Are you searching for some great ways to spend your team building afternoon? Then look no further than ‘Minute to win it’ team building games! Not only are they easy to organize, but team ‘Minute to win it’ games also work perfectly for small or large groups of people. They are easily customizable and guaranteed to create an enjoyable atmosphere among players of all ages.
But first: what are ‘Minute to win it’ games? Interestingly enough this type of game started to make a name for itself late during the 2000s when the well-known broadcasting company NBC debuted a new show with that same name. In it, contestants had one minute (hence the name) to complete various tasks using household items and move from one challenge to another in order to win the grand prize. Throughout time the concept has taken on a life of its own as you can hear everywhere people playing ‘Minute to win it’ games during parties, family get-togethers, or friend reunions in the backyard. They are a great choice because they are virtually inexpensive, easy to put together, and fun to play.
And speaking of which: how do you actually play ‘Minute to win it’ games? Depending on the number of participants available, you can take different routes when it comes to the rules of the game. In a small group of people, individuals usually play on their own. Regardless of the theme of the game, they will have to beat the clock and finish the task in the given amount of time. The same general rule applies to a large gathering where people play in groups. There is one thing that is common to ‘Minute to win it’ games and that is the fact that you usually need some supplies in order to start playing. As a general rule of thumb, these types of games require household items like spoons or bowls (for carrying things in them) or stopwatches (for time management). The best part about it is that these objects are not hard to acquire and thus you can organize the games rather quickly.
Now let’s talk age groups. Probably one of the best things about these games is that anyone can play them. Out there, you can find lots of ‘Minute to win it’ games for kids, ‘Minute to win it’ games for teens, ‘Minute to win it’ games for couples, and even ‘Minute to win it’ drinking games for adults. You can customize the games to your liking and according to the people playing them. You can make them easier for the little ones, more difficult for adults and riskier, and a tad more entertaining for teenagers.
And now let’s get down to business. ‘Minute to win it’ games for adults in team building are the real deal. You can play them individually, in pairs, or in a team. They are perfect for your annual summer gathering, but can also be considered ‘Minute to win it’ games for adults at work. So now that I’ve convinced you that these games deserve a shot, you can start by picking one that catches your eye to try it out from the list I’ve assembled below.
1. Face the Cookie
This is probably one of the most famous ‘Minute to win it’ games for adults at work and it will surely fill the room with some laughter. You only need a cookie or a biscuit depending on what lies in the kitchen pantry. Place the cookie on your face (preferably on your forehead) and try to get it in your mouth using your facial muscles, in less than a minute. This is a good game to start with as all participants can play at the same time, but make sure you have your camera ready because you are bound to snap some fun pics!
2. Proper Posture
This one’s another ‘Minute to win it’ game that you can play at work. If you have an open-concept office space with desks and chairs spread throughout the area, even better! Prepare the setting by creating an obstacle course using the office furniture. Make sure to mark where it begins and where it ends. Now you can start the timer. Players have to make their way through the obstacles in less than one. The tricky part is that they have to do all this while balancing a book on their heads. If the book falls off, the player can start over as long as there’s still some time on the clock.
3. Office Tennis
Having a great time at work has never been so easy. All you need is a trash can, two clipboards, paper, and open space. Each player should have a clipboard and one crumbled-up piece of paper. Place the trash can at one end of the open space and put a strip of tape on the floor on the other end of the room. The farther apart the tape and trash can are, the harder the game will be. Together, the players must start at the tape line and hit the paper back and forth using their clipboards as they move toward the trash can. If the team can get the paper in the can in under a minute, then they win.
4. Scoop It Up
This is a great ‘Minute to win it’ game for adults in team building! For this one, you’re gonna need a spoon, two bowls, and some ping pong balls. With your hands tied behind your back, put one end of the spoon in your mouth and use the other end to move the ping pong balls from one bowl to the other. Do this in one minute. This can be played individually or as a team ‘Minute to win it’ game.
5. Bottle to Bottle
Using a similar concept from the game listed above, for this one you will need two large bottles of water, emptied of any liquid content. Fill one with something, either small stones, cereal, or whatever small item you have around in large quantities. Players will have to transfer the content of one bottle to the other in one minute. The first one to do this successfully wins the game.
