Stating that work-life balance is important is like proclaiming that penguins can’t fly. And while corporate retreats are a significant factor in keeping a team’s mental hygiene intact, there can be more to it. As studies show, a well-organised company trip can turn out to be a great way to encourage people to work together to achieve a shared goal. And exactly that was the key factor in our company trip this year.

European readers are probably well acquainted with Peking Express, a popular TV-show somewhat similar to the american reality game The Amazing Race, where contestants have to work together to reach a certain landmark, completing various – often hideous! – tasks along the way. The highlights include eating bugs and spider eggs, so as soon we’ve heard about the locally organized Polish Express, we weren’t able to resist.

Since Ten Square Games is employing a respectable number of over 120 employees, it is difficult to get to know everyone and that’s why teams have been (almost) randomly compiled from people, who usually don’t work with each other. For instance, there was a team consisting of the CEO and a backend developer, who… joined the company just 7 days before and thus didn’t know he was just spending a lot of time with the top executive.

To succeed, contestants had to master the arts of cunning and deception to best the forces of nature, a ticking clock and their own limitations. And yes, thankfully bug eating was involved. Afterwards, the evening dinner was a great opportunity to flourish new acquaintances and… see bottles flying up to the ceiling, thanks to a flamy bartender show. As soon as the party finished, we started planning our next company retreat. Among the most unique ideas was a bus trip to Vegas.