Virtual Team Building: How to Run a Drawing Game in Your Next Meeting
Most virtual icebreakers feel like homework. A drawing game is different: nobody needs to prepare, nobody needs to be good at it, and a badly drawn giraffe gets more laughs than any "two truths and a lie". Here's a plan you can run in your next team call.
Why drawing games work for remote teams
- Everyone participates at once. While one person draws, the whole team is guessing in parallel — no waiting for your turn to speak.
- Skill doesn't matter. Terrible drawings are often the funniest, which levels the playing field between the designer and the accountant.
- It's quiet-person friendly. Guesses are typed, so people who rarely speak up in meetings can shine.
- Zero setup. One link, no accounts, no installs — IT doesn't need to approve anything.
The 30-minute agenda
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0–3 min | Host opens drawdle.co, creates a private room and pastes the invite link in the meeting chat. |
| 3–5 min | Everyone joins with their first name. Host explains the only rule: no writing letters in drawings. |
| 5–20 min | Game 1: 2 rounds, 60 seconds per drawing. Keep cameras on for the reactions. |
| 20–27 min | Game 2 ("Play again"): 2 rounds, 45 seconds — faster and sillier. |
| 27–30 min | Podium screenshot for the team channel. Crown the champion. |
Tips for the host
- Open the game in a separate browser tab, not via screen-share. Everyone needs to draw and type on their own device.
- Room size: one room holds up to 12 people. For larger teams, split into breakout rooms, each with its own game, and compare winners at the end.
- Timing: 45–60 seconds per drawing keeps the energy up in a work setting; 80 seconds suits first-timers.
- Keep it inclusive: encourage stick figures, celebrate the worst drawing of the day, and never pressure anyone to turn their camera on.
- Hybrid teams: people in the office should join on their own laptops or phones too, rather than crowding around one screen.
Make it about your team
Want to theme it? Play a normal game first, then do a bonus offline round where the host gives each drawer a work word in a private message and they draw it on a shared whiteboard — "stand-up meeting", "coffee machine", "the printer that never works". Our office word list has more ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work on Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet?
Yes. The game runs in a normal browser tab next to any video-call app. Just share the link in the meeting chat.
How many people can play?
2 to 12 per room. For 13 or more, create one room per breakout group.
Do people need to install anything or sign up?
No. Players open the link and type a name — that's it.