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Zoom games: 25 games to play on a call, 8 free to play now

Games for a Zoom call with coworkers or friends, from a five-minute opener to a party for 50. Eight of them open free in your browser.

KraftyLab TeamUpdated 10 min read
A remote worker laughs at a home desk during a video call game with colleagues on the laptop screen.

The best Zoom games need one shared screen or nothing at all. Below are 25 virtual games to play on Zoom: 8 start from a free tool on our site in under a minute, and 17 run on Zoom's own features, such as chat, reactions, polls, renaming and breakout rooms. The table sorts them by group size, because a game that works for four people stalls with forty.

Quick pick: all 25 Zoom games by group size

Find your headcount, then pick by time and prep. Every game links to its rules below.

All 25 Zoom games by group size
GameGroupUses
For 2 to 5 people
Charades with a word generatorfree tool10 min · prep: none3 to 10Camera
Online escape roomfree tool15 min · prep: none2 to 6 per teamBreakout rooms
Lip-read the muted10 min · prep: none2 to 10Mute
Slow-reveal close-up10 min · prep: none2 to 12Camera
Camera-off sound quiz10 min · prep: none2 to 12Camera
Where's my background?10 min · prep: 2 min3 to 10Virtual background
Annotation tic-tac-toe10 min · prep: 1 min2 to 10Annotation
For 6 to 15 people
Team word scramblefree tool5 to 10 min · prep: none4 to 20Screen share
Taboo-style cardsfree tool15 min · prep: none4 to 12Camera
Pictionary-style whiteboard gamefree tool15 min · prep: none4 to 12Whiteboard
Office trivia quizfree tool10 min · prep: none4 to 30Screen share
Unique rename10 min · prep: none6 to 20Rename
Thirty-second fetch10 min · prep: none4 to 20Camera
Six-word story guess10 min · prep: none6 to 15Private chat
What moved?10 min · prep: none4 to 20Camera
Breakout band15 min · prep: none8 to 40Breakout rooms
For 15 people or more
Jeopardy-style boardfree tool30 min · prep: none2 to 6 teamsScreen share
Feud-style boardfree tool20 min · prep: none2 teams, any sizeScreen share
Guess the majority10 min · prep: 5 min10 to 100Polls
Cameras on if5 min · prep: none10 to 100Camera
Background bingo15 min · prep: 5 min10 to 50Gallery view
Count to 20 in chat5 min · prep: none10 to 100Chat
Breakout rock paper scissors15 min · prep: none16 to 64Breakout rooms
True or false knockout10 min · prep: 5 min15 to 100Reactions
Chat-buzzer trivia15 min · prep: 10 min10 to 100Chat

8 free Zoom games you can play right now

Each opens on our site with no login or download. One person runs it, and the call plays along.

  1. 1. Jeopardy-style board

    Share the board, let teams pick a category and value in turn, and type answers in chat. It keeps score for up to six teams.

    2 to 6 teams · 30 min · prep: none · Screen share

  2. 2. Feud-style board

    Share the board and split the gallery into two teams. One player from each team faces off, then their team guesses the rest.

    2 teams, any size · 20 min · prep: none · Screen share

  3. 3. Team word scramble

    Share the scramble with two teams. The first to unmute and say the word gets the point; ten words fill five minutes.

    4 to 20 · 5 to 10 min · prep: none · Screen share

  4. 4. Taboo-style cards

    The clue giver opens the cards on their own phone, so nobody else sees the banned words, and their team guesses for 60 seconds.

    4 to 12 · 15 min · prep: none · Camera

  5. 5. Pictionary-style whiteboard game

    The host sends the drawer a word in private chat from the generator, and they draw it on Zoom's whiteboard while everyone guesses.

    4 to 12 · 15 min · prep: none · Whiteboard

  6. 6. Office trivia quiz

    Share the 10-question quiz and have teams agree on each answer in chat before the host clicks. The page lists 120 questions with answers.

    4 to 30 · 10 min · prep: none · Screen share

  7. 7. Charades with a word generator

    The actor draws a word on their own phone and acts it out; the host spotlights their video so everyone sees them large.

