Now that the majority of the country is practicing social distancing, the way we entertain ourselves has drastically changed. Musicians are streaming concerts on YouTube, comedians are going live on Instagram, and people all over the world are using Zoom well after their work calls are over in order to spend time with loved ones. But if your video chat hangs are starting to feel a bit repetitive (read: You're drinking way more wine than usual), a game night on Zoom may provide a much-needed reprieve.
"Using video conferencing technology to have fun, to engage with other people, and to connect socially, reminds us that we are not alone and that we have people there to support us," Dr. Josh Klapow, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and associate professor of public health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, tells Bustle.
Hopping on video chat can be a great way to feel less isolated. Folks everywhere are propping up their phones while they cook together, watch movies, or simply have conversations. But the fun of a game night, in particular, can make these quiet evenings seem a little less strange and a lot more nostalgic. Battling it out with friends might even ease coronavirus-related anxiety, at least for a little while, as you focus your mind elsewhere.
Here, a few ideas for ways to have a Zoom game night, so you can stay connected from afar.
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Two Truths & A Lie
Two Trusts & A Lie is another party game that focuses on telling, well, two truths and a lie. Each player will have a chance to share two facts about themselves plus something that's entirely made up, and the goal is to correctly guess which one is the lie.
To throw everyone off, choose two truths about yourself that people might not know, or two things that seem a bit outlandish or out of character for you. Mix those in at random with a lie, which can be equally outlandish, and chances are everyone will have a hard time figuring it out!
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Read My Lips
To play Read My Lips, have the person who is "it" turn off their microphone. They will then say a series of words in a given amount of time while everyone else reads their lips and writes down what they think they're saying. The person with the most correct guesses is the obvious winner.
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Pass It Along
This game is all about creating a story together, one sentence at a time. Start the story, then pass it off to another friend who will add the next sentence, then someone else will add the third sentence, and keep going until it feels like the tale has reached a natural conclusion.
You can be as serious or as silly as you want, but think about the plot, remember to add in characters and details, so the story is interesting. Try to recall what was said before you and work together to create a narrative with rising action.
For an added element, record the story and listen back afterward to hear back how utterly ridiculous it was.
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Scavenger Hunt
If you're hosting this event, create a list of things people may (or may not) have around their apartment. Add everyday items to the list, like a coffee mug or a box of pasta, as well as a few unique items, like an antique watch or a Slinky. Set a timer, share the list, and see who can come rushing back to Zoom with the most items on the list.
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Drawing Challenge
Pick a category, form teams of two, and have one person from each team do a Google image search of abstract shapes or pieces of art that fall within the category.
Go into Zoom breakout rooms so you won't be talking over each other, and then be as specific as possible as you describe the image to your partner, so they have a better shot at drawing it on a piece of paper, with paint — whatever medium you'll all be using.
Give everyone five minutes to draw, then come back into the main chat and vote on the winner.
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Last Letter
If you'd like to keep your brain sharp during this time of social distancing, play Last Letter with your friends. All you need to do is choose a category — '90s movies, flowers, states, colors, etc. — and say a word within that category. The next person will say a word that starts with the last letter of your word, and on and on you'll go until someone comes up blank. That person will then sit out the next round. Keep playing until only one player is left standing.
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Would You Rather?
Ask each other "would you rather" type questions, such as "Would you rather have really long arms or really long legs?" or "Would you rather have super strength or super speed?" Be creative and have fun!