40+ Scavenger Hunt Games That Build Real Team Trust

Scavenger hunt games are excellent bonding opportunities for teams—and you don’t need to be in person to play. Whether your team is fully remote, hybrid, or in-office, these games create shared experiences that research shows^{1https://hbr.org/2017/01/the-neuroscience-of-trust} can reduce workplace stress by 74% and lower turnover by 50%.

But here’s what most team leaders miss: the goal isn’t just “fun.” It’s building the kind of trust that makes conflict easier to navigate, feedback easier to give, and collaboration feel natural. These scavenger hunt ideas work equally well for adults in corporate settings and kids in educational environments—the core mechanics translate across age groups with minor adjustments to complexity and themes.

What Is a Scavenger Hunt Game?

A scavenger hunt game is where team members race against a time limit to solve puzzles, riddles, or find specific items. Virtual versions are played online, allowing remote participation from anywhere in the world. Winners may receive prizes or simply the satisfaction of completing challenges together.

How scavenger hunts differ from similar activities:

• Scavenger hunts provide a scavenger hunt list of items or tasks to complete, with participants searching independently or in teams. The focus is on finding and collecting.
• Alternate reality games (ARGs) blur the line between fiction and reality, using websites, social media, and real-world clues to tell an unfolding story. Players piece together narratives over days or weeks.
• Mystery boxes (or escape rooms) confine participants to a single location where they solve interconnected puzzles to “escape” or unlock something. The experience is contained rather than exploratory.

Scavenger hunts emphasize exploration and variety, while ARGs prioritize storytelling and mystery boxes focus on sequential puzzle-solving in one space.

How Do You Play a Scavenger Hunt Game?

Whether you’re organizing activities for adults or kids, the basic gameplay remains consistent:

• Team formation: Participants play individually or in teams of any size
• Challenge distribution: Each person or team receives the same list of items to find, puzzles to solve, or tasks to complete
• Time limits: The organizer sets a deadline ranging from 30 seconds to 24 hours
• Winning: The first person or team to complete their list before time runs out wins

Pro Tip: Keep participation voluntary. Research indicates that 54% of workers feel mandatory team-building activities don’t help them work better with colleagues. The “magic” of play only works when people choose to participate.

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Games

Encourage everyone to get fresh air while bonding with these outdoor challenges.

1. Random Acts of Kindness

Sometimes the best way to bond is by giving back together. Random Acts of Kindness^{2https://try.outbackteambuilding.com/ap-virtual-do-good-games/} by Outback Team Building is a paid, app-based scavenger hunt where teams raise money for their preferred charity. Each challenge awards points while teaching about various causes—from global food insecurity to healthcare inequities to environmental pollution.

Set aside 30 minutes to two hours for the event. The self-hosted game includes 40 virtual challenges that entertain and educate participants.

Many tasks involve online activities like trivia questions, but several require exploring your local area. Every effort aids those in need while helping team members bond about causes they care about.

Pro Tip: Send a survey listing various causes before your scavenger hunt begins. Participants can select or write about what matters to them, ensuring everyone’s voice gets heard.

2. Google-Based Scavenger Hunt

Sessions Lab^{3https://www.sessionlab.com/methods/virtual-scavenger-hunt} provides a free DIY method for creating Google-based hunts. (Note: Sessions Lab is a library of facilitation methods—you’ll run this activity yourself rather than hiring them as a vendor.)

The event creator lists everything participants should find through Google and asks them to submit links for each item found. After 10 to 20 minutes, teams present their discoveries via videoconferencing software and vote for favorites.

3. Catch a Flying Bird on Video

Remote team members can receive outdoor challenges like catching a bird on video while the bird soars through the air. Related challenges might include filming a squirrel sitting on a branch, hunting for worms, or spotting wildlife on a roof.

4. Share Pictures of Different Leaves

Ask team members to submit pictures of five different leaves. They may need to walk around their neighborhood or apartment complex, so consider setting an extended time limit.

