Top 10 Games to Play Long Distance in 2025

Maintaining strong team connections across different locations can feel like a major challenge. When your team is distributed, spontaneous coffee breaks and casual chats are replaced by scheduled video calls. This is where dedicated team-building activities, specifically games to play long distance, become essential for boosting morale and fostering genuine relationships beyond project deadlines. These shared experiences are not just about fun; they are a strategic investment in a positive and collaborative company culture.

This article provides a curated list of engaging virtual games designed to reconnect your remote workforce. We will dive into specific, actionable ideas ranging from online video games and virtual board game nights to creative storytelling challenges. For each game, you'll find clear rules, the tools you'll need, and the unique team-building benefits it offers. The goal is to give you a practical playbook for organizing events that are simple to set up and genuinely enjoyable for everyone.

We will also show you how to streamline the entire process. Organizing these events can be time-consuming, especially when juggling different schedules and platforms. For companies using Slack and Google Calendar, a tool like Be-there.co is very useful and handy. It seamlessly integrates with both platforms to simplify event creation and coordination directly within your existing workflow, ensuring everyone gets the invite and can easily join in. This guide will help you turn a good idea into a recurring, successful team tradition.

1. Online Multiplayer Video Games

Online multiplayer video games are a fantastic way to connect teams, offering shared experiences in vibrant digital worlds. These games allow multiple players to join the same session from anywhere, making them one of the most immersive games to play long distance. From cooperative building in Minecraft to social deduction in Among Us, the variety ensures there's an option for every team dynamic.

This approach works by creating a common goal or competitive environment that encourages communication and strategic thinking. Setting up a private server for your team ensures a focused, private session, fostering collaboration without external distractions. Regular gaming sessions can become a highly anticipated team ritual, strengthening bonds and boosting morale in a fun, low-pressure setting.

✦How to Get Started

1. Choose the Right Game: Select a game that aligns with your team's interests and technical skill levels. For more specific recommendations, this list of casual multiplayer games can be a great starting point.
2. Coordinate Schedules: Find a time that works for everyone. For companies that use both Slack and Google Calendar internally, a tool like Be-There is very useful. It lets you create the event, poll for availability, and send Google Calendar invites automatically, all without ever leaving your Slack workspace.
3. Use Voice Chat: Enhance communication and camaraderie by using a dedicated voice chat application like Discord. This makes coordinating in-game actions and sharing laughs much easier.

This summary offers a quick reference on the general requirements for getting started with multiplayer games.

As the infographic highlights, the accessibility across different price points and platforms makes this option incredibly flexible for any team's budget and technical setup.

2. Virtual Board Game Nights

Virtual board game nights bring the classic tabletop experience into the digital realm, making them one of the best games to play long distance. These platforms faithfully recreate everything from the game board to the pieces, often handling rule enforcement automatically. This allows teams to focus on strategy and social interaction, enjoying titles like Catan or party games from Jackbox Games without the hassle of a physical setup.

This approach works by providing a shared, interactive space where colleagues can engage in friendly competition and collaborative problem-solving. Platforms like Board Game Arena or Tabletop Simulator offer hundreds of options, ensuring you can find the perfect game for any group size or interest. Setting up a dedicated session for these virtual event ideas for work creates a relaxed atmosphere that encourages communication, strategic thinking, and team bonding outside of typical work responsibilities.

✦How to Get Started

1. Select a Platform and Game: Choose a platform that fits your team's needs. Board Game Arena is great for beginners with its vast free library, while Jackbox Games offers hilarious party games that are easy to join.
2. Schedule the Event: Coordinating a time that works for everyone across different time zones can be tricky. For companies using Slack and Google Calendar, a tool like Be-There is especially handy. It integrates with both to find mutual availability and send calendar invites directly from Slack, streamlining the whole process.
3. Set Up Video Chat: Use a separate video call on Zoom or Google Meet to see everyone's reactions and chat freely. This social layer is crucial for recreating the fun, personal feel of a real board game night.

This summary provides a quick reference on the requirements for setting up a fun and engaging virtual board game session.