    3 to 10 · 10 min · prep: none · Camera

  8. 8. Online escape room

    Five puzzles in the browser. Send teams to breakout rooms, one player shares the room, and the first team out wins.

    2 to 6 per team · 15 min · prep: none · Breakout rooms

17 games to play on Zoom with no tool, by group size

Nothing to open: each one runs on a Zoom feature you already have, with rules in three steps.

For 2 to 5 people (5)

Turn-based games where everyone gets a go. Good for a small team, a one-on-one or a call with friends.

  1. 9. Lip-read the muted

    One player mutes and says a phrase; everyone else lip-reads it.

    1. The player whose turn it is mutes and clearly mouths a short phrase: a food, a film or a city.
    2. Everyone else types their guess in chat. The mouther may repeat it twice.
    3. First correct guess scores a point and takes the next turn.

    2 to 10 · 10 min · prep: none · Mute

  2. 10. Slow-reveal close-up

    An object starts so close to the camera nobody can tell what it is.

    1. One player picks something within reach and holds it right against the lens.
    2. They pull it back a little every five seconds while the group calls out guesses.
    3. First right answer scores. Whoever stumps the group longest wins the round.

    2 to 12 · 10 min · prep: none · Camera

  3. 11. Camera-off sound quiz

    Cameras stay off: players guess everyday objects from their sound alone.

    1. Everyone turns their camera off and sets Zoom's background noise suppression to Low, or Zoom filters the sounds out. One player makes a sound with something nearby: keys, a stapler, a kettle.
    2. Everyone else gets two guesses each in chat.
    3. A point to the first right guess, and a point to the player if nobody gets it.

    2 to 12 · 10 min · prep: none · Camera

  4. 12. Where's my background?

    A photo of a place you've been becomes your background, and the group plays detective.

    1. Before the call, each player sets a virtual background from their own photo of somewhere they've been.
    2. On your turn, the others get five yes-or-no questions to guess the place.
    3. Got it within five? A point to the guessers. If not, you take the point and tell the story.

    3 to 10 · 10 min · prep: 2 min · Virtual background

  5. 13. Annotation tic-tac-toe

    Two players play on a shared grid while the rest of the call cheers them on.

    1. The host shares a blank whiteboard or slide with a tic-tac-toe grid drawn on it.
    2. Two players take turns marking X or O with Annotate on the shared screen.
    3. Winner stays on and faces the next challenger. Clear the marks between games.

    2 to 10 · 10 min · prep: 1 min · Annotation

Coworkers in a meeting room and remote colleagues on a wall screen all raise their hands at once.

For 6 to 15 people (5)

Big enough for two teams, small enough that everyone still talks.

  1. 14. Unique rename

    Answer a category through your display name, and only unique answers score.

    1. The host names a category, such as a pizza topping or a city in Europe.
    2. Everyone has 20 seconds to rename themselves with one answer, then the host reads the gallery.
    3. Any answer nobody else chose scores a point. Play five categories and keep score in chat.

    6 to 20 · 10 min · prep: none · Rename

  2. 15. Thirty-second fetch

    A scavenger hunt in short sprints: grab it, show it, score it.

    1. The host calls out a prompt, such as something that makes a noise or the oldest thing on your desk.
    2. Players have 30 seconds to fetch it and hold it up to the camera.
    3. The first one back scores, and the host awards a bonus for the best story behind an item.

    4 to 20 · 10 min · prep: none · Camera

  3. 16. Six-word story guess

    Everyone sums up their week in six words, and the group guesses who wrote each one.

    1. Each player sends the host a six-word story about their week by private chat.
    2. The host reads them out one at a time, and players type who they think wrote it.
    3. A point for each right guess. The author reveals themselves and adds one line of context.

    6 to 15 · 10 min · prep: none · Private chat

  4. 17. What moved?

    A memory game played on one person's background.

    1. Everyone studies the host's video and background for 20 seconds.
    2. The host turns their camera off, moves or removes three things in view, and turns it back on.
    3. First to name all three changes in chat wins and becomes the next host.

