Party GamesOffice party and team outing plan
- For
- 12 to 60 colleagues
- Length
- About one hour
- Games
- 5
Office games fail when they embarrass people in front of those they must face on Monday. They succeed when they are short, when teams mix departments and ranks, and when taking part is truly optional. The games below ask nobody to sing alone, reveal anything private or touch anyone they would prefer not to. They work in a conference room with the tables pushed back, or on a lawn.
The running order
| Time | Game | Notes for the host |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 10 min | Pass the Hoop | Everyone in circles of ten. Co-operative, quick, impossible to do with dignity. |
| 10 to 30 min | Newspaper Tower | Mixed teams of four or five. The centrepiece. |
| 30 to 40 min | Cup Pyramid | Team relay. Loud. |
| 40 to 55 min | Don't Say It | Cards about the workplace: products, tools, the office coffee machine. Nothing about people. |
| 55 to 65 min | Dog and the Bone | On a lawn, at walking pace, for a team outing. Indoors, replace it with Wink Detective. |
Timings are a guide. Stop any game while people still want more, and drop one if you are running late.
What to get ready
- Hula hoops
- Old newspapers and tape
- Paper cups
- Cards written by the organising team
- A timer and a visible score chart
- Small prizes for the winning team, the same for each member
Keeping it professional
- Opt-in, always. Offer roles such as scorer, photographer and judge.
- Mix the teams across departments and seniority by drawing lots. Managers play; they do not captain.
- Nothing personal. No questions about age, family, marriage or salary; no forfeits.
- Think about contact, clothes and mobility. Choose games that people in formal wear, sarees or with a bad knee can all join.
- No alcohol-linked games.
- Check photographs with those in them before posting anywhere.
For getting-to-know-you activities and Human Bingo, see office icebreakers on our neighbour site.
The games in this plan
- Pass the Hoop 10 min
- Newspaper Tower 20 min
- Cup Pyramid 5 to 10 min
- Don't Say It 20 min
- Dog and the Bone 15 min
On the day
Keep the party timer and the scoreboard open on your phone, and prepare chits with the chit maker. First time as host? Read how to host party games. See all party plans.