A round-up from a game maker who plays them too
Free browser party games to play with friends
Party games that run in a browser tab are the easiest way to get a group playing: one link, any device, nothing to install. Here are the ones worth knowing and what each is best at.
By SidewaysDuck, maker of Punchline. Last updated 26 October 2026.
What to look for
- Free to everyone. Some party games only need one person to own them. Fully free ones mean nobody has to pay to host.
- Plays on a phone. Games that work on each person’s own phone suit both video calls and sofas.
- No accounts. A name and a link should be all it takes to join.
- Something for everyone. Mix a drawing game, a word game and a writing game across the evening, so everyone gets to shine at something.
The games
Punchline: a meme caption game
Everyone gets a random meme template, writes the funniest caption they can against a timer, then the group votes on every meme without names and hands out crowns. Free with no ads, 2 to 16 players, works on any phone or computer, and you can play with strangers or against computer players if your group is short. Full disclosure: I made it. How to play.
Gartic Phone: drawing telephone
The classic ‘telephone’ game with drawings. Someone writes a sentence, the next person draws it, the next describes the drawing, and so on. The replay at the end is the best part. Great for groups who like to doodle.
skribbl.io: draw and guess
One person draws a word while everyone else races to guess it in the chat. Fast, simple and easy to explain to anyone.
Codenames: a team word game
Two teams, a grid of words and a spymaster giving one-word clues. The board game has an official free online version. Slower and more thoughtful than the others, which makes it a nice change of pace.
Jackbox: worth it if someone owns it
The Jackbox Party Packs aren’t free, but only the host needs to buy one. Everyone else joins on their phone in the browser. If someone in your group already owns a pack, it’s an easy addition to the night.
Planning a game night
- Warm up with something quick and silly while people arrive, such as a round of draw and guess.
- Main event: a longer game the whole group plays together. A meme caption game works well here because everyone plays every round.
- Wind down with a calmer team game like Codenames.
Playing remotely? There’s more on running a game night over Zoom, Teams, FaceTime or Discord in our guide to video call games.
Planning something for Christmas? There are guides to office Christmas party games, Christmas video call games with family and games for a work social.
Questions
What are the best free browser party games?
Popular free choices include Punchline for meme captions, Gartic Phone for drawing telephone, skribbl.io for draw and guess, and the free online version of Codenames for teams. All run in the browser with nothing to install.
Do browser party games work on phones?
Most do. Punchline, for example, works in any modern browser on a phone, tablet or computer, and each player joins on their own device.
Are there free alternatives to Jackbox?
Yes. Several party games are completely free in the browser, including Punchline, Gartic Phone and skribbl.io. Jackbox itself only needs the host to own a pack, with everyone else joining free on their phones.
Which browser party games are best for a video call?
Games where each person plays on their own device work best, because nobody has to read a shared screen. Caption, drawing and word games all work well on Zoom, Teams, FaceTime and Discord.