PadConsole

What to do at home with friends: 20 ideas

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The easiest crowd-pleaser for a group at home is a game night. No console? Open padconsole.com on a computer connected to the TV; everyone scans the QR code and their phone becomes the controller. Bluffing games like IMPOSTOR, the Quiz Arena trivia show or a 4-player Pad Racer race start within a minute. Beyond games, movie marathons, cooking together, card and board games, karaoke and theme nights all work well. The 20 ideas below are ordered by how much setup they need.

20 ideas

  1. Phone-controlled party games (PadConsole)

    No setup, nothing to buy: open padconsole.com on the TV and scan the QR code. 27 games for 1–12 players: bluffing, trivia, racing, football, horror. Free to start.

  2. Charades and Taboo

    Split into two teams and write movie or song titles on paper. A phone timer is all you need.

  3. Werewolf / Mafia

    The best social deduction game for 5+. No cards? Hand out roles on paper or try IMPOSTOR on your phones.

  4. Card games

    UNO, Hearts, Spades, poker with chips (no money). One deck is enough.

  5. Board games

    Catan, Codenames, Dixit, Ticket to Ride. Borrow one if you have none.

  6. Scattergories

    Pen and paper, any age. Add hard categories: brands, celebrities, TV shows.

  7. Trivia night

    One person hosts, or open a ready-made show like Quiz Arena for up to 12 players at once.

  8. Movie or series marathon

    Everyone suggests one film, then draw lots. A trilogy fills the night.

  9. Cook together

    Homemade pizza, dumplings or sushi. Even better as a team contest.

  10. Karaoke

    Karaoke versions on YouTube and one mic. Friends do the scoring.

  11. Horror night

    Lights off: a horror movie or a co-op horror game like KARABASAN.

  12. Theme night

    90s, Eurovision, a decade or a country: outfits, music and food to match.

  13. Jigsaw puzzle

    A 1000-piece puzzle disappears while you talk.

  14. Murder mystery

    Download a ready-made script, give everyone a role and find the killer by midnight.

  15. Photo and memory night

    Old photos, a shared video edit, a group playlist.

  16. Run your own tournament

    A bracket for a racing, fighting or football game. No console? Poly Gol 3D and Pad Racer run on phones.

  17. Dance and movement games

    Camera games like STRIKE A POSE! or BREAKOUT RUN get everyone off the couch.

  18. Mocktail or cocktail bar

    Everyone invents one drink; vote for the best.

  19. Paint and sip

    Canvases, cheap paint and a tutorial video.

  20. Include a friend who couldn't come

    With PadConsole friend rooms they join the same game from their own home, with voice chat.

Best phone-controlled picks

Bluffing for groups

Best laughs with 4–8 people.

  • Crack (1–8 players, Party / Mind Game, Ages 7+) — Know your friends, win the night.
  • The Bill (1–8 players, Party / Bluff & Risk, Ages 12+) — The biggest eater pays.
  • IMPOSTOR: Last Word (4–8 players, Party / Social Deduction, Ages 7+) — Prove yourself. Don't teach the impostor.
  • KARMA (4–8 players, Party / Social Deduction, Ages 7+) — Is that really how you see me?

Competitive

Settles who is best.

  • Dead Zone: Dominion (1–4 players, 3D Co-op Open-World Base Defense, Ages 12+) — Hold the base together for four chapters, from the valley to the evacuation terminal.
  • Orbital Siege (1–4 players, 3D Space Battle, Ages 7+) — Enter the same duel side by side or from different homes.
  • Pad Kombat (1–4 players, Fighting, Ages 12+) — The kopuz plays, the tournament begins.
  • Pad Kombat: Eclipse (1–4 players, Fighting, Ages 12+) — The sun is dark. The tournament begins.
  • Pad Racer: Turbo Clash (1–4 players, 3D Racing & Car Combat, Ages 3+) — Drift, grab, pass!
  • Pirate War (1–4 players, 3D Split-Screen Pirate Island War, Ages 7+) — Raise your crew. Throw the hook. Bring the loot home.

Horror and co-op

Lights off, together.

How it works (1 minute)

  1. Open the screenOpen padconsole.com in a browser on a computer, smart TV or tablet. A laptop on the TV over HDMI works best.
  2. Scan the QR codeEveryone scans the QR code with their phone camera. The controller opens in the browser; iOS and Android apps are optional.
  3. Pick a gameBrowse the menu from your phone and start. Everyone in the room, and friends in other homes, can join the same game.

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Frequently asked questions

There are 4 of us at home, what can we do?

For four people, a phone-controlled game night is the easiest pick: open padconsole.com on the TV and everyone scans the QR code. IMPOSTOR or KARMA for bluffing, a 4-player Pad Racer race, a 2v2 match in Poly Gol 3D or a co-op game like We've Got This! fit four players perfectly. Card games, a board game, a movie or cooking together also work.

What do bored friends do at home?

Start with something that needs no setup: a phone party game, charades or Scattergories. Then move to something longer: a movie, cooking or a tournament.

Can we play games together without a console?

Yes. padconsole.com runs in the browser and phones are the controllers; no console or gamepad needed.