Hub5 Online Games

Why Virtual Game Nights Are Here to Stay

The pandemic forced us to figure out how to have fun remotely — and turns out, we got really good at it. Online games to play with friends aren’t just a backup plan anymore. They’re a legitimate way to hang out, especially when your crew is scattered across cities, countries, or continents.

Virtual game nights solve real problems: no one has to drive, no one has to host, everyone can join from their couch in sweatpants, and the games themselves have gotten incredibly good. From browser-based multiplayer games to apps designed specifically for video call parties, the options in 2026 are better than ever.

This guide covers every category of online games to play with friends — video call games, app-based games, browser games, social media games, and more. Whether you’re planning a weekly game night or a one-off virtual party, you’ll find exactly what you need below. Let’s connect. 🎮

Video Call Games

These games are designed to be played while on a video call — Zoom, Discord, FaceTime, Google Meet, whatever your platform. The video element adds energy and accountability that text-based games can’t match.

Classic Party Games (Virtual Editions)

Charades Over Video

The timeless classic works perfectly on video call. One person acts out a word or phrase while everyone else guesses. Use a random word generator or an app like Heads Up! to keep things moving. Pro tip: turn off your mic while acting — it forces pure physical comedy.

Pictionary on Screenshare

Open a whiteboard app (Google Jamboard, Excalidraw, or even MS Paint) and share your screen. One person draws while others guess in the chat. Set a timer for extra pressure. Drawing with a trackpad makes it hilariously bad — and that’s the point.

20 Questions

One person thinks of something. Everyone else gets 20 yes-or-no questions to figure it out. Simple, zero-setup, and surprisingly intense when the questions get strategic.

Two Truths and a Lie

Each person shares two truths and one lie about themselves. Everyone votes on which is the lie. On video, you can watch people’s faces for tells — which makes it way more fun than text-based versions.

Never Have I Ever

Hold up all fingers on camera. Each round, someone says “Never have I ever…” and anyone who HAS done it puts a finger down. First person to lose all fingers faces a consequence (drink, dare, truth question). You learn things about your friends you never expected.

Quiz & Trivia Games

Kahoot! Game Night

Create custom quizzes or use community-made ones on Kahoot!. The host shares their screen showing the questions, everyone answers on their phones. Built-in scoring, time pressure, and competitive leaderboards make this addictive.

Jeopardy-Style Trivia

Build a Google Slides or PowerPoint Jeopardy board with categories and point values. Teams or individuals select squares and answer. Add drinking rules: wrong answer = drink, Daily Double = dare.

Sporcle Challenges

Sporcle has thousands of timed quizzes. Share your screen and race to complete them as a group. “Name all 50 US states in 10 minutes” sounds easy until you’re stuck at 43 and panicking.

Deduction & Social Games

Mafia/Werewolf

The classic social deduction game where villagers try to identify hidden werewolves before they eliminate everyone. Works great on Zoom — the “night phase” has everyone close their eyes while the moderator messages the werewolves. The accusations and defense speeches are pure entertainment.

One Night Ultimate Werewolf (App)

The app-based version streamlines everything. Roles are assigned automatically, the narrator is AI-generated, and games take just 10 minutes. Perfect for groups that want the deduction without the long setup.

Spyfall

Everyone gets a location card except one player — the spy. Players ask each other questions to figure out who the spy is, while the spy tries to figure out the location. The spy’s confused answers are always hilarious.

App-Based Games

These games use dedicated apps that handle all the game logic — you just play. Most are free or cheap, and they’re designed for groups.

Jackbox Party Packs

The undisputed king of virtual party games. One person owns the game and streams it; everyone else joins free on their phone via jackbox.tv. Must-play games include:

• Quiplash: Write funny answers to prompts, vote on favorites
• Fibbage: Create fake answers to real trivia — fool your friends
• Drawful: Draw terrible pictures, write terrible guesses, laugh endlessly
• Tee K.O.: Design T-shirts with drawings and slogans, vote on the best
• Blather Round: Describe a thing using limited word categories while others guess

There are 10+ party packs now, each with 5 games. At roughly $25 per pack, it’s the best value in gaming.

Among Us

The social deduction game that took the world by storm. Crewmates complete tasks on a spaceship while impostors secretly sabotage and eliminate them. Emergency meetings for accusations and voting create incredible drama. Free to play on mobile, works with 4-15 players.

Houseparty/Bunch (Video Call Games)

Built-in games within video calling apps. Quick games like Heads Up!, trivia, and drawing challenges integrated directly into the video call experience. Zero friction — just open the app and play.

Psych!

