Gather is the perfect platform for playing games and organizing socials—from a 2-minute go kart race during the work day to an evening of trivia in a virtual pub. To help you plan socials and introduce folks to Gather, we've developed Experience templates that are practically plug-and-play!
The Gather Experiences section of our help center provides tips and tricks for successfully your next Gather social. Each article includes any prep work, additional resources, or bonus tips you might need to make your event a hit!
Size
For the majority of our games, our templates support about 25 participants. This makes them perfect for use in your free Gather Space.
Tip: See a template or idea you love but want to execute it on a larger scale? Just a create a custom Space that's big enough to meet your needs! Remember, it's always free to design Spaces - you don't have to pay until you're ready to host your event.
Preparation
Our Gather Experience articles all come with details on any prep work you might need to do for your activity. However, the very first step to getting your game on is to grab one of our activity templates, available in the Experience section of our Template Picker (https://app.gather.town/create). You have two options to create your experience:
- Make a New Space! Just pick a template, give it a name, decide if it needs a password, and pick your purpose. (Don't worry; you can do this in a matter of minutes, or even seconds!) OR
- Add a New Room! Head to your Space, open the Mapmaker, and add a new Room.
Bonus Tips
Look at the suggested Bonus Tips in our articles to make the most of your experience.
Our team has incorporated several pre-set games in our Object Picker. These games are set up so that you can join private games within your Gather space, so you can play while also video chatting with friends! You can add any of these games into your pre-existing Space, or you can use a Game Room template to create a Space full of games!
Add a Game to Your Space
To quickly and easily add a game in your Space, just click Build in the toolbar. Type the name of the game you want to use, or just type "game" to see a full list. When you've picked the game you want, place it in your Space.
Add a game in your Space by clicking Build in the toolbar, then searching for "game."
Existing Game Integrations
The following is a list of games that are available for you within Gather. You can find out more about the games and how they work on their respective websites below.
- Tetris: https://jstris.jezevec10.com
- Codenames: https://netgames.io/games/codewords/
- Poker: https://lipoker.io/
- Set: https://setwithfriends.com/
- Survive: https://surviv.io
- Dominion: https://dominion.games
- Crosswords: https://downforacross.com/
- Fishbowl: https://fishbowl-game.com
- One Night Werewolf: https://netgames.io/games/onu-werewolf/
- Draw Battle: https://drawbattle.io/
- Piano: https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Shared-Piano/#pTf9y7kT6
- Witch Dice: https://witchdice.com/simple/gather-RAmKIsRU70jQ0U9itable2
- Golf Royale: https://golfroyale.io/
- GuessMe!: https://guessme.io/
- Top Four: https://topfour.io/
Note: We don't own any of the games in the object picker.
Embed an External Game
You can embed a game from outside Gather if the site allows embedding. Open the Mapmaker, then open the Object Picker. Search for an object (e.g., Game Box) and select Embedded Website. Then copy and paste the URL of the game you want to embed.
If you want to embed an external online game, open the Object Picker in Mapmaker, select an interactive object, and add an embedded website.
Tip: You can embed a game in Gather that (a) is available online at an https:// URL and (b) allows embedding. You may need to create a private game ahead of time and use that URL.
Use the Team Social Room in Your Office
You can easily add a Game Room to your office by selecting the Board Game Night option when setting up your social room. If you've selected a Remote Work Office template, the Office Socials maps has automatically been added to your Space. Enter this area by crossing the small bridge connected to your office. If you've selected the Team Social template, you're automatically taken to the social courtyard.
The Board Game Night experience is available in the Remote Work Office and Team Social templates.
Note: Keep in mind the integrated games may have their own limits of number of players. The size of the templates are relative to the number of guests they can accommodate.
Add a Game Room to Your Custom Map
If you've not used a Remote Work or Team Social template, you can add a game room to your map in Map Maker. Simply Add a Room and select one of the three game rooms (small, medium, or large).
Do all your friends call you Speed Racer? If not, do you want them to?! Find your inner Formula 1 driver in the Gather Grand Prix! Use our template track, complete with obstacles and speed boosts.
