10 Best Corporate Training Games to Motivate Employees

In today's dynamic corporate world, engaging employees in continuous learning and development is more critical than ever. However, traditional training methods often fail to capture and maintain employee interest. According to Gallup, only 15% of employees worldwide are engaged in their work, a staggering statistic directly impacting productivity and profitability. Innovative corporate training games and activities solve this challenge by transforming training sessions into interactive and enjoyable experiences.

Research indicates that companies incorporating gamification into their training programs experience a 24% increase in employee engagement and a 22% rise in profitability. These training games make learning fun and promote critical skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. By integrating gamified training solutions, businesses can promote a more collaborative and motivated workforce, which is a key factor in driving better performance and growth.

This blog lists 10 interactive corporate training games designed to enhance employee engagement and learning retention. These games transform how businesses approach training, releasing unrealized potential and guaranteeing a resilient, forward-thinking workforce by embracing the power of play in professional development.

Why Does Corporate Training Need Gamification?

The need for gamification in corporate training arises from the thought of overcoming the hurdles posed by conventional training approaches. Here's why gamification in training is becoming a must-have in employee development:

1. Boosts Interest: Let's be honest - traditional training can often feel tedious and uninviting. Gamification transforms this experience, infusing excitement and a competitive spirit into employee engagement games, turning it into an activity employees eagerly anticipate.

2. Helps in Learning Retention: Remembering what one learns through a long training program can be questionable. However, gamification in training turns learning into an interactive adventure, greatly elevating the odds of information retention in memory.

3. Immediate Insights: With gamification, feedback is instant, like having a coach right there telling the learners what to excel at and which area they need to work on. This kind of instant feedback is priceless for on-the-spot learning and improvement.

4. Fueling the Drive: The excitement of earning points and badges while seeing the name climb the leaderboard taps into both the joy of achievement and the thrill of competition, driving learners to dig deeper and keep pushing.

5. A Custom Fit: One size rarely fits all, especially in learning. Gamification in corporate training allows learners to tailor their journey, choosing challenges that suit their level and pace, making learning more effective and enjoyable.

6. Building Bonds: Gamification's social aspects, like team challenges, not only heighten the learning experience but also bring teams closer together, promoting a spirit of collaboration and mutual support.

7. Deeper Analytics: Beyond the fun and games, corporate gamification offers a serious benefit in the form of analytics. These insights allow trainers to monitor progress and tweak programs to better suit learners' needs, ensuring no one is left behind.

Gamification in corporate training is not just about making learning fun but more effective, personalized, and socially enriching. It proves that when it comes to training, games can actually be serious business.

10 Interactive Corporate Training Games

Here are some interactive training methods that will keep your employees engaged: 

1. You Teach Me

While working in teams, it’s natural for team members to have different perspectives and thoughts on a topic. This game promotes the sharing of this knowledge amongst your team. Through this game, employees in your team can teach and learn from their peers, creating a dynamic learning environment that promotes professional development and knowledge sharing.

Objective of the Game: To facilitate the sharing of information and knowledge between group members in a structured and engaging manner, participants are broken into smaller groups and have them each work on different aspects of the curriculum.

How to Play: Initially, divide the participants into small groups. While dividing, ensure that each group has individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise. Now, provide each group with training materials relevant to the topic covered in the workshop and allow them to explore the manuals on their own. Working collaboratively, each group will prepare their own slide decks based on their understanding of the training material. After this, each group shares their findings with the rest of the attendees. Following each presentation, other groups can ask questions, provide feedback, and discuss among themselves, ensuring that everyone benefits from the collective wisdom of the group.

Output of the Game: A culture of sharing knowledge and continual learning within the company, where employees are encouraged to use their knowledge and gain insights from peers regularly.

2. Case Studies Workshop

Case Studies Workshop is an interactive game for corporate training that allows participants to apply their knowledge to real-world situations. Through participating in case studies, participants can observe how the ideas and techniques they've learned during the training sessions can be used in actual scenarios.

Objective of the Game: By analyzing and then presenting the case study, participants are taught how to apply the principles and techniques learned during workshops to address the practical problems they face in their jobs.

How to Play: The best part about playing this corporate training game is that you don’t have to take out separate time just for this game. You can begin by conducting regular training sessions on the chosen topic, then divide the employees into small, diverse groups. Each group is tasked with creating an outline of how they will apply the new knowledge they have acquired to tackle an actual-life scenario (or case study). After preparing their presentations, each group will present its conclusions to the rest of the participants. After each presentation, conduct an open-ended discussion with a slide deck. 

