Video Games Can Promote the Joy of Competition
Social distancing may feel like the ultimate game of social Uno, but a good virtual card game can do a lot to make you feel like you’re having a fun night in with your friends. While the game itself is pretty straightforward, the app takes the classic card game to the next level with tournaments, adventures, and new ways to play. Buddy up with a friend in 2v2 mode and use teamwork to win the game. If you have a little more time, get a tournament going. Or add some of Uno’s new rules like “discard all” where you can completely remove one colour from your hand. Online board games to play with friends on different computers Alongside simultaneous video calls, Houseparty comes with in-app games to play while chatting. There are also separate virtual “rooms” that users can switch between, just like at a real house party.
Online games to play in a group
Here is a range of titles that can be learned and enjoyed by both complete beginners and veteran gamers. Whether you have an old laptop or the latest smartphone, there’s something here you can play with pals even if they’re far away. 2-player games online Coming from the makers of HeadsUp, we also have the great party game Psych. All you need to do is make sure everyone is able to download the free app onto their phone from either the Apple or Google Play store and you’re ready to go. Players will have to come with creative and silly answers to true trivia questions (which are also silly to make it more challenging) and everyone has to guess which is right. Even the most ardent quizzer may find themselves stumped!
If you missed it
Few titles on this list are so popular that there’s an entire league where the game’s best players battle it out for IRL cash, but Overwatch is that big of a sensation. The second installment of Blizzard’s first-person shooter is just as fun as it is tough to master. You won’t see anyone from Esquire running and gunning on an arena stage with the pros anytime soon. —B.L. Quick Draw on Houseparty Sip-Sip is a fun game you can play on conference calls with your coworkers. To organize this game, choose one, unsuspecting, person as the trigger. When that person takes a sip of a drink, all other team members simultaneously take a sip of their drinks as well. The game continues until the trigger realizes what is happening.
Games to play with friends online on video call
While playing games is not a substitute for face-to-face human interaction, it’s still an excellent environment for practicing social skills. Again, it’s a safe space for people to spark conversations and meet people without the usual anxiety and pressure of social settings. Using Social Media and Apps Yes, if you want to get access to any features specific to that platform, e.g. installing or auto-updating games, cloud saves, etc.
