Building Digital Traditions: Hosting Virtual Game Nights, Talent Shows & More

Remember when family game night meant gathering around the dining room table? Those traditions haven’t disappeared — they’ve just gone digital more often. Whether you’re deployed, separated by states or entire time zones, virtual game night ideas can help you stay connected with the people who matter most, especially during the holiday season.

The beauty of creating new, digital traditions is that they can feel just as real as in-person gatherings when done well. There are countless online platforms and services that are easy to use and make it possible to laugh together, play together, and celebrate together, no matter where you are.

All it takes is a reliable Internet connection, and these digital get-togethers can become the highlight of your week. From game nights to virtual parties and talent shows, we’ll share ideas and tools to make digital traditions feel more meaningful.

Why Digital Traditions Matter

Creating regular digital traditions is a fun way to elevate your family's pastimes and include members who can’t be physically present. For military families facing frequent relocations, long-distance friendships, and split households that are committed to co-parenting, regular video calls, virtual activities, and online board games are great ways to keep in touch and can provide the stability and continuity that’s so necessary for little ones.

Genuine connection is the priority, and digital traditions are a simple way to keep those you love in touch year-round.

Virtual Events You Can Host With Great Internet

Planning your first digital tradition? There’s a platform that’s perfect for you. Start with these proven crowd-pleasers that work for families, friend groups, and even remote team building activities.

Game Nights Using Jackbox, Trivia, or Board Game Simulators

Online game nights have become one of the most popular ways to connect digitally, and for good reason — they’re interactive, competitive, and genuinely fun. Jackbox Games offers “Party Packs” filled with quirky, animated, and colorful games. The company does a great job with inclusivity by providing optional family-friendly settings in most of its packs.

Everyone can plug in using their phone or gaming controller for classic games like Drawful (their entertaining version of Pictionary with absurdly funny prompts) or Split the Room, where you’ll come up with divisive solutions to bizarre hypotheticals. For more adult gameplay with a more risqué edge, Jackbox also offers its infamous Naughty Pack for side-splitting grown-up fun.

Classic games like Codenames now have online versions perfect for large groups, while platforms like Board Game Arena and Tabletopia let you play thousands of games with anyone, anywhere. With trending favorites and popular games like Catan, Wingspan, and Sub Terra, there’s no shortage of options! Whether with friends, family, or coworkers, the key is choosing fun games that encourage teamwork and laughter, then committing to a regular schedule. Make it a tradition that everyone anticipates!

Trivia nights deserve special mention as one of the most accessible, fun ways to bring groups together. Since the concept is low-tech with universal appeal, it’s a great place to start if you’re hesitant about your online skills — all you need is a video chat platform, trivia questions, and a host to read them. You can find free trivia templates online or create custom questions that are specific to your group’s interests.

Talent Shows for Kids & Adults (Live or Recorded)

Virtual talent shows bring out everyone’s creative side. Kids love showing off their new skills, and adults can be as goofy or serious as they want — or even take each other down a rabbit hole of their favorite fandoms and hobbies in a light-hearted amateur hour. Whether participants perform live during a video chat or share pre-recorded videos during a group hangout, it’s an excellent way to have fun with a shared experience.

Although Skype is now retired, modern video chat platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and WhatsApp allow you to include extended family members who might not otherwise be able to attend in person, turning your event into a true family reunion.

When you announce the talent show, be sure to create award categories like “Best Use of Props” or “Most Likely To Go Viral” to up the competitive spirit and make everyone feel like a winner. You can even coordinate karaoke sessions using screen sharing to display lyrics from Amazon Music or YouTube, transforming your gathering into a live concert.

Virtual Watch Parties Using Streaming Platforms

Despite geographical distance, you can enjoy your favorite TV shows and movies with your friends and family via synchronized watch parties. Many streaming platforms now offer built-in group-viewing features — like Hulu Watch Party and Disney+’s SharePlay — so everyone sees the same footage simultaneously while chatting in real time over video call or text.

This works great for old friend groups who want to keep up with popular shows together, or families who make it a weekly ritual to watch a series. With emoji reactions and your own running commentary, you’ll turn a once solo activity into a memorable group experience. For the best experience, everyone needs a solid Internet connection — buffering and lag can throw off the timing and interrupt comments and reactions.

Cooking or Craft-Along Zoom Sessions

Even if your loved ones are in separate kitchens, you can transform ordinary meals into quality time by cooking the same recipe together over Zoom or another video call platform. One person can take the lead and teach others how to make their favorite dish. Or everyone can participate in a friendly cook-off, tackling the same recipe independently and comparing results at the end. Either way, it’s a fun challenge, and even when there are goof-ups, they tend to be good for a laugh!

Aside from being an engaging pastime with a chance for culinary chaos, these cooking sessions are wonderful opportunities to teach family recipes across generations. It’s a chance for grandparents to walk their grandchildren through traditional dishes and share stories, techniques, and secret ingredients they might never learn otherwise. Take the opportunity to make new dishes, family favorites, and holiday treats.

If you’re not much of a foodie, craft-alongs follow the same format — pick a project, gather supplies, and create something new together while apart! Whether you choose whisks or glue sticks, these casual activities make them perfect for catching up on life while getting in touch with your creative side. Let the camera become your common kitchen or craft table.

Setup Tips for a Seamless Experience

Getting your tech right makes the difference between a frustrating connection and a memorable evening. Here are the top three things to keep in mind.

Direct Ethernet Connection

Choosing between Ethernet and WiFi is more important than you may think. The fact is that plugging your computer directly into your router with an Ethernet cable is more stable than WiFi alone.

WiFi may be suitable for participants, but hosts of any virtual event will need more bandwidth since they are the hub of the other connected streams. Ethernet minimizes dropped connections and is more reliable for smooth video quality.

Quality Webcams and Microphones

Built-in laptop cameras and mics are great, but standalone webcams and headset microphones dramatically improve how others see and hear you. You don’t want your talent act to get lost in grainy feed or for your friends and family to strain to hear your witty comments during a watch party. Investing in even a basic external camera and mic pays off with every virtual get-together you host.

Choosing the Right Platform

Since the pandemic, Zoom has dominated the video chat landscape thanks to its ability to host large groups and its ease of use. However, Google Meet may be more practical if your group already uses Gmail, since it’s already integrated and means one less app to worry about. WhatsApp is especially common abroad and is an easy choice if you’re looking to include friends and family in other countries.

Discord is a popular option among gamers and younger crowds for its voice channels and screen-sharing capabilities, and it handles real-time audio during gameplay better than general video conferencing platforms. However, its wide array of features may be intimidating for those who are less tech-savvy.

How SmartMove Can Power Your Digital Traditions

Building lasting digital traditions starts with having the right foundation: dependable, high-speed Internet that doesn’t quit when you need it most. SmartMove takes the guesswork out of finding the perfect Internet plan by matching you with providers in your area that support smooth streaming, crystal-clear video calls, and the upload speeds necessary to host your own events.

Whether you’re planning a virtual game night, talent show, watch party, or cooking session, having the right connection makes everything run smoothly. SmartMove helps you compare bundles that combine Internet, TV, and phone services, so your entertainment and connection needs are always covered. When your digital traditions depend on technology this holiday season, having providers you can count on becomes part of the tradition itself.

Ready to build your own digital traditions? Connect to Internet, TV, and phone providers in your area and start hosting virtual events that bring everyone together.