What makes a good multiplayer game for friends?
The best games for a group of friends are quick to explain, keep everyone involved and give you something to laugh about besides the scores. It also helps when the game does the dull parts for you. On Ping44 the server deals, times, checks moves and counts points, so you can just play.
Word games
Fast, talky games where a good vocabulary helps but quick thinking matters more. Our guide to word games compares them.
NOUN
The classic Name, Animal, Place, Thing game. Everyone fills in the categories with words that start with the round's letter, then checks another player's answers. An answer nobody else wrote scores double. 2 to 100 players. How to play NOUN.
Flexi Noun
NOUN with your own categories: the host picks 4 to 6 from a list or invents new ones. Same letter race, same scoring, so you can theme a whole game around your group. About Flexi Noun.
Word Chain
Take turns adding a word that follows the mode's rule, from "start with the last letter" to rhymes, related meanings and whole sentences. Eight modes, including custom rules. Run out of time and you lose a life. 3 to 20 players. Word Chain rules.
20 Questions
One player holds a secret and everyone else asks yes-or-no questions or takes a guess. The server adds hints about the answer, such as how many words it has. 2 to 20 players. Play 20 Questions.
Trivia and drawing games
Games that work for almost any crowd. See party games and drawing games for more ideas.
Trivia
Questions on a topic and difficulty you choose, or questions the host writes. Everyone answers at the same time, and faster correct answers score more. 1 to 25 questions, 2 to 100 players. Play Trivia.
Scribbly
Three drawing games in one, picked in Game settings. Turns last 15 to 120 seconds and a game runs 1 to 10 rounds. About Scribbly.
Sketch & Draw
One player picks a word and draws it while everyone else types guesses. Faster guesses score more, and the artist earns a bonus for each correct guess. 2 to 50 players. Sketch & Draw rules.
Sketch Battle
One player picks a word, everyone (the picker too) draws it at the same time, then each drawing gets a rating from 0 to 3 stars. 3 to 30 players. Sketch Battle rules.
Sketch Impostor
Everyone draws the secret word except the impostor, who never gets it and has to fake it. Then everyone votes on who was bluffing. 3 to 20 players. Sketch Impostor rules.
Card games
Classic card games with a private hand for every player. See all card games, and the casino games guide for the chip games.
WHOT
The traditional Nigerian card game: match the top card by shape or number, and use special cards such as Pick Two, Hold On, Suspension and General Market against everyone else. The host sets the house rules. 2 to 20 players. How to play WHOT.
UNO
Match by color or number, and play Skip, Reverse, Draw Two, Wild and Wild Draw Four. The first player to empty their hand wins. 2 to 20 players. Play UNO.
Poker
Texas Hold'em with virtual chips: two private cards, five shared ones, blinds and all-ins. 2 to 10 at the table. Poker rules.
Blackjack
Play against the dealer: get closer to 21 without going over, and hit, stand or double down. 1 to 100 players, with virtual chips. Play Blackjack.
Baccarat
Bet on Player, Banker or Tie, and the table deals itself by the classic drawing rules. 2 to 100 players. Play Baccarat.
Hi-Lo
Call whether the next card is higher or lower, build up your winnings, and cash out before you miss. 2 to 100 players. Play Hi-Lo.
Board games
From quick one-on-one games to tournaments. Our guide to board games has more.
Barricade
Race your pawn to the far side and slow everyone else down with walls, without ever shutting anyone in. 2 to 8 players, on boards from 9 by 9 to 13 by 13. Play Barricade.
Four in a Row
Drop discs and line up four. Two players play the classic game; up to 8 can play in teams, everyone for themselves on a bigger grid, or a knockout tournament. Play Four in a Row.
Chess
Timed chess one-on-one, as two teams on one board (up to 8 players), or as a tournament of groups and knockouts for up to 32. Play chess.
Draughts
English draughts, the same game as American checkers, on an 8 by 8 board with mandatory captures and kings. Teams or a tournament, like chess. Play draughts.
Property Game
Buy properties, build, trade and collect rent with virtual coins on an original city board. 2 to 8 players, with an optional time limit. Play the Property Game.
Which game should you pick?
- Just the two of you: Barricade, Four in a Row, Chess, Draughts or 20 Questions.
- A big group: NOUN, Trivia, Sketch & Draw or Blackjack. See games for large groups.
- On a video call: NOUN, Trivia and 20 Questions. See video call games.
- Bluffing: Sketch Impostor or Poker.
- Something creative: Scribbly or Flexi Noun.
Why play on Ping44
- Free, with no ads, no premium tier and no in-app purchases.
- Nothing to download: it runs in the browser on any phone, tablet or computer.
- Up to 100 people in a room; anyone not playing can watch as a spectator.
- Built-in voice chat, with up to 16 microphones open at once.
- The server deals, shuffles and checks every move, and sends hidden cards and secret words only to the player who may see them.
- Switch games in the same room; room scores add up across games.
- In English, French and Vietnamese.
How to start in under a minute
- Sign in at ping44.com with email or Google (free) and create a room.
- Share the invite link, room code or QR code. Friends can join as guests by picking a name.
- In the lobby, pick a game, for example Board games, then Four in a Row in Game settings.
- Press start.
Frequently asked questions
Are these multiplayer games really free?
Yes. Every game on Ping44 is free, with no ads, no premium tier and no in-app purchases. The casino-style games use virtual chips with no cash value.
Do we need to download anything?
No. Ping44 plays in the browser on phones, tablets and computers. Friends open your invite link, pick a name and join.
How many people can play together?
A room holds up to 100 people. NOUN, Flexi Noun, Trivia, Blackjack, Baccarat and Hi-Lo can take everyone. Sketch & Draw takes up to 50, a chess or draughts tournament 32, Sketch Battle 30, and Word Chain, 20 Questions, Sketch Impostor, WHOT and UNO 20. Poker seats 10, and Barricade, Four in a Row and the Property Game take 8. Everyone else can watch.
Can we play on different devices?
Yes. Players on phones, tablets and computers can share the same room and play together.
Can we switch games without making a new room?
Yes. Between games the host picks another game in the lobby and everyone stays in the room. Room scores add up across games, and the host can reset them.
Is there voice chat?
Yes. The host turns voice chat on when creating the room. Up to 16 people can have their microphone open at once and everyone else listens.
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