🏆 Gamification

Boost Engagement with Gamification

Turn everyday recognition into a fun and rewarding experience with leaderboards, levels, and Tacotars that spark team spirit.

Track Recognition with Fun Leaderboards

Celebrate acts of appreciation in real-time and make gratitude a natural part of your culture. See who's spreading positivity, strengthening team connections, and inspiring a lasting habit of meaningful recognition.

In short: Gamification works because visible progress and small rewards motivate participation without turning recognition into pressure or performance ranking.

You will get:

  • A fun, visible, and engaging way to encourage appreciation.
  • A confidence boost and a stronger sense of belonging for your team.
  • A workplace where recognition becomes second nature, fueling a culture of appreciation.
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Leaderboard

Rank Person Total Tacos
1 Ned's Avatar Ned 102 Taco emoji
2 Koko's Avatar Koko 100 Taco emoji
3 Tilly's Avatar Tilly 36 Taco emoji
4 Zan's Avatar Zane 33 Taco emoji
5 Lar's Avatar Lars 12 Taco emoji
6 Fitz's Avatar Fitz 11 Taco emoji
7 Angus's Avatar Angus 3 Taco emoji
Rank Person Total Tacos
1 Tilly's Avatar Tilly 75 Taco emoji
2 Fitz's Avatar Fitz 65 Taco emoji
3 Koko's Avatar Koko 49 Taco emoji
4 Angus's Avatar Angus 35 Taco emoji
5 Ned's Avatar Ned 26 Taco emoji
6 Lar's Avatar Lars 25 Taco emoji
7 Zan's Avatar Zane 22 Taco emoji
Rank Person Given Received Combined
1 Koko's Avatar Koko 100 49 149 Taco emoji
2 Ned's Avatar Ned 102 26 128 Taco emoji
3 Tilly's Avatar Tilly 36 75 111 Taco emoji
4 Fitz's Avatar Fitz 11 65 76 Taco emoji
5 Angus's Avatar Angus 3 35 38 Taco emoji
6 Zane's Avatar Zane 33 22 55 Taco emoji
7 Lars's Avatar Lars 12 25 37 Taco emoji

What Teams Say About Employee Engagement with HeyTaco

It's simple, but meaningful—being able to give a taco with a quick message of thanks or recognition helps build a stronger, more positive culture without feeling forced.

DeAnna R., QA Manager

I love how HeyTaco encourages peer-to-peer recognition in a lighthearted and engaging way. It has strengthened our team culture and helped everyone feel appreciated.

Daniel Alberto J., Fraud Analyst

It's simple, fast, and creates an instant boost in morale. People love getting acknowledged publicly, and the taco format makes it feel fun rather than forced. It's especially great in remote teams where spontaneous praise is harder to give. It also encourages a culture of gratitude.

Samantha G., Proposal Manager

It is a quick and easy way to show recognition and celebrate teammates. Initially, I thought it might be cheesy, but when you are able to acknowledge more wins throughout the organization, they quickly become meaningful.

Elaina C., Compliance Manager

It's low-effort, high-impact culture-building — and honestly, our Slack would feel weirdly empty without it.

Abhinav P., Solutions Engineering

It's brought us closer together as a team, and that's priceless. It also brings more awareness to what everyone's doing, which is another big plus!

Steven B., QA Automation Engineer

Recognition Levels That Drive Ongoing Engagement

Unlock new levels, celebrate milestones, and turn appreciation into a lasting habit that strengthens team connections and engagement.

Ned's avatar with level Koko's avatar with level Fitz's avatar with level

Learn more about employee recognition

Unlock Tacotars & Leave Your Taco Legacy!

Tacotar are fun, taco-themed avatars you earn as you spread appreciation in HeyTaco! The more tacos you give and receive, the more Tacotars and rewards you unlock.

Taco Initiate

Taco Initiate

Taco Recruit

Taco Recruit

Taco Minion

Taco Minion

Taco Tenderfoot

Taco Tenderfoot

Taco Greenhorn

Taco Greenhorn

Taco Plebe

Taco Plebe

Taco Padawan

Taco Padawan

Taco Fledgling

Taco Fledgling

Taco Dabbler

Taco Dabbler

Taco Apprentice

Taco Apprentice

Taco Whiz

Taco Whiz

Taco Guide

Taco Guide

Taco Guardian

Taco Guardian

Taco Savant

Taco Savant

Taco Warrior

Taco Warrior

Taco Honcho

Taco Honcho

Taco Captain

Taco Captain

Frequently Asked Questions

How does HeyTaco use gamification to improve employee engagement?

HeyTaco adds fun, game-like elements, such as taco leaderboards, levels, and tacotars, to make peer recognition more engaging. These mechanics encourage authentic participation and help recognition become a consistent habit across teams.

What is gamification in the workplace?

Gamification is the use of game elements (points, rewards, challenges) in non-game environments to increase motivation and participation. In a workplace setting, it helps boost employee engagement and reinforces positive behaviors.

Can gamification improve employee motivation?

Yes! When used effectively, gamification in the workplace taps into intrinsic motivation—such as a desire to be appreciated, seen, or part of something meaningful. HeyTaco's approach makes recognition feel rewarding without being competitive or forced.

Is HeyTaco's leaderboard solely based on popularity?

Not at all. The leaderboard also shows who's giving the most tacos, not just receiving them. It promotes generosity and gratitude rather than popularity contests. Teams can also choose how much they highlight leaderboards, or whether to use them at all.

How does gamification help with employee recognition programs?

It makes participation feel fun, consistent, and rewarding. Rather than sending reminders or forcing recognition, HeyTaco's gamified elements naturally nudge people to engage and build a positive feedback loop.

Is it possible to turn off gamification features?

Yes! You can hide the leaderboard, adjust taco limits, and customize features to match your team's culture. Whether your team thrives on playful competition or prefers a low-key approach, HeyTaco adapts.

What are the benefits of gamifying employee recognition?

Gamification in the workplace enhances consistency, boosts morale, and fosters a culture of recognition. It turns appreciation into a shared team habit - boosting engagement without extra meetings or top-down mandates, and improving overall gratitude in the workplace.

Do we need to offer prizes or rewards for gamification to work?

Nope. The act of giving and receiving tacos is rewarding in itself. However, for teams that want to offer incentives, the Taco Shop makes it easy to add creative or meaningful rewards, such as team outings, days off, gift cards, or team charitable donations.