8 virtual youth group games for teens

Looking for virtual games for teens? These eight youth group games work over a video call and include trivia, charades, Pictionary and icebreakers. Some need only your voices; others use paper, prepared questions or a game app.

Choose a game for your online youth group

• No extra equipment: try 20 questions, charades or one-word stories.
• Paper and pens: choose Bingo or Pictionary.
• Prepared questions: run a trivia round.
• Optional game software: use Heads Up for Celebrity Heads, or a Jackbox game.

Decide the order of turns before you start, explain the rules and play a practice round. For a larger call, divide into smaller groups where your video-call setup allows it.

Eight games to play over a video call

1. Celebrity Heads

Choose a well-known person or character for one player to guess. Share the name with everyone except that player, then let them ask yes-or-no questions until they work it out. Take turns so everyone can have a go.

You can also use the Heads Up app for a version where the group gives clues. Check the app’s current requirements before your session.

2. Bingo

Send everyone a bingo card before the call, or ask them to draw a grid and fill it with items from a list you provide. Call out the numbers or words in a random order. Players mark each match and call “Bingo!” when they complete the pattern you agreed on.

3. Trivia

Prepare a short set of questions and ask players to write their answers down. Read the answers after each round and let everyone keep score. You can use general knowledge, Bible questions or a mix of both.

If you want a game-show format, TriviaMaker is one option. Check its current plans and features before choosing it for your group.

4. Charades

Give one player a word or phrase without letting the rest of the group see it. They act it out on camera without speaking, while everyone else guesses. Take turns choosing the next actor, and give extra time if someone’s connection is slow.

5. Pictionary

Give the artist a word to draw. They sketch it on paper and hold it up to their camera while the others guess. A shared drawing tool is another option if your group already knows how to use it. Use the same time limit for each turn.

6. Jackbox

A host can run a Jackbox game on a computer and share the game screen over the call. Players join using the room code in their browser at jackbox.tv. See Jackbox’s guide to playing remotely for setup instructions.

Choose a game suitable for your group’s ages, check its player limit and test the screen sharing and sound beforehand. Check current purchase requirements rather than relying on a past free-game offer.

7. 20 questions

One person thinks of an object. The rest of the group has up to 20 yes-or-no questions to identify it. A leader can choose the next question asker and keep count so everyone gets a turn. If the group guesses correctly, choose a new person and start again.

8. One-word stories

Set an order and build a story together, with each person adding just one word on their turn. Keep going around the group until the story reaches an ending. The fun comes from trying to make sense of the unexpected directions it takes!

Meeting in person next time?

Try our 13 youth group games, mixers and icebreakers, or browse the full youth group games collection for more ideas.