Nothing beats a good game night, but when you can’t whip out Monopoly or Clue and play IRL, it seems there are fewer options to unleash your competitive side with your pals. Dry your eyes and get rid of those game night blues, though, because there are actually so many app games to play with friendsvirtually—so you can continue your game night traditions, even if you and your friends are in separate places.
- While card games are out, classic secret-spilling games like Never Have I Ever are easily done remotely. You can also watch movies and TV shows in tandem, and play the associated drinking games.
- Play the game s you love with friends and family or get matched with other live players at your level. Trickster Pinochle offers customizable rules so you can play Pinochle your way! Fast-paced, competitive and fun — for free! Get matched by skill to other live players; Invite and play with friends and family.
- The Game of Life, Hasbro's classic board game, is available for $2.99 in the App Store and Google Play, and offers up a multiplayer game or the option to play with up to three other people on the.
From classic board games you loved to play with loved ones as a kid to amped up trivia games that test your knowledge of the world and your friends, there’s no shortage of game apps you can download and play with your friends virtually. All you need is a phone and access to Internet, and you’re on your way to a night full of virtual gaming—and, hopefully, winning.
In most cases, these app games are totally free to play. And even if you do have to pay, the cost is never more than $4. Think of it this way: Board games you’d play with loved ones IRL cost upwards of $10. Pieces get lost, instructions get ripped and occasionally someone accidentally donates the game without your knowledge. With a game on your phone, though, you can play for years without ever losing a piece. Plus, you can still connect with your friends all around the world. Just because you can’t see someone in person doesn’t mean you can’t still stay close to them.
These game apps allow you to interact with pals in a new way, while playing some classic (and not-so-classic) games. Dibs on Miss Scarlet in Clue, though.
1. Yahtzee With Buddies
Get to know your group of friends even better with this card game, which requires players to share a different funny story during each round. 13 of 15 Platinum Family Feud Signature Game. CardGames.io is a game site focused on classic card and board games. Our goal is to make great versions of the games you already know and love in real life. We try very hard to make the games.
Yahtzee with Buddies is the classic Hasbro game gone virtual. Now you can play the ultimate dice-rolling game on your phone and with your friends. Until you can meet up again IRL, this is a fun way to have a virtual game night. You can invite your friends to play by clicking the “Social” button and then entering their username or connecting to Facebook to invite them through there.
2. Scrabble Go
Show off your knowledge of the English language with the Scrabble Go phone app. Nothing quite beats the satisfaction of getting a triple point word, and now you can get that same feeling virtually. Add your friends through the app or through Facebook and challenge them to a game (or two, or three…).
3. UNO!
UNO! has always been an iconic card game, and now you can play it virtually with your loved ones. To invite your friends, make sure you click the “social” button on the app, and then the “invite friends” button. This will give you a link to send to your friends so they can sign on and play with you. Ultimately, it works just like it would IRL, only you play with virtual cards. Simple. As. That.
4. Mario Kart Tour
The Mario Kart Tour app allows you to race your friends at high speeds. It’s basically like playing video games IRL, except this time, you’re all on your phones. To get access to this feature, though, you’ll need to create a Nintendo account, play a few games by yourself and clear the first level. Then, the “Friends” icon will appear in the menu and you can challenge your pals by using their Player ID or Nintendo account.
5. QuizUp
Available for both iOS and Android, QuizUp isn’t just your ordinary trivia game. There are topics ranging from Disney trivia and The Simpsons trivia—and even Game of Thrones trivia. Text your pals and tell them to meet you on the app, and let the games begin. You can even turn this one into a virtual drinking game.
6. Chips & Guac On Houseparty
If you use Houseparty to video chat with your friends, you’re going to want to try out their game Chips & Guac. It’s similar to Apples to Apples, so if you love games where you choose the best card to match another one, you’ll love this game.
7. Monopoly
Although nothing will ever feel quite as good as flipping the Monopoly board when you realize you’re never going to win (Anyone else? Just me?), you can still embrace the game virtually through the Monopoly app. This game app costs $3.99, but after purchase, you and your friends can start snatching up those properties. Dibs on Park Place!
8. Clue
Now you can play your favorite board game from childhood virtually with all your friends. Whether you choose to play as Colonel Mustard or Miss Scarlet (Pro tip: She always gets to go first!), you’re sure to have hours of fun reliving your younger days. The app does cost $3.99, but that’s a small price to pay for endless hours of mystery fun, right?!
9. Psych!
Psych! is similar to a trivia game, but instead of using facts that are commonly known, you use facts specifically about your friends. With categories like “And the Truth Comes Out” and “Movie Bluff,” you can test one another’s knowledge of, well, each other. How well do you know your friends—and can you outsmart them on your own?
10. GamePigeon
The GamePigeon app lets you play different games online with your phone—so you don’t need a gaming device or even a computer. Available right now are 8-Ball (pool), Poker, Sea Battle (which is basically Battleship) and several more. These games are only two-player, though, so best if you just want to play with one other person!
11. Game Of Life
Since many of us aren’t really living our life outside right now, play a game of pretend with the Game of Life app. Like the board game, you’ll have the same objective to “win” life—only instead of IRL, it’s virtual. Kind of fitting, don’t you think? The app costs $2.99, but once you’re in, you can switch to multiplayer mode and play your friends all night long.
By dschild@businessinsider.com (Darcy Schild) of INSIDER |12 classic board games you can play online with friends and family
- Nothing compares to gathering around a table with friends and family to play a board game with tangible cards and pieces.
- Even when you're away from people you love, several board games are accessible on apps and websites.
- Friends can take part in virtual versions of Monopoly, Clue, and The Game of Life — and even multiplayer games with ancient roots, like mahjong and mancala, can be played online.
- Here are all the best nostalgic board games to play together online or on your phone.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.