35 Sprint Retrospective Examples & Ideas Your Team Will Love
Finding ways to spice up your Agile retrospective meetings isn’t always easy. A simple template like “The 4Ls model" (Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed for) can be effective, but over time it loses its luster and can make each meeting feel like a broken record. Our latest icebreaker questions will definitely help spruce things up, but we decided to take it a step further.
Neatro’s innovation lab is charged with creating fun and never-before-seen retrospective activities to ensure that your next Sprint retrospective (and the one after that) is engaging, productive, and memorable.
Let’s dig into our 35 retrospective activity examples:
Fun Retrospective Ideas For Agile Teams
Genie in a Bottle
Best used when: you want the team to step back and dream bigger
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
During a journey to the land of One Thousand and One Nights, your team stumbles upon a magical lamp. Out comes a genie 🧞 who grants three wishes to each participant: one for themselves, one for the team, and one for the world.
This playful retrospective format encourages reflection, creativity, and open conversations about what truly matters for your team. Without the pressure of immediate problem-solving.
How to use this retrospective idea:
1. One wish for you: In your work situation, what would you wish for? More time to focus on your daily tasks, fewer meetings, or maybe a workstation next to a window?
2. One wish for your team: If you were able to snap your fingers and give something to your team, what would you choose?
3. One wish for everyone else: What if you could change anything in the world? What would it be?
💡 Pro tip: Encourage participants to explain why they chose their wishes, and look for recurring themes or shared aspirations.
👉 Learn more about the Genie in a Bottle retrospective idea!
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Best used when: you want a simple, playful way to reflect and improve
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Inspired by the iconic film, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly retrospective is a straightforward and effective format to help Agile teams reflect on their latest Sprint, iteration, or project.
By separating feedback into three simple categories, this format makes it easy for teams to surface successes, identify issues, and highlight improvement opportunities. All without overcomplicating the discussion.
How to use this retrospective idea:
1. The Good: What are the things that went well and that we'd like to repeat?
2. The Bad: What are the things we want to 'eliminate' moving forward?
3. The Ugly: What did not go as well as expected - but could be fixed and improved for next time?
👉 Learn more about The Good, The Bad, The Ugly retrospective idea!
The Rock Band
Best used when: you want a playful way to reflect on a Sprint or project
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
This retrospective idea is a perfect fit for Agile teams working in sprints that hold recurring retros. It’s also great for conducting events or project post-mortems.
Just like after any performance, the team needs to debrief! Give your team a band name (or even better, decide on one together) and dedicate roles to each member of the group. This exercise alone is sure to get people out of their shells, escaping the monotony of previous retros with a fun twist.
How to use this retrospective idea:
1. The Scene: Describe how the band performed in the last “show” (your sprint).
2. Backstage: What did you notice about what went on behind the scenes?
3. The Road Crew: Get human! Highlight who helped the group and be specific in how they made an impact.
4. The Setlist: Looking back on the performance overall, discuss how you can improve for the next Sprint.
👉 Learn more about the Rock Band retrospective idea!
The Star Wars Futurespective
Best used when: you want to kick off a new project with a shared vision
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Star Wars Futurespective is an engaging way to help teams anticipate challenges, align on goals, and build a concrete action plan before starting a new project.
Inspired by the Star Wars universe, this format draws on the team’s past experiences to imagine what could happen next — identifying sources of energy, potential obstacles, and major threats along the way. The playful sci-fi metaphor helps teams think more openly and strategically, while still keeping the discussion focused and actionable.
Pilots, to your X-Wings!
How to use this futurespective idea:
1. The crew (optional): What is your nickname ? Introduce yourself and tell the whole crew your role.
2. The Rebel base: What are your goals ? Besides your main goal, what do you want to accomplish?
3. Energy: What is the source of energy that helps you get closer to the goal? How to preserve it?
4. Asteroids: What could slow you down and make your mission difficult?
5. The Imperial fleet: What's the biggest threat your crew could face?
👉 Learn more about the Star Wars futurespective idea!
The Sailboat
Best used when: you want to visualize the path toward a shared goal
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Sailboat retrospective is one of the most popular and widely used formats among Agile teams — and for good reason.
