The Best Games to Play With Friends Online (Free & Browser-Based)

Playing games with friends is the best way to play, but it used to mean everyone needed the same console and the same copy of the game. Not anymore. There are plenty of free browser games that you can play with friends, and they all work right in your browser. No downloads, no installs, no excuses. Here are the ones that are actually fun with a group.

What makes a good group game

A good group game needs a few things. It needs to be easy to pick up, so nobody's stuck reading a manual. It needs to be fun even when you're losing, because someone's going to lose. And it needs to be quick, so you can play a few rounds without it dragging. The games below all fit that bill.

Among Us

Among Us is the game that took over the internet, and it's still great with friends. You're on a spaceship, and some of you are impostors trying to kill the crew. The crew has to figure out who the impostors are. It's a game of lying, deduction, and betrayal, and it's hilarious with a group. It works in the browser, and it's free.

1v1.LOL

1v1.LOL is a fast-paced building and shooting game, kind of like a simplified battle royale. You build walls and ramps to protect yourself while you shoot at your opponent. It's quick, it's competitive, and it's perfect for a group of friends who like to trash talk. You can do one-on-one duels or bigger matches.

Chess

Chess might not sound like a group game, but it's actually perfect. You can play against a friend, and everyone else can watch and comment. It's a game that's easy to learn and impossible to master, and it's a great way to spend an afternoon. Plus, it's free and it runs on anything.

Fireboy and Watergirl

Fireboy and Watergirl is a co-op puzzle game where two players work together to solve levels. One plays Fireboy, the other plays Watergirl, and you have to cooperate to get through. It's a great game for two friends, and it's a real test of teamwork. It's also a lot of fun to watch other people play.

Slope

Slope is a fast-paced 3D runner, and it's great for a group because you can take turns and compare high scores. It's simple, it's addictive, and it's the kind of game that gets competitive fast. Whoever gets the highest score wins, and everyone else has to watch and wait for their turn.

How to get a group together

The easiest way to play with friends online is to pick a game, share the link, and start a call. Most of these games let you create a room and share a code, so everyone can join. You don't need to be in the same room, and you don't need the same console. Just a browser and a link.

Playing games with friends is about the time you spend together, not the game itself. Pick one of these, get your friends together, and have fun. That's the whole point.