1

Jackbox Games, a popular suite of party games (variable players, 3 or more preferable) - Currently there are 8 different Jackbox Games Party Packs available on Steam (consoles, too, but it's easier to screen share games on a PC). You can read more about them at Resolve: { https://jackboxgames.com }. Each one ranges from $25-30, but they are often for sale, and the earlier packs are usually cheaper.

Assuming you are the person who owns the Party Pack your group wants to try: Load up the pack on your PC, then share your screen via Discord, Zoom, etc. so everyone can see what's going on. Once you select a game to play, a 4-letter code will be displayed on the screen with a website URL. Go to that URL and type the code where prompted on the page, and have everyone else do the same. Then let the fun begin!

2

Playfic, a website for playing and creating interactive fiction games (1+ players) - Sign up for an account at Resolve: { https://playfic.com } and have your group members do the same. Then decide if you will play an existing game on the site or create a new one together.

Play an existing game: Click on the "Explore Games" tab and decide which game to play as a group. Designate one person to read the game text aloud, or take turns reading the text while everyone follows along on their own browser. Decide as a group what to type in, or work separately and help each other figure out what to type in to progress through the game.

Create a new game: Click on the "Start a New Game" tab to start writing immediately! You can either learn as you go (type into the text box labeled "Edit", click "Save & Test", then address any issues printed in the "Preview" box) or check out Resolve: { https://playfic.com/learn } for pointers. You'll need to share your screen to write collaborately, as the only person who can edit the game is the one who created it. When you are finished, give your game a URL and click "Publish". Then everyone can use the URL to load up the published game and try it out!

Please note that published games are all public! There is no way to create a private game, but the game's creator can delete it if they like.

3

Random Trivia Generator (1+ players) - Go to Resolve: { https://randomtriviagenerator.com } and click one of 6 categories: General, Arts, Entertainment, Geography, History, or Science. The website will generate a page of random trivia questions for that category. Scroll down the page to generate even more!

To play, designate one person to share their screen so everyone can read and answer the same set of questions. Decide whether you will answer as a group, break out into teams, or have each participant compete solo. Come up with a time limit to answer each question and have the screen sharer keep time. If you're competing in teams, set up a breakout room, group DM, etc. to discuss the answer. Don't look up your answers online!

Once the timer is up, the group, teams, or individuals give their final answer to the question. Then the screen sharer clicks the question card to reveal the correct answer. Whomever answered correctly earns a point! If no one answered correctly, everyone can vote on who had the most funny, interesting, or "close enough" answer, and that person earns a point.

Answer as many questions as your group wants to answer. At the end of the trivia session, whoever collected the most points wins!

4

All Bad Cards, a Cards Against Humanity clone (3-12 players) - Sign up for an account at Resolve: { https://allbad.cards }, then create a new game and post the invite link to your group so they can join you!

5

Among Us, a party game of teamwork and betrayal (4-15 players) - Download Among Us from Steam at Resolve: { https://store.steampowered.com/app/945360/Among_Us } or from Itch.io at Resolve: { https://innersloth.itch.io/among-us } ($5 per player). Load it up and click "Online" followed by "Host" to start a new multiplayer game. This generates a six-letter code at the bottom of your game screen. Share that code with your group members so they can enter it into their game client (under "Online" followed by "Private") and join you.

6

Board Game Arena, a website for playing a variety of board games on your browser (variable players) - Sign up for an account at Resolve: { https://boardgamearena.com }. To add people to your friend list, click the "Community" menu tab at the top of the BGA page, and enter their username in the text box under "Find a Player". Then click the "Play Now" tab to create a game table and invite your BGA friends to it.

Many browser-based adaptations of board games are available on BGA. If your group wants to play one of the premium games, the person creating the game table needs to have a premium account, but the other group members do not.

7

Codenames, a team vs team social word game (4-8 players, 2+ player Duet variant also available) - No account needed! Go to Resolve: { https://codenames.game } to create a new game room and post the invite link to your group so they can join you! They will be prompted to type in a name and choose a team / role. You can also have the game randomly assign people to teams.