This metaphor-based futurespective helps teams project themselves toward a common objective while identifying what will help them move forward, what could slow them down, and which risks may appear along the way. Whether you’re preparing for an upcoming Sprint or planning the next phase of a project, the Sailboat format creates a clear and engaging structure to align the team around the journey ahead.
⛵ Imagine your team as sailors heading toward a desert island — your goal. The wind represents everything that helps you move forward, the anchor symbolizes what could slow you down, and the iceberg highlights potential risks that might threaten the journey.
How to use this retrospective idea:
1. The Island: Your team's objective.
2. The Wind: What helps your team move forward.
3. The Anchor: Everything that is slowing you down.
4. The Iceberg: The potential risks.
👉 Learn more about the Sailboat retrospective idea!
Fun Sprint Retrospective Ideas For Scrum Teams
Oscar Academy Awards
Best used when: you want a fun way to celebrate wins and lessons learned
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Oscar Academy Awards retrospective brings a touch of Hollywood glamour to your Sprint review.
Inspired by the famous Academy Awards ceremony, this playful format invites teams to celebrate wins, acknowledge challenges, and recognize standout contributions. By framing feedback as awards, the retrospective feels lighter and more engaging — while still encouraging honest reflection and learning.
This format helps create a positive atmosphere while reinforcing recognition and team engagement.
How to use this Sprint retrospective idea:
1. Best Achievement: What's our main achievement from this Sprint?
2. Best Slap in the Face: What did hit as hard as Will Smith's slap?
3. Best Lesson Learned: What did you learn?
4. Best Actor or Actress: Who deserves the ultimate Award of the Sprint? Why?
👉 Learn more about the Oscar Academy Awards Sprint retrospective idea!
Hot Air Balloon
Best used when: you want to visualize what’s helping or holding the team back
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
This fun retrospective idea is crafted to lead your Scrum team through a thorough evaluation of your most recent Sprint, highlighting four crucial aspects symbolized by the columns of the Hot Air Balloon.
🎈 Picture your team in a hot air balloon, rising toward the sky… but not without challenges along the way.
How to use this Sprint retrospective idea:
1. Sunny Skies: What are the positive things that lie ahead?
2. Hot Air: What are the things pushing us along?
3. Storm Clouds: What are the problems or obstacles coming up?
4. Sandbags: What's slowing us down or holding us back?
👉 Learn more about the Hot Air Balloon Sprint retrospective idea!
Scrum Values Retrospective
Best used when: you want to realign the team around Scrum fundamentals
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Scrum Values retrospective helps teams reflect on how they work together. And not just what they deliver.
Built around the five official Scrum values, this structured retrospective encourages honest conversations about behaviours, collaboration, and team dynamics. It’s especially useful when a team wants to strengthen trust, alignment, and accountability while staying grounded in the Scrum framework.
Rather than focusing on outcomes alone, this format invites teams to examine whether their day-to-day practices truly reflect the values they stand for.
How to use this Sprint retrospective idea:
1. Commitment: How can we ensure we follow through on our commitments?
2. Focus: How can we improve focus on our goals?
3. Openness: How do we remain receptive to new ideas and approaches?
4. Respect: How do we demonstrate mutual respect to each other?
5. Courage: How do we address challenging issues?
💡 Pro tip: Encourage concrete examples and actionable takeaways for each value.
👉 Learn more about the Scrum Values Sprint retrospective idea!
From Canada With Love
Best used when: you want a light, Canada-themed retro mixing reflection and appreciation
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Transport your Scrum team beyond the office walls to the Great North for a breath of fresh air. This unique Sprint retrospective idea will give your team a little taste of Canada!
As a team, go through the highlights of your last Sprint or project, reviewing both the challenges and successes you encountered. Don’t forget to cap it off with some sweet words to keep team morale high.
Off to Celine Dion land you go!
How to use this Sprint retrospective idea:
1. More maple syrup: What made your last Sprint as sweet and nice as Canadians?
2. Feels like -40: What bothered you about the last Sprint?
3. Hockey > all: Discuss what matters most to you as a team. For example, a positive mindset might be a shared value. Then discuss how to live this value meaningfully together.