Overview
- Setup: To get started, walk over the Socials Bridge if it’s in your Space. (Look around the edges of your office if you’re not sure!) If your Space was created before we built these magical bridges into our templates, you can add a Rec Room through the Object Picker.
- Participation Difficulty: 🟢 🟢 (super easy)
- Players: 2-8 (While up to 10 people can be in the Space for free, there are only 8 karts built into the template. Spectators can use the stage to watch and chat!)
- Emcee: Optional for narrating the race
- Average Time: 5-30 minutes
New Maps and a Competitive Edge
Our newest Social Experience features three maps and most importantly, a leaderboard, so you can keep track of your all-star racers.
Screenshots of three different styled race track templates
Ready?
Pick a person to be the announcer. They should walk up to the stage, step onto the spotlight tile, and announce the race. There's no formal lap counter or countdown, so the announcer should tell everyone how many laps the race should be.
Someone can step onto the spotlight tile to announce the race.
Set?
Up to 8 people can race at a time. Racers should walk up to a kart and press "x" to hop on!
Tip: There's no lap counter or timer, so make sure the announcer tells everyone ahead of time how many laps you'll race, and then counts down to start the race.
Go!
Use the arrow or WASD keys to steer, dodging the cones and aiming for the arrows for speed boosts.
Press "x" to get on or off a go kart.
Tip: The announcer has to decide the winner!
For spectators or an announcer to see the whole race, open User Settings (Ctrl/⌘+P). In Appearance, turn off Smart Zoom and set the Manual Canvas Zoom to 50% or lower.
Emcees and spectators can turn off Smart Zoom to get a bird's eye view of the track.
Bonus Tips
- Watch or listen to the Speed Racer theme song and/or episodes
- Watch or listen to Nascar/F1 highlights
- Stream the Mario Kart soundtrack
Are you an expert ribbon dancer or knife juggler? The time to show off your skills is now! Talent shows are an easy way to throw a fun social in Gather.
Overview
- Setup: We recommend the Open Mic or Speakeasy Maps, available in our template picker under the Socials tab. Spread the word ahead of time so people can prepare to showcase their skills! To invite people, just send them the Space URL!
- Participation Difficulty: 🟢 🟢 (super easy)
- Participants: Free for up to 10 (more than 10 people will require a reservation)
- Emcee: Helpful, but not absolutely necessary
- Average Time: Up to you!
Host the Show
Once you've picked your Map, whether you've created a Space or added a Room, putting together a talent show is pretty simple. First, make sure you have people who want to showcase their talent! Next, send an invite to your Gather Space for the show (just share the URL of your Space, or select the Invite button from the Participants list or main menu).
When it's showtime, just have the emcee or performer step onto the spotlight tile (usually an orange megaphone icon). You may want to add more spotlight tiles for multiple performers.
Step into the spotlight to share your talent! Everyone in the Room will be able to see and hear you.
Technical Tips
- When you're on a spotlight tile, your audio, video, and screen (if you share it) are broadcasted to everyone in the Room.
- When you're in the spotlight, you can see other people's videos but can only hear people within 5 tiles of you.
- You can spotlight someone impromptu by selecting their name from the Participants list, then clicking Spotlight on their info card. You may also see the spotlight feature in your toolbar to spotlight yourself, depending on the type of Space you're in and your user role.
- You can have multiple Spotlight tiles, but generally, don't try to spotlight more than 20 people at the same time.
- You can press "g" to enter ghost mode to stack more than one person on a spotlight tile.
- Spotlight works best for 100 or fewer people.
- Maps like the Speakeasy and Open Mic are set up with private areas so people can sit together and chat without disturbing other people. If you need to add private areas in your Map, head to the Private Area Tile Effect article.
- We've noticed that larger performances (theaters, bands) tend to require more detailed audio capturing. Ask performers to turn on Use Original Audio in User Settings to turn off echo cancelling, noise suppression, and gain control from your sound input.
Tip: Having a/v issues? Check out the A/V Troubleshooting Checklist.
Bonus Tips
- If you're in an Event Space, use photo mode to capture screenshots of performers!
