If you’re looking to get the gang back together—and your family or friends are scattered all around the country—playing virtual games is the perfect way to have some fun and reconnect with your loved ones.
Fortunately, there are plenty of intriguing virtual game options out there to get you playing in no time, whether you want to immerse yourself in a different world, work together to escape a room, take a stab at a time-honored classic, or just have a laugh riot over some not-so-safe-for-work double entendres.
Ready to play? Here’s how to make your virtual game night a success.
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Best Virtual Games to Play
Jackbox has decades of experience creating crafty and fun games to play with friends online. Check through their dozens of game options, from trivia games to draw-and-judge games to get-to-know-you options. (Tee Fury, Trivia Murder Party, and Role Models are among our faves.)
You can buy many of the games separately, or opt for party packs that give you several options. Since most of the games take less than 20 minutes to play a round, you might want to have a few different options to liven up your virtual game night.
This find-the-imposter game was all the rage a few years back—but it’s still just as fun to play with friends now. You can connect with up to 15 people to try to complete tasks (or murder and sabotage your friends) in a space ship.
Scribble It! is a Pictionary-like game that shares the same (totally fun) premise: One person draws artwork to try to get others to guess the secret word. There’s a cool toolbar to help you with some shortcuts (perfect for…ahem, the more artistically challenged among us).
It’s free to play, but you can upgrade to the deluxe version ($5) to open up more gaming options for your private group of friends.
Play Name That Tune over the internet with the cute and colorful SongPop Party app that connects you and your crew to see who can guess the song or the artist the fastest (and most accurately). You can choose from an array of different playlists—including specific artists, decades, or genres—to ensure it’s a fair game.
Want a calmer, more relaxing game night? The charming strategy game Wingspan was adapted online, where up to five players can try to create the coziest little nest of a nature reserve to bring all the birds to their space. You can buy additional packs to add European birds or decorative options to your preserve.
Fans of the build-your-community strategy game Settlers of Catan can play with friends online for free via Colonist. Just set up a private game and send the link to your pals—and get started mapping out your strategy for building towns and roads.
This is the tech version of the classic game Heads Up, where you place a card with a word on your head and the rest of your team gives you clues to help you guess the word as quickly as possible. (You turn your phone toward the ground to switch to the next word when you solve one.)
There are a few free decks included, and you can purchase new decks to suit your group’s interests, whether they’re Star Wars fans or total foodies.
Love escape rooms but can’t get your crew in the same place? Escape Games’ virtual options allow you to turn your virtual game night into a big event, as you puzzle your way out of a selection of different rooms, with a host on hand to help you along the way. (This virtual option costs $30 a person and up.)
This simple (and free!) version of the classic Scattergories game is easy to play with a crowd. Have everyone grab a pad and paper (or another computer to type their answers), and one player shares their screen from the link above. Press play, and you’ll all get 2 minutes (or whatever time you choose) to try to find words that fit all the categories that start with the letter of choice.
Minecraft has always been fun for building whole worlds (and playing in survival mode to see how long you and your friends can last with hostile mobs of creepers after you). But there are other games you can play in the Minecraft universe, including Dungeons and Dragons-inspired and Overwatch-inspired options—or check around online for creative game setups like races and obstacle courses you can build in your own private universe.
If you want to indulge in a little wicked Cards Against Humanity while you’re apart, Bad Cards has a simple web-based interface to make it happen—along with similar games that let you try to mix and match prompts and cards for wild memes and song lyrics.
The party game of skips and reverses can be easily played with Uno Online as a multiplayer game. Just share your unique game room name and get started making everyone draw four!
Gather up to 15 friends in the creepy Town of Salem for a mysterious good time. Take on one of dozens of wild roles—serial killers, witches, sheriffs, doctors, mafioso, vampires, and more—as everyone tries to figure out whodunit and eliminate the evildoers from the town.
If you want to play a game that involves cooperation, not competition, Overcooked will definitely be your jam. You and your crew (four players total) can work remotely to keep a restaurant kitchen hopping as dishes and cooking scenarios become increasingly wild.
The popular board game Codenames got an online, remote play (FREE!) option—where you divide your gang into teams and a spymaster tries to get you to guess which codewords are yours without giving it away to the other team.
Sometimes, you just want to keep it simple, and Playing Cards is just the place. Try your hand at a slew of classic card and board games, including everything from spades to mahjong to rummy. They even have a simple feature to help you create and send out an invite to your friends for your virtual game night.
Tips for a Great Virtual Game Night
Consider the players’ ages, skill levels, and interests
If you’re including little kids, you’ll want to choose something that skews more family friendly—so if you’re playing Bad Cards, make sure you choose the Bad Kids version to avoid cringiness. And while a name-that-tune style game might work with a close-in-age group of friends, you may find that the gaps in musical knowledge in a multi-generational group can make that a little less competitive.
Check the tech requirements
Many of the games we recommend are available on multiple different platforms, so your gamer pal can join on his console of choice, while you use your smartphone app. Since some games—like Jackbox or Heads Up—will require a screen for communicating and one for playing, you’ll want to make sure that they have both available, especially if they’re in a household where folks share laptops or tablets.
And don’t forget to consider their tech setup and skills—if someone has a hard time setting up new apps or may have an older computer with limited storage space left, you may want to stick with a game that’s simpler to use, or available as a web-based option.
Send out the invite
Share the date, time, and link to the Google Meet, Zoom, or other online meet-up space. You should also include clear instructions on any preparations your players need to make in advance. (You don’t want to be wasting precious game time watching everyone download the app during the call.)
Plan for a little time to chat pre- or post-game
When you’re in the thick of a game, you’re probably not going to have a lot of time to catch up on what’s new in their lives—since you’re probably too focused on winning! Make sure there’s time either before or after the game for a little conversation.
