Themed Retrospectives🎡🍄
Tags: webdev, scrum, agile, react
Published: 2024-05-05 07:50:57

Hey there, I’m super excited to talk about something that's spiced up our retrospective meetings lately: **Themed 
 Team Retrospectives**! 

If you think Retrospectives are just post-it notes and discussions, think again. We've been experimenting with themes at Kollabe, and it’s changed the way we reflect and we want to share that with you!

## Why Bother With Themes?
Let’s face it, regular retros can sometimes feel a bit...routine. Injecting a theme does wonders, turning a standard review into a creative, engaging, and downright fun session. It’s like the difference between plain vanilla and full-on sundae🍧. Here’s why themes are great:

1. **Boost Engagement**: When team members walk into a retro and see something out of the ordinary, like a pirate ship or a retro gaming setup, it immediately grabs their attention. You’re not just reviewing tasks; you're going on an adventure.
2. **Enhance Creativity**: Themes set the stage for creative thinking. It’s easier to think outside the box when you’re not literally looking at one.
3. **Encourage Openness**: A lighthearted theme can make it easier for people to open up about issues or ideas that they might feel are too "out there" for a traditional setting.
Real Themes, Real Fun

To give you a taste, here are a couple of themes we’ve played around with:

### Retro Gaming Theme 🕹️

![retro gaming gif](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7oyls1snejamr9fwzrhf.gif)

> Press start, gamers! As we level up through the pixelated world of our project, let's meet at the save point to share our experiences. Highlight the power-ups you collected, the boss battles you fought, and the cheat codes needed for a smoother gameplay ahead.

Here are the columns:
1. **🍄 Power-Ups**: Successes and empowering moments.
2. **👾 Boss Battles**: Challenges and formidable obstacles.
3. **🕹️ Cheat Codes**: Insights into improvements for a more successful playthrough.

### Wild West Theme 🤠

![wild west theme](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/t1gbje1c3s3pz3yark9d.jpg)

> Howdy, partners! Saddle up as we ride through the wild frontier of our project. Gather 'round the campfire and share your tales of success, the outlaws that caused trouble, and the strategies to make our next ride smoother than a tumbleweed in the wind.

Here are the columns:
1. **💰 Gold Nuggets**: Valuable insights and achievements.
2. **🤠 Outlaws**: Obstacles and troublemakers encountered.
3. **🌵 Trail Improvements**: Changes for a smoother journey.

These themes aren’t just for show; they guide the discussion in unique ways that resonate with the team. Imagine discussing "Boss Battles" when tackling tough challenges. Suddenly, everyone’s a bit more gung-ho about strategizing a win!

## Mix, Match, or Create

At Kollabe, we’ve curated a selection of 30 vibrant themes to choose from, ranging from the fantastical to the historical, ensuring there’s something that matches every team’s vibe. And if you’re feeling extra creative, go wild and craft your own theme! It's never been easier then now with ChatGPT. Simply give it a theme and ask for x number of columns! In Kollabe, each themed room comes complete with a custom background image to fully immerse your team in the experience.


![list of creative themed retrospectives](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ugvvmi87q6htqe95cdb4.png)

## Wrapping Up with a Little Plug 🌟

If you’re curious to see how themed retrospectives can transform your team meetings from bland to grand, try it out in Kollabe, for free. Dive into a world where meetings are not just productive, but also thrilling adventures!

So next time you’re setting up a retrospective, why not pick a theme and see where it takes you? Trust me, your team’s going to love the change of pace. Let's make work feel a little less like... well, work!

You can check out all of our themes [here](https://kollabe.com/create/retro). Or if you just want to learn about Kollabes free retrospective tool, you can do so [here](https://kollabe.com/retrospectives).


![retro themed retrospective on Kollabe](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/6tbyb9a2pwyablj25lfk.png)

What do you think? Does your team ever try out different themes for your retrospectives? What's your favourite one you have ever been a part of?