- Add a Google form and have attendees vote for awards, like Best in Show, Most Bizarre Talent, Best Effort, Biggest Surprise, Most Useless Skill, etc.
- If everyone's having a good time, consider extending the event, shifting to karaoke, trivia, or improv! You can also quickly add our integrated games to the Space, like DrawBattle or Code Names.
Are you a master of spatial reasoning? Test your prowess against your friends in our Jstris Tournament template!
Overview
- Setup: You can play tetris any time in your Space by adding it as an object, or you can use our special Tetris Tournament template, shown in this article! The template is available in the Experiences section at https://app.gather.town/create, or you can add it as a Room to your Space. The Tetris Tournament is also sometimes available as a social in the Rec Room object in Remote Work Spaces. To invite players, just send them the Space URL!
- Participation Difficulty: 🟢 (easy)
- Players: 8-32 (Up to 25 people can be in the Space for free. Spectators can mill around to watch and chat!)
- Emcee: Optional
- Average Time: 15-60 minutes
Tip: Jstris is the Gather-integrated version of the famous Tetris block game.
Round 1
Divide into groups across battlefields A, B, C, and D. Press "x" to join the game. You are assigned a random name when you join the game. As you play, you can see the screens of those you are battling (who have pressed "x" on the same game you did).
Start your tetris tournament by dividing into groups. Winners head to the top of the map and the championship round!
Semi-Finals
The winners of Round 1 proceed up the map. Winners from A and B move up to E, and winners of C and D move up to F. Spectators can gather 'round to watch!
Tip: To watch instead of play, press "x" to join the game. Then type "/spec" in the command box.
Losers of Round 1 can spectate the next round. Just press "x" to join the game, and then type "/spec" into the command window.
Championship
Winners from E and F head face off in the Final Game, battling side by side at the game cabinet.
Bonus Tips
Pre, during, or post Tetris Tourney, you can include some or all of the following activities, most of which are at your fingertips online:
- Make a Tetris jams playlist
- Watch famous Tetris battles (yes, it's a thing!)
- Watch Tetris-related documentaries
- Encourage people to dress up as their favorite Tetris piece. Don't forget to take a screenshot!
Pro Tip: Click Settings under your game board to personalize your setup, from keyboard shortcuts to cat-face block skins.
To customize the game, click Settings under your board. You can change keyboard shortcuts, game settings, and even the skin of the tetris blocks.
Discover unknown soulmates and shared experiences with our Speed Gathering template! Participants pair up and answer quick conversation starters, then switch seats to chat with a new partner every few minutes.
Overview
- Setup: The Speed Gathering template is available in the Experiences section at https://app.gather.town/create and you can also add it as a Room to your Space. To invite players, just send them the Space URL!
- Participation Difficulty: 🟢 (easy)
- Players: 5-25 (Up to 10 people can be in the Space for free)
- Emcee: Necessary
- Average Time: 30-60 minutes
- Media: Speed Gathering slides (provided), a timer
Gather 'Round
As people enter the Speed Gathering room, direct them to sit at one of the 12 tables of paired chairs.
Tip: Have an odd number of participants? Add a chair to one of the tables! Just make sure to add the chair to the private area so all 3 can see and hear each other. (Read about private areas if you need help!)
When everyone is ready to begin, step onto the spotlight tile and read a conversation prompt. (Just press "x" at the podium if you want to use our pre-built slide deck!) Start a timer for that round. We suggest 2 minutes so each person has 1 minute to answer.
When the 2 minutes is up, ask the inner and/or the outer circle to follow the arrows to the next chair.
The emcee stands in the center of the circle to facilitate the social. They can share their screen while spotlighted so everyone can see the questions.
Tip: The Speed Gathering template includes a set of questions in Google Slides. Use as is, or open this version to make a copy!
Bonus Tips
- Open the pre-built slides (or your own slides) in a separate browser window. Then, you can screen share that browser window so that you as the emcee can see the room while the room sees the slides.
- If you have less than 24 people and want to remove seats, select Build in the toolbar. Then select Erase and select the tables and chairs you need to remove.
- If you have more than 24 people, we recommend creating a larger room and following this design. Remember that each pair of chairs and table is a separate private area.
