27 Fun Games to Play With Friends To Make 2026 Hang Outs Better

Staying close to friends looks different than it used to, which is why fun games to play with friends have become such an easy way to spend time together. Between busy schedules, long distances and group chats that replace quick catch-ups, connection often needs a little more intention than it did years ago.

Games give people an easy way to get together and do something without needing a big plan. You play for a bit, laugh a lot and suddenly you’ve relaxed and actually spent time together.

Studies on Frontiers in Psychology actually show that social play — including online games — is linked to better mood and lower stress, especially when people are playing with friends rather than alone. That helps explain why virtual game nights, phone games and online group play have become such a go-to when getting everyone in the same room isn’t realistic.

That doesn’t mean connection only lives on a screen. In-person, outdoor and at-home games still matter just as much. The common thread isn’t where you’re playing — it’s that you’re doing something together.

From online favorites to real-life classics, these fun games to play with friends make it easier to stay connected, wherever everyone happens to be. 

Jump to Section

• Fun Games to Play With Friends Online
• Fun Games to Play With Friends in Real Life
• Fun Games to Play With Friends Outdoors
• Fun Games to Play With Friends Indoors

Fun Games to Play With Friends Online

Online games have quietly become one of the easiest ways to stay connected, especially when getting everyone in the same place isn’t realistic.

These fun games to play with friends online keep things social and genuinely enjoyable, whether you’re catching up across time zones or just staying in for the night.

Looking for more fun ideas for Friendsgiving or birthday parties? You'll find plenty of fun games to play with friends that provide all the entertainment you need for every occasion.

1. Host a Virtual Game Night

What's one of the best things to do with friends for groups of any size, no matter where you live? Virtual game nights are perfect for fun games to play with friends. From game-show formats to murder mysteries, there’s enough variety to suit different group sizes and personalities.

The virtual nature means everything is right at your fingertips and requires very little planning for an amazing evening of bonding. 

2. Murder Mystery Games

Alternatively, if your group likes a bit of structure, murder mystery games give everyone something to lean into. You can play in person or remotely across a number of different themes, like Rocky Horror Halloween Murder or Poison on the Polar Express, for some holiday flair. 

They work just as well online as they do in person, especially when no one wants to play host or keep the energy going alone.

Check out this Master of Mystery game review for some guidance on which game to choose. 

3. Play Quiplash

This fully virtual game can be played on a phone or tablet, no game controller needed, making it an easy and fun game to play with friends on short notice. You can play Quiplash with up to 8 friends, but your group will be pitted against an audience of up to 10,000 worldwide.

This virtual game is like a fill-in-the-blank version of Apples to Apples. It’s something easy to do when you’re bored that will get your mind turning with silly and creative word combinations.

4. Would You Rather?

Some fun games to play with friends don’t need a winner to work. Would You Rather? fills the gaps in conversation with silly, sometimes uncomfortable scenarios that usually turn into stories or debates.

Groups can play in person or via Zoom or FaceTime and ask one another Would You Rather questions, followed by two challenging scenarios. For example, “Would you rather not shower for a year or not brush your teeth for a year?”

A popular party game and game to play with friends at night, but it also works as a road trip game if you want to pass the time with your buddy in the car. 

5. Words With Friends

Long-distance friendships don’t always line up in real time, and that’s where Words With Friends shines. There’s no timeline, so you can take your time making your “move” whenever you get a free moment.

If you’re not familiar, it’s an educational game like Scrabble, but on your phone, so you can play anytime, anywhere. 

6. Sports Video Games

For competitive groups, sports video games bring the same energy as watching a game together — just louder. Depending on your sport of choice, NBA 2K20 or the latest edition of Madden makes for a competitive video game to play with friends on PC or Xbox. 

Friends can play one-on-one or involve groups of other friends and be in communication throughout the game, making it a fun way to stay virtually connected and competitive. 

7. Twenty Questions

Another oldie but goodie, 20 Questions is a clever game to play with friends, especially new friends or a new romantic interest if you’re looking to get to know them better.

Twenty might seem like a lot of questions to ask your friends, but there are sure to be things you and your friends don’t know about each other, regardless of how long you’ve known each other.

You can play this game with friends indoors or virtually, via text, call or FaceTime. Video is recommended, as a lot can get lost in translation over text. 

Fun Games to Play With Friends in Real Life

Spending time together in person is still very important, after all, not everything happens online. Games in real life tend to focus on making space for conversation, inside jokes and shared moments that don’t always happen online.

And the best part is that most of these fun games to play with friends don’t require elaborate setups or perfect hosting. They work because they give everyone something to do, which takes the pressure off and lets the fun happen naturally.

