Staying in but still want to be social or planning a work event and need virtual Zoom games to impress?
The following come in a variety of types and can be played with one other player or huge groups, and lasts anything from 10 minutes to a full day or night.
Virtual Games to Play on Zoom
1. Name in the Bag/Guess Who?
Do you know that popular Christmas Day game where you write the celeb names on Post-it notes and stick them on someone’s head?
Then your loved one has to guess who it is.
Well, Name in the Bag is not just for Christmas!
For the virtual version, you have to be a little more creative and turn the game around by choosing a celebrity for the player.
Don’t let the player see who they are until they’ve guessed correctly or run out of guesses!
There is the popular app version called Heads Up, which you can download on Android and Apple, but it can be a little fast-paced for video call software.
2. A Day In Paris For Paris Fans
This game has been hugely popular with families looking for an alternative group virtual tour and companies searching for unusual online team-building ideas.
The unique virtual tour is aimed at groups of people who are looking for a fun way to build their group skills.
The one-hour tour is led by an experienced guide who whisks the group to the City of Lights and includes challenges.
Virtual guides, such as Herbert, play on the typical stereotypes but also tear them apart and include local tips for future itineraries.
You can ask your guide anything about France, no question is too out-there.
To book the tour, visit this page and select the best time for your group.
The Zoom link will be provided by the company before the tour starts and your virtual guide will be waiting on you to kick off proceedings in Paris.
Companies have been using this team-building game for onboarding new members of staff when they can’t meet in person – a lighthearted icebreaker!
An alternative way to use it is for a conference virtual party planned by social events teams.
So whether you are planning a night in, virtually, with pals or a work event, it is relevant to both audiences.
If you want to learn more about Parisian culture, visit the city’s beautiful attractions, and laugh with your coworkers, friends, and family, then this tour is for you.
Are you booking a tour? Tell us in the comments below.
3. The Trip
The Trip is a puzzle game created by Loumee, formally known as the 100 Point Challenge.
The game is about connecting, collaborating, and solving your way around the world – one puzzle at a time.
It begins with a master puzzle and then ten smaller, mind-bending problems to solve—a fun mix of visual challenges, word games, and riddles.
Each problem gives you a clue towards reaching the final destination and completing the game.
Honestly, the final master puzzles are crafty!
This is the perfect group game for those who like puzzles, riddles, and other challenges requiring a little bit of wit and some friendly competition.
It can be played on Zoom and on other platforms, such as Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Webex, and Skype.
There are two ways to play The Trip.
The facilitated game is hosted by experienced online game facilitators from the 100 Point Challenge.
This is ideal for virtual work events and meetings, where you can bring in an external facilitator who will lead you and your team through playing the game and take care of all the event logistics.
Using multiple facilitators, the 100 Points team has facilitated games for 6 and 200 people simultaneously.
However, most people play in teams of 4-5 with the added time-based competition, where large groups play together.
Although it costs slightly more than the self-facilitated version, they take care of all the event logistics, which relieves some of the pressure. You can also play the game yourself.
Then there is also a DIY version, which requires you or someone from your group to take charge.
With this, you get access to an online game platform with a video walkthrough explaining how to deliver the game and all the instructions needed.
I have played three 100 Points Challenge online games: The Puzzle (review below), The Riddle, and The Trip.
We managed to smash through the challenges that The Puzzle and The Riddle presented at around the 40 (ish) minute mark, but The Trip beat us!
Nonetheless, the night was a success, and my friends enjoyed the travel-themed rounds.
Can you do it in under 40 minutes?
This is the ideal online party game for people who love to travel.
4. The Puzzle
The Puzzle is a challenge game created by 100 Points Challenge.
The game is predominantly a team-building challenge played among friends and colleagues in remote settings.
There are ten rounds of puzzles and a ‘master puzzle,’ which teams must solve to win.
The Puzzle can be time-sensitive (40 minutes) if you want to add some heat.
There are two ways to play.
Firstly, it is self-facilitated (DIY), with one member of the team taking the lead, recording the scores, and keeping the time.
