Chain Reaction

In this lively team building activity, teams collaborate to create fun tabletop contraptions inspired by the one and only Rube Goldberg. The idea is to design insanely complicated machines as a way to accomplish simple tasks.

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In-Person

Encourage group synergy with a chain reaction game

This activity offers a funny, engaging challenge designed to unleash creativity and foster healthy teamwork. The concept of making things far more complicated than they need to be is actually a powerful way to make the point that simple is usually better.

A bit of history on the inspiration behind Chain Reaction: Rube Goldberg was a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer and inventor. He somehow managed to combine all his talents into one genius-level superpower. Goldberg would dream up and illustrate a series of bizarrely complex mechanisms meant to accomplish very simple tasks.

Once divided into smaller teams, your group will move into friendly competition mode as they design and assemble their own “simple” machines. Each team designs builds and tests a number of simple machines. But ultimately, each of their individual inventions must also work together as part of a greater whole. Since the mission is challenging, teams need to think strategically as they develop a common vision to bring their crazy inventions to life. Collaboration has never been so fun.

Participant carefully assembles a part of a complex Chain Reaction machine during a team building activity inspired by Rube Goldberg.

Group of participants celebrate the completion of their collaborative Chain Reaction machine during a team building event, gathered around a complex setup of interconnected parts on a table.

Participants carefully assemble pieces for a Rube Goldberg-inspired machine during a Chain Reaction team building activity, focusing on intricate connections and design.

Team members work together to lift a colleague, helping him reach up to complete a part of their chain reaction machine in a collaborative team building exercise.

Team members work together during a chain reaction team building activity, assembling large colorful blocks as part of their Rube Goldberg-inspired machine.

Participant excitedly tests her team's chain reaction machine at a team building event, with others capturing the moment in the background.

Close-up of a game board illustrating mechanics like pulleys, levers, and gears, used as part of a chain reaction team building activity.

Team stands behind their completed 'Double Helix' themed chain reaction machine, showcasing their collaborative creation at a team building event.

Team members gather proudly around their completed chain reaction machine at a team building event, featuring creative structures and labeled with playful text on the table.

Participants eagerly watch a chain reaction contraption in action during a team building activity. A woman smiles as she sets off the colorful domino and building block setup on the table.

Group photo of team members standing together behind a chain reaction setup during a team building event. The participants are smiling, showcasing a collaborative and friendly atmosphere.

Participants in a team building activity collaborate to create a chain reaction setup. The group is fully engaged, working together with various materials on a shared table, fostering teamwork and creativity.

Participants collaborate to build a Rube Goldberg-inspired machine for a chain reaction team building activity, using colorful blocks, tracks, and other materials.

Team size

10-1000

Time needed

2-4 hours

Space requirement

This works best as an indoor activity. You’ll want a large private function space with a long table for each team, plus four big rectangular tables at the front of the room. Chairs are optional. If your group is larger than 50, we’ll also need a microphone and speaker setup.

Ideal for

Supporting strategic planning
Friendly competition
Improving time management
Inspiring creativity and fun

Tailoring

TeamBonding is all about customization. Would you like specific elements of company branding, culture and/or mission statement woven into your program? Just let us know what you have in mind.

*For another variation on this popular event, check out Domino Effect.

Chain Reaction Team Building FAQ

What’s the best location to host a chain reaction team building event?

This event works best in a large indoor space with plenty of tables. That way, your group has room to spread out and bring their team chain ideas to life.

What are the benefits of a chain reaction workshop?

The chain reaction workshop sparks creativity, innovation, and teamwork. As your group designs and connects pieces together, they’ll practice problem-solving and collaboration while having fun with a hands-on challenge.

Who was Rube Goldberg?

Rube Goldberg was a Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist, engineer, and inventor best known for his humorous drawings of overly complicated machines that performed simple tasks. His illustrations often showed a chain of whimsical reactions (like a ball rolling down a ramp to tip over a bucket) that ended in something as simple as flipping a switch. Today, his name is synonymous with creative problem-solving and playful innovation, which is exactly what your team will experience in this chain reaction team building event.

What is a Rube Goldberg activity?

A Rube Goldberg activity is all about creating a whimsical machine where each step triggers the next. Using a Rube Goldberg machine kit, your team builds a sequence of events that eventually leads to a final outcome, like ringing a bell or popping a balloon.

Chosen By:

"Our team of 40+ engineers at Google really enjoyed Chain Reaction. If you are looking for a challenging, inclusive and all-around great team building activity this is the one! It forces teams to collaborate and creates an atmosphere of a friendly competition. Most importantly, teams leave with a sense of cohesion that they can definitely translate to their daily work lives."

Google

"The Chain Reaction team building was a great success! Kevin was amazing and we were very happy with the outcome – it was exactly what we wanted to achieve! Appreciate your help in getting this organized with the addition of the customized ‘twists’ which worked out very well."

Pfizer

"I went with the Chain Reaction program for an offsite with one of my Engineering Leadership team, the group loved the activity and were fully involved. The program is fun and creative. I loved watching them all have fun and working together. The facilitator was very helpful and enthusiastic. I was very pleased and would definitely recommend it!"

Hitachi Vantara

"Yesterday's team building event went so well! The facilitators were awesome and fun and gave great direction and assistance. The chain reaction was such a good activity for our group. It was overall a great event. Thank you so much!"

Tango Therapeutics

"What the team liked most about Chain Reaction was the challenge to connect the tables, which is often an issue during daily work: how to connect with a colleague from another department."

Lehvoss Group

"Our company-wide meeting this summer included a Team Bonding event. Our goal was the get people to work with co-workers outside of their usual interactions and to have fun doing it. It was a success! Everyone got into the activity and the facilitators were great at encouraging people and keeping the atmosphere fun. Booking and planning the event was super easy, and everything went smoothly the day of- definitely a great experience!"

ActBlue

"I just wanted to pass on that the event was very successful on Tues. Several people said this was the best team building activity they had ever done. Thank you for making this a memorable experience!"

Boston Scientific

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Chain Reaction

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