The gap between those who can access and use digital technology and those who can't
This is essentially Scrabble, but you can play with people all over the world. You can download it from the app store, have a ton of matches going at once, and enjoy an in-game chat.
Whereas Duo is meant to be much more specialized, Google Hangouts comes with Gmail or can be downloaded as a Chrome extension and is ideal to use on desktops. It supports messaging and video chats of up to 25 people.
For people with busy schedules, this simple app allows you to send video messages to individuals or groups who can then watch and respond at their leisure.
All videos are saved so you can revisit past conversations, and you also can add fun filters and voice effects to give your loved ones a laugh.
Uno-Freak is a website that allows you to play Uno with other people on your web browser, without having to download or install any software (and for free).
This free and easy app has messaging as well as video and audio calling for one-on-one and group chats.
You can use the Google Duo app on Android or iOS to video chat with up to eight of your friends at a time.
The quiz-based party video games offered by Jackbox vary from testing your skills in drawing and writing raps, to seeing how well you can lie or sell fake products. It’s endless fun!
You can send instant messages, photos, videos, stickers, GIFs, emojis, and more. It's convenient for avid Facebook users, and you also can make free WiFi video calls.
This group video chat service functions like a house party, wherein you can show up on your phone or computer, like entering a party, and your friends will get a notification that you're online and available to chat.
Though you have to pay for this online game service, it's definitely worth it. Only one person needs to own it, and the rest just need to visit Jackbox.tv on their mobile phone browser. We recommend you video chat while you play so you can see each other’s reactions!
You can also send video voice mails (called “facemails”), and play a variety of simple multiplayer games, like trivia and card games.
This new voice chat app, available on iOS and Android phones, randomly connects people all over the world who are isolated amid the coronavirus outbreak, so you can meet new people while combatting loneliness.
Few people had even heard of Zoom before the coronavirus outbreak, but now it's a must-have for everything from online classes and work meetings to happy hours and cocktail parties.
It’s free to download a Zoom Meetings license, which gives you access to unlimited video meetings (they can support up to 100 people, but only for up to 40 minutes), and private and group chats.
If you don’t have any gaming consoles, this is a great way to get your childhood fix using your smartphone! There’s a multiplayer mode, including friend-matchmaking.
If you’re an Apple customer, you can benefit from the free built-in video calling app with any other Apple customers. You also can use it to make audio calls if you're in a spot that has a WiFi or data connection but a poor phone signal.
Both a website and app, Kahoot! was made for playing, creating, and sharing multiple choice trivia quizzes about pretty much any topic. There are paid options, but you can get far for free.
This game is available to download from the popular video game distribution platform Steam. In this two-player game, one person has to defuse a bomb and the other has the manual, but neither of you can see what the other can. It’s hilarious, and only one of you needs a copy to play.
While it hosts video chats, it’s primarily used for voice- or text-based chats, so it's most popular for when you want to be engaged with friends while doing something else.
If you’re craving a dance party, try the app Plug.DJ. It allows everyone in a virtual party to queue their own music videos in a master list, so you can keep the party going.
Want some quarantune inspiration? Check out the best anthems for isolation.
If you're craving boardgame nights, Tabletop Simulator, also available on Steam, is a software that lets you play virtual board games online.
If you’re looking for a more romantic connection in this isolation, various dating sites are adapting to the circumstances. Plenty of Fish, for example, announced a feature that allows users to engage in virtual speed dating or break off into one-on-one video chats with other users.
If you’re hoping to connect beyond your social circle, this is a great platform. Originally created for gamers, it’s structured like a huge message board where you can create your own chat or join a preexisting one, provided you find an invite, which is usually on social media.
Available on Windows and Mac, this game is a laugh. Up to four players team up to prepare meals for customers, from chopping to delivering and washing up. The catch is that each kitchen features unique and absurd obstacles, from moving counters to collapsing floors.
This Google Chrome extension is the perfect way to enjoy Netflix with other people while apart, and even talk about what you’re watching using the platform’s chat tool.
Just pick what you want to watch, then pause it after it loads and click the red “NP” button in your extensions. You’ll get a unique link to send your friends so they can join, and then you can watch together seamlessly.
If you don't have Netflix but still want to watch videos with your friends online, Watch2gether lets you "create a room" and start watching content from sources like YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion. You can then invite friends to your room or join other rooms.
While socially isolating yourself to combat the widespread coronavirus is a noble feat, it's certainly not easy. There's a huge mental toll when you're stuck inside and can't see and touch your loved ones, but that doesn't mean there aren't ways to socialize!
There are various apps and games, available on all your devices, that are coming to the rescue during these trying times. You can play games remotely with your friends, enjoy content together, and have an absolute blast—all while sitting on your couch. Click through to see the programs that will completely change your experience of isolation.
The best social apps and games to beat isolation blues
Today is International Games Day
LIFESTYLE Technology
While socially isolating yourself to combat the widespread coronavirus is a noble feat, it's certainly not easy. There's a huge mental toll when you're stuck inside and can't see and touch your loved ones, but that doesn't mean there aren't ways to socialize!
There are various apps and games, available on all your devices, that are coming to the rescue during these trying times. You can play games remotely with your friends, enjoy content together, and have an absolute blast—all while sitting on your couch. Click through to see the programs that will completely change your experience of isolation.