7 Best Zoom Games

7 Best Zoom Games For Some Virtual Face Time During
The Coronavirus Pandemic

by R. Dallon Adams
As the workforce shifts online during the pandemic, video conferencing tools are a
key part of the digital office, however, these platforms are also great for gameplay.
As cities continue to take proactive measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus more
Americans are working remotely. Consequently, video conferencing tools like
Zoom and Microsoft Teams have become a normal part of the new telecommute workday for
tens of millions of Americans. However, these video conferencing tools aren't exclusively meant
for the home office by any means. It turns out, these video conferencing tools are also ideal for
virtual gameplay with friends and family members.
SEE: Coronavirus: Critical IT policies and tools every business needs (TechRepublic
Premium)
Fortunately, there are innumerable games to play over Zoom to help take a break from the news
and break the sheer monotony of isolating at home, although some games certainly translate to
the digital landscape more readily than others. (Sadly, it may be best to wait to dust off The
Settlers of Catan.) Below, we've listed some of the best games to play over Zoom to help
maintain some semblance of normalcy during the pandemic.
Zoom Bingo
Bingo is one of the more popular video conference games at the moment. That's because the
game transitions well to the virtual setting and is conducive to both small and large groups. It's
easy enough to make a bingo card at home with common household items, although there
are bingo cards available on Amazon for those so inclined. There are a surprising amount of
online bingo number generators to help streamline the process and some of these apps provide
a recap of numbers already called to minimize confusion.
Yahtzee!
The classic dice-rolling game is perfect for Zoom due to its simplicity, although you will of course
need five dice to play. Yahtzee is very easy to pick up on the fly and is a tremendous option for
all ages, especially larger families with mixed ages participating. The original scorecard is fairly
straightforward for tallying points and making a simplified version should only take a few minutes
to finagle.
Chess
Chess has been the long-distance game of choice for centuries. In the days of yesteryear,
chess was a popular game many friends played via mail, penning letters with an individual move
included in each correspondence, the game slowly playing out over the course of months.
Fortunately, with modern tools like Zoom individuals can play and socialize in real-time. Chess
translates rather well to Zoom compared to some other classic board games and there are
many options for online head-to-head chess play.
Scattergories
Scattergories is not as well-known as the other options on this list, but this multiplayer game is a
cult classic in some gaming circles. Gameplay all revolves around a template sheet with a series
of general clues and categories. Players must use a preselected letter of the alphabet (this letter
changes every round) to start each answer to the given clues. A timer adds a little pressure to
mix. As for tackling online Scattergories via Zoom, people have a couple of options.
Swellgarfo actually offers a solid faux-Scattergories experience with a question template already
in place, a built-in timer, and a random number generator to boot. One player will need to share
the Swellgarfo screen with other players and everyone will need to record their answers on
scratch paper. Alternatively, the original playing card lists are readily available online and
individuals can simply jot down their answers on scratch paper. However, this super DIY
approach will require additional tools such as a random letter generator and a digital stopwatch.
For the Scattergories purists, it's also possible to load the original timer audio on YouTube for a
more authentic experience.
Charades!
Charades is one of the livelier options on this list for those looking to add a little energy to their
game night. In Charades, one player draws a card then pantomimes this clue, and their
teammates attempt to guess the mystery word. Each correct guess scores a point and these
points are tallied after a predetermined number of rounds. There's a free Charades app
available in the App Store and Google Play to assist, but it's just as easy for each team member
to have a timer and word generator open in a separate tab during play.
Pictionary
Playing Pictionary can get a little tricky without the traditional game board, but there are a few
digital hacks to upgrade the overall experience. Nonetheless, it is possible to forgo the
traditional play without too much trouble. First, teams will need to determine a point goal rather
than traversing the traditional Pictionary board. Zoom has a handy whiteboard feature to help
with sharing real-time drawings. Players will also need a stopwatch and a word generator to
assist with play along the way.
Farkle
Farkle is another lesser-known dice game for Zoom. To start, you'll need six dice, scratch paper,
and a pen to track point totals. Scoring is fairly straight forward. Different dice combinations
award various point totals with rare dice combinations tallying more points. Additionally, if a
player scores with all of their dice on a roll, they can roll again. This is called being "hot" and this
feature makes it possible to rack up points in a hurry. Scoring is cumulative, so players will need
to agree on a point threshold before the game begins. Farkle is also one of those games that
everyone seems to play differently. That said, feel free to add your own twist on gameplay and
remember, if it doesn't pan out as planned, you can always ditch the concept next time. A
comprehensive rundown of standard rules and variations can be found here.
Tech tips
Keep in mind, there are a few technological touches people can add to their conferencing setup
to assist with the gameplay. A connected Bluetooth speaker could help dial up the decibels
during more communication-heavy games and casting/connecting to a larger, compatible TV
screen could make things feel a little less cramped.
Also see
 The latest cancellations: How the coronavirus is disrupting tech conferences

worldwide (TechRepublic)
 The tech pro's guide to video conferencing (TechRepublic download)
 Coronavirus domain names are the latest hacker trick (TechRepublic)
 COVID-19 demonstrates the need for disaster recovery and business continuity
plans (TechRepublic Premium)
 As coronavirus spreads, here's what's been canceled or closed (CBS News)
 Coronavirus: Effective strategies and tools for remote work during a pandemic (ZDNet)
 How to track the coronavirus: Dashboard delivers real-time view of the deadly virus (ZDNet)
 Coronavirus and COVID-19: All your questions answered (CNET)
 Coronavirus: More must-read coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

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7 Best Zoom Games

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7 Best Zoom Games For Some Virtual Face Time During

The Coronavirus Pandemic

 The latest cancellations: How the coronavirus is disrupting tech conferences

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