Free Games to Play With Friends on a Video Call (No Download Needed)
You’re on a call with friends and someone asks, “what should we play?” The best answer is a game that runs in the browser, starts from a single link, and doesn’t make anyone download, install or sign up. Everyone keeps talking on Zoom, FaceTime, Discord or WhatsApp while playing on their own screen.
Here are free games that work well, what each one is best for, and how to choose.
How to pick a game for a call
- Group size. Some games shine with two to four people; others need a crowd.
- Talking vs. focusing. Drawing and word games create constant chatter. Puzzle and strategy games have quieter moments.
- Devices. Phones are fine for most of these, but games with lots of drawing or exploring are nicer on a larger screen.
- Setup friction. A shared room link and guest nicknames beat accounts and downloads every time.
Quick comparison
| Game | Type | Best group size | Needs an account? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hide & Seek Online (ours) | Geography hide-and-seek on Street View | 2–4 | No, just a nickname | Curious friends, couples, travel lovers |
| skribbl.io | Draw and guess | Groups | Guest play | Loud, silly rounds |
| Gartic Phone | Drawing “telephone” | Groups | Guest play | Laughing at how a phrase mutates |
| Codenames Online | Word clues in two teams | 4 and up | Guest play | Clever teamwork |
| Lichess | Chess | 2 | Optional | A calmer one-on-one game |
The games
Hide & Seek Online — explore the world and find each other
How it works: everyone secretly picks a hiding spot on Google Street View. Then each player’s spot opens for the others, who look around, walk the street, and pin their guess on a world map. Closer guesses score more, up to 500 points.
Why it’s great on a call: every round produces a story (“why on earth did you hide in a car park in Lisbon?”), and you can narrate your search out loud. Matches are short, and there’s optional voice chat built in if you’re not already on a call.
Good to know: 2–4 players per match, free, works on phones. For one-on-one evenings, see our date night guide.
Start a private room · How it works
skribbl.io — draw and guess
One player draws a word while everyone else races to guess it in the chat. You can join public games or create a private room that only people with your link can join, and you can choose the number of rounds. It is chaotic and very easy to learn.
Gartic Phone — the drawing telephone game
Everyone writes a phrase, the next person draws it, the next describes the drawing, and so on. At the end you watch how the original phrase turned into something completely different. The host creates a room and shares the link, and it works on computers and phones.
Codenames Online — word teams
The free, browser-based version of the board game from its publisher. Players split into two teams; a spymaster gives one-word clues to lead their team to the right cards. Best with at least four people, and great for groups that like clever wordplay.
Lichess — chess for two
A free, open-source chess site. Send a challenge link and play while you chat. A good quieter option when it’s just the two of you.
Which game should you choose?
- Two to four people who like to talk and explore: Hide & Seek Online.
- A big, noisy group: skribbl.io or Gartic Phone.
- People who love puzzles and teamwork: Codenames Online.
- Just two of you, wanting something calm: Lichess or a two-player Hide & Seek Online match.
Tips for a smooth game night
- Share one link in the call chat and wait until everyone is in the room before starting.
- Use separate devices for playing and the call if your screen is small: call on the phone, play on the laptop.
- Mute background music so everyone can hear the guesses.
- Mix it up: start with a quick drawing round to warm up, then switch to a longer game.
Getting better at the geography game
If your group enjoys Hide & Seek Online, a few classic clues make a huge difference: driving side, alphabets, phone codes and the sun. See 12 Street View clues that give a country away. Already know GeoGuessr? Compare free GeoGuessr alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
What are good free games to play with friends on a video call?
Browser games that start from a shared link work best: Hide & Seek Online for geography and exploring, skribbl.io and Gartic Phone for drawing, Codenames Online for word puzzles in teams, and Lichess for chess between two people. None of them need a download.
What games can we play on Zoom or Discord without downloading anything?
Any browser game with a room link works. Everyone opens the link on their own device while staying on the call. Hide & Seek Online, skribbl.io, Gartic Phone, Codenames Online and Lichess all run in a web browser.
What is a good game for a small group of 2 to 4 friends?
Hide & Seek Online is designed for 2–4 players: everyone hides at a real Street View location and the others find it on a world map. For two people, chess on Lichess or a two-player geography match also work well.
What is a good game for a big group on a call?
Drawing and word games scale best. skribbl.io and Gartic Phone are designed for groups, and Codenames Online splits players into two teams. Hide & Seek Online is limited to four players per match.
Do my friends need accounts?
Not for Hide & Seek Online, which only asks for a nickname. Many browser party games also let you play as a guest; check each game's site for its current rules.
Try it now
Hide & Seek Online is free in your browser: no download, no account. Start a private room and send the link, or warm up in solo mode.
Sources
- Codenames App vs Codenames Online: what's the difference (Czech Games Edition, official) — Codenames Online is free and browser-based
- How to play Gartic Phone (Pro Game Guides)
- How to create a private room in skribbl.io (Mytour)
- Lichess (official site)
Prices and free tiers of other games change often; check each official site before you rely on them.