This is the cheapest option.
All you need is an email address for the instructions and documents.
The facilitator needs around 20 minutes before you play to read over the information and prepare to host.
Use Zoom’s share screen function to explain the game and then share a unique link to the puzzle game page with all the players.
This DIY option is popular for companies wanting to keep their event in-house or families and friends looking for a virtual gathering.
The second option is to pass the host responsibility to the 100 Points Challenge team.
The cost depends on your group size.
To purchase, you just need to reserve a date.
The facilitator will talk all team members through how to play the game and ensure everyone gets involved.
This is most popular with companies because it has a team-building element, making it one of the best games to play on Zoom with coworkers.
We played The Puzzle with six friends, so we removed the team element and worked through the puzzles together.
It took us around 45 minutes to complete, and although a few puzzles were worked in within seconds, the team still struggled to figure out the main puzzle for a long time.
We want to play again with the added team element and time constraint.
100 Points Challenge knows what they are doing, having worked with giants like Google, Spotify, and Ikea.
Customer service is speedy, too.
We had to ask about the master puzzle an hour before we played, and the team got back to us quickly.
This was a welcomed change to our normal pub quiz-style chat, and we think it would be one of the better online team games for work, too.
5. Online Cook Club With Authentic Italian Chef
If you are looking for more than just virtual games, set up your device in the kitchen and chat while making a dish.
Why not learn from an actual chef in Italy?
There’s a two-hour pasta-making class online with Nonna Live.
Select a date for your live-stream lesson with an authentic Italian cook.
Not only are you learning new skills and creating a meal to eat, but you are also supporting a local business that can’t do in-person lessons.
Nonna Nerina is an 84-year-old grandmother offering virtual cooking classes. How cool is that?
When Nonna is not available, her granddaughter, Chiara, takes the class, so you are in good hands regardless.
Each session focuses on a specific meal, so if you don’t enjoy making lasagne, why not try gnocchi?!
Here’s a review:
“I am a Chef from the USA, and this is exactly what I wanted. I specialize in pasta and even I got to learn about how to make pasta by hand. This is geared towards people who have never made pasta from scratch but it’s a fantastic experience nonetheless.” ~ Zachery, USA.
Looking for an international tour?
Check out these tours from home around Milan, Paris, and Scotland.
6. Virtual Escape Rooms Challenge
Escape rooms challenge you and your coworkers or friends to get out in under 60 minutes via Zoom or your preferred conference call!
During the adventure, players can take on several virtual escape room challenges, such as escaping a prison, finding gold, or recovering a stolen painting.
We played the heist escape game, and a few things surprised us.
Firstly, this was our first experience with an escape game, and we were pretty good at it.
The game involves getting through rooms and solving puzzles using communication and numbers.
Secondly, it was way funnier than we thought it would be.
Sure, it was a challenge, but we smashed it!
We only used one of our three lifeline tips and found the art in under 48 minutes.
You may also like our new guide to more online team-building games.
7. The New York Times Games
The New York Times, a web-based newspaper, has a handful of free games on its site that do not require a login.
You can access the games page using your phone, tablet, or desktop and share the screen with your friends who are interested in beating the Mini Crossword, Spelling Bee, or Wordle.
You can compete against friends by setting a timer and playing over a conference call.
8. Jackbox
Jackbox Games has a variety of individual games and packages for purchase.
Packages include bluffing games, drawing games, fill-in-the-blank, sound effects, and trivia.
Jackbox can be played on every device, from laptops to game consoles, phones to desktops.
We played Fibbage using Zoom.
Fibbage is similar to the Psych! (see below) where the identified person secretly shares the truth to an answer, and other players create believable lies.
Points are awarded for finding the truth, fooling others, and bonus points for being funny.
Everyone answers their own secret question, and then the game commences.
Quiplash is another popular option.
The game throws up a statement, and players reply with witty answers.
Players then vote on the best answer.
