The Colorful Bingo Cards retrospective uses a playful bingo metaphor to help teams reflect on successes, setbacks, and future improvements in their work. Teams collaboratively discuss what led to wins, what caused gaps, and strategize on how to mark more 'squares' next time.

When to use this template

Use this retrospective when your team needs a fresh, engaging format to reflect on a recent sprint or project and to encourage creative thinking about improvement.

How to facilitate

Welcome the team and introduce the Bingo Cards theme, explaining the meaning behind each column.

Invite everyone to silently add notes in Bingo Wins, Missed Numbers, and New Squares to Mark columns, drawing from recent sprint experiences.

Allow time for all team members to review the board and upvote items they relate to most.

Facilitate a group discussion, starting with Bingo Wins to celebrate, then moving to Missed Numbers to explore challenges, and finally focusing on New Squares to brainstorm actionable improvements.

Guide the team in prioritizing one or two improvement items for action, ensuring clear owners and timelines for follow-up.

Close the session by summarizing key takeaways and encouraging ongoing bingo wins as you move forward.

Pro Tips

Use colored visuals or fun bingo analogies to keep the energy high and participants engaged.

Encourage storytelling—ask team members to briefly share what made certain moments feel like a true 'bingo win.'

If some members are quiet, invite them directly or use anonymous submissions to gather all perspectives.

Set a timebox for each column to prevent the discussion from lingering too long on a single area.

FAQ

How can I help my team avoid just listing surface-level wins or problems?

Prompt team members to provide context for each item and ask follow-up questions to dig deeper into causes and implications.

What if the team struggles to suggest improvements?

Remind the team that even small changes can make a difference and spark ideas by sharing relevant examples or revisiting recurring missed numbers.

How do I keep energy up for a longer session?

Mix in quick icebreakers or bingo-themed mini-games between columns to refresh focus and maintain enthusiasm.

Is this format suitable for recurring retrospectives?

Yes, but consider spacing it out or alternating with other formats to keep retros dynamic and prevent fatigue.

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At a glance

Duration
40–60 min
Team Size
4-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🎲🎨 Colorful Bingo Cards

Welcome to the Colorful Bingo Cards retro! Let’s mark off our team’s successes, setbacks, and squares for improvement as we play agile bingo. Let’s create a full house of learning and progress together!

Template Columns

🟩 Bingo Wins

🟥 Missed Numbers

🟦 New Squares to Mark

About this template