35 Brilliant Virtual Scavenger Hunt Ideas Teams Will Actually Enjoy

Updated: May 26, 2026

Remote time is precious. People are juggling work, life, and too many tabs. A virtual scavenger hunt works because it turns a passive video call into an active, time-boxed game where everyone knows exactly what to do next. It’s structure with room for surprise. And it scales from a 15‑minute icebreaker to a full conference activation without turning into another forced-fun hour.

At a Glance

• Make it active: Short, specific prompts. Timed rounds. Clear scoring. Minimal monologuing.
• Balance energy: Mix find-it tasks, quick trivia, and creative show‑and‑tell. Use camera-optional phases to reduce fatigue.
• Right-size the format: Choose from 15-, 30-, or 45-minute runways. Add breakouts for big groups.
• Keep it simple to run: Use the templates below. Or run it in Scavify for automated scoring and a live leaderboard.

What a virtual scavenger hunt is (and why it works remotely)

A virtual scavenger hunt is a timed series of bite-sized challenges completed from wherever participants are: home office, shared space, hotel, or phone-on-the-go. Challenges can be household item finds, quick photos, screen-share tasks, trivia bursts, or micro-collaborations in small groups. The host sets the clock, announces the round, and watches the energy jump.

What usually shifts the dynamic is pacing. Two to four minutes per prompt, then move. Short bursts create momentum and reduce the heavy, open-ended awkwardness that drags most remote activities. If you’re using video platforms with breakout rooms, you can split large teams into smaller packs for collaboration and then pull everyone back automatically when time expires. Modern platforms support dozens of concurrent rooms, with host controls to broadcast updates and close rooms on schedule. (support.zoom.com)

Another practical reality: video fatigue is real. Camera-optional segments, hide-self-view moments, and off-screen hunts help. Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab has published peer‑reviewed work linking fatigue to staring at one’s own video, feeling hyper‑observed, and the cognitive load of monitoring many nonverbal cues. Building in short audio-only or off-camera phases and mixing task types can mitigate this. (vhil.stanford.edu)

In our experience, the best remote hunts keep rules simple, rotate challenge types, and give people something to show (a photo, a found object, a clever answer) every few minutes. The rest of this guide gives you plug‑and‑play material.

How to Create a Virtual Scavenger Hunt

For a virtual scavenger hunt, things work pretty similar to a traditional scavenger hunt except that the medium for completing the list will be virtual. A few of the steps involved include:

1. Create a list of items, riddles, and/or questions
2. Choose a virtual platform for hosting (e.g. Zoom, scavenger hunt app, etc.)
3. Set a start time and date
4. Share the rules with participants
5. Go hunting!
6. Tally scores and determine winners
7. Post-event hangout, event, slideshow, etc.

You can use a platform like Zoom in conjunction with a digital list to host a basic hunt, but you'll probably want to use a scavenger hunt app like Scavify to help set up, organize, and run your hunt.

1. Set a Time

First, you’ll want to allot a certain amount of time for everyone to find the items they are hunting for.

2. Create a List

You will also need to make sure that you provide a list of clues and instructions to everyone before you start.

3. Launch and Run Your Hunt

You can set up the rules and timing however you’d like. For virtual team building scavenger hunts, you typically hunt usually last a few hours to a day. However, since everyone doesn’t need to be in the same physical place for a virtual scavenger hunt, many groups are opting to run their hunt over the course of days and weeks (and even months), adding new challenges and items to find periodically to maintain and sustain the engagement.

It’s easy to get as creative as you want, and you can do so much more with team building when you choose a unique idea like this to use your time and connect your teams.

You don’t necessarily have to give out a prize with the hunt, but that is a good way to reward and acknowledge the winner, as well as to remind everyone that participating is a great way to engage with the team and earn something in return.

15 ready-to-run virtual scavenger hunt examples

Each of these comes with a quick setup and five mini‑mystery challenges. Use them as‑is or swap prompts between them. All are designed for Zoom, Teams, Meet, or Slack huddles. If you’re using breakouts, pre‑assign groups or auto‑split on the fly, then broadcast time checks and close rooms when the clock hits zero. (support.zoom.com)

1) Classic Zoom Hunt (15–25 minutes)

Fast warm‑up for any team meeting. One or two timed rounds, light competition, and plenty of laughs.

