{"id":267634,"date":"2022-11-16T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/microsoft-365\/blog\/?p=267634"},"modified":"2025-09-22T01:48:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T08:48:09","slug":"build-connections-with-games-for-work-a-new-microsoft-teams-app","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/microsoft-365\/blog\/2022\/11\/16\/build-connections-with-games-for-work-a-new-microsoft-teams-app\/","title":{"rendered":"Build connections with Games for Work, a new Microsoft Teams app"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\t\tUpdated May 24, 2024: The Games for Work pilot app for Teams is no longer available. We appreciate the customers that have participated in the pilot program, provided feedback, and tested the games. There are several social apps that continue to be available through the Teams app store that you can add to your next meeting to continue building team connections. Discover more.<\/a>\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Connect with your coworkers through play? Yes, please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People everywhere are struggling to build trust, create connections, and improve team morale. Why not play games to help? Playing games with coworkers has a powerful ability to foster relationships and collaboration. Although some may consider games at work a distraction, the benefits are plentiful. In fact, according to a study by Brigham Young University, teams who played short video games together were 20 percent more productive than those who participated in more traditional team-building activities.1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Games for Work app<\/h2>

Bring your team together through Microsoft Teams.<\/p>

Get the app<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Hybrid\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\tWork Trend Index\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRead the report\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2197<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

With the move to remote and hybrid work, our social capital has weakened, impacting cross-group collaboration and employee retention.2<\/sup> In fact, over 40 percent of leaders consider building relationships to be the greatest challenge in hybrid or remote environments, according to the Work Trend Index.3<\/sup> Games can be an easy way to connect and build trust with our teammates. Along with our morning caffeine, sometimes we need a brain teaser or some friendly competition to get relationships going, infuse levity into our workday, and build a sense of community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build work connections through play<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\tMicrosoft Teams\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn more\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2197<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Today, I am excited to introduce the Games for Work app<\/a><\/strong>,* <\/strong>developed by Microsoft Casual Games, an Xbox Games Studio.** Now, you can easily add a game in the context of where work happens: in Microsoft Teams meetings. Choose from a selection of favorite casual games including Microsoft IceBreakers<\/strong>, Wordament<\/strong>, Minesweeper<\/strong>, and Solitaire<\/strong>\u2014all easy to play in quick, interactive, and multi-player versions (from 2 to 250 players). They are safe for work (verifiably “E” rated) and ad-free. To address the various needs of teams, each game within the app emphasizes a different element of team building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver 3 billion people around the world play games, serving a crucial role in bringing people together \u2013 especially during these last few years,\u201d <\/em>said Jill Braff, General Manager of Integrations and Casual Games, Microsoft. \u201cGames promote creativity, collaboration and communication in powerful and unique ways, and we can\u2019t wait to see the how the Games for Work app on Microsoft Teams inspires productivity and helps foster connections in the workplace<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Games<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft IceBreakers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Encourage new teams to communicate and learn about each other with ease. It\u2019s a variation on this or that<\/em>\u2014pineapple or pepperoni on your pizza? It\u2019s so simple and intuitive, you can\u2019t help but answer the question. It can also spur lively and, at times, passionate conversation to foster connections and build team morale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft Minesweeper<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most cooperative game of the bunch. This game encourages individuals to come together to solve problems and accomplish objectives quickly. Does this sound like something your team could use?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Minesweeper<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft Wordament<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Exercise your brain and create some healthy team competition over a word challenge. Wordament easily accommodates large groups, designed to play with up to 250 participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft Solitaire Collection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

And fan favorite Microsoft Solitaire Collection provides a head-to-head competition encouraging group participation. This might sound like an oxymoron\u2014the multi-player capability and enhanced spectator mode allows everyone, whether actively playing that round or not, to follow the action and engage with the players on-screen. It\u2019s like calling out the answers while watching a game show or assisting a friend with a word puzzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Games for Work app integrates directly into the flow of the workday\u2014once the app is added, you and your co-workers can seamlessly enjoy the experience inside Teams meetings, on desktop and mobile. With the safety and security of Microsoft, you can access all four games for free today.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Games<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Explore other social apps in Teams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the Games for Work app, there are more apps in Teams to help strengthen your team\u2019s relationships, boost productivity, and, of course, have fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n