Accessibility Note: Ensure your scavenger hunt list includes items accessible to everyone, regardless of mobility or location. “Something green” works better than “run to find a specific plant.”

5. Snap a Photo of a Local Landmark

Each town is unique. Team members can show hometown pride by photographing a local landmark. Whether it’s a famous statue or a quirky building beloved by residents, the photos start interesting conversations between new and longtime team members.

School Tip: Teachers can adapt this as a fun game for classroom settings—students photograph landmarks around the school building or campus, learning about their environment while competing in teams.

6. Point Out Shapes in Clouds

Everyone sees different shapes when they look at clouds, making this one of the best scavenger hunt ideas for remote teams. Participants submit three to six photos of clouds and draw over them to highlight what they see.

This sparks creativity and conversation, helping teams collaborate on future projects. Team members also remember to relax with coworkers, which can prevent stress from creating unhealthy dynamics.

“When people look at clouds they do not see their real shape, which is no shape at all, or every shape, because they are constantly changing. They see whatever it is that their heart yearns for.”

—José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

7. Record Your Favorite Sound

The sounds that help you relax may differ wildly from what your team members prefer. Ask everyone to send a clip of their favorite sound—whether recorded on their phone or found as a video link. You’ll bond over rain showers, crickets, or other specific sounds that surprise people.

8. Take a Sunrise or Sunset Photo

Watching the sky morph through different colors takes anyone’s breath away. Include a challenge to photograph a sunrise or sunset. Team members get to show off photography skills and potentially collaborate on techniques.

Fun Tip: Everyone can use SunCalc to find the exact minute when the sun rises and sets, no matter where they live. It’s free and works for any location.

9. Find a Flower

Team members snap photos of the first flower they see outside. It might be one growing beside their sidewalk or a weed in their backyard. Either way, your scavenger hunt creates a beautiful virtual bouquet.

10. Spot an Insect

Hunting for bugs works as an outdoor scavenger hunt for any age group. Participants photograph the first bug they encounter. Being outside refreshes everyone so they’re more energetic for whatever’s next on their calendar.

Best Virtual Scavenger Hunt Games for Remote Teams

These online options let everyone participate regardless of location. Research from Buffer^{4https://buffer.com/state-of-remote-work} shows that 20% of remote workers struggle with loneliness—structured activities like these help rebuild connection. Most of these games work seamlessly on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or other videoconferencing platforms.

1. Goose Chase Scavenger Hunts

The Goose Chase app brings people together for indoor scavenger hunts with personally selected challenges. Download the app to find questions and challenges that rack up points for each team.

Everyone gets real-time point updates from the app’s dashboard. One team might complete photo and video challenges fast but take second place behind a team better at answering riddles.

Worried about ties? The scavenger hunt creator can develop bonus point opportunities for a clear winner.

If some in-person team members play together while others join online via Zoom, create a party atmosphere. Offer snacks and beverages to help everyone relax before the game starts—aim to begin about 45 minutes after arrival when conversation flows naturally.

Fun Tip: Create a personalized code so everyone joins the same private game. Make it unique to your team and include inside jokes for extra engagement.

2. Scavify

Teams needing more interpersonal engagement may benefit from Scavify. Every participant or team gets a task list with assigned points. The administrative dashboard provides a complete real-time overview of everyone’s progress.

Afterward, comprehensive metric charts reveal if everyone met key objectives and remained fully engaged. Compare results to previous scavenger hunts to track your team’s skill growth.

3. The World Scavenger Hunts by Watson Adventures

Your team may not travel the world together, but they can explore new cultures with The World Scavenger Hunts^{5https://watsonadventures.com/location/virtual/global-scavenger-hunts/}. Spend an hour finding clues at famous locations via Zoom or your preferred videoconferencing platform.

Participants uncover objects and gain points by answering tough questions about them. Every effort leads to improved teamwork skills plus a better understanding of the world.

