The funniest games to play with friends need no equipment at all: Would You Rather, Two Truths and a Lie, Charades and Contact work in any room with two or more people. For a bigger laugh, add a party app like Heads Up! or a drawing game like Gartic Phone, and match the game to your group's mood.
Most of the games below take under a minute to explain. That matters, because the best game for friends is the one everybody understands before the laughing starts. I've grouped them by what you need, so you can pick one whether you're on a sofa, on a call or in a crowded kitchen.
No props, just people
These work anywhere, cost nothing to set up and suit mixed groups.
Would You Rather
One person asks a question with two bad or ridiculous choices, such as would you rather sneeze glitter or burp bubbles. Everyone picks a side and has to defend it. The trick is to make both options equally silly, and to ask "why?" until somebody cracks.
Two Truths and a Lie
Each player says three things about themselves. Two are true and one is made up. The group votes on which is the lie. The funniest rounds come from true things that sound fake. Keep it light, and tell people they can skip anything personal.
Charades
Act out a film, a job, an animal or a phrase without speaking while your team guesses. Split into two teams, use your phone as a timer, and write the prompts on scraps of paper in a bowl. Allow just one rule that everyone obeys: no mouthing words.
Contact
This is a word game with a simple version. One player thinks of a secret word and tells the group only its first letter. Everyone else asks clue questions to get closer to it. When two guessers think they know the word, they say "contact" together and name it at the same moment. If they match, the first player has to reveal the next letter. It takes a round to click, but then it's hard to stop. If you enjoy this kind of thing, there's a longer list in our guessing games guide.
Fortunately, Unfortunately
Players tell a story one sentence at a time. The first starts with "Fortunately", the next with "Unfortunately", and so on. Stories go wrong in minutes, which is the point.
The Floor Is Lava
This one works for adults too, if the group is up for it. Use cushions, books and tea towels as stepping stones, and race to cross the room without touching the floor. Clear the area of anything sharp or breakable first, and don't play it on wet floors or near stairs.
Funny phone and party apps
If you'd rather have a screen run the game, these are well known for getting groups laughing.
- Heads Up! One person holds the phone to their forehead, and the others shout clues. It's fast, loud and good for any age. The limit is that you need a phone per round, and some card packs may be paid, so check what's included before you commit.
- Jackbox Party Packs. Everyone uses their own phone as a controller while one screen shows the game. They're brilliant for drawing, bluffing and wordplay. Packs are not free, but one copy covers the whole group, so it can be good value if you play often.
- Gartic Phone. A drawing version of the telephone game. You write a phrase, someone draws it, someone else describes the drawing, and so on. The results get ridiculous. It runs in a web browser, and it works best with a bigger group.
If you like games that involve secrets and bluffing, our guides to the imposter game and social deduction games are a good next step.
Games for a video call
Friends in different cities can still laugh together. Almost all of the no-props games above work on a call, with a few tweaks.
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- Charades. Turn your camera on and make sure your whole body is in shot. Message the prompt privately to the person acting.
- Drawing and guessing. Share a whiteboard or a drawing app and take turns sketching while everyone guesses.
- Scavenger hunt. Name an object ("something blue", "something older than you"), and everyone races off-camera to bring one back.
- Two Truths and a Lie. It's even better over video, because you can watch faces.
If you'd like a full screen of choices, we've listed online multiplayer party games you can play from different homes.
For a big group
Large groups need games where nobody sits out. Here are three that scale.
Sardines
It's hide-and-seek in reverse. One person hides, and when anyone finds them, they squeeze into the same hiding spot, quietly. The last person still looking loses. It's best in a big house, with the house rules agreed in advance.
Telephone
Players sit in a line. The first whispers a phrase to the next, and it travels down the line. The last person says what they heard out loud. The gap between the start and the end is the joke.
Werewolf or Mafia
A group game of hidden roles and accusations, run by a narrator. It needs a few people at least and works best with a bigger group. It can get heated, so keep the mood friendly.
Which game, for which group
| Game | Players | Props | Laugh level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Would You Rather | 2 or more | None | Medium |
| Two Truths and a Lie | 3 or more | None | Medium |
| Charades | 4 or more | Paper and a timer | High |
| Contact | 3 or more | None | Medium |
| Fortunately, Unfortunately | 3 or more | None | High |
| Heads Up! | 2 or more | A phone | High |
| Gartic Phone | 4 or more | A screen or phone | Very high |
| Sardines | 5 or more | A big house | High |
| Werewolf or Mafia | 6 or more | Optional cards | Medium to high |
A few tips for funnier game nights
- Pick one game and play it for as long as it's working. Don't switch the moment it dips.
- Mix quiet players with loud ones, and give shy people a role that doesn't put them on the spot.
- Keep scores light. The best nights are the ones nobody remembers who won.
- Agree on a few limits first, especially for dares or personal questions.
Frequently asked questions
What are the funniest games to play with friends?
Charades, Fortunately Unfortunately and Gartic Phone get the biggest laughs because the results are unpredictable. Would You Rather and Two Truths and a Lie are easier for small groups.
What can we play with friends when we have no props?
Would You Rather, Two Truths and a Lie, Charades, Contact and Fortunately Unfortunately all work with only your voices and a bit of imagination.
Which games work best on a video call?
Charades, drawing and guessing games, scavenger hunts and Two Truths and a Lie are easy to run on a call. Gartic Phone is a good pick if you want a ready-made game.
What's a good game for a big group of friends?
Sardines, Telephone and Werewolf or Mafia keep a big group involved, because few players sit out for long.
How do I keep a game night fun for everyone?
Choose games people can learn in a minute, keep rounds short and agree the limits in advance, so nobody feels pressured by a dare or a personal question.