• [Photo | 20 pts]: Capture “the item that saves your Monday morning.”
• [Q&A | 15 pts]: Which teammate shares a birthday month with you?
• [GPS Check-in | 30 pts]: Drop your city pin in chat using an emoji flag.
• [Video | 40 pts]: Record a 5‑second cheer with something that rattles.
• [Multiple Choice | 25 pts]: Guess the host’s hidden desk snack from three options.

2) Work‑From‑Home Hunt (20–30 minutes)

Household find‑and‑share prompts that reveal personality without getting invasive.

• [Photo | 20 pts]: The oldest object within arm’s reach of your chair.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Something you didn’t buy but still keep proudly.
• [Q&A | 15 pts]: Year your favorite mug entered your life.
• [Video | 40 pts]: Ten seconds of your pet or a stand‑in mascot.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: A tool or gadget you actually use weekly.

3) Photo Burst Challenge (15 minutes)

Everyone submits three clever photos in rapid succession. Score creativity over production.

• [Photo | 20 pts]: Create a face using only office supplies.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Freeze motion with a dramatic page‑turn.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Recreate a famous logo using household shapes.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Cast the longest shadow you can indoors.
• [Photo | 40 pts]: Stage a “tiny epic adventure” with two small objects.

4) Lightning Trivia Hunt (15–20 minutes)

Alternate quick trivia with find‑it prompts. Host via your meeting platform or a live trivia tool.

• [Multiple Choice | 20 pts]: Identify a world capital from three emojis.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Fetch a book whose title starts with S.
• [Multiple Choice | 30 pts]: Pick the oldest software release from a list.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Name a song that mentions weather in the lyrics.
• [Photo | 35 pts]: Find two objects that rhyme and photograph them together.

Tip: If you prefer a ready‑made trivia layer, tools like Kahoot let you host a live game over a video meeting with PIN‑based joining and team modes. (support.kahoot.com)

5) Show‑and‑Tell Swap (20 minutes)

Small groups rotate, each person shares a meaningful object plus a short story under 30 seconds.

• [Video | 25 pts]: Share “the object that taught you a lesson.”
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: What surprised you about someone’s story? One sentence.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Snap the item arranged as a superhero still.
• [Multiple Choice | 20 pts]: Vote: funniest, most unexpected, most useful.
• [Q&A | 30 pts]: One word you associate with your item now.

6) Themed Holiday Hunt (25–30 minutes)

Pick a theme: Halloween, Lunar New Year, Pride Month, Earth Day. Keep prompts inclusive and open‑ended.

• [Photo | 25 pts]: Create a costume from three items in arm’s reach.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Arrange objects to form your theme’s symbol.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Share a tradition you appreciate and why.
• [Video | 35 pts]: A 7‑second “mini parade” on your desk.
• [Multiple Choice | 20 pts]: Guess the theme song from three short lyric hints.

7) Onboarding Buddy Hunt (30 minutes)

New hires pair up with veterans. Prompts introduce tools, people, and norms without a monologue tour.

• [Screen Share | 25 pts]: Show where to file a PTO request.
• [Photo | 20 pts]: The swag item you wish existed (sketch counts).
• [Q&A | 25 pts]: One unwritten team norm every newbie should know.
• [QR Code | 30 pts]: Scan a code that reveals a welcome message.
• [Multiple Choice | 20 pts]: Pick the right Slack channel for a given topic.

8) Conference Breakout Micro‑Hunt (15 minutes)

For virtual conferences, drop a burst of activity into breakout rooms between sessions. Works well for sponsor activations: include one brand‑relevant clue without turning it into an ad. If using Zoom or Teams, broadcast time remaining and close all rooms when the timer hits zero so the main session resumes on schedule. (support.zoom.com)

• [Photo | 20 pts]: Recreate the keynote theme with two found objects.
• [Q&A | 25 pts]: Three‑word takeaway from the last session.
• [Video | 35 pts]: Group chant of the session hashtag in four seconds.
• [Multiple Choice | 20 pts]: Pick the correct sponsor tagline from three fakes.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Find something the color of the event’s primary brand.

9) Around‑the‑World Timezone Hunt (20 minutes)

Designed for global teams. Prompts adapt to local contexts so no one’s stuck at midnight baking cookies.

