Games to play over a video call, without a long setup

Pick a format for the mood

For a ten-minute catch-up, ask everyone to bring an object from within arm’s reach and invent a story about it; the group guesses which story is real. There is no extra tool and nobody has to draw or remember trivia.

For a creative group, try a one-sentence story relay. Give each person a turn, keep a visible turn order, and finish after two rounds. For a more focused evening, a cooperative browser mystery gives everyone the same case while allowing independent exploration.

Set up a HuntGig call in four moves

A private HuntGig room holds 2–8 players. The organiser uses an account; guests use a nickname. Everyone should join before the host starts because new players cannot enter a running hunt.

1. Start your usual call and keep its invitation separate from the game link.
2. Have the host create a room and paste the private game invitation into the call chat.
3. Open the game in a second window or on another device. Test that everybody can inspect something.
4. Agree to say a clue’s title before describing it, so friends can find the same evidence.

Avoid the one-person screen-share problem

If only one person drives the screen, the others can become spectators. Give each friend their own game window when possible. If you share a screen as a group in one home, rotate who controls it and ask for a theory before typing an answer.

Headphones can help when two people join the same call from one room. If a device struggles with the miniature scene, use the game’s quality and motion settings and the evidence controls. Keep the call readable and the game comfortable before chasing a fast finish.

Finish with the next invitation

After the case, give everyone a minute to explain their favourite wrong theory. Save a result card if the group wants one, then choose who will host next. A different mystery keeps returning players from accidentally turning the next session into a walkthrough.

Before you invite everyone