Best Games for Long-Distance Couples to Play Together

Being in a long-distance relationship means finding creative ways to spend time together. Video calls are wonderful for catching up, but after a while, even the most interesting conversations can start to follow the same routine. You ask about each other's day, share a few stories, watch something together and eventually say goodnight.

Sometimes, what you really want is an activity that makes you feel as though you are in the same room.

Fortunately, there are plenty of games for long-distance couples that offer more than simply staring at a screen. From solving fictional crimes to competing in online board games, the right activity can turn an ordinary video call into a memorable date night.

Here are ten games and activities that couples can enjoy together, even when they are hundreds or thousands of miles apart.

1. Solve a Murder Mystery Together

If you and your partner enjoy crime fiction, puzzles or detective shows, solving a murder mystery together can make an especially engaging long-distance date night.

Instead of watching fictional detectives investigate a crime, you become the investigators yourselves.

In a case file murder mystery, players receive documents such as police reports, witness interviews, photographs, correspondence and other evidence. Your task is to examine the material, identify inconsistencies, investigate suspects and determine what really happened.

The format works particularly well for long-distance couples because both people can examine the same case independently while discussing their discoveries over a video call.

You might notice a contradiction in a witness statement while your partner spots an important detail in a photograph. As the investigation progresses, you can compare theories, challenge each other's assumptions and gradually piece together the truth.

Ink & Clues creates downloadable murder mystery games that can be played together from two locations. Each person can access their own copy of the case files and either print the documents or examine them digitally.

If you enjoy solving mysteries together, the complete Ink & Clues game bundle offers multiple fictional cases, giving you several future date nights to look forward to.

How to organise a long-distance murder mystery date

The setup is straightforward. Both partners need access to the case files and a way to communicate, such as a video or voice call.

You can each print the documents at home or use separate screens to examine the evidence while talking. If one person prefers paper and the other prefers digital documents, that works too.

Agree not to read the solution before you begin. Then work through the investigation together, discussing suspects and keeping track of important discoveries.

For an extra touch, prepare the same snacks or drinks in your respective homes and turn the investigation into a proper date night.

2. Play Online Board Games

Board games are not limited to people sitting around the same table. Digital platforms make it possible to enjoy a wide variety of tabletop experiences with someone in another location.

Depending on your preferences, you might choose a strategic board game, a cooperative adventure or something lighthearted that encourages conversation.

Platforms such as Board Game Arena offer digital versions of numerous tabletop games. Some are competitive, while others focus on cooperation or shared problem-solving.

For long-distance couples, cooperative games can be particularly appealing because they create a sense of working towards something together rather than simply competing against each other.

However, a little friendly competition can also be entertaining. A short game can become a regular part of your evening calls, giving you something familiar to look forward to.

Before choosing a platform, check whether both players need accounts, whether the game is available in your respective countries and whether any paid membership is required.

3. Try a Cooperative Video Game

Cooperative video games can be excellent activities for couples who want to feel as though they are sharing an adventure.

Instead of playing against each other, you work together to overcome challenges, solve puzzles or complete objectives.

It Takes Two is an example of a game designed around cooperation between two players. Its puzzles and challenges require both participants to contribute, making teamwork an essential part of the experience.

Other cooperative games may involve building a shared world, exploring unfamiliar environments or surviving a fictional adventure together.

The best choice depends on your gaming experience. If one partner rarely plays video games, look for something approachable rather than a title that demands fast reactions or extensive knowledge of complicated controls.

Also check whether the game supports online cooperation between your devices. Some titles offer local multiplayer but do not allow two people to play together remotely.

4. Play 20 Questions

Not every long-distance date requires a paid game or elaborate preparation. Sometimes, a simple question game can be just as enjoyable.

In 20 Questions, one person thinks of a person, place or object while the other asks questions that can be answered with yes or no. The goal is to identify the answer within twenty questions.

You can make the game more personal by choosing categories connected to your relationship. For example, you might think of a place you visited together, a film you both enjoyed or an object associated with a shared memory.

This adds a nostalgic element and can lead to conversations that continue long after the game has ended.

You can also create themed rounds involving fictional detectives, favourite books, travel destinations or anything else you both enjoy.

5. Solve an Online Escape Room

Escape rooms are usually associated with physical locations, but there are also digital versions designed for remote players.

An online escape room typically presents a fictional scenario involving hidden information, puzzles and a final objective. Players need to examine their surroundings, interpret clues and solve problems to progress.

Some games allow participants to access the same experience from separate devices, while others can be played by sharing a screen during a video call.

For long-distance couples who enjoy solving problems together, this can create a sense of shared achievement.

You might approach a puzzle from completely different directions, only to discover that combining your ideas leads to the solution.

Before purchasing an online escape room, check whether it supports remote multiplayer or whether one person will need to control the game while the other watches.

6. Play a Drawing and Guessing Game

Drawing games can turn an ordinary video call into an evening of laughter, particularly when neither person considers themselves especially artistic.

Online drawing games typically involve one player drawing a word or phrase while the other attempts to guess what it represents.

The entertainment often comes from the drawings themselves. A simple object can become almost impossible to recognise, and an ambitious illustration may end up looking nothing like the intended answer.

For couples, you can personalise the experience by drawing places you have visited, favourite meals, shared memories or things you want to do together in the future.

A shared digital whiteboard can also work if you do not want to use a dedicated game platform.

The activity requires very little preparation and can be adapted to almost any amount of time.

7. Create a Relationship Trivia Quiz

How well do you really know each other?

