There's a specific kind of friendship that doesn't need a crowd. Best friend energy usually works better with exactly two people than with a party of ten, which is exactly the gap most "friend games" lists ignore since they're written for group hangouts. Games for best friends online should work whether you're both free right now on a call, breaking off from a bigger group chat into your own DM, or just texting between errands.
What makes best-friend games different from generic friend games is history. You already know each other's stories, inside jokes, and weird habits, so the games that work best lean into that instead of starting from zero like an ice breaker would. Below: sixteen options sorted by how you're actually hanging out, whether that's browser link, Discord voice, or plain text.
Setting up a best-friend game session
- Skip the ice breakers. You already know each other, so pick games with more personal stakes instead of generic getting-to-know-you prompts.
- Let old inside jokes into the game. References only you two get make everything funnier, don't sanitize them for a "normal" version of the game.
- Match the game to how long you actually have. A five-minute catch-up call needs something different than a full Friday night video hang.
- Rotate who picks the game. If one person always chooses, the other stops having a stake in it. Trade off.
Browser games for best friends, free
1. Curio
A guessing game with real chat built in, so you're never sitting through dead air waiting for the next round. Stranger mode exists too, but for an actual best friend, Duo mode makes more sense since it leans into what you already know about each other. Share the link over text or drop it straight into Discord. Full setup guide here.
2. PlayingCards.io
UNO, poker, whatever the two of you already know how to play together. No new rules to teach, just a virtual table for a game you've probably played in person a hundred times.
3. Skribbl.io
Draw badly, laugh loudly. This one works especially well with someone who already knows your terrible drawing skills and won't judge you for the stick figures.
4. 8 Ball Pool
Quick, competitive, and short enough to run during a lunch break or a study session gap without either of you having to commit real time.
5. Chess
Play async between classes or during slow moments at work. A single move a day still counts, and it gives you a small reason to check in even on days you don't actually talk.
Discord games for best friends
6. Screen-share Curio
One person creates the room, shares their screen or the link, and you both play together in voice. For the full breakdown of Discord-specific options beyond this, see the Discord games guide.
7. Jackbox
If either of you owns it, share the screen and use your phones as controllers. Some Jackbox packs are built for exactly two players, so check before assuming you need more people.
8. Trivia bot rounds
Add a trivia bot to your call, and whoever types the correct answer first scores. Works well as background noise during a longer voice hang, not just as a standalone game.
9. Never have I ever, voice only
Classic for a reason, and since it's just the two of you, you can go further than you would in a mixed server. Keep it PG if you're recording or anyone else might hear.
10. Watch party
Stream a show or movie together and react in voice the whole time. It's less a "game" and more a shared activity, but it fills the same role for a friendship that's mostly long-distance now.
Text games for best friends
11. Word chain
Last letter of one word starts the next. Mindless, easy to pick up mid-conversation, and good for a slow work afternoon.
12. Caption this
Send a random photo, best caption wins. Even better with an old photo from your own camera roll that the other person forgot existed.
13. One line story
Alternate sentences until it gets completely absurd. For a bigger list of these, check texting games for friends.
14. WhatsApp-specific picks
If that's where your friendship actually lives, games to play on WhatsApp covers voice-note and sticker-based options too.
When you're catching up, not competing
15. High-low of the week
One win, one struggle each, no game mechanics attached. Sometimes the best "game" for a best friend is just structured catching up, since it gives you both a reason to actually share instead of defaulting to "nothing much, you?"
16. Curio as the reconnect ritual
For friendships that have gone quiet for a while, whether from busy schedules or just drifting, a short Curio session is a low-pressure way back in. It's easier to open a game link than it is to send "hey we should catch up sometime," and it usually leads to the same conversation anyway.
Pick by vibe
| Situation | Try |
|---|---|
| Discord call, 30 minutes free | Curio or Skribbl |
| Texting between errands | Word chain or caption this |
| First hangout in years | Ice breakers for two |
| Need more players for the night | 2-player games broken into pairs |
Best friend tip: Don't over-plan it. Send the link, say "you up?", and let the game do the rest of the talking.
FAQ: games for best friends online
What's the best game for a best friend you haven't talked to in months?
A quick Curio round works better than a heavy "we need to catch up" message. It's an easy, low-pressure way back into regular contact.
Do we need Discord for any of these?
No. Most games here work over a browser link or plain text. Discord just adds voice and screen-share if that's already how you hang out.
What if we're in different time zones now?
Lean on async options like Chess or word chain, which don't need you both online at the same moment. Save real-time games for whenever your schedules actually overlap.
Is it weird to play the same game every time we talk?
Not really, a repeat game can become its own tradition. Just make sure you're both still enjoying it and not just defaulting out of habit.
How do we keep it from feeling like we're forcing the friendship?
Keep sessions short and skip them when you're not feeling it. Games should lower pressure, not add a new obligation to an already busy friendship.
Mistakes that make best-friend games fall flat
- Treating it like a group game scaled down. Pick games built for two, not a party game missing eight players.
- Ignoring your actual history together. Generic prompts waste the advantage of already knowing each other well.
- Letting competitiveness override the catch-up. If winning matters more than talking, you've picked the wrong game for the moment.
- Forgetting to just ask how they're doing. Games are a doorway into conversation, not a replacement for it.
Start a Curio room and text your best friend the link. That's the whole invite.