9. Cards Against Humanity Online
If you don’t want to invest, free Zoom games like the infamous Cards Against Humanity can now be played online and set up via conference call for multi-person virtual play.
Cards Against Humanity is a dark card game in which players match ridiculous statements, which are often close to the bone!
Hours of fun and cringing.
10. Psych!
Psych! is a game app that the Ellen Show team created, ‘where you make up fake answers to real trivia.’
We see it like Cards Against Humanity, with you and your friends as the show’s stars.
This is a 3+ person game that is best played with friends you know well.
It’s meant to be an in-person game but can be played over video call to keep pals connected.
The app has a couple of free games, including And The Truth Comes Out.
During this time, the app throws up a statement about one member, for which you and your friend privately create answers.
The first question was, ‘What is X’s most annoying habit?’ This game is not for sensitive people!
The system gathers all the answers, and you vote for your favorite, but you can’t vote for your own.
Points are then added up.
Note: Don’t play with pals who are not offended easily.
11. Just Dance – To Get People Moving
Download Just Dance on your laptop and add the app to your phone—the phone then acts as the controller.
There’s a huge range of music to dance to, from disco to Disney.
Play over Zoom to enter ‘party rooms’ and dance together.
Obviously, there has to be an element of competition; points are gathered, and the winner takes home the glory.
12. Caribu For Kids and Families Chatting Virtually
Looking for a fun way to connect with the kids in the family?
Caribu is an app that was awarded Time Magazine’s ‘Best Invention of 2019’.
This app allows absent parents and grandparents to read to and interact with children for a monthly fee.
Games include drawing and reading, so they are educational and fun.
Looking for more games to play on Zoom with kids?
13. Karaoke, Kinda!
We’re not joking when we say there are hundreds of karaoke songs on YouTube.
Grab a Bluetooth mic or a hairbrush and let the battle commence.
14. Dine Together, Virtually
Agree on ingredients or choose a recipe that suits both of your store items.
Stress out together while you cook and then chill over the meal, discussing your day over screens.
A fun virtual date night too.
15. Film/Book Club/Netflix Party
Saturday nights in don’t have to be boozy.
Grab a gang, pick a book, and discuss the main themes over a call.
Many books have talking points at the back of the book so little preparation is required.
If you love reading, check out this Scotland Book Club.
Each month, members read a new Scottish novel and discuss it in a private group.
What about a Netflix Party?
With this add-on, you can watch a movie or show with friends and write comments to each other.
Once they’ve watched the shows, TV fans should check out our quizzes, including Succession, The Sopranos, and Gilmore Girls.
16. Pub Zoom Quiz Ideas
Quizmasters ready? Contestants ready?
It’s time for the weekly virtual pub quiz.
This is one of the most popular games; it is easy to create and gets everyone involved.
Rounds may include:
- General knowledge
- Guess what the emojis spells (films, terms etc)
- Picture round: closeups of photos, chronological order, odd one out
- Music intros
- Zoom has a whiteboard functionality for a Pictionary-style round
Or check out our free guide to pub quiz round ideas to keep things lively; there are over 50 options!
Alternatively, let us create the quiz for you.
We have ready-made quizzes with rounds on decades, music, TV, movies, geography, and sports – the latter created by Travis, our sports-obsessed quizmaster.
If you are the host and marker, have the answers written or printed out before the quiz goes live.
This will help speed up the marking process and cause less overwhelm!
Trivia nights are the perfect option for large groups, as they can last all night.
17. Try a Trivia Game
You don’t have to manually create every game – letsoftware do most of the work with Trivia Maker.
- Launch the game
- Start the call
- Share a screen
- Get your game face on
Games can be work-related, child-friendly, themed, or general knowledge.
You can try it for free, but it’s a premium game.
18. Emoji Quizzes
For a challenging quiz, put together a round of emoji characters where participants must guess what the emojis say using only the small images.
Emoji quizzes can be based on themes such as celebrities, movies, brand names, etc.
For a final twist, ask players to create their own emoji quiz for other teams to guess.
19. *Insert Word* Bingo
This is like the traditional bingo game but uses words instead of numbers.
