Let's 
Games to Play on Zoom: 7 Video Call Games for Friends
Your best friend lives in another city, your uni mates are spread across three countries, the old flatshare is scattered everywhere. Meeting up takes planning, but a game night over video call takes 30 seconds. Zoom on, link shared, playing.
Here are 7 games to play on Zoom (or FaceTime, Google Meet, Teams) that actually work over a video call. Not "we share a screen and watch", but games where everyone plays at the same time on their own device. These are online games to play with friends without download: they open in a browser tab and run alongside the call. They work just as well for long distance relationship games nights as they do for a casual hangout with friends or a team event with coworkers. For more ideas in bigger groups, see our party games for adults guide.
Contents
Let's Fib! - Bluff Quiz Over Video Call
- 1-8 players
- Browser, no download
- 10-30 min
One person drops the room code in the chat, everyone opens letsfib.com on their phone or in a second tab. A bizarre trivia question appears, everyone types a convincing fake answer, AI opponents bluff along. Then you vote: what's the truth?
Why it works brilliantly over video call: Everyone plays on their own device while the call runs alongside. The best moments are the faces on screen when the reveal hits and someone sits there open-mouthed because the truth was more absurd than any lie.
Five different round types (trivia, pictures, world map, fill-in-the-blank, reverse) keep things fresh even after an hour. Completely free, no account needed. One of the best virtual games to play on Zoom because there's literally zero setup, and one of the few online games to play with friends without download.
Skribbl.io - Draw and Guess
- 2-12 players
- Browser
- 15-45 min
One person draws, everyone guesses. The thing is: drawing with a mouse or trackpad is so difficult that even "dog" becomes a modern art masterpiece. The combination of video call laughter and panicked scribbling is unbeatable.
Video call tip: Keep microphones on. The live commentary ("What is THAT supposed to be?!") makes the game twice as good. Create custom word lists with inside jokes from your group.
Gartic Phone - Telephone Meets Pictionary
- 4-30 players
- Browser
- 15-45 min
Telephone meets Pictionary. Someone writes a sentence, the next person draws it, the next describes the drawing, and so on. At the end you compare the chain from original to final interpretation. The result is almost always absurd and hilarious.
Video call tip: Watching the chains together at the end is the highlight. One person shares their screen, everyone watches and comments. Best with 6+ people so the chains get long enough.
Codenames Online - Team Word Strategy
- 4-10 players (two teams)
- Browser (codenames.game)
- 15-30 min
Two teams, one spymaster per team, a grid full of words. The spymaster gives a clue (one word plus a number), the team tries to find the right words. One wrong guess can reveal the assassin: game over.
Video call tip: The spymasters have to keep their poker faces while the team argues wildly. Over video call, you can see every twitch. Use breakout rooms for team discussions, then come back to the main room to guess.
GeoGuessr - Where in the World?
- 2-8 players
- Browser or app
- 20-45 min
One person shares their screen with Google Street View. Everyone guesses together where in the world you have landed. Road signs, vegetation, cars, everything is a clue. The debate ("That is clearly South America!" - "No, those are trees like in Indonesia!") is the real game.
Video call tip: One person shares, everyone watches and shouts suggestions. Take turns sharing so everyone gets to steer. The free version is enough for an evening.
DIY Pub Quiz
- 4-20+ players
- Any video call tool
- 30-60 min
One person prepares 20-30 questions and shares them on screen or reads them out. Teams write answers in the chat or on paper. Categories: general knowledge, music (play song clips!), pictures (what is this?), personal questions about the group.
Video call tip: The personal questions make the difference ("Which of us once...?", "In which city did Lisa study?"). Use Kahoot or Google Forms for automatic scoring. Short on time to write questions yourself? Grab a set of ready-to-use pub quiz questions and drop them into your video call, no preparation needed.
Werewolf / Mafia
- 6-15 players
- No equipment (or app)
- 30-60 min
A classic that works surprisingly well over video call. A game master assigns roles via private message. At night, everyone closes their eyes (camera off!), the wolves choose a victim via chat. During the day, the group discusses and votes on who the wolf is.
Video call tip: Camera off instead of eyes closed is more reliable. For the night phase, send private messages to the game master. Apps like "Werewolf Online" handle the game master role automatically. Works best with 7+ players.
All Games Compared
| Game | Players | Cost | Prep | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Let's Fib! Recommended | 1-8 | Free | None | Any group, any size |
| Skribbl.io | 2-12 | Free | None | Casual rounds, families |
| Gartic Phone | 4-30 | Free | None | Large groups, parties |
| Codenames | 4-10 | Free | None | Team competitions |
| GeoGuessr | 2-8 | Free* | None | Geography fans, couples |
| Pub Quiz | 4-20+ | Free | 30 min | Large groups, teams |
| Werewolf | 6-15 | Free | None | Large groups, role play |
* GeoGuessr: Free version with limited rounds per day.