- Just search for "conversation starters" online - you'll find a bajillion things to ask
"I don't know" and "I don't care" are phrases that won't fly in this game! The emcee lists two options in this game of choosing between extremes, and everyone in the Space takes a side. (Okay, you indecisive ones can stand in the middle...)
Overview
- Setup: The Taking Sides template is available in the Experiences section at https://app.gather.town/create, or you can add it as a Room to your Space. To invite players, just send them the Space URL!
- Participation Difficulty: 🟢 🟢 (super easy)
- Players: 2-25
- Emcee: Necessary
- Average Time: 15-60 minutes
- Media: (Optional) Google Slides
Pick a Side
This activity is straightforward. The emcee steps onto the Spotlight tile to announce two options or a statement that you can answer with yes or no. Everyone in the Space moves to the side that represents their choice.
For example, if the emcee says Chocolate or Vanilla, those who prefer chocolate would move to the left side of the map, and those who prefer vanilla would move to the right side. Similarly, with a yes/no question, participants would move to the left if their answer is yes, or the right side if their answer is no.
For each option or statement, allow a few minutes for the participants to move back or forth, and for people talk to others who share their opinion. (Clearly chocolate is the correct answer, and all the folks on the right side can talk about how great chocolate is or how terrible vanilla is.)
An emcee presents two options or asks a yes/no question, and everyone picks the side that represents their answer!
Tip: The Taking Sides template includes a set of questions in Google Slides. Use as is, or make a copy to make it your own!
Bonus Tips
- Search online for "icebreaker questions," "stand up, sit down," or "would you rather" to find other pairs or yes/no questions.
- Open the pre-built slides (or your own slides) in a separate browser window. Then, you can screen share that browser window so that you as the emcee can see the room while the room sees the slides.
Can't meet up with your friends face to face? Need a good icebreaker activity for a work social? Sitting at home, twiddling your thumbs? Try out our Dungeon Escape! Navigate through three levels, interacting with objects and people in our escape room to solve puzzles and find freedom.
Overview
- Setup: The Dungeon Escape template is only available in the Experiences section at https://app.gather.town/create, so you must create a new Space to enjoy it. To invite players, just send them the Space URL!
- Participation Difficulty: 🟡 (a little tricky, but that's just to solve the puzzles!)
- Players: 1-20 (Up to 10 people can be in the Space for free)
- Emcee: Not needed
- Average Time: 20-60 minutes
Explore the Tavern
When you first enter the Dungeon Escape Space, you enter a tavern. Throughout the tavern, notes and interactive objects give you basic tips and tricks for your escape. Press the x key to view and close the notes.
Press x on your keyboard to open and close interactive objects. Notes are key to succeeding in the dungeon!
Reviewed the notes in the tavern? Looks like you're ready to get started. Good luck!
Tip: Need to get back to the tavern? Just click your personal menu in the toolbar, then select Respawn.
Escape the Dungeon
The following screenshots offer a few pointers for navigating the dungeon. For example, there are all different types of doors in Gather. Some let you go through walls.
Check for secret doorways.
Watch out for the guards! They are mischievous and will pull you off path of success.
Stay away from guards and monsters! Get too close and you'll get sent back.
Notes are super important, and often give you key information about what you need to do first.
Pay attention to notes
Look out for portals that advance you in the map.
Portals look like stone fire pits. A blue portal indicates a path to the Plane of Water.
Need some perspective? Turn off Smart Zoom in User Settings (Ctrl/⌘+P) and zoom out for a bird's eye view of the level.
Turn off Smart Zoom in your User Settings for a bird's eye view of the level.
Bonus Tips
- Make everyone take a drink (of water!) every time someone gets booted back to the beginning of the level.
- Set a timer and give out awards or bragging rights to the team or person who finishes fastest.
For some added fun, we've put together a scavenger hunt that you can do solo or with your friends! Just create a Space using either of our Islands templates (day or nighttime!). This is a great activity for introducing new people to Gather.
Overview
- Setup: The Islands templates are only available in the Experiences section at https://app.gather.town/create, so you must create a new Space to enjoy them.
