Team Building Activities for Small Groups: 12 Ideas
Your team is small, your slot is short and nobody has time to plan a day out. The best team building activities for small groups depend on the time you have. For a meeting, pick a 5 to 15 minute icebreaker. For a lunch or afternoon, a 30 to 60 minute puzzle or quiz fits, and for something people will remember, book a hosted game.
Below, we use “small group” to mean about 5 to 20 people. That is a convention for this guide, not a limit on what we do. If you want something hosted, our team building events are run for companies across the UK. Skip to the comparison table if you just want to pick.
How to choose for a small group
Choose by four things: how long you have, what room you have, who is in the team, and what you want from the session. Get those right and the activity almost picks itself.
- Time. A 10-minute slot at the start of a meeting needs a different activity from a two-hour afternoon.
- Room. A boardroom or open-plan office rules out anything that needs running around. A table and some chairs is enough for most of the ideas below.
- People. Mixed seniority, new joiners, remote colleagues and quieter team members all change what feels comfortable. Avoid anything that forces personal disclosure or physical contact.
- Goal. Getting to know each other, practising problem solving and having a laugh are three different jobs. Be honest about which one you need, then pick for that.
Quick activities (5 to 15 minutes)
Quick activities work best at the start of a meeting or workshop: they cost nothing, need almost no prep, and get everyone speaking in the first few minutes.
Two Truths and a Lie
Each person shares three statements about themselves, two true and one false, and the group guesses the lie. It takes about a minute per person, so it suits teams of up to about 10. It is also funny, because the best lies are the believable ones. Tell people they can keep it light: nobody has to share anything personal.
Back-to-back drawing
Pair people up, back to back. One describes a simple picture without naming the objects in it, and the other draws what they hear. Compare the drawings at the end. It takes about 10 minutes, needs only paper and pens, and shows how easily instructions get lost. The usual problem is that the describer rushes, so ask them to slow down.
Paper tower
Split into two or three teams, give each the same pile of paper and some tape, and ask for the tallest free-standing tower in 10 minutes. It is a classic because it is quick and gets people moving round a table. Agree the rules before you start so nobody argues about whether the tape counts.
Problem-solving and creative activities (30 to 60 minutes)
These need a little more setting up, but give a small group something to work on together and a result to talk about afterwards.
Office scavenger hunt
Hide or list a set of items and clues around the building and let teams of two or three race to find them. It suits a lunch hour or an afternoon and works best in an office with several rooms. It is less good in a single open-plan space, and anyone with limited mobility may need a task that doesn’t involve moving around, so build in a role for them. If the weather is good, our outdoor team building is the step up.
Human knot variant
Everyone stands in a circle, grabs two hands across the circle and untangles without letting go. The classic version needs physical contact, so offer a seated alternative: teams pass a rope or string and untie a knot in it together. Best for groups that already know each other well.
Team quiz
A quiz needs a laptop, a screen and 15 minutes of prep. If you would rather have a host, our game shows and quizzes cover Taskmaster-style challenges too. Mix general knowledge with questions about the company or the team. It suits almost everyone because people can contribute without performing. The risk is one loud expert taking over, so make teams of three to four and put answers on paper.
Hosted team building activities for small groups
When a free icebreaker stops being enough, a hosted activity does the planning, the equipment and the running of the room for you. Everything below is from our own team building line-up. Setup, breakdown and all equipment come with our corporate events, along with professional hosts.
CSI Investigation and Escape Room in a Box
Teams work through clues together to solve a case. Both formats are part of our indoor team building, which runs for groups from 10 to 100+ people. They are indoor formats, so they suit an office or meeting room. Confirm the space you have with us when you enquire.
VR Escape Room
Teams of 4 to 10 work together on a puzzle where one person wears a VR headset while teammates work from the manual and clues on the table. It needs about 2 by 2 metres per team, which is roughly a table, and no one needs VR experience. That makes it a good fit for a team with a mix of confident and nervous gamers. Read more on the VR Escape Room page.
