Years ago, some friends and I got together on a quick phone call to say hello and see how everyone’s week was going. We were all expecting the conversation to wrap up within minutes and decided to head back to our day. But after quickly filling each other in on the basic questions like “How have you been?” and “What’s new?” we came to a realization. Phone calls suck when there’s nothing to do.
Then someone mentioned playing a game, and the phone call lit up with excitement. Hours went by as we laughed, told stories, and bonded over playful competition. That day, I learned something valuable about calls with friends. Unless you’re doing something fun together while you talk, the conversation can lack energy and enthusiasm.
There have been plenty of times where I’ve stared at my phone screen wondering what we could do to liven up a group call. Sometimes your friends are right down the street. Other times they’re on the other side of the world. Phone calls and video calls can be fun when you have the ideas to make them great.
Below are some of the best activities you can play on calls with friends to keep things exciting and interesting.
15 Fun Things to Do on a Call With Friends When You’re Bored
1. Play a Trivia Game
Trivia games are some of the easiest ways to have fun on calls. Get everyone involved by taking turns asking questions about different topics like movies, music, history, sports, etc.
The great thing about trivia games is that everyone gets involved. Even the friend who never says much will want to guess an answer. There’s no need for apps or complicated rules, either. One person can act as the host by looking up trivia questions before the call.
Competitive people love trivia. You’d be surprised how badly your friends will want to win when points are on the line. Some of the funniest reactions happen when someone gives a wrong answer.
Read also: 20 Cool Things to Do with Kids That Are Actually Fun
2. Tell Embarrassing Stories
Ask everyone to think of their worst embarrassing moment at school, work, while dating, with family members, etc. Then take turns telling the story in as much detail as possible.
The funnier and more embarrassing the story, the better! This is also a great way to appreciate your friendships. We all want to think we have our lives together, but shame stories are a great reminder that no one really does.
3. Play Would You Rather
“Would you rather” games are another classic that works exceptionally well on calls.
All it takes is a series of questions where your friends must choose between two options. You can ask serious questions, but this game is much more fun when you ask ridiculous ones.
“Would you rather never listen to music again? Or never watch movies?”
“Would you rather be 30 minutes early to everything? Or 30 minutes late?”
As everyone explains their reasoning, you’ll find yourself in full on debates and conversations about life, surrounded by jokes and stories you never would have thought of otherwise.
People answer these completely differently based on personality, so the results are always unique to your group.
Read also: 50 Would You Rather Questions for Adults (No Kid Stuff!)
4. Have a Guess the Song Competition
Listening to music is a favorite pastime for people all over the world. Use that to your advantage.
See who can guess the song correctly first by humming it, playing 10 to 15 seconds of the song, or reading them the lyrics without saying the title.
You can even specify the genre or decade to make it more challenging based on what your group is into.
Before you know it, you’ll find everyone talking about their favorite bands, concerts, and memories associated with certain songs.
You might even find yourself singing along to some tunes by the end of the call.
Read also: 205 Funny and Deep Would You Rather Questions to Ask Friends
5. Make Up Ridiculous Stories
Story building games are an excellent way to make friends laugh on phone calls.
Someone says the first sentence, and then the next person goes sentence by sentence, building one cohesive story that nobody knows how it’s going to end.
You always end up with something outrageous. The story can start with someone finding a suitcase and end with them trying to hunt down a celebrity penguin running for president.
Not only will everyone laugh uncontrollably, but you also get bragging rights at the end of the story because you thought of something that nobody else did.
6. Host a Virtual Talent Show
Let’s face it. Most of us aren’t as talented as we think we are.
But your friends are bound to know someone who can sing, play an instrument, do impressions, tell jokes, or even magic tricks.
Allow each person to strut their stuff for the next five minutes. Remember, it doesn’t have to be good! In fact, it usually works better if it isn’t.
Laughing at each other’s random talents is something you’ll remember for years to come.
7. Play Two Truths and a Lie
Two truths and a lie is popular for a reason.
Players take turns stating three facts about themselves. Two are true, and one is a lie.
Everyone else has to guess which statement is the lie.
You can learn some pretty interesting facts about each other this way. You would be surprised what your closest friends don’t know about each other.
Half the time, the truth is crazier than the fake stories.
It’s a quick and easy game that’ll leave everyone in tears.
8. Take Personality Quizzes
Friendship quizzes aren’t nearly as fun by yourself. But when you take them with friends, they become hilarious.
Pick a few quizzes about zodiac signs, careers, travel styles, celebrity idols, and so on. After everyone finishes, compare results and talk about if they really reflect each personality.