4. Lost in the barrens: What are your team’s greatest fears?
5. “Canadians are so nice”: Share a few kind words with your teammates. As we all know by now, a little gratitude can go a long way.
👉 Learn more about the From Canada, with love Sprint retrospective idea!
Welcome Aboard
Best used when: you’re onboarding a new teammate and want to blend retro and integration
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Welcome Aboard retrospective is designed to help teams smoothly onboard a new team member while still taking time to reflect on the last Sprint.
In this playful retrospective, your Scrum team boards its flagship to carry out a dual mission: looking back on the last iteration and welcoming a new crew member on board.
Moreover, this format works especially well to create connection, shared ownership, and psychological safety early on.
How to use this Sprint retrospective idea:
1. Meet the crew: Introduce yourself and tell how you help the team move forward.
2. I wish I knew: Share something you wish you had known on day one.
3. I'll support you: What can YOU do to help with the newcomer's onboarding?
4. Mission highlights: What are the highlights of our last iteration?
5. To infinity and beyond: How could we become stronger as a team?
💡 Pro tip: Make sure the new team member is not put on the spot. Let them observe and participate at their own pace during the first session.
👉 Learn more about the Welcome Aboard Sprint retrospective idea!
Simple Project Retrospective Templates
Keep Drop Start
Best used when: you want a simple way to adjust how the team works
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
A straightforward method to actively engage everyone in your project retrospective process is to employ the Keep Drop Start template.
The brilliance lies in its intuitive design, as its name succinctly encapsulates its three components - quite incredible, isn't it? 😆
Engage in a discussion about your team's processes and habits across these three dimensions: the aspects you'd like to retain, the elements you'd prefer to discard, and the new ideas or practices you want to explore in the upcoming Sprint (or project).
How to use this project retrospective template:
1. Keep: Write something you would like to keep.
2. Drop: Write something you would like to drop.
3. Start: Write something you would like to start.
💡 Pro tip: Encourage the team to prioritize a small number of items and turn them into clear action items for the next iteration.
👉 Learn more about the Keep Drop Start retrospective template!
Rose Thorn Bud
Best used when: you want to reflect on successes, challenges, and future opportunities
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Rose, Thorn, and Bud is a straightforward yet impactful project retrospective template.
Just like every rose, no matter how beautiful, has thorns that can cause harm if not handled carefully, this metaphorical framework enables your team to address its successes (the rose), tackle the challenges encountered (the thorns), and seize new opportunities for growth and improvement (the buds).
This format works particularly well for Sprint reviews, project retrospectives, or any moment when the team wants to pause and reflect.
How to use this project retrospective template:
1. Rose: Share the highlights, successes and victories of the completed sprint.
2. Thorns: Identify any challenges or problems you encountered.
3. Bud: Like a bud ready to open, what opportunities are available to you?
👉 Learn more about the Rose Thorn Bud retrospective template!
SWOT
Best used when: you want a fairly simple yet structured project review
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
SWOT, an audit technique borrowed from the business realm, finds a seamless application in the context of a project retrospective. Traditionally used for assessing products or companies, the SWOT structure adapts flawlessly to retrospective discussions.
SWOT is an acronym comprising Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. The distinctive value of this retrospective template lies in its simplicity: SWOT empowers team members to create a comprehensive overview of the team's strengths and weaknesses, allowing for thoughtful reflection on both the opportunities and potential threats in their environment.
How to use this project retrospective template:
1. Strengths: What are our strengths?
2. Weaknesses: What are our weak points?
3. Opportunities: What opportunities can we seize?
4. Threats: What obstacles will stand in front of us?
👉 Learn more about the SWOT retrospective template!
Working and Stuck
Best used when: you want a quick and focused project check-in
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Working and Stuck retrospective is a minimalist and highly effective format to help teams quickly assess where things stand.
By separating feedback into just two categories — what is working and what is blocking progress — this retrospective keeps discussions focused and actionable. It’s especially useful when time is limited or when a project feels stuck and needs fast clarification.
This format works well for projects, initiatives, or any situation where the team needs to regain momentum.
How to use this project retrospective template:
1. Working: What is working well?
2. Stuck: What's holding us back?
👉 Learn more about the Working & Stuck retrospective template!
