The Best Online Games to Play with Friends During Lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to hang out with friends, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun together. From Among Us to Jackbox Party Packs, there are plenty of online games that you can play with your friends. Among Us is a popular social deduction game from developer InnerSloth. In this game, you play as a crew member aboard a spaceship, air headquarters, or planetary base, trying to keep your ship together and return to Earth with a group of four to 10 people.

One of the players is an impostor who sabotages the ship and tries to eliminate the rest of the crew. Tabletopia is a great option for those who want to play traditional board games online. You can play on a desktop browser for Mac or Windows, or download the platform from Steam, App Store or Google Play Store. Nintendo's New Horizons also offers plenty of fun activities for you and your friends.

The 2.0 update added new items and expansions to villager interactions and the game's camera, while Happy Home Paradise is available as a paid DLC. If you're looking for simple games that you can play with friends at any time, check out Fortnite, Words with Friends 2, Scrabble GO, Uno & Friends and Draw Something. Another game of deception is Spyfall, where every player except the spy is given a location. Unite is another great game for those who want to battle it out with their friends.

This five-on-five game requires teamwork and strategy to score points by depositing Unite points in the goals at the top and bottom of the map. Jackbox Party Pack 8 includes games that involve social deduction and hiding clues. If you're looking for something more complex, this is the perfect option. With so many different interests among your friends, there are games that range from drawing to strategy games like Risk.

Team Fortress 2 is similar to Overwatch but can be played completely free on Steam. Wizard 101 also offers an exciting experience where each player has a deck of magic cards that they use to cast spells during fights. With so many families and friends living in different states, the demand for free online games is still high. Whether you're a fan of old school favorites, party games, escape rooms, or exciting board games, there's probably a virtual option that will suit your needs. As a browser game, you don't have to close the video call and it's also quick to prepare - just create a private room and send the invitation link to your friends.