10 Virtual Date Ideas for Long Distance Relationships That Actually Work

When you’re in a long distance relationship, the usual evening catch-up can start to feel a bit repetitive. You still want to spend time together, but you might fancy doing something while you talk. These virtual date ideas work around your usual calls, whether you’ve got a whole evening or just a spare half hour.

Why Virtual Dates Matter for Long Distance Couples

A planned date gives you something to look forward to between visits. It doesn’t need to be an elaborate evening. Cooking together over a video call can feel more like sharing everyday life than another conversation about how much you miss each other.

Best Long Distance Relationship Games to Play Together

1. Paint Your Partner Challenge

Good for: A relaxed date when you fancy having a laugh

Have a go at drawing each other and keep your pictures hidden until you’ve both finished. The portraits don’t have to be any good. A slightly wonky version of your partner is often much funnier than a careful likeness.

PaintYourDate lets you draw together online for free. You can play in your browser alongside your usual call, or use the game’s built-in video.

How to play: Open PaintYourDate and send your partner the room link. Give yourselves five to ten minutes to draw, then reveal the portraits when you’re both ready.

“We did this on our monthly Zoom date night and couldn’t stop laughing. It’s now our go-to activity!” - Sarah & Mike, LDR for 2 years

Make this your next date

The best part is the reveal.

Wait until you see what your partner thinks you look like.

1. 1

   Share a link

   Sign up to create a room, then invite your partner.

2. 2

   Draw each other

   Keep your drawing hidden until you finish.

3. 3

   Reveal together

   Tap ready to see what you both made.

Paint each other for free (opens the game in a new tab)

You'll need a free account to create a room. Your partner joins without signing up. The game opens in a new tab.

2. Online Multiplayer Games for Couples

If you both enjoy a bit of competition, choose something you can play while you chat:

• Skribbl.io: A drawing and guessing game to try with a few other couples.
• Words with Friends: Worth a look if you like word games.
• Chess.com: Play a casual match and talk through your moves afterwards.
• Among Us: An option for a group evening when friends can join in.

3. Virtual Film Night with a Twist

Choose a film neither of you minds talking over. You could each make a small bingo card of things you expect to happen, then compare how many you spotted at the end.

Teleparty is one way to watch together. You can also agree on a start time and press play together, pausing whenever one of you needs a break.

4. Cook Together on Video Call

Pick a recipe you’ve both got a reasonable chance of making. Check the ingredients beforehand so nobody is halfway through cooking when they realise they’re missing something.

Prop up your phones for a FaceTime or WhatsApp call while you cook, then sit down to eat together. Comparing your finished plates is half the fun.

Things to Do on FaceTime with Boyfriend (Interactive Ideas)

5. Virtual Museum Tours

Choose a museum’s online collection and browse it together. Take turns finding a piece you’d put in your home, then explain your choice. You don’t need to know anything about art to disagree about what would look good above the sofa.

6. Online Escape Rooms

An online escape room gives you a problem to work through together. Look for one made for two players and check how it works before booking, as some use a live host and others let you play in your own time.

It’s a good choice if you enjoy puzzles and don’t mind getting stuck for a while.

7. Take an Online Class Together

Find a short lesson on something you’ve both wanted to try. A beginner’s drawing tutorial is an easy place to start, or you could learn a recipe you’ll make together next time you meet.

Watch a bit at a time and pause to have a go yourselves. Pick something small enough to finish during the call.

8. Virtual Workout or Yoga Session

Choose a gentle session you both feel comfortable doing and make enough room before you start. You can follow the same video while staying on a call.

If a workout doesn’t appeal, learning a short dance together might be more your thing. There will probably be a fair amount of rewinding.

Zoom Date Ideas That Feel Special

9. Virtual Dinner Date with Ambience

Order your favourite takeaway or cook something you like, and agree a time to sit down together. Putting the laptop at the other end of the table can feel a bit more like a dinner date than balancing your phone beside your plate.

Dress up if you fancy it. The main thing is to give yourselves an evening without answering other messages throughout the meal.

10. Stargazing Together

If it’s dark where you both are, take a call outside and see what you can spot. A stargazing app can help you work out what you’re looking at, though a quiet chat under the sky is a perfectly good date on its own.

Your phone camera might not show the stars very well, so describe what you can see. Have an indoor plan ready in case the weather lets you down.

Pro Tips for Successful Virtual Dates

Make It a Ritual

Agree a regular time that suits you both. It’s easier to look forward to a date when you know when the next one is, rather than trying to squeeze it in at the end of a busy day.

Mix It Up

Take turns choosing what to do. Some weeks you’ll fancy a proper activity; other weeks, having dinner on a call will be enough.

Create Shared Goals

Use the odd evening to plan your next visit or make a shared album of photos from the last one. It’s nice to have something you can both add to between calls.

Games to Play with Girlfriend Online (Beyond Video Games)

You don’t need to be into video games to enjoy playing something together. Would You Rather works well over messages, especially if you explain your answers. On a call, try Two Truths and a Lie and see whether you can catch each other out.

For more options, have a look at our games to play on FaceTime with your partner.

Making time together feel less routine

Choose something you’re both interested in, rather than an activity that sounds impressive but feels like homework. Leave room to chat while you’re doing it, and don’t worry about abandoning the plan if you’d rather just talk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good games to play with boyfriend over phone?

Would You Rather is easy to start on a phone call. For something more personal, each think of a few trivia questions about your relationship. If you fancy drawing, you can open PaintYourDate in your browser and invite your partner to join.

How do you spice up a long distance relationship?

Suggest something you haven’t done together before, and make it easy for your partner to join in. A surprise parcel with the ingredients for a cooking date could be lovely, but asking what they’d actually enjoy is just as worthwhile.

What’s the best free online game for couples?

If you fancy a drawing game, PaintYourDate is free to play in your browser. It suits couples who want something casual, and you don’t need any drawing experience. If you’re after a more competitive evening, a game of chess might suit you better.

Your LDR Toolkit: Quick Resource List

For Video Calls:

• FaceTime or WhatsApp for a cooking date while you chat
• Zoom or Google Meet for a planned date with a shared activity
• Discord for a voice or video call while you play
• Microsoft Teams if that’s already how you keep in touch

Choose an activity for your usual app with our WhatsApp, Zoom, Discord, Meet and Teams game suggestions, including tips for keeping a call going while you draw.

For watching together: Choose something you both have access to and agree when to press play. If you use a watch-party service, check that it supports your streaming service and devices first.

For playing together: Try PaintYourDate if you fancy drawing each other. Board Game Arena is another place to look if you prefer board games.

Pick something for your next call

Send your partner an idea you like and pick a time to try it. You don’t need to plan the perfect evening; having something to do together is a good start.

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Fancy drawing each other? PaintYourDate is free to play in your browser.

Start Drawing Together →

If you share your portraits, tag them with #PaintYourDate so we can have a look.