Fun Remote Retrospective Ideas
Elephant in the Room
Best used when: you need to address an unspoken issue blocking the team
Difficulty: 🔴 Advanced
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Elephant in the Room retrospective is designed to help teams surface and address topics that everyone feels — but no one is openly discussing.
Using a simple yet powerful metaphor, this format creates space for honest conversations about difficult or avoided issues. When facilitated carefully, it can help teams break silence, restore trust, and move forward with greater clarity and alignment.
This retrospective works especially well when tensions are present, progress feels blocked, or recurring problems remain unresolved.
How to use this remote retrospective idea:
1. Identify the Elephant: What is the problem we've been avoiding ?
2. Evaluate the Impacts: What are the consequences?
3. Express Feelings: How do you feel about the situation?
4. Uncover the Root Causes: Why do you think we've been avoiding talking about this issue?
💡 Pro tip: Set clear psychological safety rules before starting. Make it explicit that this is a blame-free conversation, and remind participants they can share only what they feel comfortable expressing.
👉 Learn more about the Elephant in the Room retrospective idea!
Mountain Climber
Best used when: you want to reflect on a challenging journey toward a goal
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Mountain Climber is an intricately designed remote retrospective idea aimed at injecting excitement, clarity, and actionable insights into your team's post-sprint reflections.
Drawing inspiration from the challenges and triumphs of mountain climbing, this template goes beyond the conventional retrospective format, providing a structured yet dynamic approach to retrospectives that mirrors the adventurous spirit of conquering peaks.
How to use this remote retrospective idea:
1. Ropes: What assisted us in reaching our goal?
2. Boulders: What obstacles stood in our way?
3. Weather: How do we feel about our hike?
4. Hiking Journal: What have we learned along the way?
5. First Aid: What would make our next trek easier?
👉 Learn more about the Mountain Climber retrospective idea!
What Did You Learn?
Best used when: you want to focus on learning and reflection
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Testing, iterating, making mistakes and learning from them. This is the bread and butter of Agile teams. Use this at the end of each Sprint or for a quarterly team review.
This fun remote retrospective idea gives space for each team member to reflect on learnings (about themselves, their work, the team, etc). While it might seem like a traditional retro, not to worry – this exercise brings a fresh perspective on how to surface and discuss these learnings.
How to use this remote retrospective idea:
1. About me: What did you learn about yourself in the past Sprint?
2. About the team: What have you learned about the team collectively?
3. About the deliverable, project, etc: Think about the deliverable itself, and all the processes leading up to it. What learnings do you have from how you scoped the project, the timelines, the execution and the go-live process?
4. About anything else: Anything goes here. What else have you learned along the way?
👉 Learn more about the What did you learn? retrospective idea!
The Pirates
Best used when: you want a playful way to reflect on value, risks, and ways of working
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
For those of you who are more adventurous, board your team’s ship and hoist the black flag! 🏴☠️
The last sprint becomes your last adventure. Determine what have been the most precious treasures among your findings and do whatever is necessary to find them on each of your trips out at sea. 🦜
How to use this remote retrospective idea:
1. The Treasure: What are the most precious things in the way you go about your work?
2. The Cliff: The cliff represents the risks that you must avoid at all costs.
3. Keep Course!: This section represents your most efficient ways of working, or that bring the most value to your team.
4. Change Course!: Errors are human and often unexpected; is there anything you could have avoided recently?
👉 Learn more about The Pirates retrospective idea!
Classic Agile Retrospective Templates
Start Stop Continue
Best used when: you want a simple, action-driven retrospective
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Start Stop Continue retrospective is a classic Agile format designed to help teams quickly identify concrete improvements.
By focusing on three straightforward questions, this template encourages teams to reflect on their current ways of working and make clear decisions about what to introduce, what to eliminate, and what to keep doing. Its simplicity makes it easy to facilitate, while its structure naturally leads to actionable outcomes.
This format works equally well for Sprint retrospectives, project reviews, or regular team check-ins.
How to use this Agile retrospective template:
1. Start: What should we start doing?
2. Stop: What should we stop doing?
3. Continue: What should we continue doing?
👉 Learn more about the Start Stop Continue retrospective template!
