![Special Feature: Games You Can Play Online [Board Games & Party Games]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/yF-_M_e1yLg/maxresdefault.webp)
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!
- Games you can play over the phone: fun activities to liven up calls with friends or a partner
- 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)
Onomatopoeia Game
When you want to get excited with close friends, an onomatopoeia game is perfect.
Onomatopoeia means sound-imitating words, like “don-don” or “peta-peta.” In the game, everyone announces an onomatopoeia that fits a given prompt, and the goal is for everyone to match.
The rules are the same as a word-synchronization game, but using onomatopoeia makes it much harder.
For prompts, abstract themes are recommended, like “the sound when going to the Dragon Palace under the sea.”
The “Haa” game
In recent years, a board game that has become a hit is “Haa te Iu Game” (literally, “The ‘Haa’ Game”).
Many of you may have played it as an icebreaker at work or in a club.
The rules are simple: first, you draw a card, then you convey the prompted emotion to the other players using only interjections like “haa” or “mou” and your facial expressions.
The other players then guess the correct answer from multiple choices.
Many prompts are nuanced and complex—like the “mou” that means “it can’t be helped”—so the game is sure to heat up.
If you’re playing online, creating a slide deck with the full list of prompts in PowerPoint is recommended.
Backgammon
Do you know backgammon? Backgammon is considered to have originated in ancient Egypt and is one of the oldest board games in the world.
The gameplay is similar to a race game: you roll dice to move your checkers to the goal.
However, while the outcome of a typical race game depends largely on luck, strategy also plays a crucial role in backgammon.
There are many videos online that explain the rules, so check them out if you’re interested.
And when you want to play against someone far away, I recommend using an online backgammon service.
Pun telepathy
For those looking for a game to test how in sync you are with your friends, I recommend the “Pun Telepathy Game.” You know the regular telepathy game, right? The one where everyone tries to give the same answer to a single question.
In the Pun Telepathy Game, you come up with puns that match a given prompt and then share them.
The goal is for everyone to land on the same pun.
It’s sure to be even funnier and more exciting than the regular telepathy game!
One Night Werewolf
I think many people like the Werewolf game.
However, it has drawbacks: you can’t play with a small group, and it takes too much time.
One Night Werewolf solves those issues.
It only requires three players and takes about ten minutes.
The big difference from the regular Werewolf game is that it ends in a single round.
That means you can enjoy Werewolf even in short spare moments.
There’s also a dedicated One Night Werewolf app available, so be sure to check it out.
Picture shiritori
If everyone can join a video call, I recommend “picture shiritori.” Normally, shiritori is played with words, but in picture shiritori you play using drawings.
That adds a fun element of guessing what the other participants drew.
Everyone can prepare paper and pen, but that’s a bit of a hassle, right? In that case, using a smartphone app called Illustration Chainer is one option.
You can even play with strangers on the app, so give it a try first.
Spot the differences
A perfect game for video calls with about three to four people is a spot-the-difference game.
But it’s not the usual one with two similar illustrations.
First, choose a quizmaster, and that person freezes in place.
Then they turn off their camera and change a few things.
When the video comes back on, the other participants guess what’s different.
It’s like a life-size spot-the-difference game.
You can change anything—your facial expression, the background, whatever you like.
With so many variations, you can enjoy it for a long time.
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.