A personalised trivia quiz can be a fun way to revisit memories, discover surprising details and learn something new about your partner.

Each person prepares a collection of questions about themselves, their experiences or your relationship. The questions can be lighthearted, nostalgic or surprisingly difficult.

You might ask about the first film you watched together, a favourite childhood meal, an embarrassing travel experience or a place your partner has always wanted to visit.

For couples who have been together for several years, the game can become an entertaining test of shared memories.

For newer relationships, it can provide an opportunity to discover things that might not naturally come up during everyday conversations.

You do not need a special app. A simple document or a few handwritten questions are enough.

8. Play a Storytelling Game Together

If you both enjoy creativity, a collaborative storytelling game can offer something completely different from traditional board games.

Start with a simple opening sentence. One person continues the story for a minute or two before handing it over to the other.

You might create a mystery involving a missing person, a science fiction adventure or a ridiculous comedy about two characters who keep making terrible decisions.

The challenge is to build on what the other person has introduced rather than taking the story in an entirely unrelated direction.

You can also introduce rules to make the game more interesting. Perhaps every new section must include an unexpected object, or each player must introduce a clue that becomes important later.

For couples who love detective fiction, try creating a fictional murder mystery together. One person introduces the crime, while the other develops the suspects and possible motives.

The result does not need to be a polished story. The fun comes from creating something together and discovering where your combined imagination takes you.

9. Play Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is a simple game that can be surprisingly entertaining, even for couples who have known each other for years.

One person makes three statements about themselves. Two are true, while one is invented. The other person must identify which statement is false.

You can focus on childhood memories, travel experiences, unusual encounters or things you have never previously discussed.

The game often leads to longer conversations because the true statements can be just as interesting as the lie.

For example, discovering that your partner once met a famous person or had an unusual childhood hobby may lead to stories you have never heard before.

If you have played the game several times, introduce themes such as embarrassing experiences, childhood adventures or unexpected talents.

10. Start a Two-Person Puzzle Challenge

Some couples enjoy activities that unfold over several days rather than being completed in a single evening.

A shared puzzle challenge can give you something to work on between calls and discuss when you reconnect.

You could choose a collection of logic puzzles, a series of riddles or a puzzle book that you both own.

Agree to work on the same challenges and compare your reasoning during your next conversation.

You can also turn it into a friendly competition by tracking how many puzzles each person solves, although there is no need to keep score if you prefer a cooperative experience.

For couples who enjoy mysteries, a longer investigation game can serve a similar purpose. You might examine one part of a fictional case together, take time to consider the evidence independently and return to the investigation during your next date night.

The important thing is to establish a shared activity that continues beyond a single call.

How to Make a Long-Distance Game Night Feel Like a Real Date

Choosing the right game is only part of creating an enjoyable evening. A little preparation can make the experience feel more intentional and less like another routine video call.

Set aside time for the activity

Try to choose a time when neither person is likely to be interrupted. If you live in different time zones, agree on a schedule that works for both of you rather than expecting one person to stay up late every time.

Having a dedicated date night can give you something to look forward to during the week.

Prepare everything beforehand

If the game requires an account, download, printer or additional software, check that everything works before your planned start time.

For a printable murder mystery, both partners should have access to the case files before beginning. For a cooperative video game, make sure the game supports remote multiplayer between your devices.

A few minutes of preparation can prevent technical problems from taking over the evening.

Create a shared atmosphere

You may be in different locations, but small details can help make the experience feel connected.

Prepare the same meal, choose similar snacks or agree to dress up for a themed mystery night.

If you are solving a fictional crime, you could even create your own detective headquarters in each home, complete with notebooks, evidence and a comfortable place to investigate.

Choose cooperation when you want quality time

Competitive games can be fun, but cooperative activities offer a different experience.

Working towards a shared goal encourages communication, patience and the satisfaction of achieving something together.

A murder mystery, cooperative video game or online escape room gives both partners an opportunity to contribute without requiring one person to defeat the other.

Are Printable Murder Mystery Games Good for Long-Distance Couples?

Printable murder mystery games can work particularly well for long-distance relationships because they do not require both players to be physically present.

Each partner can access the same fictional case files and examine the evidence from their own location.

You can communicate through a video call, voice chat or another platform while investigating together.

The experience also gives you something specific to talk about. Instead of searching for conversation topics, you have a shared mystery to explore, complete with suspicious characters, conflicting evidence and questions that need answering.

There are a few practical considerations. Both people need access to the case files, and it helps to agree on whether you will print the documents or read them digitally.

If you are playing on screens, using a second device or an additional monitor can make it easier to examine the evidence while keeping your video call open.

It is also important to work through the case together rather than allowing one person to read ahead and accidentally reveal important information.

With those details arranged, a fictional murder investigation can become a date night that feels collaborative, immersive and genuinely different from watching another film together.

Make Your Next Long-Distance Date Night an Adventure

Being apart does not mean every shared experience has to be passive. You can still explore unfamiliar worlds, challenge each other's thinking, laugh over terrible drawings and work together to solve complicated problems.

The most memorable long-distance activities often give you something to accomplish together. They create conversations, shared discoveries and moments that belong to both of you, even when you are in different places.

If you and your partner love mysteries, consider turning your next video call into a fictional criminal investigation.

Explore the Ink & Clues complete murder mystery game bundle, choose a case and arrange a time to investigate together. With the same evidence in front of you and a mystery waiting to be solved, distance does not have to stop you from becoming a detective team.