How many of us realized back in March, that so much of our lives would still be virtual? From church services, to school, we are very much tied to the online world. Though our state is slowly starting to open up again, we are still being discouraged from gathering in person. Because of that, we have had to come up with creative ways to stay in touch. One of these ways is to gather virtually to play Zoom games. Since I’ll be co-hosting a Zoom game night this week, I rounded up 10 tried and true great games to play on Zoom to share with you.
Great Zoom games for kids and adults
These games are really great for both kids and adults. You can easily simplify them for younger kids if needed. I have played these with our high school group with much success. They will not require much except what you typically have at home: dice, paper, writing implement, and an odd object (you’ll get what I mean by that when you read the game descriptions). The games are simple to explain and can be played with minimal prep.
Free Zoom games printable
I enjoy gathering game ideas from different websites. In order to remember them, however, I usually have to have a Google doc open to type in the information. To prevent you from having to go through the same process, I have a handy dandy pdf available for you to download. It will be in my free resource library for to have when you need it.
Now, on to the great games to play on Zoom!
1. Scattergories
Each player has a piece of paper and pen/pencil. The host, using a Scattegories list generator, shares her screen.
Players see the number of categories on the screen and number their papers accordingly.The host sets the time and randomly chooses a letter of the alphabet.
When the host says “Go,” players write a word beginning with the chosen letter for each category. For instance if the letter is “B” and the category is “fruits,” you might choose “banana.”
Players take turns reading their lists. 2 points are rewarded for every original answer (one no one else has), 1 point for a duplicate answer. Players decide how many rounds they’d like to play. Player with the greatest points win.
2. Whisper Challenge
Using phrases from this site,the host will private message one player (using the chat feature) with a phrase. That player will mute himself and say the phrase for others to guess.
The game can be played with teams for points, or as one group with players taking turns as the “whisperer.” You may have seen this game played on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon. It’s pretty hilarious.
3. Trivial Matters
Each player needs a piece of paper and a pen/pencil. The host will choose questions (10 is a good number) for players to answer.
Thought Catalog has some fun trivia questions for which most people probably won’t know the actual answer.
After all the questions for the round have been asked, the host then repeats each question, asking players to reveal their answers before giving the real answer.
The game can be played in teams or as one group.
4. Color Chase
The host chooses a color and players find something in their homes which is the chosen color.
This game can be played several ways. If you want to play for points, when the host says “Go,” the first person to return with an item gets a point. Whoever has the greatest number of points at the end of the game wins.
If you don’t want to play for points, give people a time limit (such as 60 seconds) to fetch their items.
However you play, participants take turns sharing their items.
5. Would You Rather
This is a non-competitive ice-breaker type of game. The host asks the players a series of “Would You Rather” questions. Players take turns giving their answers to the group.
Conversations Starters World has a free printable pdf (scroll to the bottom of the page) of over 200 questions the host could use. The site also has a list specifically for kids.
6. Rolling Up
In this game, all participants need two dice. There are 11 levels to pass to win the game.
At “go,” everyone rolls their dice, trying to get two (1s) so that added up,they equal 2. This is the first level. Once a player reaches this level, he will roll for a (2) and a (1) so that added together they equal 3. This is level 2. Players move up the levels on their own. The first person to complete all 11 levels wins.
– Level 3 (both dice add to 4)
– Level 4 (both dice add to 5)
– Level 5 (both dice add to 6)
– Level 6 (both dice add to 7)
– Level 7 (both dice add to 8)
– Level 8 (both dice add to 9)
– Level 9 (both dice add to 10)
– Level 10 (both dice add to 11)
– Level 11 (both dice add to 12)
7. Draw and Describe
Each player finds the most unusual thing in his or her house. To start a round, one player describes his item to the other players who try to draw it. After a set period of time, each player shows his drawing (which is quite humorous).
Once all players have shown their drawings, the player describing the item reveals it to the others.
Play continues with another player describing her item for the others to draw.
8. Who or What am I?
One player takes on a persona of either a well-known person (a celebrity or historical figure) or a “thing” of his choice. Other players ask him questions to try to guess who/what he is. He must answer as that person or thing.
Questions must be of the “yes” or “no” type, such as “Are you alive now?” “Are you a male?” “Are you in movies?”
Players can decide either on a time limit or a question number limit before the player reveals his identity.
9. Catergories
Each player will make a 5 column by 5 row box grid on a piece of paper. Players choose 5 categories which they will write by each row (not in the boxes) going down the column. Someone chooses a five letter word with no repeating letters. The letters of the word are written on top of the grid, with one letter of the word over one column of the grid.
Decide on a time limit and then each person will begin filling in his grid, writing down words for each category that begin with the letter above the column.
Players take turns reading the words in their grid, with others crossing out any words that are also on their grid. One point is rewarded for each original word.
10. Charades
This game can be played in teams or in one group. Using a charades wordor phrase generator, one player at a time acts out the word or phrase for other teammates or everyone in the group to guess. She can use thespotlight feature on Zoom.
If the host is not playing, she can privately chat each player her word or phrase. If the host wants to play, everyone can select her own word from the generator.
Each round is a minute long, unless the group decides on a longer time period.
Need more game ideas?
If you need more game ideas to play at home, you can check out the following:
Dinner Table Games for Kids of All Ages
10 Simple Games to Play Around the Table
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