Whether you spent it across the country from your loved ones or just across the city, quarantine changed us all, man. And even though our favorite hangout spots have finally reopened thanks to the vaccines, Zoom is still such an easy way to get all your friends together. Besides, we spent months perfecting the skillful art of Zoom— why let it go to waste?
Between fun backgrounds and that corner on your couch where the sun hits your glowing face juuuust right, we’ve learned SO much about the Art of Zooming™. And now that months and months of quarantine have given us so many more possibilities for virtual fun, you never have to miss out on a beloved game night again, even if your friends are far, far away. So, we rounded up the most fun games you can play during your next virtual hangout.
NGL, most are traditional games you've def played before but never realized actually work via Zoom. Plus, we found a few new ones that could totally spice up your night online. And if you’re really looking to have a ~night~ (or day, no judging), you can easily incorporate booze into the mix if that's your thing!
1. Draw Something
Ok, yes, this is technically an app you can use without any face-to-face contact, but everything’s always more fun together! We’re sure all of your loved ones would jump at the idea of virtual snacks and Draw Something night— just have everybody download the Draw Something app on their phones and start exchanging doodle art. Bonus points if anything you draw actually looks legit.
2. Chess
Now is the time to finally master chess—and there's no better way to practice than by playing with your loved ones, even if they’re across the nation (or the globe). Just go to chess.com where you can open a private room and play the night away. It's certainly better than playing your computer, isn't it?
3. Taboo
Board games are surprisingly fun and easy to play on Zoom. For Virtual Taboo, each player will need to open playtaboo.com for a simplified version of the game that can be played virtually. Divide your group into two teams, and take turns drawing cards that have words that you want your teammates to guess, describing what the word is without using any of the words listed on the card below it (the “taboo words”). Whoever describes the most words will be crowned winner, and will have bragging rights for the rest of quarantine. Get ready to have your ass handed to you by your grandma.
4. 9 Truths
This may not be the ~best~ option to play with family, but if you and your friends haven’t seen each other in a while and want to catch up on all the raunchy things you’ve done, this is the game for you. Each player will answer nine naughty True/False questions, and for each question, each player will try to guess the number of people in the group that answered “True.” The person who guesses the number closest to the actual number of truths (or who guesses the exact number) wins the round. It's sort of like Never Have I Ever, but with more numbers involved— play at your own risk.
5. Set with Friends
If you’re a fan of the classic card game Set, you’ll love that you can now play it online. Head to setwithfriends.com where you can fire up a private game room with up to four friends, and get to matching those patterns! Yes, we know, you can technically play this one alone, but being able to stare at your friends faces as they lose is just an irresistible bonus.
6. Would You Rather
This game could go on for hours. There are infinitely many horrible scenarios you can throw at your friends, and you can watch as they have an equally horrible time trying to choose their way out of them. Inspired yet? Gather up your friends for a wild Would You Rather session on Zoom. Or would you rather be bored?
7. Drawful 2
Are you the next Michelangelo? Great— you'll love this one. Like Pictionary, everyone tries to guess what they think your awful drawing is, and then comes together to vote on what they think was the right guess. What’s that? Why is everyone getting it wrong? Because you aren't good at— never mind. We won't say that. You're the next Michelangelo :)
8. Bingo
There is nothing like this ye olde Bingo! Websites like My Free Bingo Cards make it super easy to play this traditional game remotely. You can even customize your board to a specific theme (Harry Potter bingo, pls and tyvm). The winner gets to Uber Eats their food of choice and the rest of the players split the cost, or the next IRL drink is on ze losers! (Be sure to put that in your notes app.)
9. Alphabet Challenge
If you ever experienced the joys of a long car ride as a kid, you likely played the “Picnic Game.” You know, the one where each person says what they would bring to a picnic in alphabetical order? Let’s raise the stakes. Pick any category or theme (like, celebrities or things you need on a first date), and all players name something that starts with the respective letter. The first person who runs out of ideas loses or takes a shot!
10. Quiplash
Time to get witty! Players answer prompts like, “Something you’d be surprised to see a donkey do __” and “A double rainbow doesn’t have gold at the end of it. Instead, it has __.” Everyone votes on the most creative, funny, or weird response. Trust, this can get rowdy v fast. Up to eight people can play, but someone does need to purchase the game. Have the owner share their screen so all players can see and laugh at the final answers together!
11. 20 Questions
No phones are needed for this one, just your wild imagination. IKYK this game, but read on for a refresher. One person chooses any good noun, and the other players ask 20 questions until they think they know what the noun is. The game is as simple as it sounds, so use your imagination, children!