Output of the Game: Improved problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, and decision-making abilities within the team as participants learn how to apply theoretical knowledge to practical challenges.

3. Workplace Trivia

"Workplace Trivia" is a thrilling and engaging corporate training game created for employees to assess their understanding of corporate policies, practices, procedures, history, and culture. It is designed to bring participants together in a competitive and interactive atmosphere while also educating them about work.

Objective of the Game: In challenging employees with trivial questions about policies and procedures, history, and the organization's culture, the game is designed to help them understand the company and foster feelings of pride and belonging.

How to Play: Before beginning the game, you must prepare trivia questions covering aspects of the workplace, including company history, values, policies, and key personnel. Divide participants into diverse teams, followed by the questioning rounds. For each correct answer, award points to the team, and to add more elements, add bonus rounds. End the game with a final round of challenging questions and finally, tally up the scores and announce the winning team. Consider incentivizing the top-performing teams to boost morale.

Outputs of the Game: Enhanced camaraderie and teamwork as participants collaborate to answer trivia questions and compete for points.

4. Team Scavenger Hunt

Team scavenger hunts offer an exciting and entertaining way to strengthen connections and increase team communication, whether in-person or virtual. The game adds enthusiasm and camaraderie to team dynamics, encouraging the participants to work together, think strategically and think through problems. Players embark on a thrilling adventure through various activities and games, locating mysteries while solving puzzles and working towards a shared goal within a defined time limit.

Objective of the Game: Beyond the competitive aspect, the game aims to strengthen interpersonal relationships, foster trust, and enhance problem-solving skills within the team.

How to Play: Divide participants into teams, ensuring a mix of personalities, skills, and expertise within each group. Initiate the rules for the scavenger hunt. This includes the time limit for the hunt, hunting space (physical and virtual), and a scoring method. Begin the timer and let teams begin their hunt. Encourage teams to brainstorm, assign responsibilities, and effectively communicate to increase the chances of success.

Teams explore the hunt area by searching for items, solving puzzles, and accomplishing tasks per the set of challenges. When the time limit is up, the teams must gather and add their scores according to their completed tasks and challenges. The winning team will be announced with the highest score.

Outputs of the Game: This game improves team communication and enhances problem-solving skills. It also boosts motivation and encourages positive team dynamics.

5. Virtual Icebreakers

If you have just hired a new person in your organization and are looking for an interactive methodology to introduce them to the team and make them feel comfortable, virtual icebreakers are just the thing for you. We all know collaboration is the key to success, but building trust among people you don’t know can be difficult, and that’s where virtual icebreakers come into play. They are a great way to start your training sessions and meetings with new hires.

Objective of the Game: To make the new employees feel comfortable and develop an environment of trust in the team to boost collaboration.

How to Play: Since this is a virtual interactive activity, you need to choose an appropriate virtual meeting application to ensure the smooth functioning of the activities. This involves understanding the existing applications' pros and cons, including Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and many more. After platform selection, select the activities you will organize during the session. Allow the participants to actively engage in the chosen activities confidently. 

Output of the Game: Virtual Icebreakers provide opportunities for team members to get to know each other on a personal level, building stronger relationships and rapport that can improve collaboration and teamwork in the long run.

6. Describe That

This is an exciting and engaging game created to increase participants' understanding and retention of words and concepts related to the subject of their training. It doesn't matter if they use verbal descriptions, graphic representations, or multimedia presentations. It challenges participants to express their concepts clearly and succinctly while experimenting with different communication techniques.

Objective of the Game: The game promotes cooperation and inspires players to think outside the box, creating a learning environment that stimulates creativity and a critical mind.

How to Play: Pick a particular aspect of the subject matter you wish to concentrate on. This could be a major idea, concept or process that trainees have to be able to grasp and explain effectively. It is important to encourage participants to employ different media formats to describe their chosen topic, such as written descriptions and explanations, illustrations (such as diagrams or drawings), and multimedia displays (such as videos or slideshows).

You can assign each participant or group a particular medium to work on. Make a time frame for participants to write their descriptions. Each group member or participant will describe the selected topic in the assigned medium. Invite constructive critique and emphasize points of strength to foster continual improvement.

