25 games to play with friends, online and in person

How to pick the right game

The best game for a night with friends depends on three things: how many people are playing, how much time you have, and whether you are in the same room. A party game that is hilarious with eight people can fall flat with two, and a strategy game that two friends love can bore a big group. Use the sections below to find the right fit, and keep two or three ideas ready so the evening never stalls.

Party games for groups (4 or more players)

These games need nothing but one phone that you pass around, and they get louder and funnier the more people join.

1. The imposter game. Everyone sees the same secret word except one player, the imposter, who has to bluff through a round of clues. It takes a minute to learn and works for any age. You can start a round of the imposter game online on our sister site, which hands out the roles on one phone. Read our imposter game guide or grab a list of imposter game words first.
2. Mafia. A classic hidden-role game: a few secret mafia players try to eliminate the town while the town tries to find them. A host app does the night-and-day narration for you. Try a Mafia game with a digital narrator if nobody wants to be the host.
3. Undercover. Like the imposter game, but the odd player out gets a similar word instead of nothing, so they may not even know they are the undercover. Play the undercover word game.
4. Spy-style location game. Everyone but one player knows the location; the spy must work it out from the questions. Play a free spy location game with ready-made places.
5. Charades. Act out a word without speaking while your team guesses. A charades word generator saves you from writing cards.
6. Two truths and a lie. Each player says three facts about themselves; the others guess which one is false. No equipment at all.
7. Hangman on a big screen. Put our hangman game on a TV or laptop and let teams shout letters.

Games for football fans

Football groups get competitive fast, which makes these a hit.

8. Football tic-tac-toe. Each square sits between a row and a column category, such as a club and a country; you claim it by naming a player who fits both. Play football tic-tac-toe online with a friend on one device, or read about it on our football tic-tac-toe page.
9. Football imposter. The imposter game with famous footballers as the secret word. Start a round of football imposter.
10. Guess the football player. Clue by clue, who can name the player first? Try the guess the footballer game.

Two-player games on one screen

Perfect for two friends, a couple, or a parent and child. All of these have a pass-and-play mode here on MindedGames.

11. Checkers. Simple rules, deep strategy. New to it? Read how to play checkers.
12. Four in a Row. Drop discs, connect four. Games last three minutes.
13. Mancala. An ancient counting game that rewards planning. See how to play Mancala.
14. Reversi. Flip your friend’s discs; the lead can change on the very last move.
15. Mahjong Connect. Take turns matching pairs; whoever clears more tiles picks the next movie.

Word and brain games to play together

16. Word Connect. Hand the phone around and take turns finding a word.
17. Word Search. Race to find more words than your friend.
18. Typing test. Who types faster? Take turns and compare the scores.
19. Reaction time test. Settle the “who has the fastest reflexes” argument for good.
20. Memory match. Take turns flipping pairs; whoever finds the most pairs wins.

Games for long-distance friends

When you are apart, share your screen on a video call or send a link.

21. Sudoku race. Both open the same sudoku level and see who finishes first.
22. 2048 high score battle. Compare 2048 scores at the end of the week.
23. Daily puzzle. Play the same logic puzzle each day and compare times.
24. Quiz night. One person hosts, everyone answers in the chat.
25. The imposter game on a call. One host shares the roles privately by message.

Tips for a great game night

• Start with something quick to warm people up, then move to longer games.
• Mix team games and solo games so nobody sits out for long.
• Keep the rules short. If explaining a game takes more than two minutes, save it for later.
• Rotate who picks the next game, so everyone gets their favourite.

Start playing

Ready? For a group, open the imposter game and pass the phone. For two players, start with checkers or Four in a Row. You will find every party game in our games with friends section.