The 20 Best Improv Games for Teams

Improv games began in theatre and drama for actors to practice their skills before taking on the big stage. It is an entertaining way of building cohesion in groups, developing confidence, and strengthening teamwork. You can also have improv games to play virtually in your remote teams.

In this article, you will find the following:

• Virtual improv games
• Zoom improv games
• Verbal improv games
• Improv games for team building

List of Improv Games

Here we've picked the 20 Best Improv Games we know will help you and your remote teams connect despite the distance.

1. Problem and Solution

This is an easy game to play, whether in a physical or virtual environment. It's a test of adaptability, of thinking outside the box, and preparing oneself to walk in any situation, whether comfortable or uncomfortable.

How it's done

• In a group, pair up two people. Assign a 'Person A' and a 'Person B'.
• Person A starts by stating a problem (any problem is welcome).
• Person B grabs the nearest object and presents it as a solution to the problem.
• Person A accepts the object and explains how it will help with the problem.

After that, pairs can reverse roles and do the same exercise again. There's no correct or wrong solution in this game as long as the person assigned can quickly come up with one.

2. Club Gesture

This is also another fun game in getting to know your teammates a little bit deeper with a little bit of fun.

How it's done

Each participant shares a quality about themselves and acts out a gesture or movement that represents this quality. The rest of the participants mimics the gesture. Another version of this activity is for each player to act out the gesture without saying the quality verbally. The group then guesses what quality the player is trying to portray.

3. One Word Story

Words grouped may form a thought, a sentence. A series of sentences going towards one thought may tell a story. That is exactly what this activity is all about. It demonstrates storytelling, vocabulary, and ultimately storytelling.

How it's done

One person starts by providing one word to start, and the next person gives out another that will connect with the previous word. This goes on until a story forms. You'll be surprised at how the story will turn and what your group can come with at the end.

4. Number Count

This is another easy game to play that isn't just limited to virtual teams. It involves each participant practicing active listening.

How it's done

A group of 20 or more people will count from 1 to 20, one person at a time but will not follow a specific order or pattern. Two people may say the same number at the same time. When this happens, the group will have to start over from the beginning.

5. Yes, lets!

Although used mostly in drama groups, this improv game is still great for remote environments as a warm-up game or as an icebreaker.

How it's done

To start, one player state the activity, everyone replies with "Yes, let's!" and acts out the given activity. For example, the player says, "Let's jump in place". The rest of the group then shouts "Yes, let's!" and starts jumping in place. Continue the routine until everyone had the chance to make their suggestion.

6. Customer Service Face Time

This is an improv game that improves communication and focus. The name of the game speaks for itself but this is how it goes.

How it's done

Two participants act out a Facetime scene between a customer service representative and a customer. There should be a tug-of-war scenario in this activity where each party wants something. The customer may want a product replacement and the customer service representative may counter that in some way. The scene ends when one of the parties gets what they want.

7. Location, location, location

Like charades, this is a guessing game ideal for 10-15 people since it will require pairings.

How it's done

For this to work, each player must have an identifiable location in mind like the mall, the park, or the school. With a certain location in mind, the player will then act this out without verbally stating what that location is until someone from the audience has the aha moment and gets it.

8. Reinvention

How many ways can one object be used? Or better yet, how far can our imagination go? In this game, creativity will be put to the test as participants think of new ways an old invention can function.

How it's done

• Ask everyone to turn on their video.
• One player gets the object nearest to him and shows it to the rest of the group.
• Each person then gives a reinvented function for that object. Ideally, one can start with the obvious functions until all are said.
• Continue until players cannot think of any 'reinvention' on the object anymore.
• You can start the game again by picking a new object and go through the same exercise. The takeaway for this game is looking at ordinary items or situations from a new perspective.