Glad Sad Mad
Best used when: you want to openly explore emotions and team morale
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Glad Sad Mad is a classic Agile retrospective template tailored to encourage open discussions about feelings and emotions within your team.
This powerful technique invites team members to share experiences that brought them joy (Glad), disappointment (Sad), or frustration (Mad).
This retrospective works especially well when tensions, frustrations, or morale concerns might be impacting collaboration or delivery.
How to use this Agile retrospective template:
1. Glad: Things you are happy with.
2. Sad: Things you are sad about.
3. Mad: Things you are mad about.
💡 Pro tip: Set clear expectations before starting. Remind the team that emotional reflections should be shared respectfully and without pointing fingers.
👉 Learn more about the Glad Sad Mad retrospective template!
DAKI
Best used when: you want a structured and action-oriented improvement session
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
DAKI is another classic Agile retrospective template, with its name serving as an acronym for Drop, Add, Keep, Improve.
Team members participate by sharing their thoughts on what should be dropped, added, kept, or improved, fostering a collaborative and reflective atmosphere.
Because it covers both what exists today and what could be added tomorrow, DAKI is especially useful during transitions, process reviews, or major changes.
How to use this Agile retrospective template:
1. Drop: Things you would like to drop.
2. Add: Things you would like to add.
3. Keep: Things you would like to keep.
4. Improve: Things you would like to improve.
👉 Learn more about the DAKI retrospective template!
The Three Little Pigs
Best used when: you want a playful way to assess the strength of your team’s processes
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Three Little Pigs retrospective uses the classic childhood story as a metaphor to help teams reflect on the resilience of their ways of working.
By mapping current practices to three types of houses — straw, sticks, and bricks — the team can easily identify what is fragile, what is fairly solid, and what is truly robust. It's a simple and engaging way to strengthen processes, reduce risks, and ensure the team is building on a solid foundation.
This format works especially well before big delivery milestones, during process reviews, or after noticing recurring issues.
How to use this Agile retrospective template:
1. The house made of straw: What do we do that just about hangs together, but could collapse easily?
2. The house made of sticks: What do we do that is pretty solid, but could be improved?
3. The house made of bricks: What do we do that is very solid and we need to continue doing?
👉 Learn more about the Three Little Pigs retrospective template!
The Starfish
Best used when: you want a structured, value-focused improvement session
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Created by Patrick Kua, the Starfish retrospective helps teams evaluate their work through the lens of value. And not just through activities or habits.
This powerful format goes beyond the classic “what went well / what didn’t” structure. Instead, it invites the team to reflect on what should continue, stop, increase, decrease, or begin in order to maximize value. The result: clearer decisions, better alignment, and high-impact improvements.
Because it covers the full spectrum of behaviour changes, the Starfish works exceptionally well for Sprint retrospectives, quarterly reviews, and process resets.
How to use this Agile retrospective template:
1. Keep Doing: Things we are doing well and that we consider valuable.
2. Less Of: Things we do that bring a limited value.
3. More Of: Things we do, which will maximize value if done even more.
4. Stop Doing: Things that are not bringing value anymore.
5. Start Doing: New actions or ideas to get more value.
👉 Learn more about the Starfish retrospective template !
Seasonal Retro Themes
Zombie Apocalypse
Best used when: you want a creative and spooky way to reflect on a challenging Sprint
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Zombie Apocalypse retrospective is a Halloween-themed format that injects creativity, fun, and high energy into your Sprint review.
The end of the world is nye, and the only way to survive is to fight off those pesky Zombies as a united group. The team will need to discuss challenges encountered, the tools and processes that helped along the way, why some things did not happen as originally planned and of course, lessons learned for next time.
How to use this retro theme:
1. The Bestiary: Identify the enemies and challenges the team faced in the last Sprint.
2. Stop by the Gun Shop: Discuss the tools, techniques and processes that have proven to be useful for the team.
3. The perfect plan…or is it? It’s time to chat about where and when things went wrong.
4. The Survivors diary: What lessons have you learned from your adventures?
5. Unity is strength: How can we improve our team dynamics?
👉 Learn more about the Zombie Apocalypse retrospective theme!