    4 to 20 · 10 min · prep: none · Camera

  5. 18. Breakout band

    Small teams invent a band and come back to perform its 10-second jingle.

    1. Open breakout rooms of 3 to 5 people for five minutes.
    2. Each team picks a band name and genre, and writes a 10-second jingle about your team.
    3. Back in the main room, each band performs and the call votes with reactions.

    8 to 40 · 15 min · prep: none · Breakout rooms

For 15 people or more (7)

Everyone plays at once through chat, reactions or cameras, so nobody waits for a turn.

  1. 19. Guess the majority

    A poll game where you score for predicting the crowd, not for being right. Zoom polls need a paid host account.

    1. The host prepares five two-option polls, such as cereal before milk or milk before cereal.
    2. Before each poll, players type in chat which side they think will win.
    3. Launch the poll, share the result and give a point to everyone who called the majority.

    10 to 100 · 10 min · prep: 5 min · Polls

  2. 20. Cameras on if

    A quick warm-up that shows what a big group has in common.

    1. Everyone turns their camera off and switches to gallery view.
    2. The host reads a statement, such as "Cameras on if you've ever lived in another country."
    3. Anyone it fits turns their camera on, then everyone turns off again for the next one.

    10 to 100 · 5 min · prep: none · Camera

  3. 21. Background bingo

    Bingo played on the things people have behind them.

    1. The host shares a 4 by 4 grid of things you might see in a background: a plant, a guitar, a pet, a bookshelf.
    2. Players scan the gallery and copy down which squares they can spot, with whose video they spotted it in.
    3. First to fill a line types BINGO, then names a coworker for each square.

    10 to 50 · 15 min · prep: 5 min · Gallery view

  4. 22. Count to 20 in chat

    The whole call tries to count to 20 together without a plan.

    1. Anyone may type the next number in chat, but nobody may type twice in a row.
    2. If two people send the same number, the count goes back to 1.
    3. No talking about who goes next. Most groups need a few tries to reach 20.

    10 to 100 · 5 min · prep: none · Chat

  5. 23. Breakout rock paper scissors

    A knockout bracket where every round runs in pairs at once.

    1. Open breakout rooms of two for two minutes; each pair plays best of three on camera.
    2. When the rooms close, everyone who lost adds "out" to their display name.
    3. The host pairs the winners into new rooms, and the final is played in the main room for all to see.

    16 to 64 · 15 min · prep: none · Breakout rooms

  6. 24. True or false knockout

    Everyone answers every statement at once with Zoom's Yes and No buttons, and wrong answers are out.

    1. The host reads a true-or-false statement, such as "An octopus has three hearts."
    2. Players click React and pick Yes for true or No for false; the host sees the count for each in the Participants panel.
    3. Reveal the answer. Everyone who picked wrong turns their camera off and is out. Clear all feedback and read the next one until three players are left.

    15 to 100 · 10 min · prep: 5 min · Reactions

  7. 25. Chat-buzzer trivia

    Trivia where the chat is the buzzer, so a hundred people can play at once.

    1. The host reads a question aloud and types it in chat for anyone with bad audio.
    2. The first correct answer in chat scores. Ignore spelling unless it changes the answer.
    3. Ten questions make a round; announce the top three and play a final question for the win.

    10 to 100 · 15 min · prep: 10 min · Chat

Want the classics too? Two truths and a lie and our team meeting games work on any call, and our Microsoft Teams games do the same for Teams meetings.

Zoom's built-in games and other apps

Zoom Apps let you open a game inside the meeting instead of sharing a browser tab.

  1. In the Zoom desktop app, click Apps in the meeting toolbar (look under More if it isn't shown).
  2. The panel lists the apps you've added and lets you add more that work in meetings, or add one from the Zoom App Marketplace before the call.
  3. Open the game in the meeting and follow its prompts to bring others in, or share your screen.

The games on offer change, so check the Apps tab for current titles rather than trusting an old list. On a work account, your Zoom admin may need to approve an app before you can add it.

