{"id":188671,"date":"2023-05-09T00:00:09","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T16:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/?p=188671"},"modified":"2024-12-12T17:11:40","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T09:11:40","slug":"best-online-games-to-play-with-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/best-online-games-to-play-with-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"Stuck at home? Beat boredom with these online games to play with friends"},"content":{"rendered":"

Raise your hand if you\u2019re a homebody… Yep, that\u2019s us, too. What with the rainy weather<\/a>, staying indoors even over the weekends has become the norm. But, even if you\u2019ve finished reading all your novels<\/a> and run out of anime<\/a> to binge on, don\u2019t fret \u2013 we\u2019ve rounded up a list of (mostly) free online games to play with your friends and stay connected.<\/p>\n

Best online games to play with your friends<\/h2>\n

1. Jackbox Games<\/h3>\n
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Quick! Choose your character for Jackbox\u2019s Champ\u2019d Up (Image: Jackbox Games via Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you haven\u2019t tried the games created by Jackbox yet, you\u2019re definitely missing out. This party game-making studio is the mastermind behind popular games such as Quiplash, Fibbage, Drawful, and Trivia Murder Party. Not sure what these games are? Well, they belong to different categories and carry different rules, but they\u2019re guaranteed to make your online hangout quirky, fun, and memorable, because whether you like drawing, trivia, or hidden identity games, you\u2019ll find something you fancy in the mix of Jackbox\u2019s 40 creative offerings.<\/p>\n

To play Jackbox with your friends remotely, the game host simply needs to share their screen in a video call or live stream. Then, each player goes to jackbox.tv<\/a> with their individual devices (mobiles work, too) and log in with the room code and name\u2026 And that\u2019s it. We love how we don\u2019t need prior gaming experience to enjoy Jackbox Games \u2013 it\u2019s just that simple and accessible!<\/p>\n

Find out more about Jackbox Games<\/a> and their purchasable Jackbox Party Packs<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

2. Classic card games \u2013 but now online<\/h3>\n
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Nice \u2013 that\u2019s a full house! (Photography: Micha\u0142 Parzuchowski via Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Is it just us, or have many people started playing poker lately? If you haven\u2019t hopped on the bandwagon yet, you can learn by playing with your mates for free on LiPoker<\/a> and, don\u2019t worry, it doesn\u2019t have to include any money at all (gambling is bad, kids!) After creating a room, you can set your buy-ins and blinds, or try the more challenging Tournament Mode. You can also go for the God Mode, which is designed for teaching and streaming.<\/p>\n

If Solitaire is your game, check out Solitaired.com<\/a>. This site features over 500 solitaire games, including ones where you can compete against others on the leaderboard. You can also try Hearts.land<\/a> for a more interactive experience, as you can play with your friends or other players on the platform. Best of all, these sites are free, offering you unlimited plays on top of detailed instructions and tricks on how to master the games. If you’re looking for online games to play with friends, these websites will sort you out.<\/p>\n

For fans of Texas Hold\u2019em, Blackjack, and other classic card games, you can find your favourites on Cardzmania<\/a> and PlayingCards.io<\/a>, the latter even offering mahjong<\/a>. If you\u2019d like to play a game of Uno with your friends, you can support the official app by downloading it for your iOS<\/a> and Android<\/a> devices.<\/p>\n

3. Skribbl<\/h3>\n
\"skribbl
Unleash your inner artist on Skribbl (Image: Skribbl)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Who doesn\u2019t like Pictionary? This classic, family-friendly game is taking place online \u2013 and for free \u2013 at Skribbl. This multiplayer drawing and guessing game can be played with random users who are online around the world. Or, you can host your own game and get your friends to join you with an invitation link. To win points, someone has to draw their chosen word and the others have to guess it; the person with the most points at the end of the game will be the winner. The catch is: the artist only has 80 seconds to visualise and illustrate the chosen word, while the guessers have to answer correctly as quickly as possible. We\u2019d recommend you to use a tablet or an iPad if you have one, because drawing with a trackpad isn\u2019t as easy as you think!<\/p>\n

Play Skribbl<\/a> online.<\/em><\/p>\n

4. Nintendo Switch<\/h3>\n
\"nintendo
The Nintendo Switch OLED features a sleek, white model (Photography: Nintendo Switch via Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Does the Nintendo Switch need further introduction? Probably not, but then again, not all games are created equal\u2026 For instance, some Nintendo Switch games, such as Ring Fit, only allow one person to play at a time, with no option for online rooms and multiplayer modes. That said, there are still a variety of multiplayer online games you can play with your friends on the Nintendo Switch, even if you\u2019re all in different locations.<\/p>\n

One of the most popular multiplayer Switch games in Hong Kong is Monster Hunter<\/a> (aka Mon Hunt), which allows up to four people to play at the same time. Another one of our all-time favourites has to be Mario Kart 8 Deluxe<\/a>, because it lets us hit the road despite the lockdown! This game offers Grand Prix, VS Race, and Battle modes online for up to 12 players. Just make sure you and your friends all have Nintendo Switch Online memberships in order to connect with each other in the games.<\/p>\n

Psst \u2013 if you don\u2019t have a Nintendo Switch, you can still download Mario Kart Tour for free on your iOS<\/a> and Android<\/a> devices, and play with your friends online using the app. Let\u2019s go, Mario!<\/p>\n

Find out more about Nintendo Switch<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

5. Scrabble Go<\/h3>\n
\"scrabble
Let\u2019s play a game of Scrabble (Photography: Freysteinn G. Jonsson via Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For those who have a way with words, Scrabble Go is for you. The traditional word game has been reformatted for mobiles as Scrabble Go, a free app offering daily tournaments, Rush mode, and more. You can play solo, or compete with your buddies and players from around the world. And if you win a game, you\u2019ll be rewarded with objects for you to personalise your board with. Feel free to show them off to your friends!<\/p>\n

Find out more about Scrabble Go<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

6. Virtual mystery games and escape rooms<\/h3>\n
\"virtual
Yep, virtual escape rooms are a thing! (Photography: Cottonbro via Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We love a bit of crime and mystery<\/a> \u2013 when it\u2019s not happening to us in real life, of course. The good news is: you can experience the same kind of thrill when you play virtual mystery games and escape rooms, too. While there are companies that offer online escape rooms, we\u2019ve found a few that are created for fun by individuals around the world. Thanks to these kind and intelligent souls, we can enjoy Pikachu\u2019s Rescue<\/a> and a Harry Potter digital escape room<\/a>, which are hosted for free on Google Docs. There\u2019s also the Political Murder Mystery Dinner<\/a>, made by Kayla Medica. You can play these games solo, or as a group by video calling your friends and going through the challenge together.<\/p>\n

7. MMORPGs<\/h3>\n