8 Lesser-Known Games And Free Apps To Have On Your Radar

From intimate card games to the ultimate game of bluff, here’s a list of lesser-known and free online games you can bring out the next time you’re with your friends and family!

Can’t stand to lose at another long game of Monopoly? Or maybe you just need to take a break from Settlers of Catan because someone got a bit angry when you wouldn’t trade your wood for their sheep? Here are some other games you might not have heard of which are definitely worth trying. Most of these lesser-known at-home games require four players or less or can be downloaded for free on anyone’s smartphone. Whether you’re a master of the poker face or can think quick on your feet, these games are sure to put your skills (and friendships!) to the test.

Read more: 16 Ways To Beat Boredom When You’re Stuck At Home

We’re Not Really Strangers

This card game is all about forging meaningful connections that will deepen your existing relationships (or create new ones!). With three carefully crafted levels of questions and wildcards, you’re in for hours of interesting and intimate conversation. There are a variety of editions, such as those catered to friendship, breakups and self-love, so you’re sure to find one that suits you. You can even get free digital packs and play over Zoom!

Price: About $200, buy here

5 Second Rule

It’s easy enough to name three types of cocktails – but can you do it in five seconds? You’ll be surprised what crazy answers players will come up with in their desperation to beat the timer. If you want to make the game even more interesting, you and your friends can come up with your own categories to stump each other or play the drinking game version via the free 5 Second Rule app. Ellen Degeneres is a big fan of 5 Second Rule and has challenged a number of her celebrity friends to the fast-paced, frenzied game on her show.

Price: $177, buy here

Sporcle Party

The world-famous quiz site Sporcle (known as the largest trivia library on the internet) has been around for a while, but did you know there’s an app called Sporcle Party that allows you to choose from hundreds of packs and play against your friends (or strangers!) in a race against the clock? There are official packs of various categories and community-made packs ranging every topic you can think of — this could be a cute option for parties like hen-dos, bridal showers and even for team-building as you can make your own quiz about anything!

Price: Free, download here

Read More: Bachelorette Party Ideas — The Best Bridal Showers Venues In Hong Kong

Perudo

Based on the classic South American game of Liar’s Dice, Perudo is a simple game that involves luck, skill and a whole lotta lying. For each round, players will each roll five dice, keeping them hidden under a cup. Then, after taking a peek at their own dice, they will take turns making successively higher declarations regarding all the dice that have been rolled (e.g. “There are ten sixes”). However, someone can contest the bid, at which point all the dice are revealed and either the bidder or the caller will lose a die. The last player with dice is the winner. This makes for a rather fun drinking game, too!

Price: About $244, order here

Spyfall

A game of lies and deception, Spyfall will truly test your ability to conceal the truth. Each of the players will receive a card revealing the same location – the zoo, a day spa, a space station – except one player who will get a card that says they’re the spy. Players will go around asking each other questions such as “Do you come here often?” or “What do you like to do here for fun?”, as they try to weed out the spy. Meanwhile, the spy has to play along and try to guess the secret location before they get caught. This game definitely gets more interesting the more players you have, so it’s good that there is an online version of this game that you and your whole crew can play remotely.

Price: $333, get it here

Heads Up! Netflix Edition

If, like us, you’re an avid Netflix-binge-watcher, this is the app you’re going to want to download! Free for those with a Netflix account, this takes charades to a whole new level with dozens of decks to choose from inspired by everything from general genres to animals to specific TV shows (Stranger Things and Bridgerton decks? Yes please!). Only one person needs to download the app and the phone can be passed around amongst friends so everyone gets a go.

Price: Free for Netflix users, download for IOS and Android

Read More: What We’re Watching This Month On Netflix Hong Kong, Prime Video & Disney+

Dabble

If you’re a fan of Scrabble, we’re sure you’ll love this stimulating word game. The objective of Dabble is to create 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-letter words in five minutes by trading letter tiles. To make things more interesting, players can add another element in each round by picking a category, such as “clothing” or “food”. If a player is able to spell a word from that category, they can get bonus points added to their total score.

Price: about $234, order here

Hanabi

Hanabi (Japanese for “fireworks”) is an award-winning cooperative game in which players have to orchestrate the perfect firework show by placing the cards down on the table in the right order. The catch? While in most card games you are trying your best to keep them hidden from the wandering eyes of sneaky opponents, in Hanabi you can see what cards other players have, but not your own. In the end, the success of all the players, including yourself, depends on everyone’s ability to communicate and give helpful hints.

Price: $148, buy here

Editor’s Note: This article was first published in 2020 and most recently updated in September 2024 by Veena Raghunath, with thanks to Nicole Moraleda for her contribution.