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12 Effective Large Group Games for Team Building Events

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By Preethi Jathanna

Senior Writer for HR and Remote Work

Large Group Games

When it comes to organizing large group games for teams, there’s often a misconception that these are more difficult to organize and may seem less engaging compared to smaller group sizes. However, this couldn't be more inaccurate. The key to success lies in selecting the appropriate team-building activity for a large group.

That’s why we’ve come up with a list of 12 fun pursuits that are flexible enough to cater for 20, 50, or even 100 people. To suit every business setup, we’ve included indoor and outdoor large group games, as well as games that can be played in person or online. With these entertaining events, your team will be building stronger professional bonds in no time.

1. 12 Large Group Games for Unlimited Fun and Engagement

1.1. Virtual Escape Rooms

Virtual Escape Rooms

Locked inside a virtual escape room, teams must pool their problem-solving skills to work through a series of puzzles. Only by overcoming the cryptic clues can they escape back into the real world. 

A virtual escape room can cater for a much bigger group than would be possible in a physical location. For example, team-building specialists Hooray Teams can host up to 500 people with their escape rooms, which come with fun themes such as a Dungeon and a Hospital, among others. 

A professional host leads teams through the challenges over an hour, ensuring everything runs smoothly and that everyone has a good time.

1.2. Online Murder Mystery Games

online murder mystery games

Another virtual team-building experience that Hooray Teams offers for larger groups is murder mysteries. A slightly different spin on the online puzzle-solving format, these take staff through a carefully plotted crime thriller that lasts around 60 minutes. 

There are several quirky themes to choose from, including Virtual Mystery in Hollywood and Murder at the Manor. In each scenario, colleagues pick through clues, interview suspects, and employ logic to unmask the killer and their motive. Only through discussion and deduction will your team succeed.

As with their virtual escape rooms, Hooray Teams can create a bespoke experience that meets the unique needs of your business, taking care of all the details so that your internal team doesn’t have to.

1.3. Trivia

Trivia

As one of the best large group games for large groups, virtual trivia is an inclusive opportunity for staff to share their knowledge within a sociable environment. Split participants into teams and let the quizzing carnage begin!

For the best possible experience, try and limit group sizes to no more than six, which is more conducive for discussions and chatting. Consider offering a prize to the team that scores the most points for added gamification.

Trivia contests work well in both real-world and virtual settings, though finding a venue to host large groups can be challenging and costly. If you want to keep the budget down, Hooray Teams has a range of different themed quizzes designed for online team building. Alternatively, the company can create something completely original for your business.

1.4. Guess the Tune

There’s no better game than Guess the Tune for creating harmony within a team. Entertaining and informative, staff can discover more about the different kinds of music their colleagues like while listening to some certified bangers.

Platforms like YouTube have several pre-created music quizzes that you can utilize for your business bash. Alternatively, create your own playlist using Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Music. Most video conferencing tools will allow you to share what’s playing on your PC to the whole team.

1.5. Goosechase

Scavenger hunts are one of the best large group games for adults because there’s no limit to the number of people that can take part. They work perfectly in both virtual and real-world environments, facilitating communication and teamwork inside a fun, competitive framework.

Goosechase is one of the best interactive experience platforms for hosting your bespoke scavenger hunt. The website offers pre-made templates, as well as the ability to create a completely custom experience. You can blend trivia questions with photo challenges, as well as include your business’ branding as part of the journey.

Once you’ve finished setting up your adventure, staff take part using the Goosechase app, which comes with a live leaderboard so that all participants can see who’s flying high.

1.6. Werewolf

Werewolf

In the game of Werewolf, staff imagine themselves transported to a medieval village where a pair of werewolves are on the loose. The object of the game is for the village folk to identify and kill the werewolves before the werewolves eat every single inhabitant of the village.

At the very start of the game, one person is nominated as the moderator, who will oversee the action. Next, each participant picks a piece of paper out of a hat, identifying them as either a werewolf, a villager, a seer, or a doctor. It’s important that everybody keeps their roles secret.

In this game, participants can pick a character of their choice, like a blacksmith or a weaver. The werewolf secretly chooses someone to attack, while the doctor can save the victims. During the day, the villagers discuss and vote to eliminate the suspects. If the attacked person is saved by the doctor, they survive. The game continues until all the villagers are eaten by the werewolves or the villagers catch the werewolves. 

Werewolf requires at least seven to play, but more people make for a richer experience. Aside from promoting team bonding, it also stimulates skills like creativity, communication, and group decision-making.

