Every office has its own rhythm, moving with the energy of the employees. Every industry has a slow season. Summer in the PNW is short and stupendous – plenty of us feel the urge to end the day early and head out into the welcome sun.
If your office participates in a Summer Fridays mood shift, we have a few free games to recommend to you and your crew. Whether your goal is to encourage team building and boost morale, or to simply give folks a fun way to improve their computer skills, we’ve got you covered. Ready, set, read on! 🏁
Z Type: A Galaga-like shooter game, Z Type takes place in space. Enemies approach, and the only way to destroy them is to spell out the words they display. While the game starts slow, the levels pick up speed quickly and become a challenge even for the most computer-savvy.
If you like the idea of a typing practice game but want something more involved, you can also check out Warhammer 40k– Words of Vengeance, based off the Warhammer Boltgun games. If you’re willing to spend some money, other extensive and imaginative typing games include The Textorcist or Epistory.
Code Names: This is a great game for two teams of 2-4 players each (4–8 players total). Each team takes turns guessing a set of prize words based on their team members’ clues. (Full rules can be found here.) This version features a digital board, enabling gameplay across multiple devices or time zones. The work benefit to Code Names is a better understanding of how your co-workers’ minds make connections. What does the word “server” make you think of? Is it different from what they imagine? This game might be a good way to take a break from a creative brainstorming session!
Skribbl: An online version of Pictionary with the option to create a private room for just your team, Skribbl offers a Microsoft Paint-type surface to draw your clues on, and an open group chat. Unlike Code Names, no teams are required, which means everyone is working together. The rudimentary design tools also offer staff the chance to do something other than their usual computer tasks… something they might even be bad at! Being able to graciously accept your mistakes and laugh at yourself is an important collaborative skill, and you know what they say – practice makes perfect.
Weavr: If you’re truly committed to making your office game day a recurring event, take a look at Weavr. Similar to games like Apples to Apples, players submit their ideas for the group to vote on their favorite. Played with GIFs, memes, and typed out answers, this game is tailor-made for the workplace and seeks to elicit laughs and create lasting team-wide inside jokes. The video feed and mic capabilities are built into this browser game, so everyone can see each other and chat while they play. Free for games of five players or fewer, paying to play unlocks more players and fun options for customization. Word to the wise, everyone must make an account to play, so there is a bit of work to do before you can get giggling.
Are you going to give these games a try? If so, let us know in the comments below!
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