4. Remote Scavenger Hunt by The Big Smoke Events

The Big Smoke Events^{6https://www.thebigsmokeevents.com/events/p/scavenger-hunt} offers personalized experiences that are entirely online. Anyone looking for humorous activities will love the comedy clips between virtual events and timed challenges that have everyone participating in shenanigans.

5. The Work From Home Hunt by Social Scavenger

Social Scavenger’s home-based hunt challenges team creativity. It requires at least 20 participants who create picture and video collections based on prompts. Whoever gains the most laughs and answers the most trivia challenges correctly wins.

Pro Tip: Remind everyone how much time remains in each round—puzzles, questions, and creative challenges often take everyone’s full attention.

6. Virtual City Scavenger Hunts by Cashunt

Workplaces in major cities can participate in Cashunt’s^{7https://www.cashunt.com/virtual-city-scavenger-hunt.html} virtual scavenger hunts. Each game lasts two hours and includes clues and questions about your city. Participants film videos and compete in secret challenges to earn medals.

A real-time Cashunt game coordinator stays with your team the entire time, guiding the competition and helping everyone stay engaged throughout the experience.

7. Race for the Lost Tomb

Race for the Lost Tomb^{8https://www.withconfetti.com/resources/media/race-for-the-lost-tomb-virtual-escape-quest-trailer} by Confetti feels like an adventurous quest. Your team follows clues across the virtual globe, solving puzzles and competing to find the Lost City of Atlantis.

8. TerraClues

Communication is key to finishing the TerraClues online scavenger hunt. Participants use Google Maps to follow clues to hidden locations. Creative minds can develop searches from scratch and make personalized challenges to build specific team skills.

9. SmartHunt Virtual Scavenger Hunt

When your SmartHunt^{9https://smarthunts.com/corporate-scavenger-hunt-programs/virtual-teams-smarthunt/virtual-smarthunt-scavenger-games/} scavenger hunt begins, a virtual game host introduces everyone to missions and tasks. Lightning rounds, solo challenges, and trivia blitz games make time fly.

This challenge will make everyone laugh, just like classic games with humorous twists that are just about having fun. Everyone makes memories and new friendships that strengthen your team.

10. The Great Race by Wildly Different

Team members who love adventure can start a Great Race scavenger hunt. Travel-themed questions, challenges, and clues push everyone to learn more about the world and bond by helping each other reach the finish line.

“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.”

—Tim Cahill

Photo-Based Scavenger Hunt Challenges

Rely on cameras or smartphones to compete in these photo challenges that work across countries and time zones.

1. Send Location-Specific Selfies

Zoom backgrounds make meetings fun, but they don’t help people know each other well. Location-specific photo challenges start more personalized conversations because they reveal new things about each coworker.

Ask everyone to take a selfie of where they work daily. Whoever takes the most creative picture wins the most points. You’ll see outdoor workspaces, kitchen nooks, and home office setups.

People don’t need to share their location or name their city if uncomfortable. The point is showcasing everyone’s workspace because it speaks to their personalities.

Afterward, team members could swap decor ideas. It may open doors to conversations about hobbies, pets, and interests based on what appeared in everyone’s selfies.

2. Snap a Pet Picture

Pet pictures easily start conversations. Teams race to snap the cutest photo and vote for each submission. Anyone without a pet can find an image online of an animal they’d like to have or admire.

This quickly becomes a winner for anyone seeking humorous activities. Family pets could wear adorable outfits and make people laugh or break the ice for new teams.

3. Take a Plant Photo

Indoor and outdoor plants reduce workplace stress, so work them into your team’s scavenger hunt. Google-sourced photos work for anyone not near plants. Garden hobbyists and plant admirers can bond over shared interests that might not have come up at work otherwise.

4. Share Your Lunch

Social media users upload pictures of their meals to inspire others and share creations. Your scavenger hunt can replicate this experience. Anyone not eating lunch during the event can post the most recent food picture on their phone.

Pro Tip: Let team members know about this challenge a day in advance so those who might skip lunch prepare something to share.