1.7. Capture the Flag

One of the most popular outdoor large group games, Capture the Flag is a more physical way to cultivate team camaraderie. While it must be played in real life, it doesn’t require anything beyond a flag (or an object to act symbolically as a flag) and a wide-open space.

Divide everyone into two teams (more if there are a lot of participants). Each team has a ‘base’ inside their home territory where their flag is stored. The object of the game is for players to simultaneously defend their own flag while successfully stealing the opponents’ flag and bringing it back to their base. If a person is tagged while in hostile territory, they are sent to jail, where they must await rescue by their teammates. 

1.8. Steal the Bacon

Steal the Bacon

Another fun outdoor activity, Steal the Bacon is one of the favorite large group games for kids, but it works just as well for adults. To start with, divide participants into two teams and assign each participant a number. Each team should have a person per number. For example, if you had a blue team and a red team, there would be a Blue 1 and a Red 1.

The teams stand in a row facing one another about 3 to 6 meters apart, depending on how challenging you want to make the game. An object (the ‘bacon’) is placed between the two rows of people. The referee then calls out a number and the person with that number from each team steps forward towards the bacon. Once the whistle blows, the players must try to steal the bacon and run with it back to their teammates, winning the round. However, as soon as one person steals the bacon, the other person can tag them, and if they do so, their team wins the round.

1.9. Human Knot

The Human Knot is all about communication and logic. Participants are divided into groups of between 5 and 10 people. Each team stands in a circle and reaches out with their right hand to grab the right hand of another person. This is then repeated with the left hand and a different person. Once that’s done, the group must work together to untangle themselves without letting go of anybody’s hands.

Time how long it takes each group to unknot themselves, with a prize awarded to the most efficient team.

1.10. Egg Drop Game

Egg Drop Game

A classic kids’ game that’s easy to adapt for adults, the Egg Drop game is all about protecting a raw egg from breaking when it is dropped from a height.

Participants are divided into groups of 4 or 5 people. Each one is given a set of simple materials, such as recycled paper, old newspapers, paper cups, tape, glue, scissors, plastic bags, and popsicle sticks. The precise resources provided are up to you!

Using creativity and teamwork, the groups have about 20-30 minutes to come up with a method of protecting their raw egg from harm, before the ideas are put to the test.

1.11. Giant Jenga

Giant Jenga sees players take turns to strategically remove wooden blocks from a tower. The goal is to avoid causing the structure to collapse using a combination of spatial awareness, astute decision-making, and hand-eye coordination.

Around 6 people is the maximum you want per Jenga set, but you can purchase multiple sets for larger groups. Alternatively, arrange for people to take turns playing as part of a wider array of activities. For example, purchase giant Jenga, giant Connect 4, giant chess, and giant draughts, then have people rotate through the games.

1.12. Water Balloon Toss

Make sure the team packs a spare change of clothes for this one! Testing teamwork and coordination, the goal of the game is to pass a filled water balloon between players as many times as possible without popping it. For larger numbers of staff, separate participants into smaller work groups. 

If you want to introduce a competitive element, have each group stand in a line parallel to the other teams. Once the game begins, teams have to pass their water balloon as quickly as possible down the line without breaking it. The first team to get from one end of the line to the other is the winner. If a team bursts their balloon, they have to start again from the beginning.

2. Tips to Choose the Best Games for Large Groups

1. Make sure everyone can actively participate. Scavenger hunts, for example, are extremely effective because you can break staff into smaller team units, so that nobody gets sidelined.

2. Communication is key. Team-building games are all about building interpersonal relationships, so make sure whatever game you choose supplies plenty of opportunity for discussion and socializing. 

3. Have fun. When people are enjoying themselves, everyone stays much more engaged, and engagement for productive team-bonding experiences.

3. FAQs

3.1. What is a large group activity?

A large group activity can range from brain-based challenges like murder mysteries and trivia contests to physical pursuits like capture the flag and steal the bacon. Consult staff beforehand about the type of game they would most enjoy.

3.2. How do you keep a large group entertained?

The key to keeping a large group entertained is to make sure everybody is an active participant in the activities. Choose games that allow each member of staff to play a role in their team’s success.

3.3. What are the best platforms to play large group games?

Hooray Teams and Goosechase are examples of two different, professional online platforms that can be used to host large group games. Ultimately, the best platform will depend on the kind of event you want to host, whether that’s digital Pictionary or virtual escape rooms.

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