Virtual Date Ideas

The pandemic sucks. It is a huge constraint on our activities and things are looking like they may still get worse before we get back to normal. But constraints can breed creativity and everyone is always looking for a creative date option. Whether youre in a long-term relationship but just cant get outside anymore due to lockdown or risk, or if youre looking to dip your toes back into the dating pool but arent ready to take the irl plunge, or if youre in a long-distance complicatedship a virtual date is always an option. Here were going to round up a few options for a virtual date.

1. Jackbox

Jackbox is a series of virtual party games. Some of the games are best played with more people, but Ive found that many of the games work really well with four perfect for a double date! One person needs to buy whatever Jackbox you want to play (each one comes with about 5 games, and you can buy bundles which come with more at a discount). They can be purchased through their website or Steam, and after that all you need is a streaming connection (Discord works great!) and for all your participants to have a smartphone or tablet. There are games that are silly, and games where you draw, and trivia games, and word games, and so much more. Some of my favourite games include Drawful, Murder Trivia Party 2,  and Quiplash. Really, theres something for everyone and it is sure to spark a lot of laughter and a little competition. What could be sexier?

2. Virtual Show

Many performance groups and spaces have returned, but that doesnt mean that virtual theatre and performance has disappeared. Virtual performance can be a little more special than just watching a movie because they are often time limited and have that less-polished-more-human quality. ShowcaseBC is a virtual site that collects B.C. artist-created virtual performances, and SongKick maintains a list of virtual concerts. Another great strategy to find these kinds of events is to look out for local festivals like a Fringe festival or WinterFest, or events on holidays like a Santa Claus parade or a Canada Day performance. Think outside of the box and consider a wider range of performances including circus, magicians, comedians, and more

3. Art Gallery Tour

Did you know you can now go to the Louvre without leaving the comfort of your home? Why not make a whole date of it complete with croissants and french wine? Turn your place into a little Parisian cafe without all the hassle of airports and PCR testing. And, the Louvre isnt your only option. You could do a whole world tour: visit the U.K.s National Gallery, Spains Guggenheim, or the Vatican in Rome. Even if art isnt really your thing, you might be surprised at how much more you enjoy it when you can kick back in the comfort of your own home and make comments as loudly as you like, because yes, the Mona Lisa really isnt that impressive in person either. 

4. Movie Watch Party

If youre at home with your date, this is as easy as pulling up a movie on your favourite streaming service, or maybe trying out a new one (after all, a months subscription is still cheaper than the cinema!). You can complete the experience with fresh popped popcorn and other snacks, or if youre feeling silly why not create a drinking game for your favourite bad movie? If youre a bit further apart, we love this round-up of the best group watch apps for every service, and some tips and tricks to make sure your virtual movie night goes smoothly.

5. Tabletop 

Pre-pandemic, board game cafes were the next big thing. They also made a great date idea because it meant the date had a built-in structure and goal, involved learning a new thing with each other, and let you indulge in some friendly competition (or if co-op games are more your style, co-operation). Most people do not have huge board game collections sitting around at home, so cafes were the perfect solution. How to recreate that experience virtually though? Enter Tabletop, available on Steam for about $25.00 with tax. Tabletop is exactly what it sounds like, its a simulation of a table and all the physics that go into moving any kind of pieces, cards, or dice in any way you might need to to play a board game. It comes with in-built ability to play many classic games like Chess, Dominoes, or anything involving a deck of cards. However, the real benefit of this system is that there are hundreds of fan-made free versions of many popular board games like Carcassonne, Gloomhaven, and Settlers of Catan. Heres a quick little how-to guide with all the details.

There are still tons of other creative virtual date ideas, but we hope this short list gets you started with your next great date so that you dont have to wait for a 100% return to normal to feel like you have a satisfying dating life.