Best Zoom calls alternatives
The problem with games on a video call is not finding one — it is finding one that survives lag, works when half the room is on a phone, and does not need everybody to install something first. These six all run in a browser tab next to the call, and none of them require a shared screen or a designated host who sits out.
- 1.
Imposketch
A draw-and-bluff social deduction game: everyone draws the same secret prompt except one impostor, who secretly got a near-twin prompt and has to blend in. Drawings are revealed side by side, the group votes, and escaping as the impostor scores double. Rounds take about 4 minutes, nobody waits for a turn, and bad art is a feature, not a problem.
Best for: Groups of 3–8 who like accusing each otherPrice: Free, browser + Android, no signupPlay Imposketch - 2.
skribbl.io
The internet's default online Pictionary: one player draws a word, everyone else races to type the guess. Instant to explain, familiar to everyone, and private rooms take seconds to set up.
Best for: Classic draw-and-guess with zero learning curvePrice: Free (ads), browserImposketch vs skribbl.io - 3.
Gartic Phone
The telephone game with drawings: write a prompt, draw someone else's, describe what you see, and watch the chain mutate into nonsense at the reveal. No winner, pure comedy, and it genuinely gets better the more people you add.
Best for: Big groups (8+) that want zero-stakes laughsPrice: Free, browserImposketch vs Gartic Phone - 4.
Codenames
Two spymasters give one-word clues to link words on a grid while their teams guess. Free online boards make it a video-call staple, and it is the rare party game that rewards thinking — but it is teams-and-turns, so half the table is idle at any moment.
Best for: Word people and mixed-skill work teamsPrice: Free online boards; paid board game - 5.
Drawful 2 (Jackbox)
Jackbox's drawing game: sketch an absurd prompt on your phone, then everyone submits fake titles and tries to guess the real one. Extremely polished, extremely funny — but someone has to own it and run it on a shared screen.
Best for: Couch parties with a TV and a Jackbox ownerPrice: Paid (standalone or Party Pack)Imposketch vs Drawful 2 (Jackbox) - 6.
Among Us
The social deduction giant: crewmates do tasks, impostors sabotage and vent, emergency meetings decide who gets ejected. Needs everyone to install the game, and matches run 10–20 minutes — but the impostor tension is the genre benchmark.
Best for: Committed gaming sessions with voice chatPrice: Free on mobile (ads), paid on PCImposketch vs Among Us
FAQ
What are the best free games to play on Zoom with no download?
Imposketch, skribbl.io, Gartic Phone and the free Codenames boards all run in a browser tab with nothing to install — one person opens a room and pastes the link in the chat.
What is a good Zoom game for a work team?
Imposketch works well for teams because it needs no drawing skill, no game knowledge and no talking to participate — everyone sketches at the same time, so a 6-person team finishes a round in about 4 minutes. Codenames is the other safe pick if your group prefers words to pictures.
Do these games need screen sharing?
No. Each player opens the game on their own device and keeps the Zoom window for faces and reactions. Drawful 2 is the exception — Jackbox games are built around one shared screen.
How many people can play on a Zoom call?
Imposketch takes 3–8, which fits most standup-sized teams. Gartic Phone scales furthest if you have 10+ people; Codenames splits into two teams of any size.