8. What Do You Meme?

What Do You Meme? Is a well-known card game that’s popular amongst millennials and Gen Z, which features some pretty quirky Gen Z slang.

Few fun games with friends match the way people actually communicate now, like this one does. You can play while chatting, eating or half-paying attention, and it still works. And because the humor comes from shared references, it tends to loosen everyone up quickly without needing much explanation.

9. Take a Cooking Class

Not every game needs a scoreboard. Turning a group activity into the main event can feel just as social, especially when it ends with a meal everyone helped create.

Learning something new gives the same mental benefits as engaging in a board game, and with cooking classes in Boston to Atlanta or all the way over to Chicago, there are tons of options for cooking classes near you, wherever you live. 

10. Uno Attack

One of the most well-known card games of all time gets an update in Uno Attack. Complete with a card launcher that shoots playing cards and plays sound effects and lights.

The rules are very similar to the original UNO rules, but with the added suspense that you never know when the machine will attack. It’s simple to explain — even though some rules might create some heated discussions — quick to reset and easy to keep playing without overthinking it.

11. We’re Not Really Strangers

Another hugely popular card game with Gen Z and Millennials, We’re Not Really Strangers moves past surface-level questions without forcing anyone to overshare.

It works best when everyone’s on board with being honest, making it feel more like a shared experience than a typical game night. Each card poses an insightful question that you can choose how honestly you wish to answer.

Give it as a gift for your best friend ahead of a big event and see how well you really know each other.

12. Post-it Note Game

This old-school guessing game relies more on interaction than rules, which makes it easy to jump into. Chances are high you’ve played this game before, maybe growing up in school or as an adult for a team-building activity or ice breaker game.

The game encourages moving around the room and talking to different people, which keeps the energy up without feeling competitive. Extra points if you can mention some best friend quotes from that famous person. You can leave it wide open, or choose a theme like famous female actors or professional athletes.

13. Mahjong

Mahjong rewards patience and familiarity, making it a good option for groups that enjoy settling in rather than hopping between games. The game itself, with its 144 ornate, domino-like tiles, may involve a bit of a learning curve, but it can be played for years to come once you master it. But once the basics click, it becomes something people can return to regularly.

14. Cards Against Humanity

The original Cards Against Humanity has been around for several years and never fails to get some good laughs. This fun game to play with friends indoors can keep you entertained for hours. But be prepared, it can get a little cheeky.

Learn the Cards Against Humanity rules, then enjoy over drinks and snacks with your friends and family alike. What Do You Meme? rules are pretty similar if you're looking for games like Cards Against Humanity.

Fun Games to Play With Friends Outdoors

Online games make it easy to stay connected, but they haven’t replaced the urge to get outside together. If anything, they’ve made it more noticeable when everyone finally does step away from their screens. Outdoor fun games to play with friends tap into that shift by giving people a reason to be present, move around and interact without feeling like they’re trying to recreate childhood recess.

15. Scavenger Hunt

While the concept of a treasure hunt may feel like it's for kids, it's very much a fun game you can play with friends, even if you’re an adult. Turning familiar places into part of the game is what makes scavenger hunts so engaging.

Whether you follow an online template or create your own clues, it gives the group a shared goal to work toward. There are a number of online scavenger hunt games you can follow along for inspiration, but setting up a cool scavenger hunt around your neighborhood or city can be wildly entertaining or even romantic if done for a special someone. 

16. Ladder Toss Game

You’ve probably seen the Ladder Toss game at barbecues or as part of the lineup for tailgate games, and there’s a reason it keeps showing up. It's definitely one of those fun games to play with friends outside that's suitable for players of all ages. It just works because the rules are simple, rounds move quickly and people can jump in or out without disrupting the flow. 

Set up the lightweight, transportable ladders and try to get the balls on the strings to hook around the rungs. Each game can be played fairly quickly, making it a great adult birthday party idea that can accommodate a bunch of different players.

17. Kubb

This Scandinavian yard game is a longtime favorite, often traced back to Viking times, and it works best in a large, flat outdoor space. Players set up wooden blocks, known as knights, across from each other and take turns trying to knock them down with wooden dowels, facing off in small teams.

There are a few safety rules to keep things fair and fun, like throwing underhand and giving everyone a bit of space, since the pieces can bounce unpredictably. The rhythm of the game builds as you go, making it an especially enjoyable warm summer activity to do with friends.

It tends to click most with groups who like a balance of skill, patience and friendly competition, where the fun is just as much in the back-and-forth as it is in winning.