- Participation Difficulty: 🟢 (Easy)
- Players: 1-25 (Up to 10 people can be in the Space for free)
- Emcee: Not needed
- Average Time: 15-30 minutes
One of the islands complete with a quiet spot to fish!
Here's a few items to be on the look out for!
- A starfish (there's only 1!)
- A sand castle
- 2 cups of shaved ice
- A message in a bottle
- 3 angel statues
- A fish
- A tree that's not a palm tree
- Secret poker game
- A fire pit that makes sound
- A loudspeaker in the water
- A ticket to a music festival
- An outrigger canoe
- A teapot
- 4 potted plants
Bonus Tips
- Keep the Map fresh by adding and removing items in the Mapmaker and giving participants an updated list of items to find.
- Make it a timed activity and award the fastest scavenger!
We've put together a scavenger hunt Map that you can do solo or as a group!
Overview
- Setup: The Mystery Mansion template is only available in the Experiences section at https://app.gather.town/create, so you must create a new Space to enjoy it. To invite players, just send them the Space URL!
- Participation Difficulty: 🟢 🟢 (super easy)
- Players: 1-25 (Up to 10 people can be in the Space for free)
- Emcee: Not needed
- Average Time: 15-30 minutes
When you first enter the Mystery Mansion, you'll be in the Foyer.
Here's the list of items to be on the look out for:
- A bookshelf that moves
- A cabinet that opens
- A fake wall
- Two cabinets that move
- The cellar
- A coiled rope
- A gun
- A knife
- A candlestick
- A wrench
- A lead pipe
- A secret poker game
- Blinds that open and close to a dark and rainy world
Bonus Tips
- Keep the map fresh by adding and removing items in the Mapmaker and giving participants an updated list of items to find.
- Make it a timed activity and award the fastest scavenger!
Planning a holiday party in Gather? Add a festive tree! Nothing brings people together like decorating a tree—debating the best branch for the panda ornament to be on, how many candy canes is too many, and whether the tree topper should be a star, angel, or ham. Just pick your Space, add a tree, turn on Global Build, and throw your party!
Overview
- Setup: Just add a tree to your Space, then turn on Global Build!
- Participation Difficulty: 🟢 🟢 (Super easy)
- Players: As many as your Map/reservation allows!
- Emcee: Not needed
- Average Time: 30-60 minutes
- Media: Christmas tree image (included below) + any custom images
Pick Your Space
You can add a tree to any Map, or pick out one of our seasonal Maps. (Our Family Gathering (Christmas) Maps already have trees in them, so you can use that tree or you can always add another!)
Head to https://gather.town/create and grab a seasonal Map, if it suits your fancy.
Add the Tree
If you want a giant tree without any decorations on it, you'll need to save the tree image below. (Just right click and choose Save As and save as a .png).
Then head to your Space, open the Object Picker, and upload the tree as a custom object. (You may want to add the tree from the Mapmaker so you can pick the perfect spot and move any objects out of the way.)
From the Object Picker, select Upload New, then upload your tree object.
Tip: If you want to prevent people from walking over the tree, add Impassable tile effects on the tree!
From the Mapmaker, add Impassable tile effects so people can't walk all over the tree.
Turn on Global Build
For everyone to decorate the tree, you'll need to turn on Global Build. Open Settings, and under Space Customization, toggle on Global Build.
From Space Settings, in Space Customization, toggle on Global Build.
With Global Build on, anyone in the Space can select Build in the toolbar, then select Open object picker to browse for tree decoration. (You can search for "ornament" or you can just put whatever you want on the tree!)
Throw Your Party
Now you're ready to host your party! Remember, Gather is free for up to 10 people in the same Space at the same time!
Gather Tree Decorating Party!
Tip: Hosting a larger party? Create a reservation!
Bonus Tips
- Use Chrome and share your tab audio to stream holiday music (we fully expect "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" to be on it).
- Decorate a tree for any holiday - make a spooky black tree festooned with tiny carved pumpkins!
- Upload custom objects as ornaments! Just make sure to save as a .png with a transparent background, and keep in mind that a tile is 32 x 32 px, so your ornament dimensions should probably be smaller than that.