Jessica Booth
Stuck inside and looking for a way to do some light gaming with friends? These apps are the perfect way to turn your phone or tablet into a social gaming machine!
Social distancing might have sounded like an introvert’s dream at the beginning of all this. Now that we’re all in the midst of self-isolation, things are getting a bit lonely. Even if you’re not alone in your home, chances are you’re either starting to go stir-crazy, or you soon will.
Not being able to hang out with friends or see family members gets miserable fast. Fortunately, we live in a time with technology that makes it possible for us to still connect with each other regardless of physical distance. While Skype and Facetime are great for conversations, you can go beyond that and do something fun, like playing games together!
There are plenty of apps available that allow you to challenge your friends. You can play together no matter where either of you live. It’s a fun way to pass the time and keep you all connected. Here are a few of the best options!
Words with Friends 2
If you loved the classic Words with Friends app, you’ll definitely be into Words with Friends 2! It’s basically the same thing, but with a more streamlined design and extra features. You can challenge your friends to word games, but there are also themed Solo Challenge events. You can also join a real team, compete in Lightning Rounds, and play against strangers, as well.
It’s one of the most popular word-puzzle apps out there for several reasons: the rules are easy to follow, the design is simple, and the games are challenging and fun.
Download it on the App Store or Google Play.
Scrabble GO
If word puzzles are your thing, then the Scrabble GO app is an awesome download. You can always play on your own, but you can also connect with Facebook and play with friends. There are also in-game chats so you can communicate with each other and send emojis.
The updated Scrabble GO app also has fun features, like the ability to personalize your tiles or play “duels,” during which you’re timed as you play against someone else.
There are other ways you can change up the game, including Word Drop the word search game, the Tumbler mode for anagrams, or Rush, which is a timed game against yourself.
Download it on the App Store or Google Play.
QuizUp
QuizUp is a trivia game you can play on your own or against an opponent, whether it’s a friend or a stranger. It has topics on everything from American history to pop culture, like Harry Potter and celebrities.
It’s a simple game, and you can play it on and off throughout the day. There are six questions, and you have 10 seconds to answer each one. You get more points the faster you answer. The pressure to answer quickly and correctly is fun and exciting!
Download it on the App Store or Google Play.
Draw Something
For anyone who isn’t into trivia, there’s Draw Something, which draws on (corny pun intended) your creative abilities. You get a word, you draw it, and your opponent has to guess what you’re drawing. It’s the same concept as the old game show, Win, Lose or Draw.
There are also weekly special events to keep it interesting.
Download it on the App Store or Google Play.
8 Ball Pool
You might not be able to hang out around the pool table with a few drinks. But you can play pool with friends on your phone, which is . . . almost the same thing . . . kinda. The 8 Ball Pool game allows you to compete with one other opponent, or even play eight-player tournaments. Use iMessage PLAY to add 8 Ball Pool to your iMessage app drawer; then, you can play with your friends, or connect via Facebook.
You also play for Pool Coins, which is the app’s currency. These also allow you to enter exclusive matches for high-ranking players.
Download it on the App Store or Google Play.
UNO!
The popular card game goes digital with the UNO! app! You can play in tournaments, like 2v2 mode, which allows you to be on a little team with a friend, win awards, and climb leaderboards. There’s an option to play classic UNO! or use different popular house rules if you want something different.
You can also send voice messages to friends, yell “UNO!” into your device when you’re about to win, or cheer on your friends as a spectator.
Download it on the App Store or Google Play.
Osmos HD
This award-winning mobile game is worth the $3.99 price tag. As you play, you basically float through an animated 3D world. You absorb smaller organisms as you go, and you grow until you become the largest mote around. It’s simple, but beautifully designed, weirdly soothing, and incredibly addictive.
While you can play alone, you can also use the multiplayer mode that allows players to grow themselves, and then strike others for a competitive chase. There are 72 levels, so you won’t be getting bored any time soon.
Download it on the App Store.
Fast Thumbs
Fast Thumbs is all about how fast you can type, which sounds weird, but is actually fun and challenging. It’s a speed-typing challenge, encouraging you to type as fast as you can to your favorite lyrics. You’re able to challenge your friends and see who types the fastest with the least amount of errors.
At first, you might be tricked into thinking it’s easy, but you’ll quickly see how many errors pile up—especially when it comes to proper punctuation. It’s more exciting than it sounds!
Download it on the App Store or Google Play.
Pandemic: The Board Game
Is it wise to play Pandemic during, you know, an actual pandemic? That really depends on how you’re feeling. If you’re into it, though, go for it! In this suddenly all-too-real game, four deadly diseases are rapidly spreading. You’re part of a four-person disease-fighting team, and you all have to work together to treat infected people and find a cure.
You literally need your friends for this one, but it’s still challenging and fun. It’s a great way to play something together, rather than against each other.
Download it on the App Store or Google Play.
PSYCH!
Show off your expert ability of thinking on your feet by playing PSYCH! with your friends. You choose from a variety of categories, and each player makes up fake answers to real trivia questions. You then have to choose the real answer from your friends’ fake answers. You get points for guessing the right answer and every time someone guesses your wrong response as a real one.
There’s also a deck called “And the Truth Comes Out,” which allows you and your friends to answer interesting questions about each other, and then choose your favorite answers.
Download it on the App Store or Google Play.
