Spyfall

This online version of the popular board game provides the barest bones of the experience, but players need to rely on other tools to enjoy these rounds of deduction. In Spyfall, someone receives a card designating them as the spy. That person's goal is to figure out what location the round is set in. The other players all see a card that lists the location, and they try to determine which player is the spy. Any player could be -- so, even though all players except one can see game locations, the main action involves players asking each other questions about the venue's characteristics. One player may ask another, for example, "Is this place generally relaxing or thrilling?" Presumably, the spy's questions might indicate the person doesn't know what the location is.

Generally, the sparse site serves more as a tool to help play the game than an actual board to play it on. The game organizer can set a time limit for each round, which is displayed by an on-screen clock, and kids can mark off locations people have guessed on the game page. Players all need to click a button to indicate they're ready to start a round, and potential questions they can ask about the location appear every minute or so on a sticky note on the bottom of the screen. This can be helpful if kids run out of ideas. But the players are responsible for managing many of the aspects of the game -- including asking and answering questions, which all needs to be done offsite, either in person or through a video chat hosted by a separate provider. There's no way to share questions or responses with other players. The game interface also doesn't indicate whose turn it is, so kids will have to oversee who asks the next question. Points, too, need to be tallied by hand if they're keeping score. That can be challenging to shuffle back and forth between video chat and Spyfall windows just to play the game. It doesn't provide all of the elements you need to play, but if you're looking to start up a game with friends you haven't seen for a while, Spyfall could be a decent way to reconnect.