Survival Mode On: We Launched the Challenge and Our Gamers Answered as a Team
Some games start with a button. Others start when we leave the office, get on a bus, and accept a mission outside the usual map.
That is how our Gamers swapped screens, machines, and the everyday pace of work for nature, outdoor challenges, and a strong dose of team spirit at DiverLanhoso.
The Team Building Survival Camp took us away from routine, while keeping in play what is part of Fabamaq every day: collaboration, strategy, creativity, focus, and care for those playing by our side.
Between orienteering, soapbox kart building, unexpected treetop bridges, dinner, and moments to unwind, the event brought teams together, mixed different areas, created new connections, and reminded us that, inside or outside the office, no great play happens alone.
Survival Camp: orienteering, soapbox karts, and bridges built by teamwork
DiverLanhoso was the stage chosen for this Fabamaq team building, and the setting could not have matched the purpose better. Nature, open space, physical challenges, and group dynamics created the right environment for an afternoon away from autopilot.
The Fabamaq departure happened in the early afternoon, with transport included and the kind of energy that told us something different was coming. Between the Survival Camp name and the survival kit, with water and snack reinforcements, the clue was clear: this was not an event to simply watch from the sidelines. It was time to get in the game.
Upon arrival, our Gamers were divided into groups and rotated through the different activities throughout the day. Each team had to observe, think, build, communicate, and act together.
In practice, every challenge showed that strategy and improvisation can go hand in hand, especially when time is limited, there are missions to complete, and teammates are counting on each other.
One of the activities was Orienteering, in a treasure hunt format. Here, the challenge was not just about reading and finding clues, but about understanding the surroundings, connecting the dots, splitting tasks, and trusting the reasoning power of others.
In a gaming context, everyone knows that details matter. One symbol in the right place can change a round. A well-read clue opens a new path. And, in this activity, each Gamer brought a different way of looking at the challenge.
Some noticed what others missed. Some organised the strategy. Some pushed the group forward. Some found solutions when the path seemed less obvious. In the end, the treasure hunt became less about the destination and more about understanding how a team moves when it needs to think together.
And that says a lot about the day-to-day experience of creating games at Fabamaq. Our work requires attention to detail, pattern reading, collaboration across areas, and the ability to turn small discoveries into great results.
And if the treasure hunt called for a sharp eye, the soapbox kart building challenge brought a different mission: getting hands-on.
In this activity, the groups had to build a kind of kart using the available resources, make quick decisions, and turn loose pieces into a structure capable of moving forward.
Then, with the clock always ticking, one Gamer took the wheel while two others supported the course. In the end, everything still had to be dismantled before the timer ran out. Easy? Not exactly. Fun? Absolutely.
The activity brought the good kind of chaos that only happens when several people try to build something at the same time, with different ideas, different levels of mechanical confidence, and a clear will to make it work. Between adjustments, attempts, laughter, and small wins, each team found its own rhythm.
The treetop adventure activity added another layer to the Survival Camp. Here, the challenge involved balance, coordination, and, above all, mutual support to complete the 10-bridge circuit.
Gamers had to move at the right pace, understand and respect limits, encourage the group, and make sure no one was left behind. Without a doubt, it was a true team spirit activity: instead of simply crossing bridges, the goal was to understand how to cross them together.
Just like when a Game Changer joins the team with the experience of a previous career and finds space to share what they bring, learn from others, and add value to the path being built together.
Recharging energy is also part of the mission
Not everything at the Team Building was about missions, points, or challenges. There was also time to pause, talk, and enjoy the moment.
After the activities, dinner created the perfect moment to recharge and simply be together. No urgency, no notifications, no pressure from a regular working day. Just Gamers around the table, easy conversations, good vibes, and time together to create memories outside the usual context.
And moments like these matter. They help bring closer people who cross paths every day at the office, but do not always have the chance to talk calmly. As Gamer Bárbara Rodrigues, Payroll Specialist at Fabamaq, puts it. “I especially enjoyed the energy felt throughout the whole activity. This team building exceeded my expectations. I had a lot of fun, and it was also a great opportunity to connect with other teams.”
Culture in play: the next mission could be yours
At Fabamaq, we create games, solve challenges, test possibilities, adjust routes, and move forward as a team. Inside and outside the office, the goal is to build experiences with impact, side by side with people who make a difference in every play.
Want to be part of a software house in Porto where technology, gaming, creativity, and team spirit play on the same board? Check out our career opportunities and find out how you can join our Gamers on the next mission.
