15 Fun Games to Play on a Video Call with Friends
A video call with friends easily turns into "so… what's new?" on repeat. A game fixes that in a minute: suddenly everyone is talking at once, laughing and arguing about the rules. Below are 15 games that work on FaceTime, Zoom, Google Meet, Discord or a Telegram call. The first five are free online games where everyone joins from their own phone by link, the rest need nothing but a camera.
How to set up a game night on a call
- One call, one game room. Keep the video call running and open the game in a browser on your phone or a second tab.
- Pick a host. They choose the game, share the link and keep the pace.
- Start light. Begin with something quick and silly, then move to longer games once everyone is in.
- Keep the group small for talking games. From 3 to 8 people works best. With more, split into two rooms.
Online games you join by link
These are free on Kavoo, work in any browser and inside Telegram, and need no download or sign-up. One player creates a room, everyone else joins by link or code.
1. Truth or Dare
The classic, made for calls: the game deals a question or a dare, the player answers on camera. There are decks for friends, couples and parties, from light to bold. Dares like "bring the weirdest object in your home to the camera" are perfect for video. → Truth or Dare online
2. Never Have I Ever
A statement appears, everyone secretly taps "I have" or "I haven't" on their phone, then the game reveals who has. Great on calls because nobody has to speak first, and anonymous mode helps with shy groups. → Never Have I Ever online
3. Alias
The word-explaining game: one player sees a word and explains it without saying it, the others guess. On a call, the explainer talks and the others shout or type their guesses. The game keeps the timer and the score. → Alias online
4. Who Am I?
The sticky-note game without sticky notes: everyone sees your character on their screen except you, and you guess with yes-or-no questions. → Who Am I? online
5. World Domination trivia
A trivia game on a world map for 2 to 5 players: everyone gets the same question, the fastest correct answer claims regions, and you challenge your neighbors for theirs. Not enough players? Add bots. → Trivia game online
Classic games you can play with just a camera
6. Two Truths and a Lie
Each player says three facts about themselves, and the group guesses which one is the lie. Perfect for new groups and work calls.
7. Charades
One player acts out a movie, a book or a song without speaking, and the others guess. Use the gallery view so everyone can see the performer. Move back from the camera so your whole body is in the frame.
8. Twenty Questions
One player thinks of a person, place or object. The others have 20 yes-or-no questions to guess it. Simple, quick and good for any age.
9. Scavenger Hunt
The host names an item ("something blue", "the oldest thing you own", "a kitchen tool you never use"), and the first person to bring it to the camera scores a point.
10. Would You Rather
Ask "Would you rather…" questions and make everyone defend their choice. "Would you rather only whisper or only shout for the rest of your life?" can easily last ten minutes.
11. Pictionary
One player draws a word on paper (or on a shared whiteboard) and holds it up to the camera, the others guess. Keep a timer: 60 seconds per drawing.
12. Name, Place, Animal
Someone picks a letter, and everyone writes a name, a place, an animal and a thing starting with it. First to finish shouts "Stop!". Unique answers score more.
13. Guess the Song
The host plays the first five seconds of a song through screen sharing, and the first to name the artist and title wins. Make sure computer audio sharing is on.
14. The Accent Challenge
Everyone draws a country and has to tell a short story in that accent. The others guess the country. Nobody's accent will be good, which is the point.
15. Story Chain
The first player says one sentence of a story, and each next player adds one more. Add a twist: every sentence must start with the next letter of the alphabet.
Which game for which group
- Friends on a Friday night: Truth or Dare, Never Have I Ever, Charades.
- Family with kids: Who Am I?, Scavenger Hunt, Twenty Questions.
- Coworkers and team building: Two Truths and a Lie, trivia, Alias.
- Long-distance couples: Truth or Dare for couples, Never Have I Ever for couples, Would You Rather.
More ideas: online party games to play with friends.