It's interesting how quickly "ZOOM" became synonymous with Video Conferencing once "Social Distancing" measures started kicking into gear. We are social beings, after all. There are plenty of other video conferencing services out there but ZOOM has jumped to the front of the pack in record time.
Many quarantiners are using ZOOM to fulfill their social cravings, visually meet up with friends and family, and often mix in some element of fun. For many people, something as simple as a ZOOM Happy Hour does the trick, but others are looking for a little something extra.
You'll need ZOOM (
Android /
iOS) or another video conferencing service like
Google Hangouts to proceed. The whole point is playing games remotely while seeing eachother's beautifully familiar faces.
How To Play Games With Zoom
Unlike
Houseparty and BUNCH, ZOOM does not come with any built-in games. That means you've got to get creative- but creative does not need to mean complicated! You just want to connect with your friends, get the boring stuff out of the way, and start playing. That's exactly what the games below are all about.
You've got 2 simple choices (dictated by the game):
- Load zoom on your phone and simultaneously play the game in your desktop/laptop browser
- Load zoom on your computer browser and simultaneously play the game on your phone
Let's get this party started!
Cards Against Humanity (Remote Insensitivity)
This aptly named knock-off titled "Remote Insensitivity" brings the raunchy, party-styled card game to your browser. Your parents and grand parents shouldn't be invited to play unless they've got X rated humor and you don't mind bright-red-faced embarrassment. This is probably best played with a kidless cocktail or three.
- Visit the Remote Insensitivity website
- Click "Start Game"
- Copy the provided link and send it to your friends
- Press "Enter"
- Play the game on your computer browser while you ZOOM from your Android or iPhone
You can play other games by the same company at
PlayingCards.io
Powerline.io (Snake Battle Royale!)
This is by far my favorite for its pure simplicity and hilarity. The game is based on the classic "Snake" game with a few twists:
- Each person controls their own snake
- When a snake dies their body turns to particles
- Slither over these particles to absorb them, grow your snake, and move up the leaderboard
- Slither parallel to another snake to gain speed (you'll see an electric charge), making it easier to trap other snakes, kill them, and grow yourself (and your score).
To play with friends simply tap the COPY ROOM LINK in the top left before you start your game and then share it with your friends. Pop zoom on your phone and you've just started a snake battle royale! PS: there are versions for Android and iPhone but they are not as good as the web version.
Some similar games you'll enjoy include Skribbl.io
Spaceteam (Android / iOS)
This is a crazy collaborative game for 2 to 8 players that will have you and your teammates shouting absolute nonsense at eachother. It's all to prevent your spaceship from exploding. You'll each have a random assignment (buttons, switches, sliders, and dials) and need to follow time-sensitive instructions before time runs out. But the instructions get sent to your teammates, you need to communicate quickly, your ship is falling apart, and an exploding star is about to fry you into smithereens!
This game is best played in the same room (WiFi or Bluetooth) but shouting over ZOOM will be equally fun and parabolically more frustrating (for the better, we hope). Try different numbers of people and test naming a "captain" to each household and playing with households rather than individuals.
To play Spaceteam remotely:
- Download the game for Android or iOS
- Tap "Connection Mode" in the top left and select "Internet"
- Rotate the dial to "Play" and set a private game code
- Share the game code with your friends and wait for everyone to join the waiting room
- When everyone has joined, everyone should hold down the green button and the game will begin
Enjoy the chaos!
JigsawPuzzles.io
If you enjoy Jigsaw Puzzles you're in for a treat- JigsawPuzzles.io let's you jointly solve jigsaw puzzles with friends directly in your web browser! Click "Sign In" on the top right, New Puzzle, and it's off to the races. Combine it with a glass of wine, cold beer, coffee, or whatever's your cup of tea and pass along the time while you match outties with innies and good conversation.
Scattergories (web)
This little website has all the tools you need to play the cult classic word game known as Scattergories in one simple dashboard:
- Random letter generator
- Game timer
- Play/Pause buttons
- Auto-generated game cards with categories
- Restart button
Jump into your ZOOM call and have one person "share the screen" with the group. Everyone should write down their answers locally on a piece of paper and show the group when the round is over. The only other thing you'll need to know is...
how to play Scattergories.
Skribbl.io
Pick a word (from 3 random cards) and try your best to draw it while other players guess! It's easy to get started- just type a nickname and click "Create Private Room" so you and your friends can draw and laugh together. Don't forget that correct guesses must be typed and not spoken verbally over your ZOOM so start doing your finger stretches!
Chess, Checkers, and GO (2-Players)
These classic two-player games are old but faithful. For some good old fashioned fun visit
Lichess.org for chess and
Board Game Arena for checkers, GO, and other games.
Steam & Jackbox Games
If someone in your group already has Steam you'll definitely want to suggest Jackbox Games via
Steam Remote Play. The person who launches the game will need to share their screen with ZOOM and everyone else can visit Jackbox.TV to join the fun with your private room code.
Jackbox Games includes Drawful, Pictionary, Fibbage, Charades, Bingo, and Trivia. If you're thinking about getting into a few more games over the next month and haven't used Steam before, now is the time to
download and give it a try- there is an entire world of games out there for you to explore.
Amish Ideas
You can also play games WITHOUT the use of two mobile devices. It's all about creativity! How about trying the following:
- Cooking Contest - pick a recipe for everyone to cook together and compare the final product at the end!
- Karaoke Night- each person selects a song, searches the karaoke instrumental on YouTube, and belts out a tune.
- Costume Party - everyone dress up based on a particular theme
- Trivia Contest - one person can be the host and set up a trivia game for the rest of the group
- You get the idea. Be wacky and zany, have a good time, and let us know what worked best with your group of socially distant friends and family!
What ZOOM Games are you and your friends/family playing? And are you using ZOOM or something else for your face-to-face holler-at-me needs?