Output of the Game: The game encourages participants to think creatively and experiment with various ways of expressing themselves, fostering innovation and originality.

7. Hear Me Out

"Hear Me Out" is an engaging game carefully designed to improve communication and listening skills in an environment of teamwork. It is based on building trust and establishing rapport between players. This game acts as an avenue for deeper connections and understanding. Through regular dialogues and active engagement, participants begin an adventure toward better communication and stronger relationships with each other.

Objective of the Game: It is designed to develop active listening abilities among the participants, creating a positive environment where everyone's voice is heard and appreciated. The game also aims to improve communication skills by encouraging speech clarity, coherence, and precision.

How to Play: Participants should be in a setting that encourages focused conversations. You should ensure that everyone gets the chance to be involved similarly. Select one participant as the speaker. This person will speak about their thoughts or ideas on a specific subject for a specified time. In this period, the other participants must listen attentively, without interruptions.

After the speaker is done, listeners review what they have observed. After the summary, each listener will ask the speaker follow-up questions for clarification or additional information. When all listeners have given their summary and asked queries, the presenter will have the chance to verify or revise the summaries and answer any questions asked by listeners. The roles should be rotated so that each participant can be simultaneously a speaker and listener.

Output of the Game: Participants build active listening skills, enhancing their attentiveness with others' perspectives and thoughts. Employees develop their communication skills through regular dialogue and feedback by learning to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively.

8. What’s My Line?

"What's My Line" is an exciting and interactive game designed to increase the public speaking abilities of participants and the ability to make decisions on the fly. In contrast to traditional presentations, where presenters carefully plan and prepare their presentations, this game forces participants to present impromptu presentations using flimsy slideshow names and bullets. The game encourages presenters to use their imagination and skills in communication instead of relying on prepared content. This makes it an exhilarating experience for both presenters and listeners.

Objective of the Game: By delivering presentations based on misleading slide deck titles and bullet points, participants are challenged to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage their audience.

How to Play: The game starts with the presenter preparing an image slide deck with the title and bullets. The problem is that the bullet points and title aren't related to the actual theme in the slide deck. For instance, it could be "How to Train Your Dragon"; however, the subject may include "The Benefits of Meditation." The presenter gives an address based on the confusing slide deck and then alters the contents of the presentation in real time. The participants must pay attention to the speaker's presentation and try to figure out the real theme based on the clues given.

Output of the Game: Participants in "What's My Line" develop their ability to speak confidently and effectively in front of an audience, as they are required to deliver impromptu presentations without prior preparation. 

9. Acronym Challenge

Acronym challenges are an engaging way to strengthen your team’s knowledge of the subject’s concepts and terminology. Incorporating this game into your training can create a setting where employees actively absorb and review important information. Whether you're focused on accounting concepts, industry-specific terminology, or technical terms, the acronym challenge is an engaging and enjoyable method of retaining knowledge.

Objective of the Game: This game encourages participants to recall and articulate the meanings behind specific acronyms relevant to the subject matter. This interactive exercise deepens participants' comprehension, enhances retention, and solidifies their grasp of essential information.

How to Play: Initiate this game by selecting a set of acronyms closely aligned with your training topic. For instance, if your session focuses on computing and coding principles, you might choose acronyms like FIFO, LIFO, etc. Utilize presentation software to create word clouds containing the selected acronyms. Finally, invite the participants to join the game using their devices and prompt them to input their interpretations for displayed acronyms within the designated time frame. Conclude the game by summarizing key insights, highlighting common misconceptions, and encouraging the participants to reflect on their learning experiences.

Output of the Game: Participants reinforce their retention of key concepts and terminologies by actively engaging with the acronyms and their meanings.

10. Escape the Room

"Escape the Room" is an immersive and enjoyable corporate training game designed to help participants improve their thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork abilities. It is based on escape room games. The game requires players to cooperate to overcome challenges and "escape" from a virtual room or situation. Simulation of a stressful situation in a controlled setting will encourage players to use their thinking, creativity, and collaborative skills to accomplish the same goal.

Objective of the Game: Through various themed puzzles and challenges, Participants must work together to overcome challenges and eventually "escape" from the virtual area or location within a time frame.

How to Play: The presenter makes an interactive slide deck or interface to set the stage for the event. This includes setting an idea, the storyline, a timer, and the challenges that must be mastered. The participants are taught the concept of the game and the goal of getting out of the virtual environment or circumstance within a set time. The players work together to solve every challenge they are presented with.

