Recreation activities that large groups can enjoy on Zoom
When you spend more time at home, it can feel like your fun is limited, but with the right ideas you can actually enjoy it far more than you’d expect.
In this article, we’ll introduce recreational activities you can enjoy with large groups at home using Zoom.
From “I didn’t know you could do that on Zoom” activities to classic Zoom-specific staples, we’ve compiled a variety of ideas.
Whether you turn your video on or off or move your body in front of the camera, these ideas can revolutionize those often-boring hours at home and make them genuinely fun—so be sure to give them a try.
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Recreation activities you can enjoy with large groups on Zoom (1–10)
King ◯◯ Quiz
Don’t you often have Zoom drinking parties with your close-knit group? A great game for those occasions is the “XX King Quiz.” The “XX” is the quizmaster’s name.
The participants answer questions related to the quizmaster.
It’s a game that tests how well classmates or close colleagues know each other! It’s a great chance to discover sides of people you didn’t know before and find new things in common, bringing everyone closer.
It’s the perfect game to play with a tight-knit group!
Extreme Close-Up Quiz
On ZOOM, you use a camera, right? This game takes advantage of that—it’s called the “Extreme Close-Up Quiz.” In the Extreme Close-Up Quiz, you hold the object you want to quiz people on very close to the camera.
It leverages the idea that when something is too close, you can’t see it clearly, making it a fastest-finger quiz to guess what’s on camera.
Even common household items become much harder as quiz material when you bring them super close to the lens.
It’s a popular fast-response quiz you can play over ZOOM, and when you run out of ideas, this Extreme Close-Up Quiz is highly recommended!
NG word
The “NG Word” game is guaranteed to get everyone excited.
In this game, the winner is the person who manages to survive until the end without saying their assigned “NG word.” The twist is that the person doesn’t know what their own NG word is.
The NG word is chosen from phrases that the person is likely to say in everyday conversation, so you have to speak carefully while guessing what your NG word might be.
It’s also important to skillfully lead other participants into saying their NG words.
People who are good talkers have the advantage in this game!
Recreation Activities for Large Groups on Zoom (11–20)
Werewolf game
The Werewolf Game has become a classic for playing with large groups.
You can, of course, use Zoom to play with friends who are far away! In Werewolf, players are divided into two teams—Villagers and Werewolves—and it’s a psychological game where you use discussion and deduction to find the werewolves.
The game is split into Day and Night phases, with different actions in each.
During the Day, players discuss and deduce who might be a werewolf.
Then everyone votes on the most suspicious person, and the selected player is executed.
This ends the Day and switches to the Night phase.
At Night, the Werewolves attack a Villager.
The Villager who is attacked is eliminated and announced when the next Day begins.
Once you actually play it, you’ll find it’s a surprisingly deep game!
Chronological picture-story show
This is the game “Perfect Chronology Kamishibai,” which became popular after top idols took on the challenge on a TV show.
Here’s how it works: using a well-known fairy tale, participants are assigned an order and must complete the story by imagining the correct sequence of events.
Once everyone has their turn assigned, each person visualizes the scene they’re responsible for and draws an illustration of that moment.
After all drawings are done, the kamishibai begins from the first person.
As they show their illustrations, they narrate the story—but since not everyone remembers the tale accurately, or they misjudge the pacing, they end up forcing connections, which can accidentally produce a totally wild and unexpected storyline.
It’s a game that guarantees lots of laughs!
Yubi-suma game
You probably played it at least once when you were a kid, right? This game is known by different names depending on the region, such as the “Yubi-suma game.” In some places, it’s also called “Sessen” or “Issei no se.” Here’s how to play: Each participant makes fists with both hands so that the thumbs are on top and holds them out in front where everyone can see.
Then, one person calls out a number along with a cue.
At that moment, each participant chooses either to raise their thumb or keep it down.
If the total number of raised thumbs matches the number that was called, the caller can pull back one hand.
Players take turns like this, and the first person to pull out both hands wins!
Shiritori with things found at home
Here’s a game you can play precisely because you’re at home: “Household Items Shiritori.” It’s a twist on the classic shiritori word game, played as a word-based association game that both kids and adults can enjoy.
The rules are basically the same as regular shiritori.
However, in Household Items Shiritori, you must actually show the item on camera.
Once you know which letter your item has to start with, you must find it within the time limit.
Since you use things you have at home, it also becomes a chance to learn about each person’s hobbies and favorite things!