Planning your team social? Here’s how to not mess it up

Let’s be honest – most team socials sound better in theory than they feel in real life. Somewhere between the first awkward pint and the forced group selfie, you can see it happening: the enthusiasm fading, the conversation looping back to work, a colleague secretly checking their watch.

We’ve all been there.

A team social event doesn’t have to feel like a disguised work obligation. Done right, it becomes the spark that makes Monday standups feel more connected – built on inside jokes, shared memories, and a sense of ease that carries into better-aligned projects, smoother collaboration, and stronger communication.

The organiser’s dilema

Nobody wants to plan it, yet somehow it’s you. The brief? Please everyone, offend no one, and find something fun but not forced. You’re now balancing more variables than a spreadsheet on a Monday morning.

The truth is, the best socials don’t need awkward ice-breakers  – they need energy. A sense of play that nudges people out of their roles without making them roll their eyes.

The smarter alternative

That’s where StreetHunt Games comes in – where team socials stop being events and start becoming adventures. It’s not a quiz night, not an in-office workshop, but a live mystery unfolding through the streets of London, York, or Manchester. 

There’s no “bonding exercises” disguised as fun. It is a shared challenge that gets people thinking, moving, and laughing together. It works because curiosity does the heavy lifting. It forms a deep connection without players even realising it.

Choose your adventure: 

🕵️ The Case of Colombia’s Finest: Step inside the world of Jim Robusta’s coffee empire, where every latte hides a secret. As the clock ticks, your team must expose the truth brewing beneath the surface.

💼 Will Breaker: Your uncle’s fortune is hidden behind a trail of cryptic clues and strangers. Logic meets intuition as your team races through the city to crack the codes before the time runs out.

Each game is part adventure, part escape room, and an unforgettable team social activity.

The moments that matter

You can tell a team social activity worked when the echo of it lingers – in the office, in message threads, or in that smile someone gives when they pass a teammate. It’s the inside joke that can resurface weeks later. The collective rush when someone pieces together the final answer, and the whole team erupted in celebration.

These are the moments that quietly change how people see each other. The colleague who always seemed reserved suddenly becomes the clever problem-solver. The team lead cracks a joke that lands perfectly. The new hire becomes the hero of the mystery. You don’t plan for connection – it happens between clues.

As one of our players, Sarah C, puts it, “If you’re looking for an unusual team-building event – look no further! Exploring London while getting (nicely!) competitive, getting your brain working, and all whilst getting your daily steps in – I cannot recommend it highly enough.”

And Mary C adds: “Everyone had a great time and we’re still talking about it a week later. Great to bring the team together and suited all across a mix of age ranges and interests.”

These experience captures real collaboration, genuine laughter, and a sense of teamwork that doesn’t end when the game does. These shared moments spark a connection that people carry back into the office – the quiet, lasting glue that makes teams work better together.

Because connection isn’t built in meetings – it’s found in moments that surprise you.

By the end, the experience becomes a shared adventure that leaves teams feeling clever and connected.