If you’re looking for some fun team-building games and all you’ve got is a set of index cards, you’re in luck!
These simple yet effective activities help build valuable team skills while requiring minimal materials.
Whether you’re working with students, colleagues, or campers, these five easy activities will spark collaboration, creativity, and connection.
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Index cards might not seem like an obvious choice for team-building games, but they are incredibly versatile. They’re small, portable, and easy to use, making them perfect for spontaneous activities.
Plus, they encourage creativity, communication, and collaboration – all essential skills for a strong team.
Whether you’re running a corporate training session, a classroom activity, or a camp game, index cards can be a simple yet powerful tool to engage your group.
Here are five to get you started…
This icebreaker is perfect for learning names and making connections. Each participant writes one letter of their name on an index card.
The group then arranges the names crossword-style, much like a Scrabble board, interlinking their names where letters match.
Why it works
Pro Tip
Use this activity at the start of a session to break the ice and get everyone involved right away.
For this challenge, prepare 26 index cards, each labelled with a letter of the alphabet. Scatter them randomly on the ground and challenge the group to arrange them in the standard keyboard layout – without using any devices.
Why it works
Some letters (like Y and U) may trip people up, but that’s part of the fun. Watch as participants debate and strategize their way to victory.
A fantastic team-building game that encourages self-reflection and meaningful discussion.
Write pairs of words on index cards (eg dog/cat, sunrise/sunset, explorer/settler). Each participant gets a random card and must find their matching pair by mingling and interacting with others.
Once matched, participants discuss which characteristic they relate to more and why. You can even extend the game by asking them to physically position themselves on a spectrum between the two choices.
Why it works
Based on the classic matching game, this activity reinforces key team values.
First, write 10 important teamwork attributes (eg trust, leadership, collaboration, communication) on index cards, making two copies of each word.
Lay them face down, and have participants take turns flipping over two cards, trying to find matching pairs.
Why it works
For an extra challenge, after all matches are found, ask the group to select the top five most important values for their team and discuss why.
In this high-energy team-building game, each participant receives four or five randomly assigned index cards, each labelled with a team value (like trust, leadership, or communication).
Without revealing their cards, players must trade with others, aiming to collect a full set of five matching values. The first person to complete a set wins (if that’s important to you or your group.)
Why it works
Bonus Reflection
Once the game ends, invite your group to discuss their choice of the five most important team values, selected from the ten. As you can imagine, there is no right answer, but the value is discovered in the conversation.
If you loved these team-building games, here are some recent articles I think you’ll also enjoy:
Awesome Icebreaker Games using Playing Cards 4 x Quick & Easy No Prop Teambuilding Activities Team-Building Tools I Never Leave Home Without
You can also grab a copy of my 28-page ebook Top 10 Icebreakers & Group Games for free by completing the form below.
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A simple deck of index cards can transform your group interactions, making them more engaging, dynamic, and fun.
Whether hosting a team-building event, a classroom activity, or just looking for ways to connect with new people, these teambuilding games will help build relationships and foster meaningful connections.
Do you have any other favourite card-based team-building games?
Drop them in the comments below – I’d love to hear your ideas!
Original post March 2025, last updated March 2025.
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