End-of-year Retrospective
Best used when: you want to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the next
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
As the year comes to a close, seize the opportunity for the final Sprint Retrospective of the year.
This seasonal retro theme prompts team members to reflect on the highlights and lessons learned from the past year.
Together, the team shares hopes and resolutions for the upcoming year, fostering collective growth. As always, the core objective of retrospectives is to drive continuous improvement within your team.
How to use this retro theme:
1. Highlights: What are the most significant moments of the year?
2. Lessons learned: What I've learned through the year.
3. My Hopes: Everything I hope for the team for next year.
4. My Resolutions: Anything I could do to help the team improve?
👉 Learn more about the End-of-Year retrospective theme!
The Elves' Workshop
Best used when: you want a fun and festive retrospective to close the year
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Embrace the festive spirit with a Christmas retro theme!
The Elves convene for a swift retrospective, collectively addressing challenges and devising solutions. With their dedication, the Elves are poised to conquer all challenges swiftly! 🎁
How to use this retro theme:
1. All-star Elves: What were the successful parts of our work?
2. Oops, I did it again!: How, when, and where did things go wrong?
3. Lessons from the Far North: What did you learn along the way?
4. Getting better and better: How can we improve as a team?
5. Once an Elf, always an Elf: What motivates you right now?
👉 Learn more about the Elves' Workshop retrospective theme!
The Easter Egg Hunt
Best used when: you want a festive and playful retrospective for the Easter season
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Celebrate the Easter spirit with the Easter Egg Hunt retrospective, a sweet and cheerful format that turns your last Sprint or project into a treasure hunt. 🍫
Reimagine your last Sprint or project as an Easter egg hunt, adding a festive twist to the reflection process.
Much like any effective retrospective activity, this themed template guides your teammates in pinpointing actions for rapid team improvement.
How to use this retro theme:
1. Treasure Map: What made your hunt easier?
2. Cracked Egg: What made your mission more difficult than expected?
3. Magic Egg: If you could return to the quest's start, what would you do differently?
4. Golden Egg: Who made a difference for the team? How?
👉 Learn more about the Easter Egg Hunt retrospective theme!
Cupid's Retrospective
Best used when: you want a warm and appreciation-focused retrospective for Valentine’s Day
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
A retrospective is an excellent opportunity to give recognition (and show love!) to your colleagues. Highlight the good work that both you and your colleagues have done, and together discuss what you want for the future of your team.
Disclaimer: Cupid has been selected as the ideal Valentine’s Day retro theme by the Neatro team. 💖
How to use this retro theme:
1. Self-love: Go on, get yourself some flowers, nobody is going to blame you.
2. Good stuff!: Now it’s time to give flowers to your colleagues.
3. My wishes for tomorrow: In the spirit of the Genie in a Bottle retrospective, what do you wish for your team in the future?
4. A team to die for: This is the perfect section to congratulate your colleagues.
👉 Learn more about the Cupid's retrospective theme!
Fun Retrospective Games to try with your Team
The Raid Boss
Best used when: you want a fun RPG-style retro that boosts recognition and learning
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Who said retrospectives had to lack excitement? 🤷♀️
At Neatro, we combine our love for retrospectives with RPG/MMORPG video games to create the Raid Boss retrospective, a fun retrospective game!
This innovative approach not only provides an entertaining twist but also serves as a fantastic opportunity to recognize your teammates for their achievements.
Additionally, team members get to share valuable learnings from their journey, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
How to use this retrospective game:
1. The DPS: They gave all they had to take down the boss.
2. The Healers: They provided support to the team.
3. The Tanks: They took some hits to help the team move forward.
4. The Quest Log: What did we learn during this adventure?
👉 Learn more about the Raid Boss retrospective game!
Value Bricks
Best used when: you want a playful retrospective focused on value delivery
Difficulty: 🟡 Medium
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Embark on a trip down memory lane with the Value Bricks, a fun retrospective game inspired by a beloved childhood theme: the Legos!
This engaging activity not only taps into the nostalgia of building intricate structures brick by brick but also guides your team in constructing an action plan for enhancing continuous value delivery.