5. Collect Your Coffee Mugs

Challenge everyone to send a picture of their favorite coffee mug. They could snap photos of their collection or a cup currently in use. No matter what they pick, everyone gets a glimpse into each other’s personalities.

6. Show Off an Object

People keep things around their homes because they hold meanings or memories. Ask everyone to show off at least one object of their choice—something decorating their desk or a family memento. Each object should come with a quick explanation so everyone connects over things they love.

7. Discuss Your Bucket List

Many people have bucket lists. Some will have completed their dreams; others have adventures awaiting them. Ask people to share a picture of them doing something on their list or something they want to do. You’ll glimpse everyone’s personalities and inspire new friendships.

8. Share What You’re Thankful For

Learn about each other by sharing what makes everyone thankful. People can share a picture of their family pet, a great memory, or something they’re excited to do soon. This activity works for any age group because everyone can think of one thing that makes life more special.

“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.”

—Douglas Wood

9. Strike a Pose

Take selfies to the next level by challenging everyone to strike a pose. They could copy a model from their favorite magazine or recreate something goofy like the Blue Steel pose from Zoolander.

10. Select a Random Photo on Your Phone

When everyone has 10 seconds to select a random picture on their phone to share, people will likely laugh at the results. You never know who might reveal your team’s next favorite meme or something new about themselves.

Riddle Scavenger Hunt Games

Many scavenger hunts feature riddles and clues. Each team competes against a time limit to solve these puzzle challenges and win.

1. Solve an I-Spy Riddle

I Spy is a classic childhood game that works in any location, including remote settings. Create an I-Spy riddle for your team’s next scavenger hunt to inspire tons of fun with in-person and virtual participants.

Teams could face the same riddle or get separate challenges. Don’t forget to make your I-Spy riddles rhyme using an ABAB rhyme scheme.

Here’s an example:

• When everyone starts their day,
• they need light to see;
• If you clock in on Monday or Friday,
• turning this on is your first responsibility.

The answer is a lamp. Everyone can photograph the nearest lamp or light fixture next to their workspace.

Fantasy Name Generators creates free riddles about random objects. You can also find rhymes with a generator based on the answer you want everyone to guess.

Fun Tip: If you can only think of one or two things everyone is close to, create an I Spy game inspired by a shared picture. Everyone gets the same link and uses it to solve the clue.

2. Look for a Mirror

Get everyone to photograph themselves in the nearest mirror using a riddle like:

“You use this to see your reflection and shower yourself with affection.”

3. Browse the Nearest Fridge

Your team members might be close to a refrigerator. Use it as a scavenger hunt challenge with a riddle like:

“The tasty treats on my shelves are cold and free of mold.”

4. Show Off Your Shoes

Shoes are another way people express their personalities. Encourage everyone to show what they’re wearing or their favorite pair:

“Buying me was such a treat because I look great on your feet.”

5. Share Their Computer Model

Peek at everyone’s preferred tech by making their computer the answer:

“You use this to surf the internet and find definitions for words like epithet.”

6. Locate Some Cards

Get people to guess a deck of cards:

“You shuffle me on nights with friends and it’s easy because my deck bends.”

7. Find a Famous Fountain

Encourage everyone to find a picture of a famous fountain:

“People use me to make a wish, but my water has no fish.”

Pro Tip: Pick the name of a specific famous fountain if it’s in a place familiar to your team—the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas or the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

8. Select a Paint Color

Make a riddle about paint, which is likely on walls wherever your team members work:

“Once a coat of this dries, it never becomes wet again.”

9. Display Your Favorite Candle

Candles are in many households. Team members can also find a picture of one they’d enjoy buying:

“I smell good when set aflame and when it comes to decor, I change the game.”

10. Show What You’re Reading

If your team members are readers or talk about books they’d like to read:

“I reside on shelves or phones and have a spine, but don’t have bones.”

Seasonal Scavenger Hunt Ideas

Personalize your scavenger hunt to the time of year with these seasonal ideas.

