One digital activity I really enjoy doing with my mates is playing cooperative puzzle games while catching up over a voice call. We started doing this a couple of years ago when two of my closest friends from university moved to different cities for work, and we wanted a reliable way to keep in touch without just sending dull text messages back and forth.
Usually, it’s a group of three or four of us. Every Sunday evening, someone will post a reminder in our group chat, and around eight o'clock we'll hop onto a voice communication platform and boot up a game on our computers. We generally go for titles that require teamwork and communication, such as virtual escape rooms or mystery-solving challenges where we have to pool our clues together to progress.
What makes it so enjoyable is that it strikes the perfect balance between mental stimulation and casual banter. Because the games aren't fiercely competitive, there's no pressure, which leaves plenty of room for us to chat about our week, share funny stories from work, and generally unwind before Monday morning. It genuinely feels like we’re sitting in the same living room together, even though we might be hundreds of miles apart.
I suppose another reason I value it so much is that it gives us a shared goal. As adults, it's easy for friendships to drift apart simply because life gets hectic, but having this structured weekly ritual keeps our bond strong. It’s definitely one of the highlights of my weekend.