Recall those countless hours spent on iterative approaches and value increments as you rediscover the joy of improvement through this enjoyable retrospective game.
How to use this retrospective game:
1. Well assembled: What is working as intended and we should keep using?
2. One brick at a time: How can we be better at delivering value to our users?
3. Don't step on it!: What could hurt the team if we don't pay attention to it?
4. Heart-shaped bricks: Congratulate your colleagues for their exceptional contribution.
👉 Learn more about the Value Bricks retrospective game!
Retro Football Club
Best used when: you want a playful sports-themed way to review a Sprint or project
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Much like teams in the workplace, sports teams need to collaborate and communicate successfully if they want to win the match.
This fun retrospective game allows teams to think like team players and review the last “match” to help them improve.
Each team member will deliver their match report to help the team identify their strengths and areas of improvement.
How to use this retrospective game:
1. The three points: In a single comment, give a score to your last Sprint (and explain why) as well as 3 facts about this game.
2. What worked well: Think positive. What worked well the last Sprint?
3. The difficulties: Review what was tricky and might have caused you the match.
4. To the next game: Discuss everyone’s state of mind and expectations for the next game.
👉 Learn more about the Retro Football Club retrospective game!
Quick Retro Formats for your next Retrospective Meeting
The Appreciation Game
Best used when: you want a quick and recognition-focused retrospective
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Appreciation Game is a short and simple retrospective format designed to strengthen team spirit through positive recognition. Instead of analyzing everything that went well or poorly, this retro zooms in on gratitude, support, and constructive ideas for the future.
It’s perfect when your team needs a morale boost, when time is limited, or when you want to reinforce a culture of appreciation and collaboration.
How to use this quick retro format:
1. Team Spirit: Who helped the team, and how?
2. Ideas: My ideas to help the team improve.
👉 Learn more about the Appreciation Game retro format!
What Went Well
Best used when: you need a fast, no-frills way to review a Sprint
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The What Went Well retrospective is one of the simplest and most widely used formats in Agile teams. It helps you quickly review what succeeded, what didn’t, and what can be improved. Without adding extra complexity.
Perfect for short timeboxes, mid-Sprint check-ins, or any moment when the team needs a clear and efficient reflection.
How to use this quick retro format:
1. What went well?: Things that worked well.
2. What didn't go well?: Things that didn't work so well.
3. What could be improved?: How could we do better?
👉 Learn more about the What Went Well retro format!
Energy Levels Retrospective
Best used when: you want to map what boosts or drains the team’s energy
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
Within the domain of team collaboration, sustaining high energy levels is crucial for ongoing success.
The Energy Levels Retrospective is a quick and insightful format focused on one of the strongest predictors of team performance: energy. It helps teams surface what gives them momentum, what depletes them, and what would recharge their batteries.
This simple retro is especially useful when morale feels uneven, during intense project phases, or anytime you want to check in on team well-being in a structured way.
How to use this quick retro format:
1. Energy Boost: What energized you?
2. Energy Drain: What drained your energy?
3. Recharging your Batteries: What could re-energize you?
👉 Learn more about the Energy Levels retro format!
Hopes and Concerns
Best used when: you want a simple way to align before a new project
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy
Remote-friendly: ✅ Yes
The Hopes & Concerns retrospective is a quick, emotionally intelligent format designed to help teams start a new project, event, or initiative with clarity and alignment. Instead of analyzing past work, team members look ahead, expressing what they’re excited about — and what worries them.
This retrospective creates a safe space for transparency, empathy, and early risk awareness. It’s particularly useful before kicking off a big change or when the team needs to align expectations.
How to use this quick retro format:
1. Hopes: What are you looking forward to?
2. Concerns: Anything that makes you feel nervous or worried.
👉 Learn more about the Hopes and Concerns retro format!
🎁 I want more retrospective ideas!
We hope you enjoyed our 35 retrospective ideas. If you want an extra dose of inspiration, there are even more retrospective ideas in our collection of retrospectives and in the Neatroverse, the retrospective template library made by our awesome community.
And if you're looking for a tool to run one of these awesome templates, check out our top 10 of the best free retrospective tools.
We wish you a good discovery! 😊