8

Cuckoo Curling, a zany mix of freestyle curling and Connect Four (2-4 players) - Download the online multiplayer version of Cuckoo Curling from Resolve: { https://chromacool.itch.io/cuckoo-curling } ($4 per player). Load it up and start a new multiplayer game to invite your other group members to.

9

Dominion, the original deckbuilder board game (2-6 players) - Sign up for an account at Resolve: { https://dominion.games [](https://dominion.games%7D) } and have your group members do the same.  To add people to your friend list, click the "Friend List" tab at the top of the page, enter their username in the provided text box, and click "Add." Create a game table with the "New Table" tab at the top of the page, and invite your group to the table by their usernames!

Before you start play, you'll have the option to choose which cards you'll add to the kingdom (these are the cards you will add to your deck during the game). Free accounts have only the base game cards, or you can start a Silver or Gold subscription (see the "Store" tab) for access to expansion cards. Only the table creator needs the subscription for everyone at the table to use the expansions that subscription can access.

10

Don't Starve Together, a multiplayer wilderness survival game (2-6 players) - Download Don't Starve Together on Steam at Resolve: { https://store.steampowered.com/app/322330/Dont_Starve_Together } ($15 normally for 2 Steam keys, but discounted during seasonal sales!) Load it up and follow the directions provided to start a new, private game with your group.

11

Downfall, a GM-less, diceless, no-prep tabletop RPG in which you build up and then tear down a world together (3 players) - Download the Downfall PDF at Resolve: { https://lessthanthreegames.com/downfall.html } ($10). It's up to you whether you'll share the PDF with your group members or have everyone else buy a copy separately (though if they enjoy this game, they should definitely consider giving back to the creators!)

Once all of you have access to the PDF, open it up together and start reading, creating, and storytelling immediately!

12

Drawasaurus, a Pictionary clone (2-16 players) -  No account needed! Go to Resolve: { https://drawasaurus.org } to create a new game room and post the invite link to your group so they can join you! Make sure the game room is set private so no randos barge in.

13

Drawception, a Telestrations clone (4-15 players) - Sign up for an account at Resolve: { https://drawception.com }, then create a new PRIVATE game by clicking the + symbol next to the PLAY button at the top of the website. As the person creating the game, you get to type in the starting prompt! Once the game is created, a link will be generated for you to post to your group so they can join up.

14

Eden, a GM-less, diceless, no-prep tabletop RPG in which you collaborate to map a garden and populate it with talking animals (3-5 players) - Download the Epitaph PDF at Resolve: { https://lessthanthreegames.com/eden.html } ($10). It's up to you whether you'll share the PDF with your group members or have everyone else buy a copy separately (though if they enjoy this game, they should definitely consider giving back to the creators!)

Once all of you have access to the PDF, open it up together and start reading, creating, and storytelling immediately!

15

Epitaph, a GM-less, diceless, no-prep tabletop RPG in which you explore the life of a person recently departed (3-5 players) - Download the Epitaph PDF at Resolve: { https://lessthanthreegames.com/epitaph.html } ($12). It's up to you whether you'll share the PDF with your group members or have everyone else buy a copy separately (though if they enjoy this game, they should definitely consider giving back to the creators!)

Once all of you have access to the PDF, open it up together and start reading, creating, and storytelling immediately!

16

Escape from Wonderland, a free online escape room (1+ players) - Go to the Escape from Wonderland page on Google Forms at  Resolve: { https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4-g_PdCdGnThONdtmbQZdfIG1tfy_L2PedFrN-uCnN5nDlg/viewform } to start the game! Only one person needs to read the game text aloud and submit answers, but the entire group can work together to solve the puzzles. You can also have each group member take turns reading aloud while everyone else follows along on their own browser.\

17

Fiasco Classic, a GM-less tabletop RPG about powerful ambition and poor impulse control (3-5 players) - Download the Fiasco Classic PDF from DriveThruRPG at Resolve: { https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/78548/Fiasco-Classic } ($12). It's up to you whether you'll share the PDF with your group members or have everyone else buy a copy separately (though if they enjoy this game, they should definitely consider giving back to the creators!)