AI Robot Wars
Teams of 6 to 12 steer robots in an arena that is tailored to the space, from a giant race track to a small arena. Nobody needs AI, robotics, coding or VR experience. It suits a team that wants something hands-on and lively. See the details on the AI Robot Wars page.
The Betrayers
Inspired by the TV show The Traitors, it is adapted to the space and group size, from a boardroom to a conference hall. A professional presenter and all AV are included. It works well for teams that enjoy a bit of bluffing, and less well for anyone who dislikes being put on the spot, so check the mood of your team first. More on The Betrayers.
Driving simulators
We bring 1 to 16 simulators with 55-inch screens and force-feedback wheels, with optional VR headsets. Guests can take turns at the wheel, which suits a mixed group where not everyone wants to compete. One client’s feedback sums it up. Diane Collins, Business Developer at Howdens, said: “The driving simulator was amazing and enjoyed by all our customers and staff.” See the driving simulators page.
Quick comparison table
| Activity | Time | Space | Prep | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Truths and a Lie | 5 to 15 min | Any | None | New teams, meeting openers |
| Back-to-back drawing | About 10 min | Any | Paper, pens | Communication |
| Paper tower | About 15 min | A table | Paper, tape | Light competition |
| Office scavenger hunt | 30 to 60 min | Several rooms | Clues to write | Lunch hours, afternoons |
| Team quiz | 30 to 60 min | One room | Questions, screen | Mixed confidence levels |
| CSI Investigation / Escape Room in a Box | Agreed with your host | Room with tables | We handle it | Groups of 10+, problem solving |
| VR Escape Room | Agreed with your host | About 2×2 m per team | We handle it | Teams of 4 to 10 |
| AI Robot Wars | Agreed with your host | Adapted to your space | We handle it | Hands-on teams of 6 to 12 |
| The Betrayers | Agreed with your host | Boardroom upwards | We handle it | Teams who like bluffing |
| Driving simulators | Agreed with your host | Room for each rig | We handle it | Mixed groups, drop-in fun |
Making it work for everyone
The best team building activity is one that everyone can join in, so check access needs before you pick anything.
- Non-drinkers: choose activities that don’t revolve around a bar, and offer good non-alcoholic options if drinks are part of the session.
- Mobility: pick seated or low-movement activities, or give everyone a role that doesn’t need them to stand or walk far. Confirm any access needs with the supplier before booking.
- Introverts: use small teams, written answers and roles that don’t involve performing in front of the group.
- Remote or hybrid colleagues: a quiz or a drawing game can run on a video call; a physical game usually can’t. Plan a version for remote colleagues so they aren’t left watching.
- Neurodiversity: explain the rules clearly in advance, avoid sudden loud noises where you can, and let people opt out of any round without having to say why.
DIY or hosted?
Do it yourself for a quick start to a meeting, when you have no budget, or when the team already knows each other well. Book a host when you want everyone, including you, to take part rather than run the room, or when you want something people talk about afterwards.
A host brings the kit, the rules and the timing, which means you play too. If you are weighing options for a bigger group, several of the hosted formats above, including the VR Escape Room and AI Robot Wars, also run for up to 500 participants.
FAQs
What are some quick team building activities?
Two Truths and a Lie, back-to-back drawing and a one-word check-in all take 5 to 15 minutes and need no kit beyond paper and pens. They work at the start of a meeting because everyone talks early. Pick one with a light, silly edge so quieter people join in without pressure.
What are some 15-minute team building activities?
Paper tower, back-to-back drawing and a rapid-fire “would you rather” round all fit in 15 minutes. Split a small group into two teams for the tower, give them a set number of paper sheets, and judge on height and stability. Keep a short debrief: what helped, what got in the way.
What are some ideas for small group activities?
For a small group, try quick icebreakers, a scavenger hunt or quiz for 30 to 60 minutes, or a hosted game such as an escape room, CSI Investigation or AI Robot Wars. Choose by how long you have, how much room you have, and how comfortable your team is with each other.
Tell us about your event and we’ll put together a tailored proposal. Start your enquiry.