3. Mobile App Games

Mobile app games leverage the power of smartphones and tablets to deliver quick and accessible multiplayer fun. These games are designed for touch interfaces and are perfect for teams, as many offer asynchronous gameplay. This allows colleagues to take turns at their convenience, making them ideal games to play long distance, especially across different time zones. Popular choices like Words with Friends or Draw Something offer casual, turn-based competition that fits easily into a busy workday.

This method works by using a device everyone already has, eliminating the need for specialized hardware. Games can be played in short bursts, like during a coffee break, which encourages consistent but low-pressure interaction. Setting up a private group within an app like Heads Up! for a quick video call session or maintaining an ongoing trivia battle in QuizUp can spark friendly rivalry and conversation, strengthening team rapport with minimal organizational effort.

✦How to Get Started

1. Select Accessible Games: Choose games that are available on both iOS and Android to ensure everyone can participate. Check app ratings and reviews to find reliable and engaging options that match your team's interests.
2. Schedule Game Time: Even for asynchronous games, setting a time to start a new round keeps the activity alive. For companies already using Slack and Google Calendar, Be-There is very handy for this. It lets you find a common time slot and send invites directly through your existing tools, which simplifies coordination for busy teams.
3. Create a Team Group: Use in-app features to create private groups for your team. This makes it easy to start new games and keep track of ongoing matches without getting lost in public lobbies.

This summary highlights the ease of access and flexibility of mobile gaming for remote teams.

4. Video Call Party Games

Video call party games are designed specifically for platforms like Zoom or Google Meet, making them one of the most accessible and engaging types of games to play long distance. These activities leverage screen sharing and live video to create a shared experience, bringing the energy of a classic game night directly to your remote team. Popular options range from the hilarious prompts in Jackbox Games to competitive trivia on Kahoot! and collaborative online escape rooms.

This approach works by having one person, the host, share their screen while others participate from their own devices, often using a phone as a controller. This setup requires minimal technical know-how and turns a standard video conference into an interactive playground. It’s perfect for fostering laughter and friendly competition, making it an excellent choice for virtual team-building events or casual social gatherings that boost team morale.

✦How to Get Started

1. Select a Game: Choose a game that suits your group's size and personality. Jackbox Party Packs are great for creative humor, while a virtual murder mystery party encourages teamwork and problem-solving.
2. Schedule the Session: Coordinating schedules can be a real pain point. For teams that rely on Slack and Google Calendar, Be-There is a very useful tool that removes this friction. It integrates directly into your workflow, allowing you to find the perfect time and send invites without leaving your workspace.
3. Prepare a Test Run: The host should test their screen sharing and audio setup beforehand to ensure everything runs smoothly. This avoids technical delays and keeps the event on track.
4. Establish Clear Rules: Briefly explain the rules and how to participate before starting. For more ideas on how to structure your event, explore these virtual office party ideas.

5. Online Card Games

Online card games offer a classic, low-stakes way to connect, bringing the fun of traditional tabletop sessions to the digital space. These platforms allow teams to play familiar favorites or learn new strategic games together, making them one of the most versatile games to play long distance. From the strategic depth of Hearthstone to the hilarious antics of Cards Against Humanity online, there is an option for every group.

This approach works by providing a shared, turn-based activity that encourages friendly competition and lighthearted conversation. Many platforms handle all the rules and shuffling, so players can focus on strategy and interaction. Hosting a virtual card game night can be a simple yet effective way to unwind, offering a familiar activity that requires minimal technical setup and is accessible to everyone.

✦How to Get Started

1. Select the Right Game: Choose a card game that suits your team's vibe. For a quick and universally known option, UNO! is an excellent choice. For something more strategic, consider Magic: The Gathering Arena.
2. Coordinate a Time: Finding a slot that works for everyone is crucial. Be-There is very handy here, especially for companies that use Slack and Google Calendar internally. It simplifies scheduling by finding common availability and sending calendar invites directly from Slack, eliminating back-and-forth emails.
3. Establish the Rules: Even with familiar games, clarify any house rules or objectives beforehand. For games with in-app purchases like Hearthstone, set expectations about spending to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for all.