Created by Ellen DeGeneres, this game shows you real trivia questions. Everyone makes up fake answers. Then you all vote on which answer is real. Convincing fakes earn you points. Getting fooled loses them.

Words With Friends / Scrabble GO

Turn-based word games that work for ongoing competition. Start a game and play over hours or days. Add stakes: loser buys the winner coffee, or use Xdares for more creative consequences.

Browser-Based Games (No Download Required)

These fun online games run right in your browser. No downloads, no accounts (usually), no friction. Just share a link and play.

Skribbl.io

Free online Pictionary. Create a private room, invite friends, and take turns drawing while others guess. Custom word lists make it personal. The timer adds pressure. The terrible drawings add comedy.

Gartic Phone

A combination of Pictionary and Telephone. Write a sentence, someone draws it, someone else describes the drawing, someone draws that description… The results are always hilarious. Free, browser-based, and supports up to 30 players.

Codenames Online

The beloved board game, free in your browser at codenames.game. Two teams, two spymasters giving one-word clues, and a grid of words to guess. Strategic, competitive, and endlessly replayable.

Board Game Arena

Hundreds of board games playable free in your browser. 7 Wonders, Carcassonne, Azul, Terra Mystica — if you love board games, this platform is incredible. Supports turn-based play (async) or real-time sessions.

GeoGuessr

Get dropped on a random Google Street View location. Figure out where in the world you are. Compete against friends for the closest guess. Educational, competitive, and surprisingly addictive. Pro tip: look for road signs, sun position, and driving side.

Wavelength

A party game about reading people’s minds. One person sees where a target sits on a spectrum (e.g., “cold ↔ hot”) and gives a clue. Everyone else guesses where on the spectrum the target is. Generates amazing discussions and debates.

Secret Hitler (Online)

A social deduction game where liberals try to enact liberal policies while fascists try to elect Secret Hitler. Heavy on deception, alliances, and dramatic accusations. Free at secrethitler.io.

Social Media Games

Turn your social platforms into gaming platforms. These games use the tools you already have — Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X — to create shared experiences with friends.

Instagram Story Games

1. “This or That” Polls: Post a series of choices on your story. Friends vote. Compile the results for a group discussion.
2. Song Association: One person posts a word, others have 5 seconds to think of a song with that word. Post the results on stories.
3. Rate My ___: Post photos and let friends rate (outfits, cooking, room decor, playlists).
4. Confession Box: Use the question sticker for anonymous confessions, then react to them live.

TikTok Challenge Games

1. Duet Challenges: Start a challenge and dare friends to duet with their own version.
2. Guess the Song: Play songs backwards or sped up, friends guess in comments.
3. Would You Rather (Video Edition): Film your reactions to increasingly difficult would-you-rather questions.
4. Trend Recreation: Challenge your group to all recreate the same trending TikTok — vote on the best version.

Discord Games

1. Discord Game Bots: Add bots like Mudae, Dank Memer, or Gartic for built-in games in your server.
2. Watch Together: Stream movies or YouTube simultaneously and add drinking game rules.
3. Text-Based RPGs: Use Discord for collaborative storytelling or text adventure games.
4. Tournament Brackets: Organize gaming tournaments with channels for each matchup.

Truth or Dare Online

The classic game translates perfectly to digital. Online truth or dare is one of the most searched virtual game categories — and for good reason. It’s personal, it’s interactive, and it doesn’t require any equipment.

How to Play Online

• Basic version: Take turns over video call. Spin a virtual wheel or use a random number generator to pick who goes next.
• App version: Use dedicated truth or dare apps that generate questions and dares for you. Many have difficulty settings from PG to X-rated.
• Xdares version: Issue real dares through the platform. Money goes into escrow. Deadlines are set. Proof is required. This is truth or dare evolved.

Best Virtual Truth Questions

1. Show us the last photo in your camera roll
2. What’s the weirdest thing in the room you’re in?
3. Read your last sent text message out loud
4. Show your screen time stats — we’ll judge you
5. What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever Googled?

Best Virtual Dares

1. Change your video background to something the group picks for the rest of the night
2. Go outside and yell something the group chooses — on camera
3. Do 20 push-ups on camera right now
4. Text “I need to tell you something” to 3 contacts and screenshot the replies
5. Put on the most ridiculous outfit you can find in 60 seconds

📖 Deep dive: Truth or Dare Drinking Game | Online Dare Games for Adults | Truth or Dare for Teens

Drinking Games Online

Virtual drinking games are a firmly established genre. Grab your drink, hop on a call, and play. Here are the best options for online drinking games with friends:

Zoom Power Hour

A power hour playlist plays through screen share. Every 60 seconds when the song changes, everyone takes a sip. 60 songs, 60 sips, one hour of chaos. Penalty for anyone who turns their camera off.