Once all of you have access to the PDF, open it up together and start reading, creating, and storytelling immediately!

18

Lady Blackbird, a free tabletop RPG module (3-6 players including 1 GM) - Download the Lady Blackbird PDF from Itch.io at Resolve: { https://johnharper.itch.io/lady-blackbird }. The PDF includes pregen character sheets for players, and a complete scenario and setting that the GM can run with little to no prep. For dice (the game uses regular 6-sided dice), you can use any online roller. Oddizens Discord has the DiceMaiden bot, or you can use a browser based roller like Resolve: { https://rolz.org }.

There are two more chapters that follow the Lady Blackbird module (also available on the same site) if your group ends up enjoying it enough to want more!

19

Magic the Gathering, the world-renowned collectible card game (2 players, more if playing Commander or tournament style) - Download MTGA from Wizards of the Coast at Resolve: { https://magic.wizards.com/en/mtgarena } and create an account. Once your other group members do the same, share your account names with one another! In MTGA you can build decks and challenge one another, or participate in drafts or tournaments together. Or you can play solo to learn how to play and earn achievements, which will net you more card packs!

20

Oregon Trail Escape to Willamette Valley, a free online escape room (1+ players) - Go to the Escape to Willamette Valley page on Google Forms at Resolve: { https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2gS2aQ8KtJfLyk45pNXptOYtBKrf2Y0l3kPKCE0S5OOr7dA/viewform } to start the game! Only one person needs to read the game text aloud and submit answers, but the entire group can work together to solve the puzzles. You can also have each group member take turns reading aloud while everyone follows along on their own browser.

21

Playingcards.io, a website for playing a variety of playing card games like Cribbage and Hearts (variable players) - No account needed (though you can still create an account to save your rooms / progress)! To play, click on one of the games listed on Resolve: { https://playingcards.io }. You will be taken to a page with a rules reference for the game you selected. Click "Start Game" followed by "Enter" to load up the game, then click the share icon (3 circles connected by lines) on the left side of your browser window to copy the game room link. Paste it to your group so they can join you.

22

Plink, a multiplayer music experience that lets you jam together remotely (1+ players) - No account needed! Go to Resolve: { https://plink.in } and click "Go Private". You'll be prompted to enter a name for your jam room, and a name for yourself. Then Plink will generate a link (click the chain link button to copy it to clipboard) you can post to your group so they can join the jam session!

To play, tap the colored squares to change instruments, and tap/drag your finger (or mouse cursor) along the strings to play notes. The game will generate a beat for you and your fellow group members to jam to.

23

Scrabble, the classic crossword game on Pogo Online (2-4 players) - Go to the Scrabble page on Pogo.com at Resolve: { https://www.pogo.com/games/scrabble/play } and wait for the web app to load (there will be ads if you aren't a "Club Pogo" member). Click on the "Multiplayer" button. If the button has a padlock symbol on it, you'll be asked to sign into or create an EA Account before you can play multiplayer mode. Once you are logged in, reload the Scrabble page and click "Multiplayer" again.

From here you can either "Host a Game" (create a new game table) or "Find a Game" (enter the code for a private table one of your group members created). If you are hosting, be sure to create a private table, which will generate a code for you to copy and paste to your group so they can join you.

24

Secret Hitler, a dramatic game of political intrigue and betrayal set in 1930s Germany (5-10 players) - Sign up for an account at Resolve: { https://secrethitler.io/ }, then continue onto the game lobby and create a new game. Make sure the game is set private (you'll be prompted to enter a password to share with your group) so no randos barge in. Once the game loads up on your browser, copy and paste the URL to your group so they can join you.

25

Spy Apprentice, a free online escape room (1+ players) - Go to the Spy Apprentice page on Google Forms at Resolve: { https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdelL0PKnOdBc0v3kO_O71ufpLq5pZogq7sER-GqPE71Ttbbw/viewform } to start the game! Only one person needs to read the game text aloud and submit answers, but the entire group can work together to solve the puzzles. You can also have each group member take turns reading aloud while everyone else follows along on their own browser.

