As we all try to navigate this new normal of social distancing and spending more time at home, one thing is clear – we’re all craving some good old-fashioned social interaction and quality time with friends. While Netflix binge sessions and virtual happy hours can help ease the isolation, there’s something special about a rousing game night that really brings people together.
Luckily, even if you can’t gather in person right now, the world of virtual games and online gaming has your social needs covered. With just a few app downloads and a sense of playful competition, you can recreate those epic game nights with your squad from the comfort and safety of your living room. Let’s take a look at some of the best options for hosting hilarious virtual game nights with friends!
Classic Games Gone Digital
For those who love a bit of nostalgia with their gaming experiences, there are plenty of iconic classic games that have been given modern mobile adaptations perfect for virtual play. Prepare for some serious belly laughs and trash-talking with these timeless favorites.
Scrabble Go
Is there anything more iconically game night than a rousing round of Scrabble? This beloved classic puts those vocabulary skills to the ultimate test as you carefully try to create the highest scoring words on the board. Of course, it also tends to devolve into heated debates over whether words like “bezzy” or “fleek” are acceptable plays. Some things never change!
With the Scrabble Go app, you can video call your friends and form an online game of up to 4 players to reignite those impassioned lexicon battles. Or if you need some solo word puzzling practice first, the app also has single player and computer-controlled robot opponent modes. Let the wordsmithing commence!
UNO
UNO is one of those rare games that truly seems to get more entertaining the more competitive (and vocally enthusiastic) your opponents become. Thanks to its simple rules but devious gameplay of trying to be the first to deplete your hand, UNO has a knack for bringing out people’s feisty sides in the best way possible.
The virtual UNO app allows you to play with friends remotely, either in 1-on-1 battles or team games where you can coordinate strategies with your partner. You can even enter public tournaments or join the 2v2 mode for a fun new twist beyond the classic gameplay. And of course, there’s nothing quite like hitting your pal with a rousing “UNO!” over video chat after strategically depleting your hand.
Yahtzee
There’s nothing quite like the simple joy of getting your dice hot and rolling multiple Yahtzees in one round. Playing this classic game of luck and strategy with pals over some beers is deliciously nostalgic fun. But shaking up a cup of dice on your coffee table just doesn’t hit quite the same when your friends can’t share in the triumph.
Enter Yahtzee With Buddies, a free app that lets you connect with friends for virtual Yahtzee games over video or online play. Start by joining up with your Facebook pals or making new Yahtzee buddies over the app. Then you can immerse yourself in some wonderfully familiar gameplay, cheering over big rolls while commiserating together over any unfortunate dice explosions. Nostalgia and social connection accomplished!
Read more: Creative DIY Game Ideas for a Memorable Game Night
Witty Word Games And Party Favorites
In the mood for something a bit sillier and more lighthearted than traditional games? There are plenty of virtual options that cater to those with an irreverent sense of humor and love for clever wordplay. These games guarantee lots of laughs and banter.
Psych!
For those who love the classic bluffing game Balderdash, Psych! is sure to become your new virtual game night obsession. The premise is delightfully simple – players are given intriguing trivia questions and have to create their own fake wrong answers, with the goal of tricking others into thinking their lies are actually the truth.
While playing in person is tons of fun, the ability to video chat with your pals while bluffing turns Psych! into a hilarious deception-fest. There’s nothing quite like watching each other’s facial reactions while pitching your phony trivia answers with an extra dose of faux confidence. Deception, be thy name!
Drawful 2
Looking for something a bit more creative than your typical word game? Load up Drawful 2 for a side-splitting blend of terrible doodling and clever wordsmithing. In this virtual game, players take turns trying to draw out prompts like “death by trombone” or “creepy tiger” on their mobile devices. Everyone else then tries to decipher what the awful squiggles are supposed to represent.
As you can imagine, Drawful 2 creates plenty of comedic fodder through the sheer ineptitude of most people’s drawing skills, especially after a few drinks are involved. The back-and-forth banter as people grapple to make sense of avant-garde sketch nightmares is sure to trigger lots of giggling over video. Add in the silliness of trying to trick your friends with wacky (and slightly disturbing) phrase guesses and you’ve got endless laughs guaranteed.
Evil Apples
For those who love the gloriously dark and twisted humor of Cards Against Humanity, the virtual game Evil Apples is sure to scratch that very particular itch. Much like the iconic irreverent card game that inspired it, Evil Apples prompts players to answer question cards with their most shocking, inappropriate response card.
While it may not be the kind of game you necessarily want to play with grandma over FaceTime, Evil Apples is pure crass joy with the right group of thick-skinned friends. Even better, there’s no taking turns or waiting for others to play their cards. Everyone plays at once, which prevents any lulls and keeps the laughs coming at a steady stream. Just be ready to apologize to your pals after the game!
Read more: 6 Classic Card Games for a Fun Game Night
Gaming Fun For All Interests
Virtual game nights don’t have to be limited to just word games, cards and trivia classics either. Drawing some inspiration from the video game world, there are lots of great options for more interactive gameplay experiences to share with your friends online. Whether you’re old-school gamers looking to team up or just want to engage in some friendly competition through mobile apps, these picks have you covered.
Mario Kart Tour
While we may not be able to have proper LAN parties gathered around a Nintendo 64, mobile gamers can still get that competitive racing game fix through Mario Kart Tour. Optimized for online multiplayer, this mobile take on the beloved Mario Kart franchise lets you race up to 7 other players through various Mario-themed courses and environments.
Of course, the real fun is in seeing who in your friend group has the skills to deliver on those all-important strategic power-up deployments and last-second speed boosts to edge out the competition. In true Mario Kart fashion, expect plenty of smack talk and melodramatic gasps from your crew. You’ll feel just like you’ve traveled back to your college dorm days, albeit with better graphics and mechanics.
Spaceteam
For an infectiously hectic multiplayer experience, be sure to check out Spaceteam. This innovative mobile game has players working cooperatively as the crew of a spacecraft desperately trying to avoid total system failure and a fiery explosion. Each team member has a unique control panel visible only on their device with prompts to hit certain buttons, dials, and switches. The catch? Those controls may require input from another player to actually execute.
You can imagine the escalating chaos as your otherwise unflappable pals start barking directions like “I need someone to activate the Zylapp Capacitor STAT!” or pleading with others to complete their actions before time runs out and you all go boom. With just the right amount of pressure but a totally goofy premise, Spaceteam makes for amazing virtual game night fun. Be sure to coordinate on video or voice chat for maximum enjoyment!
Dual!
Dealing with some pent-up quarantine angst and the urge to let off some steam? The two-person mobile game Dual! offers up a perfect virtual venting solution in the form of a wacky arena shooter. Players square off against one another on their respective devices, using intuitive tilt controls to dodge each other’s attacks and accumulate points on every successful strike.
With three unique modes to choose from offering markedly different gameplay experiences, Dual! is like condensing a full evening at a retro arcade into one convenient virtual game night package. 1v1 Duel mode is a straightforward firefight while Defend brings the action into 3D space and Deflect lets you play cooperatively against waves of enemies.