Virtual Beer Pong

Yes, it exists. Set up 6-10 cups each at home. Take turns calling shots (“third cup from the left”). Honor system on drinks. It’s ridiculous and it works.

Online Trivia Drinking Game

Use any trivia platform. Wrong answer = drink. Last place = double drink. The spiral of getting drunker and answering worse creates peak entertainment.

Never Have I Ever (Drinking Edition)

Classic rules, but instead of putting down fingers, you drink. “Never have I ever…” — if you have, take a sip. Simple, revealing, and increasingly sloppy as the game goes on.

Movie Drinking Bingo

Watch a movie together via screen share. Create bingo cards with common tropes. Complete a row? Everyone else drinks. Complete the whole card? You’re the champion (and probably also quite drunk).

Kings (Virtual Deck)

Use a virtual card deck app. Same rules as in-person Kings — each card has a rule. The virtual format works perfectly since rules are public and everyone can see the draw.

📖 Full guide: Virtual Drinking Games for Online Parties — our comprehensive guide with rules, setup tips, and platform recommendations.

How to Host the Perfect Virtual Game Night

Having great games isn’t enough — you need the right setup. Here’s a quick guide to hosting a flawless virtual game night:

Before the Event

• Choose 2-3 games max. Better to play fewer games well than rush through many.
• Test your tech. Make sure screenshare works, the game loads, and everyone knows which platform to use.
• Set a time limit. 2-3 hours is the sweet spot. Energy drops after that.
• Create a shared playlist. Music between games keeps the energy up.

During the Event

• Start with something easy. A quick icebreaker or warm-up game before the main event.
• Keep drinks flowing. Remind people to refill, take breaks, stay hydrated.
• Rotate game types. Switch between trivia, creative, and physical games to keep things fresh.
• Take screenshots. The best moments are worth preserving.

After the Event

• Share highlights. Post the best moments in your group chat or shared album.
• Schedule the next one. Consistency is key for regular virtual hangouts.
• Follow through on dares. If anyone committed to a dare, use Xdares to ensure accountability.

Add Real Stakes with Xdares

Every game on this list is fun. But you know what makes them unforgettable? Consequences that actually happen.

Loser of trivia night has to post an embarrassing video? With Xdares, that dare is backed by real money. They either do it or they lose their stake. No “forgetting.” No “I’ll do it later.” The dare happens or it doesn’t — and the stakes make sure it does.

Here’s what Xdares adds to any online game night:

• Pre-game dare setup: Before you play, agree on consequences for winners and losers. Lock them in with escrow.
• Video proof: When someone completes their dare, they upload proof. Everyone gets to watch.
• Deadlines: Dares expire. Complete it by the deadline or lose your money.
• Leaderboards: Track who’s completed the most dares, who’s backed down, who’s the bravest.

Your virtual game nights will go from “that was fun” to “we need to do this every week.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best free online games to play with friends?

The best free options include Skribbl.io (drawing), Gartic Phone (drawing + telephone), Codenames Online, Among Us (mobile), and Board Game Arena (hundreds of board games). For video call games, Charades, 20 Questions, and Never Have I Ever require zero equipment or cost. Jackbox Games requires one person to own the pack (~$25) but everyone else plays free.

How many people do you need for online game night?

Most games work with 3-8 players. Some (like Among Us) are better with 6-10. Browser games like Gartic Phone can support up to 30. For video call games, 4-8 is the sweet spot — enough variety but everyone still gets airtime. With larger groups, split into teams or use games with audience modes (Jackbox supports thousands of audience members).

What equipment do you need for virtual game night?

At minimum: a device with a camera, a stable internet connection, and a video calling platform (Zoom, Discord, etc.). Nice to have: a second screen (one for the video call, one for the game), a good microphone, decent lighting, and headphones to avoid echo. For drinking games, have your drinks and snacks ready before the call starts.

How do you keep online game nights from getting boring?

Three rules: (1) Variety — don’t play the same game type all night, alternate between trivia, creative, and social games. (2) Energy management — start high-energy, have a chill middle section, end with something competitive. (3) Stakes — add consequences for winners and losers (drinking rules, dares, or Xdares for real accountability). A good host reads the room and switches games when energy dips.

Can you play online games with friends in different time zones?

Absolutely. Find a time that works for the most people — typically evening for the latest time zone. Keep game nights shorter (90 minutes vs. 3 hours) to be respectful of everyone’s schedule. For ongoing competition, use turn-based games like Words With Friends or Board Game Arena that don’t require simultaneous play.