Just because your friends moved to different cities, or different countries, doesn't mean game night has to end. A virtual game night keeps the group together when meeting in person isn't realistic, and honestly, some games work brilliantly over a video call.

The two things that make or break an online game night are picking games that actually suit a screen, and finding a time that works when people might be scattered across time zones. Here's how to nail both.

Best Games to Play Over Video Call

Not every game translates to a screen. The winners are the ones that need little more than everyone being able to see and hear each other.

Codenames Online — the free browser version lets everyone see the shared board while you talk over the call. A perfect fit for remote play.
Skribbl.io — free online Pictionary. One person draws, everyone guesses in the chat. Zero setup, instant laughs.
Jackbox Party Pack — one person screen-shares, everyone else joins on their phone. Designed from the ground up for exactly this.
Among Us — social deduction that thrives on a group call full of accusations.
Trivia (Kahoot or a quiz you make) — one host runs the quiz, everyone answers on their phones. Easy and endlessly customisable.

Stick to games that don't need everyone to have the same physical box, and you're golden.

No-Setup Games You Already Know

Sometimes the best virtual game night is just a video call and a classic. No apps, no accounts.

20 Questions — one person thinks of something, everyone else narrows it down. Works perfectly over a call.
Would You Rather — take turns, debate the answers. A great warm-up while people join.
Charades — surprisingly good on camera, and no equipment needed.
Categories / Scattergories — pick a letter, race to name things in each category. Just need paper.

Set the Scene for a Remote Night

A little effort makes an online night feel less like a work meeting and more like a proper hang.

Encourage everyone to grab their own snacks and drinks so it feels like a shared occasion. Use a platform everyone's comfortable with, Zoom, Google Meet, Discord, whatever your group already uses. And keep the group a sensible size: 4–8 people is ideal, because bigger than that and the call gets chaotic and people talk over each other.

The Timezone Problem (and How to Solve It)

Here's what makes virtual game nights genuinely harder than in-person ones: your friends might not just be busy, they might be in completely different time zones. What's a relaxed 8pm for you is a "should really be asleep" 1am for someone else.

Trying to sort that out in a group chat is painful. People quote times in their own zone, someone does the maths wrong, and you end up with half the group joining an hour late.

The fix is a shared scheduling link that handles this for you. WhosFreeWhen lets you create an event, offer a range of evening slots, and share one link. Everyone marks when they're free in their own local time, no account or download needed, and the results show you the slot with the best overlap for the whole group.

Our Game Night Planner is pre-set for evenings and makes finding a time that works across a scattered group take minutes instead of a week of confused messages.

How to Schedule a Virtual Game Night

Create the event in the Game Night Planner with a range of possible slots over the next couple of weeks.
Share the link in the group chat: "Mark when you're free for an online game night, it'll sort out the time zones."
Let everyone respond in their own time zone. No mental maths, no confusion.
Pick the best-overlap slot and confirm, then send round the video-call link and game details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best game for a first virtual game night? Jackbox or Skribbl.io. Both need almost no setup, work on any device, and get the whole group laughing fast.

How do I deal with friends in different time zones? Use a scheduling tool that lets people mark availability in their own local time. WhosFreeWhen's Game Night Planner handles the conversion and shows you the best-overlap slot for free.

How many people can join a virtual game night? 4–8 is the sweet spot. Bigger and the call gets hard to follow. For a large group, consider splitting into teams.

Do people need to sign up to say when they're free? No. They just open the link, add their name, and mark their available slots. Nothing to install.

Wrapping Up

Distance doesn't have to end game night. Pick games built for a screen, keep the group a manageable size, and use a scheduling link that quietly solves the time-zone puzzle for you.

Try the Game Night Planner for free and get your long-distance crew back around the (virtual) table.

Virtual Game Night Ideas for Friends Far Apart