• [Photo | 25 pts]: Capture “your current sky” in any creative form.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Share a local snack you recommend in seven words.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Something that represents your city’s pace today.
• [Video | 35 pts]: Ten‑second tour of your desk’s most useful corner.
• [Multiple Choice | 20 pts]: Guess a teammate’s city from three clues.

10) Slack Huddles Pop‑Up Hunt (15 minutes)

Use lightweight huddles for quick, camera‑optional rounds and thread submissions. Great for async‑adjacent engagement.

• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Post a one‑line “micro‑origin story” of your username.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Desk object that “sounds” like your job today.
• [Video | 30 pts]: 5‑second huddle hello with a reaction emoji.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Two colors that match the team mood.
• [Multiple Choice | 20 pts]: Poll: best time for a no‑meeting window.

Slack huddles support quick audio/video, screensharing, and threaded follow‑ups that persist in channel, which keeps participation light without losing artifacts. (slack.com)

11) Miro Board Creativity Hunt (20–30 minutes)

Open a shared whiteboard and let teams co‑create artifacts as proof. Fast, visual, and collaborative.

• [Screen Share | 25 pts]: Place three sticky notes forming a hidden word.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Sketch a mascot together and export the snapshot.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Write a six‑word story about remote work.
• [Multiple Choice | 25 pts]: Vote on the best board frame title.
• [Video | 35 pts]: 8‑second pan across your team’s final board.

You can borrow ready‑made icebreaker templates and share boards with non‑members when you need wide access. (miro.com)

12) Emoji‑Only Hunt (15 minutes)

Short and silly. All answers must be emoji strings.

• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Describe your morning using four emojis.
• [Multiple Choice | 25 pts]: Decode a movie title from emoji clues.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Arrange objects to match your top emoji.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Share a two‑emoji team cheer.
• [Photo | 35 pts]: Build a real‑world “emoji face” and snap it.

13) Wellness Micro‑Break Hunt (15 minutes)

Movement and recovery without awkward calisthenics.

• [Video | 25 pts]: Capture a 5‑second stretch you like.
• [Photo | 20 pts]: The healthiest thing within reach right now.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: One boundary that protects your focus.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: A view that resets your brain between tasks.
• [Multiple Choice | 25 pts]: Choose a micro‑break you’ll take post‑call.

14) Process Scavenger Hunt (20–30 minutes)

Turn knowledge‑sharing into a quest through your tools and docs.

• [Screen Share | 25 pts]: Show where “How we ship” lives.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Name the right owner for a sample request.
• [QR Code | 30 pts]: Scan to surface an internal glossary term.
• [Multiple Choice | 25 pts]: Select the correct escalation path.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Sketch today’s process bottleneck as a maze.

15) Hybrid Office + Remote Hunt (25–35 minutes)

Split teams across office pods and remote partners. Proof via photos, short clips, or board artifacts. Use live announcements to keep the whole group on the same clock; if you’re using Teams, note that organizers control breakout rooms from the desktop client. (support.microsoft.com)

• [Photo | 25 pts]: Remote and office partner each snap “what’s noisy.”
• [Video | 35 pts]: 6‑second handshake through a screen.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: One improvement your duo would ship this week.
• [Multiple Choice | 25 pts]: Vote: best hybrid hack your team uses.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Match objects of identical color in both locations.

Challenge templates you can copy today

Use these to build your own rounds. Mix two to three categories per session for variety.

Household‑item prompts

• [Photo | 20 pts]: Object older than you but within reach.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Something that glows without electricity.
• [Photo | 20 pts]: A tool with only one specific purpose.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: An item with a story you’ve told twice.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Two objects that don’t belong together.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Item that would confuse a time traveler.
• [Photo | 20 pts]: The heaviest thing you can safely lift one‑handed.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Three blue things forming a gradient.

Screen‑share tasks

• [Screen Share | 25 pts]: Your fastest keyboard shortcut in action.
• [Screen Share | 30 pts]: Calendar color‑coding that actually helps.
• [Screen Share | 25 pts]: Browser tab you open reflexively every morning.
• [Screen Share | 30 pts]: A saved search or filter you rely on.
• [Screen Share | 25 pts]: A hidden feature you wish more folks used.
• [Screen Share | 30 pts]: A two‑slide deck that explains a process.
• [Screen Share | 25 pts]: A pinned channel or bookmark you reference most.
• [Screen Share | 30 pts]: The cleanest dashboard you’ve seen this quarter.

