Staying at home would be the perfect time to bust out the board games for a games night, but effective social distancing means that nobody is allowed to bring over a six-pack and chips for a game of Monopoly.
What you can do is host a virtual game night. With the right online chat application, you can set up a video call or screen share with friends and play tons of fun games.
Host a Free Virtual Bingo Game every day with up to 25 players. You can try and learn how it works. Log in to your Bingo Maker account using Facebook or your email/password. In the top menu bar, click “Free Virtual Game”. With this free bingo generator, you can receive a PDF printout of your customized cards. You can also copy the URL for your cards to share with your friends online. The skies the limit with the types of cards you can create. Make several types of bingo sheets around any topic of interest: sports, travel, animals, food, movies, or TV shows.
Jackbox Games
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What is it? Jackbox Games is a cross-platform game bundle where players connect to the host game with their phones by going to jackbox.tv and entering a custom room code. All players can then play a variety of games ranging from word games to a telephone-like drawing game.
Is it free? Costs range from $12.49 to $29.99 for different game bundles.
System requirements: Jackbox works on everything from Mac, Xbox, Playstation, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. Though you’ll will need to use an additional chat system with screen sharing to get the full experience.
Pogo Games
What is it? Pogo is a website with a variety of games available ranging from mahjong, word games, and bingo. They also have an online version of Monopoly that you can register to play for free, so no one will flip the board or accuse the banker of cheating.
Is it free? Yes.
System requirements: Any web browser will do!
Playing Cards.io
What is it? Playing Cards is just that: playing cards, but online. The free website has checkers, crazy eights, and the perennial party favourite, Cards Against Humanity. Much like Jackbox, players enter a room code to play with their friends. All the card movements are synced on everyone’s screens, and there’s even an option to play a custom card game with a virtual 52 count deck.
Is it free? Yes.
System requirements: Any web browser, including mobile.
Exploding Kittens
What is it? A sometimes grotesque cat-themed card game where players try to avoid drawing the titular exploding kitten. This mobile game is nearly identical to the physical deck, the only changes being some exclusive cards. The online version features a solo mode as well as multiplayer.
Is it free? No, it retails for $2.59 on Android and $1.99 on iOS.
Bingo At Home 75 Balls
System Requirements: An Android or iOS powered smartphone
Tabletopia
What is it? Tabletopia offers over 800 virtual board games to play, from intense strategy games, to simple chess, to more unusual titles like Terra Mystica and Anachrony. Titles can be filtered by age, maximum number of players, maximum play time, and age recommendations.
Is it free? Yes, but there are some restrictions to the free version. Premium memberships can be purchased for $4.99 USD or $9.99 USD, depending on the level you want.
System Requirements: Tabletopia can currently be downloaded onto Windows and Mac systems through Steam, and there are some browsers supported currently. You can find the complete list of system requirements here.
With coronavirus on the rise, Health Canada is reminding individuals who attend events and large gatherings to monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. And if you’re not feeling well, they recommend staying home at this time. Also, due to unexpected cancellations, please check the event you plan to attend is still taking place. Keep up with COVID-19 news here.
Still looking for some games you can play with your group while social distancing? This week we played Bingo, and it’s fairly simple.
You can do this many different ways. However it is easiest to use Zoom or Facebook live as long as you can share your screen.
Virtual Bingo Online With Friends
Step 1 – Bingo Cards
Option 1: Printed or Online Cards
The first step was to find Bingo cards for everyone. MyFreeBingoCards.com makes this easy and free for up to 30 players. Click on the link that says 30 cards for free.
Once you do you’ll be given the option to download the cards in pdf. Instead, you can get an individual link for each card that can be texted or emailed.
The online cards actually allow you to play virtually and mark them as you play using your phone, tablet or computer.
Email or text the cards out to everyone playing. I would suggest doing this earlier in the day or the day before so that you can start
Option 2: Make Your Own
With a small group it might be easy to have everyone make their own cards. Post some instructions ahead of time on what the letters and numbers should be. It needs to be a 5×5 grid with Bingo in letters across the top. Then they choose 5 numbers under each letter from the following choices B 1-15, I 16-30, N 31-45, G 46-60, O 61-75.
Bingo Calling
Some of you may have a bingo set at your house. However, for the rest of us I found a great option. Go to letsplaybingo.io. This is a simple and absolutely free bingo caller program that automatically calls and displays called numbers. Everyone seeing the screen can hear and see each ball called.
Other options could include using a bingo cage you have at the church or at home. Or you could make slips of paper with the numbers on them and call out that way.
How To Play Online Bingo With Friends Free
Video Set Up
Here is where you have a few options.
Option 1 – Cell Phone Video
The first option is to set your phone in front of your computer screen and broadcast to instagram live or Facebook live. Those who get a bingo could text you.
Online Bingo Games With Friends
Option 2 – Zoom
A second option would be to use the screen share function of Zoom to share the bingo caller window with everyone. In addition, make sure and share the audio as well.
Online Bingo With Friends Free
Option 3 – Zoom and Facebook Live
Finally you can use the screen share function of Zoom to then share on Facebook live. This is what the guys at stuffyoucanuse do with their trivia games.
It’s a little more intricate set up but it will allow many people to follow along. And you won’t have to worry about zoom invitations and so many people in one call.
I hope that this is helpful as we continue to all look for ways to engage our youth and church during the coronavirus lockdown. For more coronavirus resources please check out our Covid-19 Resource Page