Guess what words might be said during the TV show, movie, or political speech, and cross off the words as they are mentioned.
You can use this free card generator to create the cards.
How to win
- Complete a line – cross off an answer in each box in a line across your card
- Full House – cross off all boxes on your card
20. Quick Do It Yourself Online Bingo
This is a tried and tested teacher trick!
Create a box with three up and three along.
Provide more terms than boxes, so in this case, it should be more than nine terms.
Individuals choose terms and add them to boxes.
You call out the definition (not the term) and the contestants then score off when they’ve guessed the correct term.
The overall bingo game will likely have a theme.
21. Seasonal Craft Making
In charge of coming up with the Christmas Zoom party and not sure where to start?
Wondering what on earth the family can do to celebrate Easter together?
Struggling for ‘over the screen’ spring break ideas?
Consider a calming yet festive or spring wreath-making party by contacting a local maker and asking about their online options; games for online use can be traditional activities with a virtual twist!
It is likely the maker will provide a list of items required before the live virtual session.
Alternatively, ask attendees to purchase a wreath-making kit and take charge of the craft—a calming seasonal or Christmas virtual event!
Want to jazz up your Zoom backdrop before the session?
We have hundreds of free wallpapers in our backgrounds guide.
22. A Christmas Puzzle
The makers of the hugely popular online challenge, The Puzzle (see above), have created a new Christmas game!
A Christmas Puzzle is a team problem-solving challenge that aims to bring groups of people together, whether that be coworkers, friends, or family at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year celebrations.
There is no need to download anything for A Christmas Puzzle as the challenge is set online.
All you need to do is choose a time, invite the gang, set an additional Christmas jumper challenge, and engage your brain while your facilitator leads you through the fun!
Your group will be divided into teams, which will compete against each other in breakout rooms before returning to the main room to find out who has won!
There are a series of 10 puzzles to tackle before cracking the overall ‘master’ puzzle.
Tasks include visual questions, riddles, and problem-solving questions. It’s really fun!
The majority of teams are able to solve The Christmas Puzzle (or get close) in approx. 35-40 minutes.
We rallied up the troops and played A Christmas Puzzle to try it out for this guide.
Like with original The Puzzle above, we decided to play as one team.
We didn’t look at the answers, which meant we could play along too.
It is doable but if you are playing with work you will definitely want to add the competitive team element!
This game is a really nice way to celebrate Christmas together without leaving home, and it is ideal for companies planning a virtual Christmas party.
23. Host a Kid’s Zoom Party
How do I keep a group of toddlers entertained through a screen? How do I stop them all from speaking at once?
Are you having a panic attack thinking about how to host a kid’s party on Zoom?
You are not alone!
We’ve even had a professional kids’ entertainer get in contact asking for ideas.
Here are the top tips for hosting:
- Make use of the waiting room before allowing everyone into the main Zoom chat party
- Speak to every kid individually to create a quick connection before the entertainment kicks off
- The mute button is your best friend; ask another adult to help you out
- Keep the games short
- Use the “spotlight” function on Zoom to highlight kids
24. Fun Games to Play at a Kids Zoom Party
- Musical statues
- The Hokey P/Cokey
- Teach a simple dance
- Karaoke
- Scavenger hunt with clues
- Alphabet scavenger hunt where kids find items beginning with letter A and so on
- Find out what animal they are using this fun game
For more ideas, check out our post, games to play on Zoom with kids.
25. Hat’s All Folks
One last suggestion: make a call fabulous with a hat.
Prize for the player who wears it best!
Board Games To Play Online
You may be familiar with the following free virtual games online.
26. Monopoly
Do you have what it takes to build an empire?
This classic, fast-paced board game can be dusted off and played online with family and friends via the App Store or Steam.
Review are mixed, some saying that the game works well, others finding it too glitchy.
27. Clue
Looking for fun family games online?
The classic ‘whodunnit’? board game, Cluedo, can be found online.