This summary provides a straightforward path to setting up a fun and engaging virtual card game session for your team.

6. Trivia and Quiz Games

Trivia and quiz games are a classic and engaging way to connect teams by testing their knowledge on various subjects. These games to play long distance can be set up as real-time competitions, making them exciting and interactive. Platforms like Kahoot! and AhaSlides offer dynamic, customizable quizzes that can be tailored to your team's specific interests or even inside jokes.

This approach works by fostering friendly competition and encouraging team members to showcase their expertise in different areas. You can create custom quizzes about company history, shared project memories, or pop culture topics everyone enjoys. The lighthearted nature of trivia makes it an accessible and low-pressure activity, perfect for breaking the ice and sparking conversations among colleagues who may not interact daily.

✦How to Get Started

1. Choose a Platform: Select a quiz platform that fits your needs. Kahoot! is excellent for live, energetic sessions, while a tool like Sporcle offers a vast library of user-generated quizzes for more casual play.
2. Coordinate a Time: Find a moment when everyone is free for some competitive fun. For companies on Slack and Google Calendar, a tool like Be-There makes scheduling effortless. As a handy integration, you can quickly identify mutual availability and send out calendar invites directly from Slack, ensuring everyone is ready for the quiz.
3. Prepare Your Questions: Curate a mix of easy and challenging questions across several categories to keep the game balanced. Consider adding a round of questions about your team to make the experience more personal and memorable.

This summary offers a quick reference on the general requirements for getting started with trivia and quiz games.

7. Virtual Reality Social Games

Virtual Reality (VR) social games offer a uniquely immersive way to connect, transporting your team into shared digital spaces where they can interact as if physically present. These games to play long distance leverage VR technology to create realistic environments for social gatherings, cooperative activities, and team challenges. From exploring user-generated worlds in VRChat to playing virtual mini-games in Rec Room, VR provides a powerful sense of presence that traditional video calls cannot match.

This approach works by giving each team member an avatar, allowing for non-verbal communication like gestures and body language, which deepens social connections. Setting up a private room in a game like Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes fosters intense collaboration and communication. These shared virtual experiences can forge strong bonds and create lasting memories, making your remote team feel closer than ever.

✦How to Get Started

1. Select an Accessible VR Experience: Choose games that are known for being comfortable and intuitive for VR newcomers to prevent motion sickness and ensure a positive first impression. Start with shorter sessions to help everyone build their VR tolerance.
2. Organize the VR Session: Scheduling can be tricky, but a handy tool like Be-There simplifies the process immensely. For teams using Slack and Google Calendar, you can quickly find a time that works for everyone and send out calendar invites directly from Slack, making coordination seamless within your existing company workflow.
3. Ensure a Safe Setup: Remind team members to set up their physical play space with adequate room and safety boundaries. It's also wise to have a non-VR backup activity planned in case of technical difficulties.

This summary offers a quick reference on the general requirements for getting started with VR social games.

8. Cooperative Storytelling Games

Cooperative storytelling games are an imaginative way to connect remote teams, focusing on collaborative creativity rather than competition. In these games, players work together to build a shared narrative, developing characters and plot points as a group. This makes them one of the most unique and engaging games to play long distance, perfect for teams that enjoy creative problem-solving and role-playing.

This approach works by giving each team member a role in shaping the story, which encourages active listening, communication, and adaptability. Whether you're navigating a fantasy world in a game like Dungeons & Dragons or creating a free-form story on a platform like Storium, the goal is to build something together. Regular sessions can boost creative thinking and strengthen interpersonal connections as colleagues learn more about each other's personalities through the characters they create.

