos)
Players: Any
Duration: 10–20 minutes
Good for: Hybrid or remote teams too
Ask everyone to take a photo of their desk or workspace. Then, present the photos in a slideshow and have people guess which desk belongs to whom. Add bonus points for funniest or most mysterious setups.
🟢 Why it works: Encourages curiosity and connection across departments.
4. Two Truths and a Lie – Workplace Edition
Setup time: None
Players: 4+
Duration: 10 minutes
Good for: New hires, onboarding, casual Fridays
Each player says two true things and one made-up fact about themselves. Keep it work-themed for extra spice. (“I once spilled coffee on the CEO,” etc.) Coworkers guess the lie.
🟢 Why it works: Builds rapport quickly and works with any group size.
5. Pictionary: Office Tools Edition
Setup time: 5 minutes
Players: Teams of 2–4
Duration: 15–20 minutes
Good for: Small offices, team lunches, creative minds
Use a whiteboard or virtual drawing tool (like Skribbl) and create a custom word list of office objects, jargon, or tech tools (e.g., “stapler,” “404 error,” “Excel nightmare”). Players draw, others guess.
🟢 Why it works: It gets people laughing while sparking some low-key creativity.
6. Speed Puzzle Challenge
Setup time: Buy a few small puzzles
Players: 2–8
Duration: 5–10 minutes per round
Good for: Break rooms, competition lovers
Grab a few 100-piece puzzles and see who can complete them the fastest—either individually or in teams. For extra fun, use themed puzzles (company logo, memes, or inside jokes).
🟢 Why it works: Great for focus, teamwork, and light competitiveness. One of the most underrated indoor games for the office.
7. Office Scavenger Hunt
Setup time: 10–15 minutes to create list
Players: 2–10+
Duration: 15–30 minutes
Good for: Fridays, special events, team days
Make a list of items or tasks that participants must find or complete. Example: “A pen with someone else's name,” “Find someone who’s worked here over 5 years,” “Selfie in the kitchen.”
🟢 Why it works: Gets people moving and talking. Ideal for building camaraderie.
8. The 5-Minute Debate
Setup time: None
Players: 4+
Duration: 10–15 minutes
Good for: Creative thinkers, communicators
Split into teams and give ridiculous office-related debate topics like:
- “Open spaces are better than cubicles.”
- “Coffee should be free for life.”
- “Meetings are just emails in disguise.”
Each team gets 2 minutes to prepare and 3 to argue. Let the audience vote.
🟢 Why it works: It’s fun, fast, and helps with critical thinking and public speaking.
Quick Comparison Table
Why Office Games Matter More Than You Think
These aren't just distractions. The right fun games in the office on Fridays or midweek pick-me-ups can:
- Improve communication between departments
- Strengthen group trust and collaboration
- Recharge mental focus and reduce stress
- Make your corporate culture feel alive and supportive
Plus, many of these are fast and easy to set up, meaning you can slide them into a lunch break or meeting wrap-up without sacrificing productivity.
The best games to play at work aren’t time-wasters; they’re team-builders. So go ahead, schedule that 10-minute charades match or start a Friday scavenger hunt. Your team will thank you (and probably laugh a lot more, too). Because when you play better together, you work better together.
