How to host game night online

If you’re looking for a fun way to get together with friends online, a virtual game night is a great solution. Play the latest games and enhance your game-night experience with Windows 11 built-in features. Learn why online game nights are a good time and get tips on how to host your own.

Why host a virtual game night?

If you have friends or loved ones who live far away from you, virtual game nights are a great way to bond with people from a distance. Online game nights can also be more affordable and are handy for days when it’s tough for you or your friends to leave the house. There’s also no need to clean up and buy snacks for a game night online—just be sure to have a computer and a sturdy Wi-Fi connection!

Set up your game night with Windows

If you’re hosting an online game night, you’ll need to set up a few things before sending out digital invites. Here are some helpful tools to get ready for game night:

Access to video calling

Virtual game nights are so much more fun when you can see everyone’s reactions. Video calling platforms like Microsoft Teams show all of your game night participants’ faces on one screen. Teams allows you to talk and chat with friends while playing together. If you’re using gaming software on your device, simply share your screen with everyone and send any necessary participation links or access codes in the chat. Before game night starts, create an event in the Teams calendar and share the meeting link with everyone playing.

Screen recording

Capture exciting game highlights with screenshots or screen recordings. Revisit intense tiebreaker games or funny moments when you watch them again in the future. If you’re using a Windows 11 device, open the Snipping tool in Settings and select Record in the top toolbar to capture your screen.

Download your favorite games

Don’t forget to download a variety of games so you and your virtual guests have options! Find many popular games as apps in the Microsoft App Store. If you’re not sure which games you want to play, click on the Gaming category on the left-hand side of the window to find collections of best-selling games, free games, and more.

Xbox PC Game Pass

Windows 11 is made for gaming. With an Xbox PC Game Pass subscription, you get access to hundreds of high-quality PC games to play with friends. New games are added to the Game Pass library all the time, which means you’ll never run out of games to play. Be sure to download the Xbox app for PC after signing up.

Looking for more fun ways to use Windows 11? Check out the Windows Learning Center to find more helpful articles.