One of our favorite pre-quarantine activities was having game nights with friends. Our closet is packed with some of Grant’s favorites, like different editions of Risk and Ticket to Ride, along with my favorites, like trivia and Cards Against Humanity. We love serving up some snacks and drinks with a side of friendly competition. For social distancing reasons we haven’t been able to host a proper game night in months, but we’ve found some virtual alternatives that are filling the void in the meantime.

Here are some of the best games to play while social distancing:

1. Words with Friends. This is an oldie, but a goodie for anyone who loves word games and has a smartphone. I’ve played this game on and off over the years, but have delved back in recently so I could play with my cousin.

2. HouseParty. We haven’t tried this app yet, but my East Coast family loves it. They use it to video conference and play games like trivia and Heads. Up.

3. Animal Crossings: New Horizons. I don’t have this game yet, but my friends who do are obsessed with it. You basically create your own island getaway and can visit your friends’ islands for a virtual hangout. People even use it to host virtual weddings.

4. Pocket Camp. Pocket Camp is a free app from the Animal Crossings folks. You act as a camp director and you get to design a campground for animal friends. It’s really cute, fun and low stress. Plus, you get to customize and furnish your own camper van. What can be better than that? There’s also a feature that lets you connect with your real-life friends and visit their campsites for inspiration.

Those are just a few of the growing number of virtual gaming options. What are your favorites?

This daily blog post series is our way of sharing our experience with you, our readers. We’ll talk about our daily routines, adjustments to working from home, recipes based on limited ingredients and any other topic that comes to mind. It’s our way of connecting with the “outside” world, while also giving us the opportunity to look within and reflect on what we’re experiencing and how we’re feeling. Thanks for your interest in sharing this journey with us. Stay tuned and be well.