Top games to play on video calls

Virtual Game Nights have become a norm nowadays, as we are in Lockdown it is the only way we can communicate with our friends and family at a safe distance. Although I have been enjoying not having to get dressed up to socialise and you can wear your pyjamas as nobody will actually know!

Here are my tried and tested games that I have played over the numerous number of Zoom, Skype and Facetime calls. Although all these games require you to share a computer screen and/or an app on your phone or tablet. I know skype and zoom have that feature, but facetime does not. '

Drawful 2: 

Drawful 2 is a game where players join a virtual game room on their tablet or phone and follow the instructions. Each player is given a prompt or phrase to draw, and they are a bit unusual for example ‘night farmer’. You only have two colours and you can’t erase, so you need to think before you draw!

You're then shown each players drawing and you have to write what you think it is. Once everyone has written their answers, everyone is shown all the phrases and has to guess the real one.  You get points for guessing the right answer and if the other player chooses your one. 

I love this game, although I am not the best drawer, it is made easier as the prompts are all unusual in some ways but that can be difficult too along with the fact that you can't erase. 

Quiplash:

Quiplash is another game by Jackbox, where two players are given the same prompt, for example, 'Something you’d be surprised to see a donkey do' they then have to write an answer to this prompt and then the other players have to vote on which one they like the best. You get points for each vote and if you win the round. 

I also love this game, it a good laugh and involves a bit of skill to come up with an answer. 

Kahoot!: 

Kahoot is a quiz app where you can run your own quiz, either using quizzes others have created or write your own. It's that simple, just like a pub quiz hosted online using your mobile device and laptop. Someone hosts the quiz on their laptop and screen shares to everyone else, you use your mobile device to answer the questions. You get points for answering quickly and for getting the correct answer. 

This game is great to play with all ages and has so many topics and quizzes to do you can literally spend hours doing Kahoot! quizzes, that's what makes it so enjoyable. 

Scattergories:

A well-known board game that you can play online.  All you will need is a pen, paper and the ability to share a screen.  All you need to do is head to a list generator to find out your categories.  The rules are simple: there is one letter and twelve categories  (although you can change the number of categories that you have). The categories can be things like beers, fruits or things you do every day. You then have a certain about of time to come up with an answer that fits each category and starts with the chosen letter, you can do this up to three times. The more unique you answer compared to your friend's, the more points you get. 

I really enjoyed playing this game, although it is hard to keep an eye on the timer but it's a great game for all ages, although it does require some thinking! 

Psych: 

Another game created by The Ellen DeGeneres Show, they have also created 'Heads Up' which is also a great game. There’s an app that you download to your phone or tablet. To play, players make up fake answers to real trivia questions, and then players must choose the real answer to the question among the fake ones. There are some decks that you have to pay for but there are some decks that are free. 

This is a great game, and you learn some trivia that may come in handy for future pub quizzes, although who knows when they will come back!