Emoji Reactions Race

5-10 Minutes

The facilitator calls out scenarios: "React if you've worked here more than 5 years," "React if you're a coffee person," "React if you prefer working from home." Participants must quickly find and click the appropriate emoji reaction in their video platform. First person to react gets a point. This fast-paced game keeps energy high during virtual meetings and works with any group size. You can tailor scenarios to your team's context: project milestones, company culture, or industry-specific situations. The competitive element adds excitement, while the reactions reveal interesting patterns about your team. It's also an excellent way to teach newer team members about the various emoji reactions available in your video platform, encouraging them to use these tools for engagement in future meetings.

How to Play

Setup

Choose a facilitator (and optional scorekeeper). The facilitator will read scenarios aloud and confirm who reacted first.
Prepare 15–25 short, inclusive scenarios that fit your team. Mix light personal prompts ("React if you’re a morning person") with work-themed ones ("React if you’ve shipped a release this quarter").
Agree on emoji mapping. Either:
- Platform-specific mapping (e.g., Thumbs Up = Yes, Heart = Love it, Party Popper = Celebrate), or
- "Closest match" rule: any reaction that best fits the scenario counts. The facilitator decides ties.
Make sure everyone knows how to open the Reactions menu in your video platform (Zoom, Teams, Meet, etc.). Run a 20-second practice to ensure reactions appear on screen.
Decide scoring: 1 point to the first visible correct reaction; optional bonus rounds at the end.
Set visibility. Use Gallery View so reactions are easy to spot. Keep a simple scoreboard (shared doc, slide, or chat).

How to Play

Warm-up: Do one practice scenario (no points) so everyone finds their reaction controls.
The facilitator calls a scenario and, if needed, states the target emoji (e.g., "Use Party Popper if this applies to you").
Players race to click the appropriate reaction. The first correct reaction visible on the facilitator’s screen earns 1 point.
The facilitator calls the winner’s name and logs the point. Clear reactions if your platform keeps them persistent.
Keep a brisk cadence—aim for 10–15 scenarios in 5–10 minutes.
Crown the top scorer(s) and invite a quick debrief: What trends did we notice? Any surprising overlaps?

Rules

Reactions only—no typing in chat or speaking the answer to claim a point.
The first correct reaction visible to the facilitator counts. If two appear simultaneously, award both or run a tie-break prompt.
Players must click after the scenario is read—no pre-clicking.
Inclusivity first. Scenarios should be optional and non-sensitive. Anyone may pass by not reacting.
If latency is an issue, allow a "top two" policy or rotate a latency buffer round to keep fairness.

Tips

Mix easy, funny prompts with team-specific ones to maintain energy and reveal patterns.
Say the emoji name out loud ("Thumbs Up") and, if possible, show a small icon or slide with the mapping for clarity.
Use a co-host to spot the first reaction and track points so the facilitator maintains pace.
Encourage cameras on for connection, but allow off-camera participation.
Keep rounds short and snappy; leave them wanting more.

Variations

Themed Rounds: Focus scenarios on company values, project milestones, or industry trivia.
Cooperative Mode: The group earns 1 team point if at least X people react within 3 seconds—aim to beat your best streak.
Lightning Ladder: Increase difficulty by requiring two reactions in sequence (e.g., Thumbs Up then Party Popper) for 2 points.
Show & Tell Finish: After the final round, invite winners to share a quick tip or story tied to any scenario.
Newcomer Booster: Give first-time attendees a one-time +1 if they find a reaction they’d never used before.