5 Online Games To Play With Friends During Lockdown
During these challenging times, it’s important to stay connected with those we love. It’s really important to check in with your mates regularly, as we’re all coping with this pandemic differently. But if long, awkward Zoom quizzes aren’t your thing, here are five wondrous and hilarious games to get the good times flowing!
5. Skribbl.io
© Skribbl.io
If your budget has disappeared on quarantine snacks, then I have some good news for you! ‘Skribbl.io’, (or Scribbl-ey-oh as I call it) the internet’s alternative to ‘Pictionary’, is free!
You can play with random people, or you can create a lobby and send the link to friends. There’s no limit to how many people can play, but be sure to put aside a few hours to play if you have a large party! Once the first round begins, one person gets to select a word our of three choices and then the rest of the party has to guess what the drawer has depicted before the timer has run out. ‘Skribbl.io’ gives you the opportunity to add custom words, change time limits and rounds. If you don’t think you’re much of a Picasso, you’re in luck. The less artistic ability you have, the more hilarious the game!
‘Skribbl.io’ is a browser game, so downloading isn’t required. This game can be played on PC, laptop or phone and a call on Skype, Discord or Zoom would be a great way to share the hilarity with friends.
4. Scattergoriesonline.net
©Scattergoriesonline.net
Much like ‘Skribbl.io’, this categories word game is free to play by all. Literally, you can have up to 34 players! This game also originated as a much loved IRL party game, ‘Scattergories’. If you’re not familiar with the concept; you are given a random letter and you have to fill out all of the categories, (e.g ‘things that she said’ or ‘Band/Artist’) that start with that letter before the timer runs out. Once again, the funnier the answers the better the game. You can also make the game private and change settings such as the timer and you can also customise the categories. This is a browser game, so no downloading is required.
Playing on a PC or Laptop makes for a better gaming experience, but phones can be used also. The player that creates the game shares a link to friends. An ideal way to play this with friends would be on a Discord, Skype or Zoom call.
3. Among Us
©InnerSloth LLC
‘Among Us’ is a murder mystery…In space! It’s a game of teamwork and betrayal, and it’s suitable for 4-10 players. In your group, one person will be discreetly told that they are the impostor, while the other crewmates have to complete tasks to prepare the spaceship for departure. The task of the imposter is to blend in with the other crewmates and keep their true identity secret as they sabotage the ship and kill off innocent crewmates. When bodies are discovered, any player can report the body, prompting discussion time. The remaining crewmates have to discuss and unanimously vote for who they think is the imposter. If they succeed and throw out the right player into a pit of scolding lava, they win the game. If the imposter goes undetected and stops the ship departing, they win.
‘Among Us’ is free to play on IOS and Android, but you can find the no-ad version for £3.99 on Steam. To play ‘Among Us’ one person would have to ideally stream it via a service like Discord or Zoom and share a room code.
2. It’s Quiz Time
©Snap Finger Click & Vision Games Publishing LTD
‘It’s Quiz Time’ is pretty much what it says on the tin, it’s a quiz game! With over 25,000 questions to answer and thousands of categories (such as sports, video games and current events), you’ll be able to see yourself through until Christmas! With advanced AI host, Salli, as your guide, you can play against friends and family in the “ultimate quiz game ever released on PC or console”. The game supports up to 8 players, either locally or online. Alternatively, ‘It’s Quiz Time’ features a single-player function, where you can test your knowledge against the Frozen-esque, Salli, herself.
You can find ‘It’s Quiz Time’ on Steam for £15.99 and the companion apps for phones can also be found on all major app stores. To play ‘It’s Quiz Time’ with others, only one person has to own the game and would ideally have to stream it via a service like Discord or Zoom and share a room code.
1.The Jackbox Party Pack
©Jackbox Games
‘The Jackbox Party Pack’ is an excellent franchise, packed full of weird and wonderful games, including the irreverent party games such as ‘Quiplash’, ‘Fibbage’ and ‘Drawful’. ‘Quiplash’ involves choosing the best of two answers to a given prompt. (the funnier the answer, the better!) The main aim of ‘Fibbage’ is to make up answers to a fact and try and discover the truth through the lies and ‘Drawful’ is essentially ‘Skribbl.io’. There are many MANY games to wade through in this smorgasbord of content. Some other favourites include ‘Murder Trivia Party’ – where you have to answer quiz questions to save yourself from being murdered! Also, the Jackbox alternative to Tinder, ‘Monster Seeking Monster’, whereby you have to date according to your different monster roles and attempt to steal a podium position.
The franchise now has 6 packs to choose from, which includes 5 games; all of which can be purchased separately. Prices range on online stores such as Steam and the Nintendo eShop, from £18 to £25. To play a Jacbox Party Pack with others, only one person has to own the game and would ideally have to stream it via a service like Discord or Zoom and share a room code.
