7 free party games to play on your phone with friends
Ours is on the list, and so are six we like. All free, all on phones, most with no download at all.
A good phone party game needs three things: everyone joins in seconds, nobody needs to be good at it, and it's fun to watch even when it's not your turn. These seven pass that test. We make one of them (Our Band Sucks, number 1, we're biased); the other six are games we play ourselves and recommend without being asked.
All of them are free to play. A few have paid extras or ads; we say so where it matters.
The list at a glance
| Game | What you do | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Our Band Sucks | Play a song as a band, one instrument per phone | 1 to 4 phones, a browser |
| 2. Gartic Phone | Draw and guess in a chain, like broken telephone | A browser per player, works best with 4+ |
| 3. Skribbl.io | One draws, everyone races to guess the word | A browser per player |
| 4. Codenames (online) | Two teams, one-word clues, find your agents | A browser per player, 4+ is best |
| 5. Kahoot! | Trivia quiz, answer on your phone | One shared screen plus a phone each |
| 6. Spyfall | Everyone knows the location except the spy | A browser per player, 3+ |
| 7. Psych! | Write fake answers, guess the real one | The app on each phone |
1. Our Band Sucks: the band game
Each phone becomes drums, guitar, keys or vocals, and the band plays one of ten original songs together. One phone hosts a room, friends join with a 4-letter code, and it's all in the browser. It's the only one on this list where the whole group does something at the same time instead of taking turns, which is why it's loud. Best for 2 to 4; solo works too.
2. Gartic Phone: draw, guess, repeat
Everyone writes a sentence, the next person draws it, the next describes the drawing, and so on. The reveal at the end, watching a sentence turn into something unrecognisable, is the best part. Free in the browser and great for bigger groups. Better on a laptop or tablet for drawing, but phones work.
3. Skribbl.io: the classic drawing race
One player draws a word, everyone else types guesses, and the fastest correct guess scores most. Rounds are quick and the custom word lists make it easy to fill with in-jokes. Free and browser-based; the drawing is easier with a mouse than a thumb.
4. Codenames: the word game everybody knows
Two teams, a grid of words, and one clue-giver per team trying to link several words with a single clue without hitting the assassin. The official online version is free and plays well on phones. Slower and more thoughtful than the rest of this list; perfect after dinner.
5. Kahoot!: the quiz show
One person hosts a quiz on a shared screen, everyone answers on their phones with a game PIN, and faster correct answers score more. There are thousands of ready-made quizzes, or you can write one about your friends. Free for small groups; the catch is that you need one big screen everyone can see.
6. Spyfall: find the spy
Every player sees the same secret location, except one: the spy. Take turns asking each other questions; the group tries to catch the spy, the spy tries to work out where you are. Fast, tense and very funny with people who lie well. Several free web versions exist; you only need a phone each.
7. Psych!: the bluffing game
A question appears, everyone writes a fake answer, and then everyone tries to pick the real one among the fakes. Points for fooling your friends. It's an app rather than a web page, free with ads, and has themed decks from trivia to "truth comes out".
How to pick
Want everyone doing something at once? Our Band Sucks. A big group and a laugh at the end? Gartic Phone. Quick rounds? Skribbl.io or Spyfall. A thinking game? Codenames. A big screen in the room? Kahoot!. Friends who love to lie? Psych! or Spyfall.
Questions, answered badly
Are these really free?
Yes, all seven can be played for free. Kahoot! and Psych! have paid extras; Psych! shows ads.
Which ones need no download?
Our Band Sucks, Gartic Phone, Skribbl.io, Codenames, Kahoot! and the web versions of Spyfall run in the browser. Psych! is an app.
Which work with people in different places?
All of them work online. Kahoot! needs a shared screen, so share it on a video call.
Which is best for two people?
Our Band Sucks (with virtual bandmates) or Codenames' two-player Duet mode.
Why is your game number 1?
Because we made it. The order of the other six isn't a ranking.
More on the landing page's FAQ, or ask the band on the feedback page.
Your band sucks?
Go prove it.
Gartic Phone, Skribbl.io, Codenames, Kahoot!, Spyfall and Psych! belong to their owners. We're not affiliated with any of them and nobody paid to be on this list.
