Virtual Thanksgiving games for family on a video call
By eggverse · · 5 min read
For a virtual Thanksgiving with family who live far apart, keep the video call open for talking, send one game link in the family chat, and play two or three short games that need no setup. On eggverse, everyone joins from their own phone, tablet or computer, nobody installs anything, and each room holds two to eight players. Choose games with one rule a grandparent can learn in a minute.
eggverse is for players aged 13 and older, so this plan suits teens, parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents. None of the games has a Thanksgiving theme. The occasion is yours; the games give a scattered family something to do together besides passing the phone around.
Pick games a whole family can learn in a minute
| Game | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Spoons | The card game: collect four of a kind, then grab a spoon | Families who already play it at the table |
| Chef Says | Simon Says: only move when the Chef says so | Relatives who never play video games |
| Musical Nests | Musical chairs with one nest too few | A cheerful, noisy finale |
| Incognitegg | Hide and seek in a painted crowd | Taking turns, one seeker at a time |
| The Yolk’s On You | Cheat, the bluffing card game | The relative with the straightest face |
| Yolkworks | Sorting eggs together on a factory belt | Families who would rather win together |
Spoons works like the kitchen table version: tap a card to pass it left, collect four of the same rank to take the first spoon, and once one spoon is gone everyone can grab. There is one fewer spoon each round. If only two of you join, two bots fill out the table. Chef Says is Simon Says: answer the Chef’s call only when it starts with “Chef says”. Everyone has three hearts, and every round is a little faster. On a phone, an arrow pad and two buttons do everything.
Musical Nests is musical chairs: keep moving while the music plays, freeze when the Chef turns around, and dive into a nest when it stops. Incognitegg is Where’s Waldo with eggs: one person seeks with a magnifying lens while everyone else hides as their own egg in a red hat in a painted crowd of thousands, and everyone takes a turn seeking. The Yolk’s On You is the card game Cheat, also called BS, and Yolkworks puts the whole family on one production line, tapping lane switches so each egg reaches its matching exit.
A 30 minute plan for the family call
These are hosting slots, not promises about how long any one game lasts. Let a round finish, then move on while people are still enjoying it.
The day before: test with one relative. Send the game link to whoever is least comfortable with technology and play one practice round together. If it works for them, it will work for everyone.
Minutes 0–5: everyone joins. Post the room invitation in the family group chat. Relatives can also type the code on Join a room, where the EGG- prefix is already filled in, so they enter only the five digits.
Minutes 5–10: warm up with Chef Says. Everyone learns by following the calls, and the first round is practice.
Minutes 10–25: the main game. Play a few rounds of Spoons or The Yolk’s On You, or give everyone a turn as the seeker in Incognitegg.
Minutes 25–30: the finale. Finish with Musical Nests, then go back to talking. Anyone who wants another round can stay.
Set up the call and the game
Keep your usual video call app open for voices and faces. A second device is the comfortable setup: the call on a laptop or tablet, the game on a phone. If someone only has one phone, the game will take most of the screen, so they can keep the call on speaker and play. Cameras are optional; none of these games needs one.
Each room holds up to eight players. For a bigger family, open a second room and give each one a host, perhaps cousins in one room and grandparents in another, then swap a few people after both games finish. If the call echoes, ask players to mute the game sound or the call on one of their devices.
Make it easy for every generation
- Put the time, time zones, link and “no download needed” in one message.
- Call the first round practice, and say so out loud.
- Pair a less confident relative with a patient helper on the call.
- Skip the scoreboard unless the family asks for one.
- End while people are still laughing.
Questions families ask
What games can a family play together on a video call?
Pick short games with one clear rule. On eggverse, Chef Says and Spoons are easy starts, Incognitegg gives everyone a turn to seek, and Musical Nests makes a good finale.
Do grandparents need to download an app?
No. The games run in a web browser on phones, tablets and computers. They tap the link, or type the room code on Join a room.
How many people can play at once?
Each room holds up to eight players. A bigger family can open more rooms, each with its own host.
Can young children play?
eggverse is for players aged 13 and older, so this plan is meant for teens and adults. Younger family members can cheer from the call.
For more setup tips, see our guide to games for Zoom, FaceTime and Teams, and for a work party in December, our online holiday party plan.