Special Feature: Games You Can Play Online [Board Games & Party Games]
These days, with more time spent at home, you’re probably finding more chances to chat with friends who live far away over online video calls.
And you might be thinking, “Since we’re getting together online anyway, let’s have some fun and play games!”
This article is here to make that wish come true!
We’re about to introduce a bunch of board games and party games you can play online.
From simple activities you can do as long as your camera is on to games that use dedicated websites, we’ve got a wide range covered.
Be sure to read to the end and find the ones that suit you best!
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- [Online] Recreation Games to Liven Up Your Zoom Sessions
- Perfect for killing time! A roundup of games for three people to enjoy
- [At-Home Time] A roundup of board games you can play online
- Fun two-player games recommended that you can play using conversation only
- Brain-teasing game roundup
- Games to liven up remote drinking parties. You can play even when you're far apart!
- Fun games you can play over the phone—even if you can’t meet!
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
- Fun activities for junior high school students. Recreation games.
- [For Elementary School Students] A Collection of Games and Activities You Can Enjoy on Zoom
- Perfect for killing time! Fun games you can easily play on LINE
- [At-Home Time] Games Couples Can Enjoy Together
Online Play Special: Board and Party Games (1–10)
Weird feeling
A board game that’s become a hot topic for how it trains creativity is “Hen-na Kanji.” In this game, the questioner invents a kanji character to represent a given katakana word.
For example, katakana words like “salad” or “dressing.” The other players then try to guess what the made-up kanji stands for.
The number of players who guess correctly becomes the score.
It’s fun just to watch what kinds of kanji other people create, so it’s great for larger groups too.
You can also enjoy coming up with tough challenges that you won’t find in the official game.
Noun guessing quiz
It’s handy to know games you can start right away and finish in a short time.
One I’d like to introduce is a noun-guessing quiz.
You know the word class called nouns, right? Their nature varies widely—from nouns that refer to physical objects like a computer to non-physical ones like a wedding.
In this game, you think of one such noun, and the other participants try to guess it.
Participants can ask the host any yes-or-no questions.
It’s very easy to get started, so give it a try!
Borrowed-item race at home
There’s a classic sports day event called a “borrowed item race.” We’ve adapted it so you can play at home—Home Borrowed Item Race.
First, a host gives a broad prompt, like “something heavy” or “something hard.” Then players bring something that fits the prompt in front of their camera.
After that, the host decides whose item best matches the prompt.
It gets exciting as a game, and it’s fun to see what everyone has in their homes.
The host’s prompts are key, so take your time thinking them through.
Online Play Special: Board Games & Party Games (11–20)
Online Sparklers (Senko Hanabi)
In recent years, we’ve been spending more time at home.
Many people probably find that even if they want to do fireworks with friends, they can’t.
For those people, we highly recommend Online Sparkler Fireworks.
It’s a game you play by installing an app.
The rules are simple: play with sparklers, and when a teammate’s spark goes out, share your flame with them.
The graphics are beautiful, so it feels like you’re lighting real sparklers.
You can also save your gameplay, making it perfect for anyone who wants to share memories with friends later.
Katakana Description Game
If you want to test your writing skills, the Katakana Description Game is perfect.
In this game, you convey a word that’s usually written in katakana without using any katakana.
Try imagining it: how would you describe “chocolate” without using katakana? Surprisingly tricky, right? It’s also a great way to revisit and learn Japanese, so it’s recommended for playing with children.
If this Katakana Description Game starts to feel too easy, you can also try playing shiritori using the same rules.
Perfect match game
Some of you might be looking for a game that can help get conversations going.
In that case, the “Pitari Game” is recommended.
In this game, you ask questions like “How much do the clothes you’re wearing cost?” and aim for a total of 10,000 yen.
There’s no winning or losing—the goal is to spark conversation topics.
Using this game, you can even ask questions you normally wouldn’t.
If you have a large group, increase the target amount to make the game last longer.
Online Origami
Online origami is an innovative game that combines traditional origami with the online world.
First, the questioner decides what to fold and gives instructions to the respondent on how to fold it.
The respondent then tries to follow the instructions as closely as possible to do the origami.
It may sound simple, but it’s also a great game for developing communication skills.
It’s especially fun if you choose respondents who have little to no experience with origami.
You can also make it a team competition and race to see who can finish first.