Quick picks by group size
| Group | Try |
|---|---|
| 2 players | Chess on Lichess, board games on Board Game Arena (NoHonor's two-player mode is coming soon) |
| 3–6 players | NoHonor, Colonist (Catan-style), Board Game Arena |
| 4–12 players | Codenames, skribbl.io, Gartic Phone |
| A big party | Jackbox Games (one person buys, everyone joins on their phone) |
CHECK · re-verify prices and player counts on publish day.
Party games
skribbl.io. One player draws, everyone else guesses. Free, instant, chaotic.
Gartic Phone. The telephone game with drawings: write a sentence, draw the next player's sentence, describe the next drawing. Free, best with six or more.
Jackbox Games. A paid party pack: one person runs it and shares their screen, everyone else plays from their phone's browser.
Board games
Board Game Arena. Hundreds of board games in the browser, with a free tier and a paid membership.
Colonist. A free, browser-based take on the island-building, resource-trading classic, with ranked play and private rooms.
Lichess. Free, open-source chess with no ads, for two.
Word games
Codenames (official online version). Two teams race to find their agents from one-word clues. Free and perfect on a call.
Mystery and deduction
NoHonor. A heist deduction game for three to six: six crew members, one double-cross. You question each other until someone can name who took the loot, how they cracked the safe and where it's stashed. Free with an account; you can play on your phone too.
Tips for a smooth game night online
- Send one link before you start, not three in a row.
- Pick a short game first to get everyone in, then a longer one.
- Use bots for no-shows, so four friends can still play a six-seat game.
- Agree on one voice channel. Games are more fun when you can hear the groans.
More in How to Host a Virtual Game Night.
Questions
Are these really free? Most have a free version. Jackbox and some Board Game Arena features are paid.
Do they work on phones? All of them run in a mobile browser; NoHonor and the drawing games are the most comfortable on a phone.
Which need an account? NoHonor needs a free account. Most party games don't. [Check.]