1. Find Your Favorite Recipe

Challenge everyone to submit their favorite seasonal recipe. They could type up instructions or name the food in a submission form. Fall and winter feature themed recipes people anticipate all year. Team members might get excited discussing favorite meals, drinks, or desserts.

Fun Tip: Use answers to create a spin-off event where in-person team members bring their favorite seasonal foods to the office.

2. Link Your Preferred Songs

Some songs belong to specific seasons. Include a challenge to send a link to each participant’s favorite song. Whether they send a spooky Halloween tune or a summer radio hit, everyone learns more about each other and potentially finds new music they love.

3. Wear Part of a Costume

Set a 30-second timer and get everyone to find something they could wear if Halloween is approaching. Costumes reveal personality in surprising ways.

4. Don Your Coziest Hat

People rarely see their coworkers’ winter style. Create a challenge to submit a selfie in everyone’s go-to hat—it’s another way to have fun and make outdoor scavenger hunts more comfortable.

5. Provide a Favorite Seasonal Movie Fact

Participants submit a fun fact about the seasonal movie they watch every year. They might research a quick tidbit online or know one off the top of their head.

6. Grab a Beach Towel

Give everyone 15 seconds to run across their house and bring back the first beach towel they can find. The towels will likely have cute designs people want to share.

7. Find a Winter Bouquet

Include a step where everyone submits a picture of a winter bouquet. They may have a flower arrangement on their table or find a beautiful bouquet of winter flowers online.

8. Name a Few Chocolates

Get into the spirit of Valentine’s Day by asking everyone to name 10 types of chocolate or chocolate products. Even though you can’t eat them together remotely, candy remains an essential part of this seasonal holiday.

9. Name Seasonal Produce Items

Challenge everyone to name five seasonal produce items available at the current time of year. They’ll think outside the box and name the ones they love most.

10. Design an Autumn Outfit

Ask team members to create a fall outfit by finding a picture online or laying out clothes in their closets. It’s fun to see everyone’s sense of style, especially when people can start wearing favorite sweaters again.

The Science Behind Why Scavenger Hunts Build Teams

Scavenger hunt games aren’t just fun—they tap into fundamental human psychology.

Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, puts it bluntly: “The opposite of play is not work, it’s depression.” Play is a biological necessity for adults, not just children. When adults play together, they enter a state that enhances neuroplasticity and adaptability.

Game designer Jane McGonigal explains why games feel so satisfying: “Games make us happy because they are hard work that we choose for ourselves, and it turns out that almost nothing makes us happier than good, hard work.”

Here’s what the research shows about teams that play together:

• 50% lower turnover in organizations with high-trust cultures (Harvard Business Review)
• 74% less stress reported by employees in high-trust environments
• 106% more energy at work compared to low-trust workplaces
• 21% greater profitability in highly engaged teams (Gallup)

People who go through shared experiences where they support each other build what researchers call “swift trust”—the kind of trust that forms quickly around clear goals and shared challenges. Trust determines how team members handle conflicts, share feedback, and maintain long-term working relationships. Playing games also triggers endorphin release^{10https://www.miracle-recreation.com/blog/play-in-adulthood/}, creating positive emotions and combating cortisol (the stress hormone). This is why team members often feel happier after a scavenger hunt than before they began.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaways

Scavenger hunt games create shared experiences that build the kind of trust remote and in-person teams need to thrive. Here’s how to get started:

1. Choose voluntary participation—forced fun backfires with 54% of employees
2. Match the format to your team—fully remote teams thrive with app-based hunts; hybrid teams need extra coordination
3. Include varied challenges—mix physical tasks, creative prompts, and trivia so different strengths can shine
4. Consider accessibility—ensure all team members can participate regardless of mobility or location
5. Keep it time-bounded—60-90 minutes prevents fatigue while allowing real connection
6. Follow up afterward—the conversations that happen post-hunt often matter more than the game itself

Want to plan more team activities? Explore team-building activities like Code Words or virtual mysteries that strengthen working relationships.