Top 10 'Board-Game-Replacing' Podcasts to play with friends for your next low-key game night. - Goh Ling Yong
Picture this: it’s Friday night. You’ve invited your friends over for a classic game night. But as you pull out the board games, you’re met with a collective sigh. One box is missing a crucial piece, another has a rulebook the size of a novel, and a third has been played so many times that the competitive tension has been replaced with bored predictability. We’ve all been there.
Sometimes you crave the connection and laughter of a game night without the hassle of setup, cleanup, or deciphering complicated instructions. You want the fun without the fuss. Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe that connection is key, and we're always looking for innovative ways to make it happen. What if I told you the perfect solution might already be on your phone, waiting to be discovered?
Enter the world of interactive podcasts. These aren't your typical interview or storytelling shows. They are audio experiences designed to be played, solved, and enjoyed together. From laugh-out-loud riddle-fests to mind-bending escape rooms and collaborative murder mysteries, podcasts offer a fresh, low-key, and often free alternative to traditional board games. All you need is a speaker, your favourite people, and a willingness to listen. Ready to press play on your next game night?
1. Hey Riddle Riddle
If your game nights are less about winning and more about laughing until you cry, Hey Riddle Riddle is your perfect match. The show features three brilliant improv comedians—Adal Rifai, Erin Keif, and John Patrick Coan—who try their best to solve riddles, puzzles, and listener-submitted "scenes." The riddles are merely a launchpad for their hilarious, meandering, and utterly chaotic comedic genius.
The joy of this podcast isn’t in getting the answers right; it’s in the journey. You'll find yourselves shouting out your own ridiculous answers alongside the hosts, captivated by their absurd logic and side-splitting tangents. The format is simple, making it incredibly easy to play along. The hosts read a riddle, and you simply pause the audio to give everyone in the room a chance to guess. The real game becomes: who can come up with the funniest, most outlandish wrong answer?
Pro-Tip: Don't skip the "Scene" segment at the end of many episodes. The hosts improvise a scene based on a listener's name, location, and a random object. It’s pure comedic gold and a perfect, non-competitive way to end an evening, leaving everyone in stitches.
2. Meddling Adults
Remember the thrill of solving mysteries as a kid with Encyclopedia Brown or Nancy Drew? Meddling Adults brilliantly recaptures that nostalgic magic. In each episode, host Mike Schubert pits two guests against each other to see who can solve a case from a classic children's mystery book. The guests compete to win money for a charity of their choice, adding a wholesome layer to the fun.
This podcast is fantastically structured for a group game night. The host presents the mystery and lays out all the initial facts. Then, he offers the contestants (and you!) a series of clues they can "buy" with points. You can pause the podcast after the initial setup, have everyone write down their suspect and reasoning, and then listen as the clues are revealed to see whose theory holds up.
Pro-Tip: Create a simple scoring system for your group. Award points for guessing the correct culprit, and bonus points for identifying the key piece of evidence that cracks the case. It’s a great way to engage your friends who love logic puzzles and a touch of nostalgia.
3. The Infinite Escape Room
For those who love the high-stakes pressure and collaborative problem-solving of a physical escape room, The Infinite Escape Room is a must-listen. Each episode is a standalone audio adventure where the hosts—and by extension, the listeners—are trapped in a room and must solve a series of puzzles to get out. The sound design is immersive, painting a vivid picture of your surroundings using only audio cues.
To play, gather your sharpest friends, a pen, and a large sheet of paper. Treat it like a real escape room: listen carefully to the descriptions of the room and the items within it. Pause the podcast frequently to discuss the puzzles as a team. Draw diagrams, unscramble anagrams, and work through the logic problems together before pressing play to hear if your solution is correct.
Pro-Tip: Use a good quality speaker or even cast the audio to a TV soundbar. The subtle audio clues—a faint ticking, a distant drip, the rustle of paper—are often crucial to solving the puzzles and add a fantastic layer of immersion.
4. Solve This Murder
If your group is obsessed with true crime but wants something a little more interactive, Solve This Murder is the perfect fit. This unique podcast blends the narrative feel of a D&D campaign with the thrill of a classic whodunit. Host Dani Siller acts as the "Dungeon Master," crafting a complex fictional murder case, while her friend Bill is the detective, piecing together the clues.
The best part? You and your friends are essentially co-detectives. As Bill investigates the crime scene, interviews witnesses, and uncovers evidence, you can pause and deliberate. Who is lying? What is the motive? What crucial detail did everyone miss? It’s a slow-burn game that encourages deep discussion and theorizing.
Pro-Tip: For the full experience, create a "murder board" on a whiteboard or a large piece of corkboard. Write down the names of all the characters, their relationships, and add strings of yarn to connect clues to suspects. It turns your game night into a truly collaborative detective experience over several episodes or even a full season.
5. Ask Me Another
Though NPR's beloved puzzle-and-trivia show has ended, its massive back catalog is a treasure trove for game nights. Ask Me Another is the audio equivalent of a cozy, clever, and endlessly entertaining variety game show. Hosted by the witty Ophira Eisenberg and featuring house musician Jonathan Coulton, each episode is packed with word games, music parodies, and trivia rounds.
