Board game night ideas for long-distance couples

When you live in different cities, or different countries, conversations can fall into a pattern: how was your day, what did you eat, what are you doing tomorrow. A game night breaks that pattern. It gives you something to do together instead of something to report to each other, and that is much of what you miss when you are apart. Here are ideas that work well for two people, and how to plan an evening that feels like a date.

Why games work for couples apart

Doing things side by side, even through a screen, creates shared memories in a way that talking alone does not. You get running jokes, a score to settle and a reason to say "same time next week". Games also take the pressure off conversation: you can be quiet together while someone thinks about a move, which is a very couple-ish kind of comfort.

Games for two that play well online

Classic two-player boards

Chess: slow, thoughtful and good for a quiet evening. If one of you is a beginner, use the clocks sparingly or not at all, and talk through moves afterwards. A beginner might like chess openings for beginners.
Carrom: a gentle skill game with plenty of near misses to tease each other about.
Ludo and snakes and ladders: you can play with just the two of you, and add bots to fill the other colours if you want a busier board.

Games where you are on the same team

Not every date has to be a contest. If you find competition creates tension, try a shared-goal game. Toot Boat needs at least two people and has you steering one boat together, which is a good test of communication and a great source of laughter. See how to play Toot Boat. Cooperative games can also be a gentle way to see how you handle a shared problem, without anything at stake.

Question games

Would you rather: pick silly or deep questions, depending on the mood.
Two truths and a lie: surprisingly fun even when you think you know everything about each other.
Guess my answer: each of you writes down answers to questions about the other, then compare. A couple quiz is on the way for inkmate, built for exactly this.
Draw something and guess: terrible art, great laughs.

How to plan the evening

Pick a regular slot. A fixed night, even if some weeks you swap it, gives you something to look forward to.
Check time zones properly. Put both local times in the invite so nobody turns up an hour late.
Set the scene. Make a snack or drink you both enjoy, even if you make them separately. Put your phone on do-not-disturb.
Open a video call and put the game on a second screen or window. Seeing each other’s reactions is half the point.
Start with a short, light game, then move to a longer one.
End on a high. Finish before anyone is tired or frustrated, and decide what you will play next time.

Make it feel like a date

Dress up a little, just because.
Add a small stake: loser picks next week’s film, or the winner chooses the game.
Keep a running scoreboard. In an inkmate room the scores stay on the room screen, so you can see who is ahead over weeks.
Send a small surprise beforehand, such as a note with the game and the start time.

When one of you is competitive and the other is not

This is common. Pick games that balance things out. Luck-heavy games such as snakes and ladders give a casual player a fair chance. Co-op games remove the winner entirely. And when you do play a skill game, agree to handicaps, such as the stronger player starting a piece down, or the weaker one playing against a gentler bot level first.

tip: Nothing kills a game night faster than technical trouble. Join the room together five minutes early and test the sound before the first move.

More ideas

If you are planning something for a bigger group, try our list of free games for a video call. If your partner’s family wants to join in, games to play with family far away has ideas for mixed ages. And if you want to know why shared-goal games feel so good, read why co-op games are good for friendships (it applies to relationships too).