Creativity challenges

• [Photo | 25 pts]: Build a tiny sculpture from three desk items.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Compose a color wheel from what’s around you.
• [Video | 35 pts]: A five‑second “movie trailer” for your coffee mug.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Forced‑perspective shot that bends scale.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Recreate a meme using only office supplies.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Write a six‑word manifesto for your team.
• [Video | 40 pts]: Stop‑motion of a paperclip on a quest.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Design a flag representing your workspace.

Team collaboration rounds

• [Multiple Choice | 25 pts]: Vote on the best team motto from three drafts.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: As a group, list five things you never automate.
• [Screen Share | 30 pts]: Co‑edit a doc to produce a haiku.
• [Video | 35 pts]: Coordinated 4‑second wave across squares.
• [Photo | 30 pts]: Build a combined collage using shared shapes.
• [Q&A | 25 pts]: Decide “the one rule we’ll try for a week.”
• [Multiple Choice | 25 pts]: Pick a team ritual to adopt next month.
• [Video | 40 pts]: 8‑second “ship it” chant with props.

Icebreakers

• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Show a photo that explains your hometown.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Something that made you laugh this month.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Your go‑to focus soundtrack in one sentence.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: The best sticker or magnet in sight.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: A small hill you’ll die on (funny, harmless).
• [Photo | 25 pts]: Your desk’s “most improved” object.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: One boundary that protects your weekends.
• [Photo | 25 pts]: A souvenir with a story under ten words.

Fast‑response rounds

• [Multiple Choice | 25 pts]: Guess the acronym from three expansions.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: One‑word weather report for your workflow.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: Share a shortcut: app, habit, or keyboard.
• [Multiple Choice | 25 pts]: Pick the legitimate release note from two fakes.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: One product you’d ban from meetings forever.
• [Multiple Choice | 25 pts]: Choose the real chart from two decoys.
• [Q&A | 20 pts]: One thing you admire about a teammate here.
• [Multiple Choice | 30 pts]: Select the odd file name out of three.

Filters by remote context: pick what fits your team

Right‑sizing matters more than right‑answering. Use these filters to land the right shape for your group and constraints.

15‑minute format

• Structure: 1 warm‑up, 2 quick rounds, 1 reveal.
• Challenge mix: Fast‑response + household + one creative photo.
• Tip: Keep submissions single‑proof (one photo or one line). Avoid screen shares.

30‑minute format

• Structure: 1 warm‑up, 3 rounds, 1 rapid final.
• Challenge mix: Add one collaboration round or themed twist.
• Tip: If using breakouts, pre‑assign groups and broadcast a mid‑round time check so you don’t drift. (support.zoom.com)

Large team (50–500+)

• Structure: Auto‑assign breakout rooms in groups of 4–7, with a simple scoring rule everyone understands.
• Challenge mix: Collaboration tasks, fast polls, and a final all‑hands reveal.
• Tip: Platforms allow many concurrent rooms; the host can close all rooms at once to keep the schedule tight. (support.zoom.com)

Global team (multiple time zones)

• Structure: Async‑friendly window over 24–72 hours, plus a 20‑minute live finale for those awake.
• Challenge mix: Photos, Q&A, and light trivia that respect local contexts.
• Tip: Keep at least one camera‑optional round to reduce fatigue for folks at odd hours. Research suggests less self‑view and shorter sessions help. (vhil.stanford.edu)

Async‑friendly

• Structure: Post prompts in chat or task board. Accept submissions over a set window. Celebrate on a short live call.
• Challenge mix: Photo proofs, Q&A, and micro‑videos under 10 seconds.
• Tip: Slack huddles and threads keep artifacts discoverable for later recap. (slack.com)

Low‑prep

• Structure: Use the Household and Fast‑response templates. No slides needed.
• Challenge mix: Found objects, emoji answers, one crowd vote.
• Tip: Run two 6‑minute bursts, then a 3‑minute reveal. Done.

Camera‑on

• Structure: Live share and rapid reveals. Use photo and video prompts.
• Challenge mix: Show‑and‑tell, creativity, team chant.
• Tip: Keep bursts under 3 minutes. Too long and energy dips.