Other games people often run over Zoom:

  • Jackbox Party Packs: paid party game packs. One person buys a pack and shares their screen with sound; everyone else plays on their phone without buying anything.
  • skribbl.io: a free browser drawing and guessing game with private rooms you share by link.
  • Codenames: the word-association board game has an official online version from its publisher, played alongside your video call.

Tips for running games over Zoom

  • Cap a meeting opener at 15 minutes. Two short games beat one long one.
  • Give camera-shy people a way in: chat answers, polls and the sound quiz all work with cameras off.
  • Make a co-host before the call, so someone else can run breakout rooms and watch the chat.
  • For teams across time zones, run the game twice at two times rather than one call at 7am for half the team.
  • Past 15 people, switch to games everyone plays at once, or split into breakout rooms.
  • Keep it opt-in and work-safe. Nobody should have to share their home, their face or a personal story to play.

Games to play on FaceTime or a call

Playing with two or three friends on FaceTime, or on a plain phone call? These call games need no screen sharing:

Charades and Taboo-style cards work too: the player whose turn it is opens the word on their own phone. For friends who are rarely free at the same time, try our games to play over text.

When to book a hosted game on Zoom

The games above are made for a meeting opener. For 20 people or more, or an event rather than a meeting, a live host runs the whole hour: virtual trivia, game shows, escape rooms, murder mysteries and bingo. Our hosted games run on Zoom by default, or Teams, Google Meet or Webex on request.

If the real goal is better calls, You're On Mute! is a 60-minute workshop on presenting and communicating on screen. Book about 2 weeks ahead; teams split across time zones can book two sessions.

Four hosted games for a Zoom call, with today's prices. Get a free quote with your date and headcount.

Zoom is a trademark of Zoom Communications, Inc., and FaceTime is a trademark of Apple Inc. Jeopardy!, Family Feud, Taboo, Pictionary, Jackbox and Codenames are trademarks of their owners. KraftyLab isn't affiliated with Zoom, Apple or any game named on this page, and every rule here is our own.

Zoom games FAQ

What games can you play on Zoom?

Almost any game that works with one shared screen, a chat box or cameras: Jeopardy-style and Feud-style boards, a word scramble, Pictionary-style drawing on the whiteboard, charades and trivia. Zoom features make their own games too, such as renaming yourself, polls, reactions and breakout rooms. This page has 25, sorted by group size.

Are there free Zoom games for work?

Yes. The eight games at the top of this page are free on our site with no sign-up, and the other 17 need nothing but the rules. All of them are written for coworkers, with no drinking or personal questions.

How do you play games on a Zoom call?

There are two ways. One person opens a game in their browser and shares the screen while everyone answers out loud or in chat, or you open a game from Zoom's Apps button and invite people into it. Screen sharing needs nothing extra, while in-meeting apps may need your Zoom admin's approval.

Does Zoom have built-in games?

Zoom's Apps feature lets you add games from the Zoom App Marketplace and play them in a meeting. Titles change, so check the Apps tab or the Marketplace for what's available today.

What are good Zoom games for large groups?

Pick games everyone plays at once: chat-buzzer trivia, true or false knockout, cameras on if, count to 20 in chat or a Feud-style board with two big teams. For 20 people or more at an event, a hosted game with breakout rooms keeps it moving.

What Zoom games work when people keep cameras off?

Chat and poll games: chat-buzzer trivia, guess the majority, unique rename and count to 20. The camera-off sound quiz is built for it, and the Jeopardy-style board works with answers typed in chat.

Can you play Pictionary or trivia on Zoom?

Yes. For a Pictionary-style game, send the drawer a word privately and have them draw on Zoom's whiteboard. For trivia, share a quiz or read questions and take answers in chat; our Zoom trivia guide walks through the setup.

How do you make a Zoom meeting fun?

Open with a five-minute game, keep it optional, and let people answer in chat if they'd rather not unmute. Rotate who hosts the game so it isn't always the manager. For a bigger occasion, book a hosted game.

Rather have a host run the game?

Live trivia, game shows, escape rooms and bingo on Zoom, or Teams, Google Meet or Webex on request. Send your date and headcount for a plan within 24 hours.

See virtual triviaGet a free quote