The 10 Best Party Game Apps for Your Next Game Night

How to choose a party game app

Before you download anything, answer three questions:

1. How many devices do you want involved? Some apps run on one phone passed around the room. Others need a TV or laptop as the main screen plus a phone for every player.
2. Will you have internet? Cabins, flights and road trips rule out anything that needs a connection.
3. What kind of fun does your group like? Bluffing and deduction, quick guessing, trivia, drawing, or conversation starters.

The roundup below covers all of these. Facts about third-party apps are kept general, since features, pricing and platforms change over time, so check the App Store or Google Play listing before you commit.

Comparison table

App	Best for	Players	Devices	Works offline
Duoo	Mixed game night on one phone	2–8 (Imposter 3–8)	One phone	Yes
Heads Up!	Fast guessing, phone on forehead	Small to large groups	One phone	Varies
Jackbox Party Packs	TV game nights	Varies by game	Main screen + each player’s phone	No, needs internet
Psych!	Bluffing trivia	Small groups	Each player’s phone	Check the App Store
Among Us	Social deduction with a story	Medium groups	Each player’s device	Varies
Kahoot!	Quiz nights, office parties	Small to very large groups	Main screen + each player’s phone	No, needs internet
Spyfall-style apps	Spot the spy through questions	Small to medium groups	Varies	Varies
Mafia / Werewolf narrator apps	Big-group hidden roles	Medium to large groups	Usually one device	Varies
Gartic Phone	Drawing telephone, lots of laughs	Small to large groups	Each player’s device (browser)	No, needs internet
skribbl.io	Quick Pictionary-style rounds	Small to large groups	Each player’s device (browser)	No, needs internet

1. Duoo

Best for: a whole game night on a single iPhone, no setup.

Duoo is a collection of 15 party games in one app, including the Imposter game, Would You Rather, Never Have I Ever, Who’s Most Likely To, Taboo, Same Wave (a clue-and-dial wavelength game), Who Am I and word games like Word Duel and Scramble. Everyone shares one phone that gets passed around, and the app works offline, so it’s good for trips and places with bad signal. Most games take 2–8 players; Imposter needs at least 3.

Limits: Duoo is iPhone and iPad only; there’s no Android version. It’s free to download, and a subscription with a free trial unlocks all games and categories. If someone in your group is on Android, five of the games (Imposter, Would You Rather, Never Have I Ever, Who’s Most Likely To and Taboo) can be played free in any browser on duoo-games.com.

2. Heads Up!

Best for: loud, fast guessing games.

Heads Up! is the well-known phone-on-forehead game: one player holds the phone up so they can’t see the word, and everyone else shouts clues until they guess it, tilting the phone to score or pass. It’s easy to explain to anyone in seconds, which is why it’s a staple at family gatherings. If you like guessing who you are, Duoo’s Who Am I is the yes or no question version for two.

3. Jackbox Party Packs

Best for: TV game nights with everyone on their own phone.

Jackbox Party Packs are bundles of party games played on a shared screen, such as a TV, computer or console, while players join and answer using their phones’ web browsers. The games range from drawing and writing jokes to trivia and bluffing. It’s the classic choice for a living-room party, but you need a main screen and an internet connection, and the games are bought as packs.

4. Psych!

Best for: bluffing and fake-answer trivia.

In Psych!, players see a question, invent a convincing fake answer, then try to pick the real answer from everyone’s submissions. You score by finding the truth and by fooling your friends. Each player uses their own phone, so it works for small groups that are all together or playing remotely.

5. Among Us

Best for: social deduction with a story and a map.

Among Us is a social deduction game where crewmates complete tasks on a spaceship while hidden impostors try to sabotage them, and everyone debates and votes on who to eject. Each player needs their own device. It’s great if your friends already game together; for an in-person version that runs on one phone with no tasks or map, the Imposter game uses the same “find the liar” idea with a secret word.

6. Kahoot!

Best for: quiz nights, office parties and classrooms.

Kahoot! is a quiz platform: a host shows multiple-choice questions on a shared screen and players answer on their phones, with points for speed and accuracy. You can use existing quizzes or build your own, which makes it popular for themed events and work gatherings. It needs a host screen and internet.

7. Spyfall-Style Apps

Best for: small groups who like asking sneaky questions.

Spyfall is a party game where everyone except the spy knows a secret location, and players question each other to figure out who doesn’t belong while the spy tries to work out where they are. Several apps and websites offer this style of game. Quality and features vary, so read reviews. The Imposter game is a close cousin; our imposter word list works for both.

8. Mafia and Werewolf Narrator Apps

Best for: big groups that want hidden roles.

Mafia (also known as Werewolf) is a classic game where a secret group of “mafia” eliminates players at night and the town tries to identify them during the day. Narrator apps handle role assignment and guide the night phases so nobody has to sit out as the moderator. Look for one that supports the roles your group likes.

9. Gartic Phone

Best for: laughing at terrible drawings.

Gartic Phone is a browser game based on “telephone”: one person writes a sentence, the next draws it, the next describes the drawing, and so on until the final result barely resembles the start. Everyone needs their own device and a connection, but it’s free to try and works well for remote parties too.

10. skribbl.io

Best for: quick Pictionary-style rounds.

skribbl.io is a free browser drawing game: one player draws a word while others type guesses, with points for speed. You can create a private room for your friends. It’s simple and runs on most devices, though drawing is easier on a tablet or computer than a small phone screen.

What to look for in a party game app

Party game apps vary a lot in how well they actually work in a room full of people. A few things to check before game night:

• Setup time. The best apps let you start a round in under a minute. If everyone has to create an account or join a lobby, that’s fine for a planned event but awkward for a spontaneous one.
• Who holds the phone. Single-phone apps keep everyone looking at each other instead of their own screens, which many groups prefer. Multi-device apps let everyone play at once, which is better for large groups and remote friends.
• Content filters. If you play with family one weekend and friends the next, look for apps that separate family-friendly content from adult categories.
• Replay value. A game with a few dozen prompts gets stale after one night. Look for large prompt libraries or games where the fun comes from players rather than cards, like bluffing and drawing games.
• Offline play. If you travel or play at cabins and campsites, make sure the app runs without a connection before you leave.
• Platforms. Check that everyone who needs to install the app can. Some apps, including Duoo, are iPhone and iPad only.

Tips for an app-based game night

1. Charge the phone first. A shared phone getting passed around all evening drains faster than you’d think.
2. Turn on Do Not Disturb. Notifications popping up while someone holds the phone to their forehead can spoil a round, or expose more than they meant to share.
3. Mix app games with no-app games. Alternate a round of Imposter with Charades or Two Truths and a Lie so screens don’t take over.
4. Pick a host. One person who knows the app can explain rules and keep things moving, which matters most for first-timers.

Which one should you pick?

• One iPhone, no internet, mixed group: Duoo.
• One phone, pure guessing chaos: Heads Up! or Duoo’s Who Am I.
• TV and a living room full of people: Jackbox Party Packs or Kahoot!.
• Friends spread across cities: Gartic Phone, skribbl.io, Psych! or Among Us.
• A big group that loves hidden roles: a Mafia narrator app, or Imposter if you’re 3–8 people.

Don’t want to download anything?

Plenty of great party games need no app at all. See our lists of party games for adults and games to play with friends without anything, or try a question game free in your browser from the Duoo games page.