How do you make online social gatherings fun? While it's not the same as being in-person, we hope you'll laugh just as hard with these variety of virtual meeting ideas, online games, and quick ice-breakers that we've gathered. With this comprehensive list, you can be sure that you won't run out of new activities to try out with your community!
Virtual Backgrounds
Setup a Virtual Background and share things like - favorite place you've been in the country, a picture of your favorite place on campus, a famous living room you'd rather be in, there are all sorts of ways to have some fun instead of looking at each other's closets. Find some great ones here!
Jackbox.TV
Jackbox.TV is a set of games that, with a little bit of setup and patience, means you can play super fun games with 8 of your friends, and as many as you want in the "audience". Below, you can learn how to play the games and we've provided a link to instructions to help you play remotely.
How to Play Jacksbox.tv Remotely
Online Escape Rooms
Connect with friends anywhere in the world, then enter a virtual world! A virtual Escape Room comes with a variety of puzzles and unique challenges that will compel you to work together.
For the more serious puzzler/escape room players out there, check out The Cyphstress Online Escape Room – it costs $12.50 USD but is highly complex and highly recommended!
Among Us
Among Us is an online and local party game of teamwork and betrayal for 4-10 players...think "Mafia" but online! It takes place in a space-themed setting where players each take on one of two roles, most being Crewmates, and a predetermined number being Impostors. Better yet it's FREE on mobile devices! You can also purchase on Steam for $4.99 if you want to play on your desktop.
Goosechase (Scavenger Hunt)
GooseChase is a fantastic online scavenger hunt game that uses an app to play. Individuals or teams complete missions that you create for them (there are plenty pre-made you can use, too).
Online Board Games
Can't forget about the good ol' board games! The following is just a small list of games that you normally play in person that do lend themselves to playing online.
- Quarantined Kittens - The creators of Exploding Kittens have figured out a way to let you play Exploding Kittens over a video call.
- Scattergories - A game of quick thinking, everyone plays with their own paper and pencil and you share your screen with this game up.
- Code Names - a game where you split into teams and try to give clues so that your team will guess the right cards but the other team won't.
- Skribbl.io (Pictionary) - Given a word, try to draw it and see if others can guess what it is!
- Playing Card Games - All sorts of Playing Card games are available here, Euchre, Crazy Eights, Checkers, etc.
- Sporacle.com - For trivia and puzzle games.
For a more comprehensive list of online board games, click the links below.
View More Communal Online Games
View Quarantine Games Mega List
But wait! Before you head off...
Join the InterVarsity Gaming Discord Channel!
The IVCF Gaming Discord is a space where we can gather digitally, play games (Board games and game nights included), fellowship, and grow in our love for Jesus in community. All are welcome to join – staff, students, faculty, volunteers, and friends are all invited! Discord is a group-chatting platform originally built for gamers, but it has since become a general use platform for all sorts of communities designed to help people talk to each other in real-time.
This list was compiled with ideas from InterVarsity Staff, students, and friends across the nation. If you want to add more to what we have here, feel free to email us at online@intervarsity.org. Blessings and have fun!