Not only will you have a good time, but you open up the possibility of some great discussions about each other’s strengths, goals, and life experiences.
You may even discover that you have more differences than you thought.
Enjoy a little laughter while discovering what makes your friends tick.
9. Have a Debate
Debates don’t always have to be about serious topics.
Some of the best debates are about meaningless topics that have no right answer. Like…
Is cereal soup?
Are hotdogs sandwiches?
Who would make the worst girlfriend or boyfriend? Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, or Hunter Mahan?
The goal isn’t to prove who’s right or wrong. Just allow everyone to throw their opinion into the ring and have at it.
Good debates can help stimulate conversation and keep things interesting.
10. Talk About a Movie or TV Show
If you and your friends watch a lot of movies or TV shows, set aside time to discuss a film that everyone has watched.
Some ideas to discuss are favorite scenes, worst plot twists, characters you couldn’t stand, storyline, acting, soundtrack, etc.
Allow everyone to share their thoughts on the topic, even if they disagree.
When multiple people view the same movie, you always find some will love it while others hate it. Discussing why each person feels a certain way can lead to some interesting conversations.
You can even pick your next movie to watch together and schedule another call to talk about it.
11. Play Rapid Fire Questions
Fast paced games are great at keeping people on their toes.
Only one person should ask questions, and everyone else answers. There should be no waiting around to think about your response. Answers should be immediate.
These questions can be silly, personal, fun, or deep. Some examples are:
What’s your favorite childhood snack?
Where in the world would you love to travel?
What’s your biggest fear?
If you could’ve met any celebrity, who would it be? What’s the funniest thing that celebrity could’ve said to you?
Since you have very little time to think about your answer, they always end up being more truthful and funny.
12. Share Funny Internet Finds
Don’t you hate when you find the funniest video or meme and have no one to share it with?
Use your group call to show everyone the funniest things you came across during the week.
Describe what’s going on, send links to a group chat, and react with everyone else in real time.
Trust me when I say laughter is just as contagious over the phone.
Load your group up with funny videos, and you’ll immediately change the mood of the call.
13. Plan Something to Look Forward To
The future can be exciting when you have people to experience it with.
Spend some time talking about future vacations, weekend plans, dinner dates, or celebrations you could do together. You don’t even have to plan these things, but it’s fun to think about and look forward to!
Discuss where you want to travel, activities you want to try, what you’re willing to spend, and your dream experiences. Everyone leaves the call feeling pumped, and you already have something to talk about next time.
Creating memories with friends is what keeps friendships strong, even if you have to plan them weeks in advance.
14. Ask Questions That Get Personal
Yes, you can ask questions that dive deeper than the surface.
Talk about each other’s life goals, childhood memories, things you’ve learned about life, or experiences that have changed your perspective. Questions like these could lead to fun conversations that you’ll never forget.
You’ll learn more about each other and grow your emotional intelligence as friends by allowing each other to be vulnerable.
Listening to what your friends have to say about their past and what they want for their future can be one of the best parts of a phone call.
15. Play Games You Used to as Kids
Remember playing games like categories, word association, twenty questions, and guessing games? The things we thought were so fun as kids can now become fun as adults over phone calls.
Not only will everyone get involved, but you also could learn new stories about each other’s childhood that you never knew.
Sometimes we all need to be kids again and forget about the responsibilities of adult life for a few minutes.
They say life only gets better as you age. The older we get, the more I believe that saying.
Conclusion
Just because you can’t spend time with friends in person doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Some of my best memories with my friends are from phone calls and video chats when we’re willing to laugh together.
Whether you end up playing games, having a discussion about movies, deep conversations, or just catching up, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is you take the time to create new moments and memories that you’ll look back on one day.
Next time you’re on a call that’s about to go south, try these ideas and watch how fun the conversation becomes.
You don’t always need something serious to discuss in order to have a great conversation. Sharing laughs and making memories with friends is what truly matters.
FAQ
What are some fun games to play on a call with friends?
Trivia, Two Truths and a Lie, Would You Rather, Rapid Fire Questions, and story building games are all great options for keeping a call entertaining.
How can I make a group call less boring?
Add activities such as games, debates, personality quizzes, or discussions about movies and TV shows to keep everyone engaged.
What can friends talk about on a phone call?
Friends can discuss life goals, childhood memories, travel plans, favorite entertainment, funny internet finds, and personal experiences.
Are video calls better than phone calls for games?
Some games work better on video calls, but most activities on this list can be played just as easily over a regular phone call.
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