Games Night, The New Version - Nerissa Chia
To all my competitive sisters out there or those who really need a night of fun during this season, here’s how to host a game night with your friends or connect group over a group video call (Zoom preferably!) So let’s turn up the fun!
Game #1 - Follow the leader
Depending on the size of the group, you can play this in split teams or as a whole.
Aim of the game: For the seeker to pick out who the leader of the pack is (ensure that everyone is viewing this in gallery view if you’re on zoom).
Choose one person to be the seeker, have this person mute their audio, turn around and count till 30 before turning back.
Select a leader out of the remaining players.
Once the seeker finishes counting to 30, the game starts!
The leader will do simple actions such as clapping, touching their nose, scratching their chin etc.
Everyone else will follow the action of the leader.
As the leader changes the actions and everyone else following suit quickly, the seeker will have to pick out the leader.
Once the leader has been called out correctly, the leader then becomes the seeker.
Game #2 - Chubby Bunny
This game requires everyone to come prepared with a packet of marshmallows before the night starts.
Aim of the game: The last person standing with the most marshmallows in their mouth successfully saying “Chubby Bunny” (or whatever phrase you wish) wins the game.
Have everyone put one marshmallow in their mouth and say Chubby Bunny
Variation: Have one person from each team vs each other
Continue adding one more marshmallow each turn and saying Chubby Bunny after.
If anyone chews on the marshmallow, has the marshmallow fall out from their mouth, or is unable to say Chubby Bunny, that person is then eliminated.
The last one standing wins the game!
Game #3 - Guess the lyrics
Ideally. have a game master with a list of songs ready and have the rest of the players in competing teams.
Aim of the game: For the players to correctly guess what’s the next line of the song
Have everyone mute their mics so you won’t have everyone screaming and can more clearly identify the first person who shouts the answer or raises their hand.
The game master plays a song for everyone to hear. At the desired point of the song, the game master stops the song abruptly.
The first player to guess the next line correctly wins!
Game #4 - Guess the movie
The game master or the leader of each team prepares screenshots of a specific scene in famous movies.
Aim of the game: For the players to correctly identify which movies the screenshots are from.
The game master/leader sets their virtual background to the screenshot of the movie
If not on zoom, this can be done via sharing of screen
The first player to guess the movie correctly wins!
Game #5 - Silent scream
Prepare a list of phrases for various categories to play the game - E.g. 10 household items, 10 animals, 10 food.
The game master will send the first list to the first team leader.
The team leader will mute their audio, and have a time limit set.
The team leader will try to mouth and explain the word taboo style!
The team members have to make out what the leader is saying and guess the word
The no. of correct answers guessed during the set time (e.g. 1 minute) will be added to the team score (1 correct answer = 1 point).
This should be a good amount of games before you hit your 40-minute time limit on Zoom (if you’re using a free account) but for those of you who are blessed with a premium account or want to take it further, here’s a list of games that you can definitely incorporate by tweaking some variables!
Pictionary (screenshare drawing)
Charades
Never have I ever
Silent Karaoke (guess the silent lyric)
Group trivia
Home scavenger hunt (allocate points to different items)
Guess the secret item (find an item at home, hold it out of sight and describe the item)
Where am I (change the background of your video to a different country and have people guess where you are)
Tips
Familiarise yourselves with Zoom or whichever platform you are using before you start your games. Download the app/ register your account where needed.
For more of a competition, split into teams and record the points.
If playing in teams, identify yourselves by groups e.g hats vs no hats, glasses vs no glasses, or if you’re using zoom, change the virtual background to your team colour!
What are you waiting for? Get going and schedule a games night with your friends! Get creative and have the best night!
P.s. For those who are even more competitive and tech savvy, you can gather a group of board game buddies and head to online platforms (my favourite one right now is Board Game Arena) to play together! Turn on your video call so it feels like you are all playing the actual board games together.
Written by Nerissa Chia