Play games with your socially distant friends and family over Zoom! In my family, we’ve instituted a weekly scavenger hunt a la Jimmy Kimmel. Grandma names the category – bring me something with wheels! – and the kids scramble to retrieve something clever.
Many “traditional” games now have “virtual” counterparts you can play over Zoom or other video conferencing technologies like FaceTime or Google Meet:
- Play poker, checkers, chess, jigsaw puzzles, dominoes and mahjong using Tabletop Simulator on Steam ($20.) In addition, create your own games on their platform, or explore what others have created.
- Play a free online version of Scattergories. Pick your categories and send a link to your friends to play together.
- Play Pictionary using this word generator and the whiteboard option of “share screen” on Zoom.
- This Charades Ideas Generator will give your random prompts for an online game of charades.
- This virtual card game site has many classics like Crazy Eights and Go Fish, as well as a deck of cards simulator so you can play any game you know!
- Ellen’s favorite Heads Up is available as an app on your phone. You could adapt this game to video conferencing easily – just hide your video reflection when it’s your turn.
- Finally, explore newly created games from ZoomJam, inspired by our social distancing challenges
And don’t forget to watch for zoom trivia nights from your local public library!
More lists and resources:
How to play board games online: play with friends or family over the web from Techradar.com
Twelve Board Games You Can Play With Friends From Afar from Smithsonian Magazine
The Best Virtual Games to Play on Zoom, According to Video Game Experts from The Strategist and New York Magazine
Six fun party games you can play over a Zoom call from The Launcher at The Washington Post