6. Blow It Up
This is a great balloon game for adults that can be played both indoors and outdoors, as a ‘Minute to win it game’ for adults at work, or as a team building ‘Minute to win it’ game. If you’re looking for a game that will make everyone in the room laugh, then this is for you. Simply have players blow some balloons and then use the air gathered inside them to knock over empty plastic cups. The time limit is still available and whoever manages to knock over the biggest number in one minute wins the game.
7. Beer Pong
‘Beer pong’ is a great ‘Minute to win it’ team building game since it involves some alcohol! Simply arrange at the ends of a table a number of cups (six at least) filled with beer. Each player must use a ping pong ball and try to throw it into one of the cups. The winner is the person who manages to get the largest number of shots in a minute.
8. Suck It Up
For those office days when you have a pantry restock, ‘Suck it up’ is THE game. Just as the name suggests, players will use straws to suck M&Ms from one plate and transfer it to another. Only one hand may be used to hold the straw. As a prize, the player who wins gets to eat the candy. A variation works well with three players competing for each round. You can obviously tell that this one’s a great ‘Minute to win it’ game for adults at work.
9. Penny Tower
This team building ‘Minute to win it’ game for adults is much more fun if it’s played after everyone has already had a couple of drinks. The main mission is the following: to stack up as many pennies as possible in one minute. The trick here is that the player is able to use only one hand when handling the pennies. Will the tower be so big it will actually collapse (*don’t forget about those previous drinks 🤭) ? That remains to be seen.
10. Sponge Run
This ‘Minute to win it’ team building game is perfect for a summer day. You will need two buckets, one you will fill with water and place on one side of the yard, and the other one you will leave empty on the opposite end. Players will have to take a sponge, soak it up with water from that first bucket and then attempt to carry it on their head and take it to the empty bucket across the yard. When they get there, they must squeeze as much water as they can from the sponge and then return to their team. The group that manages to get as much water as possible into the empty bucket in a minute wins the game.
11. Junk in the Trunk
This is another crowd favorite among ‘Minute to win it” games for adults at work. You will need an empty tissue box, a bunch of ping pong balls, a belt, and a 10-minute break. Place the balls in the box and use a knife to make two slits at the bottom of the box. Thread the belt through the two slits and then tie it around the player. Do this for everyone participating in the game. When the timer is set, players will have one minute to get as many balls as possible out of the box. Jump, jiggle, dance around! Everything’s on the table and allowed here ( except using your hands of course ). This game is very fun to be a part of and also to witness. It will surely fill the room with laughter.
12. Dizzy Mummy
All the adults present at the team building should find themselves a partner. Each pair will receive a roll of toilet paper. One member will be the “mummy” and the other will be his helper. In one minute, the partner will hold the toilet paper while the mummy will unroll it while spinning, in an attempt to cover himself and actually look like the dreadful creature he is supposed to be. The winning team will be the one having the least amount of toilet paper left on the roll.
13. Human Ring Toss
This game is a fun one, perfect for your team building. Divide players into pairs. Have them stand at a considerable distance from one another (approximately 6 feet). Each team will receive a number of hula hoops or pool floats, depending on what you have on hand. In a minute, each partner will try to “ring” the other with the hula hoop or float. The pair that has the most rings at the end wins the game.
14. Feed Your Friend
Make sure to pack some mushy or jelly-like food such as pudding for the team building! For this game, you’re also going to need some blindfolds and a spoon. And you might even want to get some protective gear because this will get messy. Split the group into pairs and have one partner sit on a chair while the other stands up blindfolded. Then instruct the blindfolded player to spoon-feed the one sitting down. The seated partner can give directions, but cannot touch the other player in any way. Whichever duo has the least amount of pudding left when time runs out, wins the game.
15. Flip the Cup
‘Flip the cup’ is about lining up 2 teams along the edge of a table and offering each team a small cup filled with beer. Each member must drink the alcohol and flip the cup upside down off the edge of the table using only their fingers to do so. The team that has the most cups flipped when the timer rings, wins the game.
And here we have it! The best team building ‘Minute to win it’ games you can possibly ask for. Just make sure you have the materials ready and your attitude set on winning! On eTeamBuilding you can find a bunch of other fun activities for your next work gathering. Go check them out!
