Staying social is part of staying well. Whether you’re planning a quick game night for new friends, hosting a full campaign with friends across time zones, or watching a show with family back home, these tools help bring people together on any device, from anywhere.
| Tool | Platform | Friends Limit | Best For | Chat Features | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metastream (free and open source) | Web | Unlimited | Tech-savvy movie buffs | Text only | Queue multiple videos consecutively plus timestamp memory if you end early |
| Rave (freemium) | Apple, Android, Web | Unlimited | Most users | Text only | Easy setup across all devices |
| Scener (freemium) | Chrome, Apple | 10 | Small intimate groups | Text, audio, video | Full communication experience |
Prefer traditional board games? → Tabletopia (freemium)
Into role-playing adventures? → Roll20 (freemium)
Want to play the same game together? → Jackbox Games (prices typically range from $10 to $30) or Steam
Playing solo but want to share your library? → Steam
Offers over 2,500 digital board games available across PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. Friends can join even without Tabletopia accounts. Features automated card shuffling and turn tracking, but you'll need to know the rules (rulebooks provided). Perfect for board game enthusiasts missing in-person game nights.
This is a three-player setup for the board game Cuba; the same sized table would be too big for a two player game or too small for a five player game.
Complete virtual tabletop for D&D and other role-playing games (RPGs). Includes digital character sheets, dice rolling, maps, and token management. The free Roll20 plan supports basic campaigns; paid subscriptions ($5-10/month) unlock advanced features like dynamic lighting and custom content creation. Ideal for ongoing RPG campaigns with dedicated groups.
Starfinder, pictured here, is a science fiction RPG, whereas D&D tends to be more fantasy. Still getting used to role-playing with friends? Read this user's 2022 reflection on their first Roll20 experience with an unknown party!
Perfect for all online or even hybrid gaming groups since only one person needs to purchase the game ($10-30). Everyone else joins using their smartphone as a controller. The game owner shares their screen via video call, making it ideal for remote parties. Offers hilarious party games like trivia, drawing challenges, and word games that work great with 3-8 players.
Fibbage, Quiplash, and Drawful are Jackbox Games classics, but new games are released with every Party Pack, so have fun trying new ones!
Two ways to game with friends: 1) Multiplayer Gaming: When everyone owns the same board or video game, easily connect for cooperative or competitive play, and 2) Family Library Sharing: Authorize friends to access your game library when you're not playing. Steam has built-in features like friend lists and group chats, plus allows you to create or download player-created content like mods and skins through the Workshop. Best for PC gamers who want access to thousands of titles across all genres.
Although most games cost money, Steam always features free to play options too. These may be single- or multi-player.