This is perhaps the easiest podcast to play along with. There's no complex setup required. Just press play and shout out the answers along with the on-air contestants. You can make it competitive by splitting into teams and keeping score, or you can just enjoy the brain-teasing fun collaboratively. The variety in games ensures that everyone in your group—from the music nerd to the history buff—will have a moment to shine.
Pro-Tip: Search the episode list for guests or themes that appeal to your group. There are episodes featuring famous actors, comedians, and authors, which adds an extra layer of fun if your friends are fans.
6. Good Job, Brain!
Bring the raucous energy of a pub quiz right into your living room with Good Job, Brain! This long-running podcast is part trivia show, part deep-dive into fascinating, obscure facts. The hosts' infectious enthusiasm is contagious, and their well-researched quizzes are both challenging and fun.
The format is perfect for a team-based game night. The show is broken into different segments, including recurring quizzes and themed rounds. When a quiz segment begins, just pause the audio, give your teams a few minutes to discuss and write down their answers, and then hit play to hear the solutions. The show is packed with so many "I never knew that!" moments that it's as educational as it is entertaining.
Pro-Tip: Look for their "All-Quiz" episodes. These are specifically designed for a play-along experience and are packed back-to-back with trivia, making for a full evening of quizzing without any of the extra chatter.
7. Tell Me What Happened
History buffs, this one is for you. Tell Me What Happened takes a fascinating historical event or figure and turns it into a game of fill-in-the-blanks. The host, Nick Emel, tells a compelling story, but key facts—names, dates, locations, and events—are bleeped out. The on-air contestants have to guess the missing information.
This is a fantastic way to test your group's historical knowledge in a fun, narrative-driven format. Divide into two teams. Every time you hear a bleep, pause the podcast. Let each team huddle up and decide on their official guess. Award points for correct answers and see which team comes out on top by the end of the story. You'll be surprised how much you learn.
Pro-Tip: Even if your group isn't full of history experts, the multiple-choice rounds give everyone a fighting chance. It’s a great way to learn something new without it feeling like a lecture.
8. Puzzled
If your friends are the type who head straight for the Sudoku and crosswords in the newspaper, then Puzzled will be right up their alley. Created by the puzzle masters at GCHQ (the UK's intelligence and security organization), this podcast is a serious workout for your brain. Each episode features a series of fiendishly clever brain-teasers, from lateral thinking puzzles to complex wordplay and logic problems.
This is a purely collaborative game. You'll need to put your heads together to crack these codes. Keep a notepad or a small whiteboard handy to work through the problems as a group. The satisfaction of finally figuring out a particularly tough puzzle together is more rewarding than any board game victory. It’s a challenging but incredibly gratifying experience for a group that loves a good mental challenge.
Pro-Tip: Don't be afraid to rewind. Some of the puzzles are dense and require hearing the wording a second or third time to catch the nuance. This is one where active, focused listening is the key to success.
9. Dungeons and Daddies
Now, this is a slightly different recommendation. You don't "play along" with Dungeons and Daddies in a competitive sense, but it is the single best replacement for a TTRPG night when no one has the energy to be a Dungeon Master. It's an actual-play D&D podcast about four suburban dads who are flung into a fantasy realm to rescue their lost sons. It's hilarious, heartfelt, and focuses on story and comedy over complicated rules.
The "game" here is the shared experience. My friends and I, as Goh Ling Yong has probably heard me say, often put this on when we want the vibe of a D&D night without any of the prep. You just listen together, laughing at the insane antics and gasping at the dramatic plot twists. It's like listening to a blockbuster comedy movie being improvised in real-time.
Pro-Tip: Start with Episode 1. The story is serialized, and the character development is a huge part of the fun. It’s the perfect podcast for a recurring, low-effort "game night" where the only goal is to hang out and be entertained.
10. The Thrilling Adventure Hour
For a truly unique and immersive audio experience, look no further than The Thrilling Adventure Hour. This podcast is a staged production in the style of old-time radio, complete with incredible voice actors, sound effects, and a live audience. It features recurring serialized segments that parody different genres, from the space-western "Sparks Nevada, Marshal on Mars" to the supernatural-socialite shenanigans of "Beyond Belief."
Like Dungeons and Daddies, this is less of a competitive game and more of a shared cultural event. The game is immersion. Dim the lights, pour some drinks, and let the incredible production transport you and your friends to another time and place. It’s a fantastic way to start or end a game night, offering pure, effortless entertainment.
Pro-Tip: Browse the segments and pick one that suits your group's taste. "Beyond Belief," starring Paget Brewster and Paul F. Tompkins as a boozy, ghost-hunting married couple, is a fan-favorite and a great place to start.
Your Next Game Night is Just a 'Play' Button Away
The next time you're planning a get-together, consider leaving the board games on the shelf. These podcasts offer a world of interactive fun that is accessible, affordable, and requires virtually no setup. Whether your group loves brain-bending puzzles, gut-busting comedy, or thrilling mysteries, there's an audio experience waiting to become your new game night tradition.
So, gather your friends, connect your speaker, and dive into a new kind of game. You might just find that the best game nights are the ones you can hear.
What are your favourite interactive podcasts or board game alternatives? Have you ever tried using a podcast for a game night? Share your top picks and experiences in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
Stay updated with the latest posts and insights by following on your favorite platform!