Was it Miss Scarlet with the candlestick in the study or Mr Green with the rope in the ballroom?
Test your powers of deduction to find out.
28. Codenames
Competing spies try to select the cards which represent their agents through codes without revealing agents from the other side or choosing the assassin card.
To play Codenames, select a room and choose the number of words that you want.
Share the link to the game with friends.
29. Backgammon
An oldy but a goody, the goal of Backgammon is to be the first player to remove all of your checkers from the board.
This is a free online game that can be accessed here.
Just hit start game and send the code to the other player.
There’s a nifty schedule tool if you want to play in the future.
30. Catan Universe
This free online board game can be played via smartphone or PC and with multi-players.
There are handy tutorials for those unfamiliar with the original game.
The languages available are German, English, Polish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Catalan, and Portuguese.
Get started at the official website.
Tips For Getting Started
Video Call Software
- Facebook Messenger
- Google Hangout
- Zoom
- Twitch
How to Use Zoom
- Download the app
- Open and choose ‘join a meeting’ – you don’t have to sign up to enter
- You can also sign in or sign up at this stage on mobile
- Type in the meeting ID which the person who has set it up will have. Add your screen name
- The arrow on the desktop version shows the people you’ve spoken to before
- Type in the meeting password
- Say yes to audio if you want to go in speaker on
- Say yes to the video if you want to go in with the video on
- Use earphones if you can to help with sound quality
- If you are having issues with connectivity, try getting closer to your router, switch off all other WiFi connections, and use the LAN cable to directly plug into the laptop if the model allows it
Zoom Tips
- It’s polite to switch your audio off unless you are speaking
- This stops others having to listen to you take a drink, sniff and other natural bodily noises!
- To do this, hit the mute button/picture of the microphone at the bottom of your screen
- You can also hover over your image on the desktop and select mute
- If you need to leave the meeting temporarily, you can block your screen by hitting the stop video button next to the audio
- If you select ‘chat,’ a column appears where you can type to people in private or to everyone in the group
- On mobile, this is probably accessed by hitting the three dots (Apple)
- How does Jim have a jazzy background?!
- Choose the arrow next to ‘stop video’ and select ‘choose virtual’ background
- Upload your image of choice. This function could be used in a quiz—we have over 100 backgrounds!
- You can also share your screen so it shows what you are looking at; just hit ‘share screen’
- Zoom has a whiteboard so you can draw/play Pictionary
- If you require more than the free 40 mins, you can pay for a one-month subscription
How to Start a Zoom Call
- Sign up and confirm email activation in your inbox
- Complete personal details and create a password
- Here, you will be given a personal meeting URL
- You can also invite others at this stage, and an email will hit their inbox with details
- Starting a meeting later? No problem
- Sign in, select ‘schedule a meeting’
- Complete the details and take note of the meeting ID
Zoom Games FAQs
What are Zoom games?
Zoom games are traditional or online games that you can play over a video conference calling software such as Zoom.
The software needs to have some form of screen sharing capability to allow the host to share the game with other players.
Some games are hosted by a professional, others are played among friends and family.
Zoom doesn’t have games built into its software, hence why we put this guide together.
What are the requirements for playing games over Zoom?
Everyone can sign up for Zoom for free; however, the time you spend on a conference call is limited to 40 minutes.
If you want to spend more time playing games on Zoom, one member of the group will need to sign up.
If your friends work from home, it is likely that someone already has access to a premium account, so ask around.
If you need to sign up, you can pay and cancel monthly.
Over the festive period, Zoom dropped the capped time to allow everyone unlimited access.
Everyone participating will need access to WiFi or 4/5G. The stronger the connection, the better the quality of the line.
You will also need to play one of the games above!
Final Words
Basically any game can be transformed into a virtual version with a little bit of imagination.
Note: We can’t guarantee the safety of the apps discussed in this guide.
Try Our Virtual Games
Disclaimer: We were personally invited to try partners’ games to provide you with a first-hand experience. This includes Paris For a Day, The Puzzle, The Riddle, The Trip, and The Escape Game.
