Since social gatherings are not possible right now, it can be hard to hang out with friends in the same way. Online co-op games are a godsend in this time of social distancing, because you can play together without having to leave home. I’m going to share my favorite online co-op games as well as 2 bonus activities so you can let all your friends know that game night isn’t cancelled!
Skribbl.io
Price: Free Number of Players: up to 8
Show off your terrible drawing skills in Skribbl.io, a free online drawing and guessing game. If you can’t afford (or don’t want to buy) any of the other games on this list, this is a good alternative! You and up to 7 of your friends can face off to collect the highest number of points and win bragging rights.
Jackbox Games
Price: $3.29 for individual games, $27.99 for a whole pack (Steam)
Number of players: up to 8
Great news! Drawful 2 is FREE right now on Steam. Similar to Skribbl.io, it’s a game of silly drawings and guessing what the prompt really is. The game on its own, as well as the rest of the individual Jackbox games is usually $3.29. What makes Jackbox Games unique is that only one person needs a copy of the game to stream to others over Discord or Skype, and everyone else can join in by entering the room code on the jackbox.tv website. My favorite games are Quiplash, a game where you face off against your friends to answer questions in the funniest way, Fibbage, a game of telling the most convincing lies, Trivia Murder Party, where you answer trivia questions until there is only one person left standing, and Drawful.
Battleblock Theater
Price: $16.99 on Steam Number of players: up to 4
Battleblock Theater is a co-operative platforming game with a comedic twist. As you work your way through the stages you can unlock new weapons and ways to help (and attack) each other. It’s hard to explain without sounding like every other co-op platformer out there, so watch the trailer and see it for yourself:
Monaco
Price: $16.99 on Steam Number of players: up to 4
Assemble your team of highly skilled thieves and robbers to pull off intricate heists without getting caught by the patrolling guards. Each person has their own specialty like The Cleaner who can knock out guards or The Pickpocket who swipes loose change with the help of a larcenous monkey. By experimenting with different characters and combinations, you and your friends can create a team unique to each of your play styles.
Overcooked 2
Price: $28.99 on Steam, $16.79 on the Nintendo Switch Number of players: up to 4
This kitchen is probably the most fun, chaotic co-op experience you will ever have. There's a very fine line between a well-oiled machine and “too many cooks in the kitchen”. Each chef is necessary to pass ingredients, chop, cook, and deliver food but it’s very easy for games to crumble into abject chaos. I’ve played with many different groups of gamers and non-gamers and honestly it’s hilarious no matter who you play with.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Price: $16.99 on Steam, 18.99 on the Nintendo Switch Number of players: 2
Work together in this high pressure bomb defusal game. The idea is that one person has a bomb with a number of modules to solve but no idea how to solve them, and the other person has the manual but cannot see the bomb. It’s a bit chaotic but it’s great for really honing you and your partner’s teamwork. If you’re in a group, you can trade roles and watch how others tackle the same or harder challenges.
2 FREE Bonus Activities
Dungeons and Dragons
Price: free Number of players: no limit but a party size of 3 - 5 is recommended
If you and your friends have been considering starting a campaign, playing online is a free and easy option! Roll20 is a great website for hosting your games, with tools like an interactive map, character sheets and virtual dice. It even lets you use voice and video chat, but I would recommend using Discord for voice chat instead. D&D Beyond has lots of resources for beginner players and even connects you to a community of players of all experience levels. Read their guide on how to start playing D&D online: https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/750-new-players-guide-how-to-play-d-d-online
Netflix Party
Price: add-on is free Number of people: unclear
This Chrome add-on has gained a lot of attention recently because it allows several people to host Netflix watch parties in sync and share their reactions without having to leave home. While the add-on is free, it does require each person to have access to Netflix. If you’re not super picky about sync, you can watch videos together online by video or voice calling and then counting each other in so you all start at the same time. This method is less reliable and can be a bit messy when one person needs to buffer or pause, but it works.
Remember that social distancing doesn’t mean that you can’t still have fun with your friends! I hope you try these games out and let me know how you liked them through my Instagram or Twitter. For more ideas on ways to fill your time at home, check out these 6 cheap and easy hobbies you can start today.
If you'd like your crafting questions answered live, I stream on Twitch at twitch.tv/finding_doro.
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