Camera‑optional

• Structure: More Q&A, emoji polls, and off‑screen hunts.
• Challenge mix: Household items, chat‑based riddles, audio‑only intros.
• Tip: Hide self‑view and rotate off‑camera phases to reduce fatigue drivers identified in research. (vhil.stanford.edu)

What Are Good Use Cases for Virtual Scavenger Hunts?

Honestly, anyone can have a good time enjoying virtual scavenger hunts. There are so many different options out there that this is a good choice for everyone from individuals to corporate professionals looking for training, icebreakers, and other fun activities for their teams.

1. Virtual Team Building Activities
2. Office and Workplace Scavenger Hunts for Employees
3. College Campus Scavenger Hunts for Students
4. Conference and Tradeshow Engagement for Attendees
5. Tourist Destinations (parks, cities, zoos, etc.) for Visitors

Thanks to the growing number of people working remotely, these kinds of team-building exercises can be a great way to help everyone stay connected and feel like part of the team. 

To help you better plan your hunt, we’ve compiled some of the most popular ideas and virtual scavenger hunt lists to help you get started.

Team Building

A scavenger hunt is a team building activity that can be done virtually in any place with internet access. It's one of the best ways to get individuals interacting and talking with each other, which helps build relationships in addition to providing some entertainment on its own. Scavenger hunts are an excellent way for new teams or groups who don't know each other very well to get comfortable and acquainted with one another.

Example List for Team Building Activities

1. [PHOTO]: Social distancing doesn't mean you can't go outside. Snap a picture of you enjoying some fresh air!
2. [PHOTO]: Good Deed Friday - Show us how you give back during these times
3. [Q&A]: Positivity award! Nominate someone at your organization who you think is the most positive and why.
4. [VIDEO]: Time to dance away those weekday blues. Record a video of you and anyone else you are at home with dancing to your favorite song! 
5. [Q&A]: What planet was the first to be discovered using a telescope?

College Students

The college level scavenger hunt is perfect for a group of people who still have their youthful energy and enjoy being very active. This type of activity isn't just about getting out outside; it can also be done virtually from your dorm room and will still provide the same benefits of getting you out in the world.

This activity is great because it doesn't require a ton of physical space to complete, so even if you don't have much free time on campus, you can always find some opportunities for this type of adventure.

If you are looking for an activity that will help build relationships on your campus, this is one of the most popular team building activities around.

Example Virtual Scavenger Hunt List for College Students on Campus

Here are some examples of how we can get students interacting with their campus virtually:

1. [PHOTO]: Show us your favorite study spot on campus!
2. [QR CODE]: Be hospitable and pay a visit to this University student-run coffee shop. Find and scan the secret QR code located at the shop pick up window.
3. [VIDEO]: Out on the town. Find your favorite spot away from campus and take a video with your friends there!
4. [SURVEY]: Do you feel like you are up-to-date with everything going on? Is there a way we could communicate with the students in a better way?
5. [GPS]: Head up to the writing center to get help with a paper. Check-in with the app while you are there to complete this challenge.

Employees at Work

Scavenger hunts are an excellent way for new teams or groups who don't know each other very well to get comfortable and acquainted with one another.

Scavenger hunts can be a great way to get employees interacting with each other, which in turn leads them being more invested in the success of their team and therefore company. It's also an excellent activity to start at the beginning of a meeting or event where people don't know one another very well but want to build relationships.

Example Virtual Scavenger Hunt List for the Office or Workplace

A couple of examples might include:

1. [PHOTO]: Share a WFH (Work from Home) office setup recommendation to your team. Snap a photo of one item you’d suggest for your team that they likely don’t have already.
2. [VIDEO]: Share a story about something you’re grateful for now that you work from home.
3. [SURVEY]: What is the last move you watched that you would recommend to your team?
4. [QR CODE]: Read the company’s latest Work From Home blog post on ways to thrive in this new environment. Scan the QR code on the company blog post that went out this week.
5. [QUIZ]: What is the name of the new VP that was hired this month?

Conference and Event Attendees

Virtual scavenger hunts can be an excellent and creative way to engage a large group of people. It's also an activity that doesn't require all of your attendees to be in one physical place, making it perfect for virtual conferences or events where you're looking for something interactive.

A great thing about a virtual scavenger hunt at a conference is there are no limitations to what adventure you want your attendees to go on. You'll like still have many of the same goals of educating attendees about the conference, having them interact with sponsors, and engaging them with a fun activity. All of this can still be done virtually just like you would in a traditional conference setting.