The challenges could be riddles, puzzles or clues which require players to use their skills, knowledge and resources. The game ends when players complete each challenge to "escape" from the virtual area or location within the time allotted. A debriefing session can follow to discuss the key lessons learned or insights and areas to be improved upon.

Output of the Game: "Escape the Room" promotes collaboration and teamwork as participants work together to overcome obstacles and achieve a common goal.  

Benefits of Incorporating Games in Corporate Training

Gamification in corporate learning has several benefits. Here are some of them: 

1. Engagement and Motivation: Incorporating games into corporate training enhances employee engagement and motivation. Game-based learning introduces an element of competition, making employee motivation games more enjoyable and compelling for employees.

2. Skill Development: Interactive training methods allow employees to practice and improve various abilities. Training with games enables players to practice and reinforce problem-solving, decision-making, and cooperation skills in a hands-on and engaging manner.

3. Enhanced Retention: Playing corporate training games leads to better information retention since they produce memorable experiences. Because games are engaging and interactive, they assist employees in retaining and applying new information by helping them to apply it to their work.

4. Adaptability and Flexibility: Gamification in corporate learning provides an adaptable learning environment accommodating various learning preferences and styles. This flexibility guarantees that workers of all backgrounds and skill levels can gain from the instruction, encouraging diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.

5. Team Building: Collaborative games enhance teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, leading to stronger interpersonal bonds. These activities create a more unified and cohesive workplace, improving overall team performance and support in achieving common business goals.

Challenges and Solutions in Implementing Training Games

While integrating corporate training games into professional development strategies can offer numerous benefits, it comes with certain challenges.

Here are some challenges in implementing corporate training games: 

1. Challenge: Integration with Existing Systems

Integrating game-based learning into existing training frameworks and technology stacks can pose compatibility issues. To accommodate new training approaches, technological changes and, in certain cases, system upgrades are required to ensure smooth integration.

Solution: Assure smooth integration of corporate training games with the business’s current software and infrastructure to reduce interruptions and improve accessibility. Collaborate closely with IT departments to guarantee that the games connect seamlessly with current systems. 

Learning Management Systems (LMS) and other pertinent platforms are essential for a flawless user experience. This strategy encourages the widespread adoption of training games while lowering friction.

2. Challenge: Cost and Resource Allocation

Creating customized training games may be costly, and making time for game-based training may appear difficult in busy work schedules. Budget limits and resource prioritization are frequently important challenges.

Solution: Adopting cost-effective solutions, such as open-source gaming platforms or adapting current games, can help to reduce costs. Incorporating short, targeted gaming sessions into established training regimens saves time and money.

3. Challenge: Resistance to Change

Many employees and managers may be suspicious of game-based learning, preferring traditional training approaches since they are more familiar. This resistance is often rooted in misconceptions about the seriousness and effectiveness of games in a professional setting.

Solution: To encourage a favorable attitude toward the new method, implement a thorough change management strategy that resolves concerns, promotes the advantages of training games, and incorporates staff members in the decision-making process.

Fear and uncertainty are common causes of resistance to change. Put into practice a change management plan highlighting the advantages of training games, responding to concerns, and including staff members in decision-making. Establishing a pleasant environment and encouraging the adoption of the new training style is made easier by offering clear communication, training sessions, and continuous assistance.

4. Challenge: Measuring Effectiveness and ROI

Assessing the impact of game-based learning on employee performance and overall corporate outcomes can be difficult. Establishing clear performance indicators and analyzing game-based skills in the workplace are key difficulties.

Solution: Establishing precise KPIs that align with the training objectives is essential to measure the impact of corporate training games. Key indicators such as knowledge retention, skill enhancement, behavioral changes, team collaboration, and time and cost savings provide a view of the training's effectiveness. Businesses can track progress and ensure the training games meet their goals by setting clear performance indicators.

Regular data analysis is vital in validating the benefits and ROI of gamified training. This analysis helps identify areas for improvement, make data-driven decisions, and demonstrate the advantages of incorporating gamification in corporate training.

5. Challenge: Customization for Diverse Workforces

Addressing a global workforce's different demands and learning preferences with game-based training requires careful adaptation. The difficulty is to provide material that is not only universally accessible but also culturally sensitive and appropriate to varied areas, job functions, and learning styles.