18. Kan Jam

While the name may sound reminiscent of “kick the can”, there actually aren’t any cans involved in this fun game to play with friends outdoors. Kan Jam comes with two plastic sheets that fit together to form a large cylinder that’s open on top and has a slot in the front.

Each team gets a couple of frisbees and sets the cylinders about 30 feet apart. Players stand on opposite sides of their partner. As one person throws the Frisbee over, the other player wants to knock it down into the hole on the top.

Points are awarded for going in the top, while a Frisbee directly through the slot wins the game.

19. Cookie Pocket

This playful game works best at outdoor parties or tailgates, especially when everyone’s wearing jackets or hoodies. The goal is simple: sneak cookies into your friends’ pockets without them noticing.

If they catch you, you’re out. If they don’t, they’re obligated to eat the cookie once it’s discovered, which can lead to a surprisingly large snack haul. It’s silly, a little sneaky and guaranteed to get people laughing, which is exactly why it tends to stick in people’s memories long after the party ends.

If you want these adjusted further to be slightly punchier or even more conversational, we can nudge them one more step without losing your voice.

20. Beer Pong

For anyone 21+, chances are good you’ve played beer pong. What you might not realise, though, is that this fun game to play with friends doesn't have to involve alcohol if you don't want to get intoxicated. You can easily swap out the alcohol for soda or water for mixed groups or daytime events. The aim is landing the shot, rather than who drinks the least — or the most.

It’s just an entertaining game to watch and to play as players bounce ping pong balls into an array of plastic cups using impressive hand-eye coordination. 

21. Tug of War

This old-school game is the perfect way to celebrate good weather and enjoy fun games to play with friends. Nothing is more gratifying than winning a close match-up of strength on both sides. The only tricky part might be finding a rope large enough to make the game worthwhile.

Fun Games to Play With Friends Indoors

Indoor games are where most real hangouts actually happen. They’re easy to start, don’t depend on the weather and make it simple for people to talk, laugh and jump in without pressure. These fun games to play with friends work especially well for casual game nights, birthdays or those evenings when staying in just feels better than going out.

22. Charades or Heads Up

It doesn’t get any simpler, cheaper or easier to enjoy fun games to play with friends than charades. This classic game involves acting out a word or phrase for your teammates to try to guess based only on your body language. You can set timers and go in groups, or simply act things out in a casual fashion for the whole group.

For a fun spin on this, play it around the holidays and act out someone from your family or close friend group, depending on who you play with. This is an easy and entertaining Christmas activity that can get the whole family involved.

23. Rabble 

This entertaining card game is ideal for parties because it can be played with large groups. The game actually says “20+” so you can test the limits here.

Sort of like Truth or Dare questions, this fun game to play with friends features cards with various challenges like “act out a T. rex” and some word guessing.

Wondering what are fun games to play as a group? Rabble is perfect because players can drift in and out of playing without missing a beat. An easy and fun thing to do with friends when you don’t want to watch a movie or go out. 

24. Telephone

There are few games more iconic or more memorable than Telephone. While traditionally used to teach a lesson in grade school, Telephone is just as entertaining for adults.

Messages unravel fast, reactions are genuine and the laughs usually come from surprise rather than trying too hard. Telephone is a great reminder that you don’t need elaborate rules for fun games to play with friends indoors.

25. Monopoly

Monopoly is a commitment, which is part of its charm. It turns an evening into an event and gives everyone a role to lean into, whether that’s ruthless dealmaker or cautious strategist. Best saved for nights when no one is in a rush and snacks are plentiful.

The nature of the game means it can take a while, making it a great activity for a day with bad weather or an evening at home. Most people already have a Monopoly game in their home or at least a neighbor they can borrow one from.

26. Hand & Foot

This is a simple card game that’s suitable for a wide range of ages, and it’s perfect when you want to settle down for a couple of hours and enjoy easy but fun games to play with friends.

The rules are straightforward once you get started, and rounds are long enough to settle into without demanding constant focus. It’s calm, social and surprisingly addictive.

27. 8 Ball Pool

Pool brings a different pace to indoor hangouts. There’s strategy involved, but plenty of downtime for chatting between turns. It works especially well for smaller groups and feels more like shared time than structured play, which is why it’s a classic.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of engaging and fun games to play with friends both in real life and virtually, indoors or outdoors. The next time you want to plan a special occasion or just a good time together, schedule some time to enjoy a game night.

Spending time together doesn’t have to mean elaborate plans or big nights out. Fun games to play with friends make it easier to reconnect, laugh and actually be present, whether that happens online, around a table or outside on a warm afternoon. From competitive to creative to completely silly, the right game gives everyone a shared moment, which is often what matters most.

For even more fun things to do with friends, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!