12. Among Us!
This free app allows five to 10 players to prep and fix a spaceship for departure. The twist: there is one imposter hell-bent on killing the rest. Crewmates can win by identifying the imposter and voting them off the ship. But if *you're* the imposter, you gotta put your best poker face on and convince your friends of your innocence. Speaking from experience, this gets heated.
13. Truth or Dare
*Insert diabolical laugh here* Someone’s bestie will be dared to text their crush tonight, reverting to classic middle school sleepover behavior. In all seriousness, when did truth and dare stop being a thing? A funny truth question always calls for someone to explain an embarrassing story. Similarly, a good dare pushes the limits and has everyone either holding their breath or uncontrollably laughing. Tip: Prank calls are still the best dares, prove me wrong.
14. Karaoke
OK, technically, this isn’t a game. However, I know you miss singing your heart out at the bars as much as we do, so blast your fav tunes and let it out, bb. A Zoom hangout is a good enough reason to scream Taylor Swift’s entire Fearless album at the top of your lungs. No headphones necessary.
15. Never Have I Ever
You know how this goes: Hold up five or 10 fingers and share something you have never actually done. If someone HAS done that thing, they put a finger down. Take turns sharing until someone has no fingers left to play with. Alternatively, you can swap your fingers with sips from your wine glass.
16. Pictionary
Before you play this iconic game, you're going to have to split up into teams. (Pro tip: keep it to two teams for minimal stress.) Assign one person on each team to be the *artiste*, mediocre Van Gogh-type art skills are a plus. Oh, and use this random Pictionary word generator to round up ideas, so you don't have to do the extra work.
17. Two Truths and a Lie
Jot down two real facts about you and one that is totally fake. Read them to your opponent and they have to guess which one is the lie! It's a great way to see which of your friends are gullible as hell.
18. Heads Up!
If you've never played Heads Up!, it's time to change that. First, download the app. Then, pick a category like celebrities, movies, music, whatever. When it's your turn, hold the phone to your forehead so other players can describe the word on your screen to you. Shouting will inevitably happen, you'll like it. The person with the most correct guesses wins!
19. Cards
I never knew how much I'd actually want to play some Go Fish with my pals until I couldn't. With PlayingCards.io you can choose from a series of virtual versions of your fave games, like go fish, crazy eights, and 500.
20. Scattergories
There's nothing like Scattergories to really get the people GOING. The rules are simple: Randomly choose a letter and five categories. Then, players have 60 seconds to think of things related to each category that start with the assigned letter. You get a point for every category you get right and double if you do more than 0ne. Here's a generator to help you choose categories and letters.
21. Psych
It's like two truths and a lie, but with more lies thought up by your frands. With this one, everyone has to download the app onto their phone. Don't fret, it doesn't cost a dime! The host chooses a question. Then, the app sends the players the Q and they'll think of an answer that's, well, outrageously fake. But, the thing is, the real answer also *sounds* outrageously fake. So the host will have to try to choose the correct one and sus out the frauds!
22. Charades
Split Zoom attendees into two teams. Then, one person from each team will select a word or phrase using this Charades words and phrases generator. That person has to act out (no talking or sounds permitted!) their assigned phrases for their teammates to try to guess. Each team takes turns guessing, and the more words and phrases a team guesses correctly, the more points they receive. The team with the most points wins!
23. Scavenger Hunt
It's time to take this childhood game to the next level. Compile a list of 10 or so items that you want your friends to find in their homes. Get creative and weird with it. Have them search through their closet for their first-ever concert tee or their middle school diary. Don't make this easy for them!
24. Cards Against Humanity
Okay, so, it's not exactly the OG Cards Against Humanity in interweb form, but it's pretty close. If you and your squad are in the mood to play the raunchy game (but obviously can't do it with the actual cards because of quarantine), the website All Bad Cards is your move! Create a new game, share the link, and lol forever.
25. Trivia
Challenge your friends to a classique game of trivia! Either come up with your own set of questions beforehand or use this supes simple question generator that has them prepped and ready for Zoom game night. Designate someone to lead the question asking and have everyone drop their answers in the chat or just say them out loud.
26. Most Likely To...
So you're definitely going to need more than two people for this one. Gather up a bunch of friends and family, then come up with questions like, "Who's most likely to run for president? or "Who's most likely to do something embarrassing in public?" Take turns asking Qs and whoever gets the most votes on a question has to drink pickle juice or something weird in their kitchen.
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Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