Example Virtual Scavenger Hunt List for Conference or Trade Show

A couple of examples might be:

1. [PHOTO]: Snap a selfie while attending a virtual session.
2. [VIDEO]: Share the most interesting thing you learned from the conference with other attendees.
3. [QUIZ]: Which exhibitor has been in business for over 100 years?
4. [QR CODE]: Scan the QR code on the virtual exhibitor page for the company that won the #1 Tech Solution of the Year
5. [SURVEY]: Is there anything we can improve for next year?

Tourist Destinations

Tourist destinations can also have virtual scavenger hunts for their visitors. For example, this type of activity is perfect if you're at your vacation destination and looking to get out into the city or explore some new landmarks, but still want an adventure that's not too demanding on your time and can be done on your smartphone.

A great thing about this type of game is it helps people engage with new and interesting places, which is perfect especially if you're just visiting for the first time or looking to engage with a familiar place in a new way.

Example Virtual Scavenger Hunt List for Visitors of a Zoo, Museum, Park, or City

A few examples to serve as inspiration:

1. [PHOTO]: Strike a pose with the Rocky Statue by the Art Museum stairs. [Philadelphia, PA]
2. [VIDEO]: Take a video of your reflection in this public sculpture created by Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor, that is the centerpiece at Millennium Park in the Loop. [Cloud Gate, Chicago, IL]
3. [QUIZ]: What is the name of our newest feline friend? [Philadelphia Zoo]
4. [QUIZ]: Who is credited with discovering the city?
5. [QR CODE]: Scan the QR code by the entrance to the park that shows all of the rules. Be sure to read the rules for safety.

K-12 Students

Some people think scavenger hunts are only for fun, but they can be a great way to engage students of all ages in an educational manner. For example, when using them in the classroom as an educational activity related to academics or social studies subjects (like geography), it helps make information more memorable and enjoyable for kids who might not otherwise sit still.

A virtual scavenger hunt can also be a great way to engage students with different learning styles. This activity is perfect for auditory learners who like games and solving puzzles, but might not respond well to more traditional teaching methods that require reading books or writing essays.

Planning a Virtual Scavenger Hunt - Tips and Best Practices

There is a lot that you can do with a virtual scavenger hunt, but that also means that there is a lot that you can do wrong.

There’s no reason to make things more difficult, and there are some best practices that you can follow from those who came before you to help you get what you want out of this experience. Here are a few things to keep in mind. 

1. Choose Your Participants

With virtual scavenger hunts, there really is no limit to the number of participants you can have. However, different circumstances will dictate how many you should include. Think about how many people you have and how much time you want to spend, and then plan accordingly.

2. Add Variety and Creativity

Add in challenges like selfies, online searching, or performance videos to keep people interested and engaged. Try to avoid the hunt from being a giant game of “fetch”.

3. Determine the Winner

If you want to up the stakes, add points to each clue based on the level of difficulty, and then you’ll have a clear winner based on who gets the most points and finishes the soonest.

4. Mix Virtual and Physical Items

Don’t limit yourself to strictly online or physical clues-- a good mix of both will keep people engaged and make the hunt more interesting.

5. Use Turn-Key Hunts and Lists

Use pre-built lists and scavenger hunt ideas from scavenger hunt apps and companies that have experience with these types of activities. Why reinvent the wheel if you don’t have to and also leverage their experience. Contact companies like Scavify to help. You’ll always be able to customize your list off these turn-key foundation lists.

Bonus: 57 (More) Virtual Scavenger Hunt List Ideas and Examples

You can pick and choose how difficult your hunt is based on the clues that you select. You can use any of the ideas here as they are, or simply use them as inspiration to create your own ideas.

Feel free to modify, add, and change these to suit your needs, and pick as many or as few as you’d like to add to your hunts.

We’ve separated them into groups of ideas for having people search in their homes and online, offering different angles to each hunt. You can also mix and match these concepts. 