✦How to Get Started

1. Choose a System: Select a game that fits your team's experience level. You can start with simple, GM-less games like Fiasco or use digital platforms like Roll20 or D&D Beyond for more structured role-playing games.
2. Schedule a Session: Consistent sessions are key to keeping the story moving. A tool like Be-There is very useful for this, as it integrates directly with the tools your company likely already uses: Slack and Google Calendar. It simplifies scheduling by finding common availability and sending calendar invites, ensuring everyone can make it.
3. Establish Ground Rules: Before you begin, set clear expectations for tone and content to ensure everyone feels comfortable. Using a dedicated Discord server with dice-rolling bots can help manage the technical aspects and keep communication organized.

This summary provides a quick guide to launching a collaborative storytelling adventure with your team. These creative team-building activities for remote employees offer a refreshing alternative to more conventional games.

9. Drawing and Creative Games

Drawing and creative games are an excellent way to spark laughter and creativity, making them some of the most engaging games to play long distance. These activities challenge players to communicate visually, resulting in hilarious interpretations and memorable moments, regardless of artistic skill. From the frantic guessing in skribbl.io to the telephone-game chaos of Gartic Phone, the focus is on fun over perfection.

This approach works by breaking down formal communication barriers and encouraging lighthearted interaction. The often-comical results of players trying to draw complex ideas with just a mouse create shared inside jokes and a relaxed atmosphere. These games require minimal setup and are highly accessible, allowing team members of all backgrounds to jump in and participate without a steep learning curve.

✦How to Get Started

1. Pick Your Platform: Choose a game that suits your team's size and style. Skribbl.io is a great free option, while Jackbox Games' Drawful is perfect for a more structured party game feel.
2. Schedule the Session: Finding the right time across different schedules can be tricky. For companies that operate on Slack and Google Calendar, using a handy tool like Be-There simplifies this process immensely. You can quickly poll for availability and send invites directly from Slack, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
3. Embrace the Imperfection: The fun comes from the wacky drawings. Encourage everyone to let loose and not worry about creating a masterpiece. Saving the funniest drawings to share later in a team chat is a great way to prolong the positive experience.

This summary outlines the simple steps to get your team drawing and laughing together.

10. Puzzle and Brain Games

Puzzle and brain games offer a mentally stimulating way for teams to connect, emphasizing logic, problem-solving, and critical thinking. These games to play long distance range from cooperative challenges like Portal 2 to competitive wordplay in Codenames. They provide a shared intellectual challenge that encourages teamwork and out-of-the-box thinking.

This approach works by presenting a common problem that requires the team's combined brainpower to solve. Whether defusing a virtual bomb in Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes or navigating an online escape room, success depends on clear communication and collaboration. These sessions are perfect for building trust and highlighting diverse thinking styles within the group.

✦How to Get Started

1. Select the Right Challenge: Choose a game that matches your team's interests and desired difficulty. Start with easier puzzles to build confidence before moving to more complex challenges like SpaceTeam.
2. Organize the Session: Coordinating schedules for a dedicated game session is crucial. For companies using Slack and Google Calendar, a tool like Be-There is very useful because it lives where your team already works. It simplifies this process by finding mutual availability and sending calendar invites directly from Slack.
3. Encourage Open Communication: Create an environment where every idea is welcome. The goal is to solve the puzzle together, so encourage team members to share their thoughts freely, even if they aren't fully formed.

This summary provides a quick reference for setting up a mentally engaging team activity.