Long Distance Relationship Games: Playing Together Across the Miles
Not every video call game night needs a big group. If you're in a long distance relationship, games for long distance couples are worth their weight in gold. They give the evening structure and create shared experiences even when you're hundreds of miles apart.
Let's Fib for two: Works from just one player because AI opponents fill the round. Two of you guessing against three AI bluffers feels like a private quiz duel with absurd questions. No need to round up a group first. One of the best online games for long distance relationships because it's instant and free.
GeoGuessr: Perfect for couples. One person shares their screen, both discuss. "Bet you that's Thailand?" No time pressure, no teams, just exploring the world together. Loads of long distance couples swear by it as their go-to date night activity.
Codenames Duet: The co-op version of Codenames, built specifically for two players. You play together against the game instead of against each other. Free in the browser.
Looking for more ideas for couples? Our question games for couples guide has plenty of options that spark real conversations. And if you want to play together on the go: multiplayer phone games that work across any distance.
Games to Play on Zoom with Coworkers
Virtual team events don't have to be awkward. The trick is picking games where everyone can participate without feeling put on the spot. The best games to play on Zoom with coworkers are the ones where even the quiet colleagues end up laughing.
Codenames works brilliantly for teams because it's collaborative and strategic. Split into two groups, assign spymasters, and watch your colleagues debate clues they'd never come up with in a meeting.
Let's Fib is perfect for work teams because answers are anonymous until the reveal. Nobody has to draw in front of colleagues or perform on camera. Just type a creative bluff and watch people fall for it. The AI players make it work even with smaller departments.
Gartic Phone is the go-to for larger teams (up to 30 players). The telephone-meets-drawing mechanic produces results so ridiculous that even the most reserved colleague can't help but laugh.
Pro tip: keep it to 30-45 minutes for work events. That's long enough to have fun but short enough that nobody feels trapped. And skip the competitive scoring for team building. The laughing together is what matters.
Tips for Remote Game Nights
Two devices beat one. Video call on the laptop, game on the phone. That way you see your friends' faces while you play. Cramming everything onto one screen means missing the best reactions.
Fewer games, more talking. Online game nights need more breaks than in-person ones. Chat between games. The games are the occasion, not the purpose.
Keep the group small. 4-6 people is ideal for a video call. Above 8, it gets chaotic because not everyone can talk at once. For bigger groups: use breakout rooms or pick games to play over Zoom where not everyone needs to talk simultaneously (Let's Fib, Gartic Phone).
Set a regular date. "We should do this sometime" never happens. A fixed Tuesday evening every two weeks works. Our game night planning guide has more tips on organisation.
Test the tech beforehand. Nothing kills the mood faster than 20 minutes of audio debugging. Quick check before the call: mic, camera, browser all working.
The Bottom Line
Distance is no longer a reason to skip game night. Whether you're looking for virtual games to play on Zoom with friends, long distance relationship games for date night, or something fun for a team event, the games above have you covered.
Quickest start: open Let's Fib in your browser, drop the code in the video call chat, start playing. You're in within 30 seconds. Want to keep going? Gartic Phone for the artists, GeoGuessr for the geography buffs, and Werewolf for the late evening. More online party games compared in our guide.
Game Night Over Video Call
Share link, enter code, start playing. Works on any device, free, up to 8 players.
Frequently Asked Questions About Video Call Games
What are the best games to play on Zoom?
Skribbl.io, Gartic Phone, Codenames and GeoGuessr all run in the browser alongside a Zoom call. No download needed, free, and you can start playing in seconds.
How do you host a virtual game night on Zoom?
Start a video call (Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet), then open a browser game. Everyone plays on their own device. Best setup: laptop for the video call, phone for the game.
What are good long distance relationship games to play over video call?
Let's Fib works from just 1 player (AI fills the round), GeoGuessr is perfect for exploring the world together, and Codenames Duet is built for two players. All run in the browser alongside a video call and don't need a big group.
What games can you play on Zoom with coworkers?
Codenames is great for team strategy, browser bluff games keep things anonymous and low-pressure, and Gartic Phone works for up to 30 players. All three run in the browser and need zero preparation. Keep sessions to 30-45 minutes for work events.
Can you play Let's Fib over a video call?
Yes, perfectly. One person shares the room code in the chat, everyone opens the link on their phone. The video call runs alongside so you can see the reactions at the reveal. It works from just 1 player since AI opponents fill empty spots.
What are the best games for long distance couples?
Games that work for just two people are ideal: Let's Fib (AI fills the group), GeoGuessr (explore together via screen share), and Codenames Duet (co-op mode for two). No need to coordinate a big group for date night.
How many people are ideal for an online game night?
4-6 people is the sweet spot over video call. Above 8 it gets chaotic because not everyone can talk at once. For larger groups, pick games where simultaneous talking isn't needed, like browser bluff games or Gartic Phone.
Do you need special software for virtual games on Zoom?
No. Most games like Skribbl.io and Gartic Phone run directly in the browser, alongside browser bluff games too. Just open any video call tool (Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet, Teams) alongside the game and you're good to go.