Things to Find at Home

1. Pet selfies are popular as more pets become “office” pals for their human companions. 
2. Perform a TikTok dance or mimic a popular video from the site.
3. Share the view from your office window.
4. Take a zoom selfie that looks like a frozen camera glitch. 
5. Show off those culinary skills-- take a picture of your breakfast or lunch, or even the frozen pizza you’re saving for later. 
6. Mug shot: Share your favorite coffee mug. 
7. Show us your smarts: Share a book from your collection that’s at least 300 pages long. 
8. Family hunt: Have employees “show and tell” something interesting with other family members. 
9. Junk removal: Show off a photo of your home’s worst “junk drawer”. 
10. Recreate an old family photo. 
11. Recreate a famous work of art or a work of art in your home. 
12. Share a photo of your office setup. Bonus points if you have work-related stuff (non-confidential) on your computer. 
13. Safety check: Show off your best mask, if you’ve got one that’s themed or otherwise. 
14. Find something from the decades: Have players find something related to the 80s, 90s, or 2000s, in their home.

Things to Find Online

1. Word hunts: You can do a word-themed hunt and have people find items that represent specific words. 
2. Photobomb: Search for the worst selfie on Google Images and share your result. 
3. Get Social: Look for the company’s profile on social media- find all the pages for a bonus. 
4. Alphabet soup: Have the players find an item based on a letter of the alphabet. This can be fun as an entire game of its own!
5. Screen sharing: Find a screenshot or screen capture on your computer or phone. Share it with everyone. The older, the better. 
6. Share your skills: Search for your job title online. Find the occupational description and share it with the group. For added fun, read over it to see how accurate it is. 
7. Find a trending Instagram hashtag. (This is great for social media training, too)
8. Hidden Gems: Task people with finding specific information, keywords, or pages on the company website. The deeper the page, the better. 
9. For the Team: Have everyone “shop” for promotional materials and see what they’d offer team members for onboarding or as a prize for the hunt. 
10. Find three TikTok profiles that make you laugh and share them with the group. 
11. Use Google Image search to find a picture of the company’s physical location (if it has one). 
12. Search for the company’s Google My Business page. Bonus points if you’ve got a suggestion for improvement. 
13. Wishlist: Make a “wish list” on your favorite online shopping site and share it with the group. It should include items that would explain your personality to people. 
14. Zoom zoom: Find three funny Zoom call glitches on YouTube. Share your favorite with the group. 
15. Rabbit Holes: Share your favorite time-wasting website with the group. 

Photo and Video Items

Although many of the items discussed can be found and shared via photo or video, here are some specific quests that only involve taking images or sharing items on the screen. 

1. Your morning routine: teeth brushing selfie, morning paper, website screenshot, social media share. 
2. A box of band-aids or first aid supplies.
3. Take a picture of all the technology within an arm’s length. 
4. Find a car charger for your phone and share a pic. 
5. Take a video of yourself reciting your job description creatively. 
6. Take a 10-second video of the weather outside at the moment and share it with the group. 
7. Holiday setup: If your hunt is happening during the holidays, you can have people share pics of their holiday decor, both indoors and out. 
8. Cleaning house: Take a photo of the various cleaning supplies in the home. Alternatively, have people share a photo or video of their least favorite chore. 
9. Google search for “tornado cat” and share the best image you can find. 
10. Search the company’s name plus the word “rainbow” and share the first image that comes up. 

Riddles

Finally, for those who prefer the riddle-style hunts and want a little inspiration, here are 10 great riddles to get you started. 

1. Sometimes I’m firm, sometimes I’m soft. I can come from the store or even from a big cardboard box. (Mattress/Bed)
2. The Internet is fun and it can be a good tool. Search high, search low, and then search Google for the coolest outdoor pool. 
3. You know who you are and you know what you do, but can you find it online and explain it to others, too? (Find a listing or description of your job)
4. On again, off again, that’s all I do. I’m not talking about relationships, I’m lighting the way for you. (Lamp)
5. If you’re planning on going out, put me on first. I’ll protect your head from the worst. (Hat/hood)
6. Round and round and round I go. Suds and duds and balled up socks, and if I’m not balanced, I’ll take a walk. (Washing machine)
7. I can be a code or a card, or even made of metal and put on a ring. Without me, you’re not getting in, that’s a sure thing! (Key)
8. Work, work, work, with no time for play. Take a picture of the screen where you spend most of your day. (Computer)
9. I’m always running and sometimes find you running behind. I have my hands on my face and nothing but time. (A clock)
10. Good morning to all and to all a goodnight. Now get online and find Santa’s favorite website. (Share your favorite online shopping platform)

Free downloadable tools (copy/paste templates)

Steal these and make them yours. They’re deliberately lean.