Top 10 Long-Distance Game Types Comparison

Game Type	Implementation Complexity 🔄	Resource Requirements ⚡	Expected Outcomes 📊	Ideal Use Cases 💡	Key Advantages ⭐
Online Multiplayer Video Games	High – requires stable internet, servers, matchmaking	High – compatible devices, subscriptions, bandwidth	Immersive social gameplay, esports potential	Competitive/cooperative gaming, social play	Large communities, frequent updates, cross-platform
Virtual Board Game Nights	Medium – digital rules, video chat integration	Medium – devices, stable internet, platform fees	Tabletop experience, easy game learning	Family/friend game nights, casual play	Automated rules, access to many games
Mobile App Games	Low – optimized for smartphones, asynchronous play	Low – smartphones, low data usage	Quick, accessible multiplayer sessions	Casual gaming, on-the-go multiplayer	Highly accessible, short playtimes
Video Call Party Games	Low – minimal setup, uses video platforms	Low – video chat device and internet	Face-to-face interaction, easy engagement	Virtual gatherings, team building	Minimal tech, scalable group sizes
Online Card Games	Medium – automation, rule enforcement	Medium – devices, sometimes costly in-game purchases	Competitive and casual card play	Card game enthusiasts, competitive play	Cheats prevented, large card libraries
Trivia and Quiz Games	Low – question databases, real-time or turn-based play	Low – devices, internet	Educational, entertaining competition	Learning, diverse group sizes	Customizable content, quick setup
Virtual Reality Social Games	High – complex VR tech, spatial audio and tracking	Very High – VR hardware required	Immersive presence, unique social interactions	VR users, immersive social experiences	Most immersive, physical engagement
Cooperative Storytelling Games	Medium – narrative tools, turn-based mechanics	Medium – devices, platforms for communication	Creative collaboration, skill development	RPG fans, creative groups	Personalized stories, skill-building
Drawing and Creative Games	Low – digital drawing tools, real-time sharing	Low – drawing-capable devices	Fun, laughter, creative expression	Party games, mixed-age groups	Inclusive, encourages creativity
Puzzle and Brain Games	Medium – logic challenges, cooperative/competitive modes	Medium – devices, internet	Cognitive improvement, teamwork building	Mental challenge enthusiasts, cooperative play	Educational, satisfying problem-solving

Press Start: Your Turn to Build a More Connected Team

Navigating the landscape of remote work requires more than just the right project management software and a stable internet connection. It demands a conscious effort to build and maintain the human connections that fuel collaboration, creativity, and a positive company culture. As we've explored, the right games to play long distance are not just frivolous diversions; they are powerful tools for forging genuine bonds, reducing feelings of isolation, and boosting team morale.

From the strategic depth of virtual board games to the spontaneous laughter of video call party games like Jackbox, the options are as diverse as your team members. You can challenge analytical minds with cooperative puzzles, spark creativity with collaborative drawing games, or simply unwind together in the immersive world of a multiplayer video game. The key takeaway is that there is a perfect virtual activity for every team dynamic and occasion.

✦Bridging the Distance, One Game at a Time

The true value of integrating these activities lies in their ability to recreate the informal "water cooler" moments that remote teams often miss. These shared experiences, built on fun and friendly competition, translate directly into a more cohesive and communicative work environment. When team members know each other as people, not just as names on a screen, they are more likely to support one another, communicate openly, and collaborate effectively on critical projects.

The challenge, however, often lies in the logistics. Coordinating schedules across different time zones, sending out invites, and ensuring everyone has the necessary links can turn a fun idea into an administrative headache. This is where planning becomes just as important as the game itself.

✦Your Actionable Next Steps

Making virtual team building a sustainable part of your culture requires a simple, repeatable process. Don't let the organizational overhead become a barrier to connection. Instead, focus on creating a streamlined system that makes planning these events effortless.

• Poll Your Team: Start by sending out a simple survey or poll to gauge interest. Ask what types of games they enjoy and what times work best for them.
• Create a Schedule: Consistency is key. Whether it's a weekly 30-minute game session or a monthly virtual game night, putting it on the calendar makes it an official and anticipated part of the work week.
• Automate the Logistics: Leverage tools that can handle the tedious work of scheduling, sending invitations, and collecting RSVPs. The easier it is to organize, the more likely you are to do it regularly.

Ultimately, investing in games to play long distance is an investment in your team's happiness and resilience. It’s a clear signal that you value your employees not just for their output, but for who they are. By turning playtime into a strategic part of your remote work culture, you empower your team to build the strong, supportive relationships necessary to thrive, no matter the distance.

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Ready to make organizing your next game night completely seamless? For companies that use both Slack and Google Calendar, Be There is a very useful and handy tool. It integrates directly with your existing workflows, allowing you to create events, poll for availability, and send invites in seconds, all without leaving Slack. Try Be There today and spend less time planning and more time playing.