10 virtual team events: gun turrets, escape rooms and more

How we ordered this list

This is Shov's editorial shortlist, compiled 13 October 2026, and Shov is our own product. We put our gun turret range first for its combination of live physical action, individual player control and repeat competition across a whole-company day. The remaining choices offer different kinds of participation: solving, creating, performing or answering together. The order reflects those editorial priorities; the descriptions come from the linked providers and organisers.

1. Shov: real gun turret competition

Each colleague joins on their own phone or laptop and aims a real gun turret at sensor targets in Shov's US arena. The gun turrets fire less-lethal .68 caliber rounds. Up to 12 players compete in each 90-second match. Sensor-registered impacts on active green targets count as confirmed kills; the player with the most confirmed kills wins the match. A company leaderboard carries the competition across the event. The next match starts immediately, so players can return for several turns.

Large and whole-company groups give the arena a bigger field of competitors. Reserve a 5-hour arena day for $8,000 or 10-hour arena day for $14,000 and let staff drop in between work blocks. Back-to-back matches provide 480 player slots an hour, including repeat turns. Per-person sessions have a $500 minimum; the current headcount bands run from $50 to $25 per person. All amounts are USD.

Planning step: request an invitation with your group size, preferred date and event plan. Shov arranges the package and sends a private payment invitation; payment reserves the arena. Put footage, the agreed arena window and the player invitation in your company announcement. Request a Shov for Groups invitation.

2. A live remote escape room

The Escape Game's Remote Adventures streams an actual escape room to your team over Zoom. Colleagues direct a game guide in the room and work together on its puzzles. Its listing, checked 13 October 2026, offers 60-minute games for up to 10 players per game and events of up to 500 players. Planning step: select the adventure, book its time and circulate the joining instructions. See The Escape Game's Remote Adventures.

3. An online murder mystery

Confetti's virtual murder mystery opens with a cast of characters on a Zoom call. Teams question characters in breakout rooms, gather clues and reunite to make their case. Its listing, checked 13 October 2026, describes a typical 90-minute event with a maximum of 300 people. Planning step: choose the case, then send the provider's event instructions. See Confetti's virtual murder mystery.

4. Jackbox drawing and comedy games

A Jackbox session turns colleagues' phones into controllers while the host shares the game screen. Choose drawing or comedy games so teammates create the material that everyone reacts to. Jackbox's event guidance explains remote screen sharing and audience settings. Planning step: choose the titles, prepare shared screen and audio, and follow Jackbox's business-event guidance for your use. Read Jackbox's guidance for events.

5. A guided cooking class

A cooking class gives colleagues a shared recipe and a finished dish to show one another. Confetti's catalogue includes bring-your-own-ingredient cooking classes. Its listing, checked 13 October 2026, includes healthy, vegan and cooking-basics classes lasting around 60–90 minutes, with a maximum of 495 people. Planning step: select a recipe, arrange ingredients and equipment, and give participants the preparation instructions before the event. Explore Confetti's cooking classes.

6. A virtual painting workshop

KraftyLab offers live virtual painting classes with materials and step-by-step instruction. Its listing, checked 13 October 2026, describes a one-hour class for groups from 1 to 1,000-plus participants and asks organisers to book 21 days ahead for kit shipping. Materials are shipped directly to each participant. Planning step: arrange material delivery, then make room for an organiser-led gallery at the end. See KraftyLab's virtual painting classes.

7. An interactive magic show

Confetti's virtual magic and mentalism show combines a live magician with audience participation. Colleagues react to tricks and join the performer's interactions. Its listing, checked 13 October 2026, offers a 30–60-minute show for up to 495 people. Planning step: choose the performance length and participation format, then share the provider's call instructions and opening time. See Confetti's magic and mentalism show.

8. A virtual scavenger hunt

Run a hunt in which colleagues find objects near their desks and show them on the call. Teambuilding.com's guide supplies sample lists and several formats. A company organiser can write its own prompts, such as an object with a story or something in the company colours. Planning step: publish the time limit, explain the scoring and appoint someone to keep the score sheet. Read the virtual scavenger-hunt guide.

9. Codenames Online

Codenames turns word associations into a team guessing game. The official browser version lets an organiser create a room, share its URL and connect players through a separate audio or video call. Teammates discuss what a clue might mean before making their choices. Planning step: create the game room and name the clue-givers so everyone knows how the first round begins. Open the official Codenames Online game.

10. A virtual trivia tournament

Trivia is a familiar format for a team that enjoys questions and quick answers. Give it a defined theme and a finish line: for example, music rounds followed by a company-history round. Kahoot's work catalogue includes team-building quizzes and trivia for remote teams. Planning step: build the questions, appoint a host and explain how the winner is decided before the first question. Explore Kahoot's quizzes for work.

Make the event invitation about the action

Show what colleagues will actually do. An arena clip demonstrates aiming and firing; a mystery invitation names the case; a cooking invitation names the dish. Put the event time and joining instructions beside that concrete hook. For Shov, an all-day arena window lets departments return between work blocks and keep the competition running across the company.

Keep an organiser-owned event sheet with invitation acceptances, unique participants and return visits. Use those observations when you plan the next event. A new activity gives the invitation a different reason to join; participation results come from your own event. Read the research behind replacing trivia and happy hours with gun turrets.