Score sheet (simple rules win)

• Scoring: 20–40 pts per prompt based on difficulty; +10 creativity bonus.
• Tracking: One line per team with running total. Judges record bonus notes.
• Tiebreakers: 1 quick trivia question or audience clap/emoji vote.
• Fair play: One submission per prompt per team. No spoilers mid-round.

Facilitator guide (what actually helps)

• 1) Pre-brief: Rules in one slide or one chat post.
• 2) Timeboxing: 2–4 minutes per prompt; announce time left at halfway.
• 3) Variety: Mix find-it, Q&A, and one creative build.
• 4) Access: Offer camera-optional rounds; invite mobile participation.
• 5) Momentum: Close rounds crisply; keep reveals under 3 minutes.
• 6) Respect: Avoid prompts about private spaces or sensitive topics.
• 7) Wrap: Name 2–3 specific highlights, then stop while energy is high.

Virtual prize ideas (lightweight and inclusive)

• Winner picks next team playlist opener for a week
• “Meeting leave-early” token (within team norms)
• Digital badge in profile or channel
• Charity micro-donation in winner’s name
• Fun, rotating Zoom/Teams background used by the team for a day

Run this in Scavify (simple, fast, remote‑ready)

If you want automation without juggling spreadsheets or screenshots, Scavify handles the mechanics while you focus on the vibe.

• Challenge variety: Mix photo, video, GPS check‑ins, QR scans, multiple choice, and Q&A in a single hunt.
• Timed rounds: Start and stop rounds with built‑in timers and broadcast updates to keep pace tight.
• Mobile submissions: Let remote participants submit from phone or desktop without hunting for links.
• Live leaderboard: Real‑time scoring and highlights pull attention back when energy drifts.
• Hybrid‑ready: Office pods and remote teammates compete together with identical rules.

We’re biased, of course, but these are the mechanics we’ve seen consistently keep participation high without overproducing the moment.

FAQ: fast answers for hosts

How do I run a virtual scavenger hunt on Zoom?

Create a simple run‑of‑show, keep prompts short, and, for larger groups, use breakout rooms to split into teams. Broadcast time checks, then close all rooms at once to bring everyone back for the reveal and scoring. Zoom supports automatic closing of rooms and host announcements to all rooms. (support.zoom.com)

Can I do this with Microsoft Teams?

Yes. Teams supports breakout rooms managed by the meeting organizer. Use the desktop client to create and control rooms, broadcast announcements, and close rooms on schedule. Some advanced controls are organizer‑only, so assign that role deliberately before you start. (support.microsoft.com)

What if my team is camera‑shy or burned out on video?

Blend camera‑optional phases with off‑screen hunts and chat‑based prompts. Research on video meeting fatigue highlights self‑view and constant nonverbal monitoring as contributors, so rotate in audio‑only segments and hide self‑view when possible. Short rounds help too. (vhil.stanford.edu)

How big can a virtual scavenger hunt get?

Very large. With breakouts you can run dozens of simultaneous rooms and pull everyone back on a single timer, which keeps big groups orderly. Keep teams small (around 4–7) so everyone participates rather than spectates. (support.zoom.com)

What tools are best for live trivia and quick polls?

For a structured trivia round, host a live game people join with a PIN and you manage from a browser. Tools like Kahoot are built for exactly this and play nicely with video meetings. For quick votes, your meeting platform’s native polling is usually enough. (support.kahoot.com)

How do I make this inclusive for a global or hybrid team?

Avoid prompts that assume specific schedules, holidays, or home setups. Offer async windows for submissions and keep the live finale short. Pair office pods with remote partners for hybrid parity. Keep at least one camera‑optional round.

Do I need a whiteboard tool?

Not required, but shared boards make collaboration rounds fun and fast. Many tools offer ready‑made icebreaker templates and easy sharing with guests outside your org. (miro.com)

How should I score creativity without it feeling subjective?

Use a simple base score per prompt and a small creativity bonus (for example, +10) with one judge per team to avoid groupthink. Resolve ties with a single lightning question or a quick emoji vote in chat. Keep it visible and consistent.

---

If you want to keep building momentum, run your next meeting opener using the 15‑minute format above. And when you’re ready for automated scoring, mobile submissions, and a live leaderboard, spin up the same flow in Scavify in minutes.

Enjoy and happy hunting!