26

Super Animal Royale, a multiplayer survival shooter where you play cute critters armed and ready for murder (1-64 players, can play co-op in duos or teams of 4) - Download Super Animal Royale on Steam at Resolve: { https://store.steampowered.com/app/843380/Super_Animal_Royale }. When you start the game you'll be prompted to make an account so you can save your game progress across platforms. After that, the Home screen will load.

On the Home screen, you can choose to play solo, as a duo, or (during events or weekends) in a squad of 4. You form teams from your friends on Steam or Discord, so you and your team members must be friends on the same platform. (On Discord, this only works if you are not keeping your game activity hidden.) Then you'll be tossed into a battle royale situation with only yourself and your team of animal friends to rely on!

27

Untap.in, a website for playing collectible card games (2+ players) - Sign up for an account on Resolve: { https://untap.in }, then click "Create Deck". You'll be able to select one of several CCGs to build a deck for, including Magic: The Gathering, Cardfight!! Vanguard, Force of Will, Pokemon, and Yugioh.

Unfortunately untap.in does not teach you how to play these games, so you either need to be familiar with the game you selected, or have a group member on hand willing to teach you.

To add people to your friends list, click the button on the upper left of the page next to the Discord icon to access the "Users" panel. For each of your fellow group members, click on the magnifying glass tab in the "Users" panel, type their account name into the "Find User" field, click on their name in the search results to open their untap.in profile, then click the Add Friend icon (a blue person with a + symbol).

To start a game, click the "New Game" button on the untap.in page. Adjust the settings to fit your group's preferences, and be sure to set the game to be Friends Only. Once you've started the game and it's loaded up on your browser (click the "Enter Game" button), cut and paste the URL to your group so they can join you. Then everyone can choose a deck from the same game and begin play!

28

One-page tabletop RPGs on itch.io (variable players) - Search for "one page ttrpg" on the Itch.io games page at Resolve: { https://itch.io/games } (the text field for search queries is at the top of the page). Choose one of the games in the search results to play with your group, such as This Place Is A Zoo (Resolve: { https://goblins-and-growlers.itch.io/this-place-is-a-zoo-opd }) or My One-Page Tabletop RPG Was Reincarnated as an Isekai Anime!?! (Resolve: { https://swashtalk.itch.io/1pageisekairpg }).

A lot of these games are provided for free, but consider tossing a buck or two the creator's way if you end up enjoying the game together.

Download the PDF for the game your group chose. If a GM is required, decide who will take on the role of gamemaster. Then open the PDF and start playing! There will likely be a quick character and/or scenario generation process before the game can begin in earnest. Then let your imaginations run wild! These type of TTRPGs tend to breed quirky characters, absurd situations, and random hilarity, so if you're laughing and having a blast, you're probably doing it right.

Dice may or may not be required to randomly determine character traits or determine the outcome of an action. If so, you can use any online roller, such as the DiceMaiden bot on Oddizens Discord or a browser based roller like Resolve: { https://rolz.org }.

29

Colonist.io, a Settlers of Catan clone (3-8 players) - No account needed (though you can sign in through a Google account if you like)! Go to Resolve: { https://colonist.io/ } and click "Enter Lobby," then "Create Game." Quickly click the "Private Game" checkbox so randos don't hop into the game room. Copy the link generated for the room and paste it to your group so they can join you. Finish setting up the room with whatever options you prefer, then check "I'm Ready" and click "Start Game" to start playing!

30

Terraria, a pixel-graphics sandbox platformer with procedurally generated worlds (1+ players) - Download Terraria on Steam at Resolve: { https://store.steampowered.com/app/105600/Terraria } and follow this tutorial for setting it up for Steam multiplayer: Resolve: { https://terraria.fandom.com/wiki/Guide:Setting_up_Steam_Multiplayer }

Terraria is also available on iOS and Android devices at the Apple App Store and Google Play, respectively. Crossplay between mobile devices is pretty straightforward, but setting up crossplay between PC and mobile is dicey, so have your group decide unanimously whether to play Terraria together on Steam or on mobile.