Solution: Provide training games with adaptable and adjustable content to meet teams' different learning styles and requirements while guaranteeing that the information is pertinent and appropriate for a range of positions and ability levels.

Individualized training solutions are necessary for a varied workforce. Create training games with content that may be added or removed based on the player’s work roles, abilities, and learning styles. This strategy promotes a more inclusive and productive learning environment by ensuring that the training is pertinent and appropriate to the unique requirements of various employee groups.

What are the Future Trends in Gamified Corporate Training?

As corporate training evolves, gamification stands at the forefront, driven by technological advancements and innovative educational strategies. The future of gamified corporate training is set to offer more engaging, personalized, and impactful learning experiences. These trends will shape the future of gamified corporate training:

1. Integration with Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

VR and AR technologies will revolutionize the learning experience by providing immersive simulations. Employees can practice skills in realistic, risk-free environments, offering hands-on experience unmatched by traditional methods.

2. Artificial Intelligence and Personalization

AI will personalize gamified learning by analyzing individual performance and adapting training modules. This will ensure that learners are consistently challenged and engaged, improving retention and skill application.

3. Social Learning Components

Social elements in gamified training enhance collaboration and competition. Features like team challenges and leaderboards promote community and shared achievement, driving higher participation and reinforcing a collaborative culture.

4. Microlearning

Gamified microlearning modules cater to the need for flexible, short learning units. These modules fit into busy schedules and enhance knowledge retention by delivering content in manageable chunks.

5. Focus on Soft Skills Training

There is a growing emphasis on using gamified approaches to develop soft skills like leadership, communication, and teamwork. This shift recognizes the critical role of soft skills in organizational success.

6. Adaptive Learning Pathways

Future gamified training programs will incorporate adaptive learning pathways that adjust based on progress and performance. This provides a personalized, efficient learning experience, maintaining engagement and accelerating skill acquisition.

The future of gamified corporate training promises enhanced personalization, immersion, and social interaction. Embracing these innovations will help businesses cultivate a skilled, motivated, and agile workforce.

Case Study: Cisco Revolutionizes Employee Engagement and Skill Development with Gamification of Training

Background: Cisco, a global leader in IT and networking, recognized the growing importance of social media in its marketing and customer engagement strategies. With a vast array of products and solutions, the company had to ensure its workforce is proficient in leveraging social media tools effectively to enhance brand visibility and interact with clients and consumers.

Challenge: The biggest problem for Cisco in launching its Social Media Training Program was navigating the various courses offered, making it difficult for participants to determine where to start their learning journey. With over 46 courses available, the likelihood of overloading learners was high. Furthermore, convincing employees to give time to training in addition to their current responsibilities was difficult. The program required a structured yet adaptable method to lead employees through their learning, ensuring it was entertaining and relevant to their job tasks.

Solution: Cisco integrated gamification into the Social Media Training Program. The program was structured into three levels of certification; Specialist, Strategist, and Master; each requiring a higher level of social media skill. Four sub-specializations were established to meet specific work requirements. This structure provided a clear framework for employees. Gamification elements such as team challenges and badges were incorporated to make learning more engaging and enjoyable. These elements aimed to motivate learners, encouraging them to explore social media topics deeply, progress through various learning stages, and collaborate with colleagues, all within a competitive yet supportive framework.

Results: The gamification strategy yielded impressive results, with over 650 individuals achieving certification and participants completing more than 13,000 courses. This significant level of engagement demonstrated the effectiveness of using gamification to enhance participation in training programs. Employees were not only motivated to embark on their training journey but also effectively guided through a structured learning path that made the vast array of courses feel manageable and purposeful. 

Takeaway: The program's success highlighted the potential of gamification in overcoming engagement and motivation challenges in corporate training environments, setting a precedent for how learning and development initiatives can be designed to maximize participation and skill acquisition.

Conclusion

Corporate training games transform learning into an interactive experience, offering a practical way for professionals to grow professionally. The games above appeal to various ability levels and promote collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and other traits. By integrating games into the educational process, these activities improve employee engagement and promote soft skill development and team building. The advantages of using games in corporate training are highlighted in the blog; these benefits include increased adaptation and retention and the development of a positive work environment. 

To enhance your team's skills and improve overall workforce capabilities, Edstellar offers top-tier programs and courses designed to elevate work culture and boost productivity.