Make a game with your friends in it

Why it works

Nobody skips a game where their friend is the final boss. A face they know turns a normal run into an inside joke: you get to knock your brother off a sky island, or carry a pane of glass with your best friend through traffic.

Roles matter more than looks. Decide what each friend is: a teammate, a rival, a hazard, the prize, the boss. A good role fits the person, like the friend who is always late becoming the one you wait for at the finish.

Pick a role for each friend

• Your squad. "5v5 street shooter, my friends are my team." Block Wars is that kind of game.
• The other half. "Two of us carry one pane of glass across the city." That is Mind the Pane.
• Rope partner. "Two climbers on one rope, a long way down." Clip In or Fall.
• Rivals. "Eight islands, each friend guards a bed." Bed Blitz is BedWars-like.
• Coworkers. "A comedy call centre, the phones never stop." Scam Call Crew.
• Racers. "Four animals, one rubber ring, a lot of tooting." Toot Rapids.

How it works, step by step

Other routes are slow for this. In Roblox your friends join as their avatars. In Unity you would model each friend by hand. On Roam the photo is the brief, and the game is ready the same day.

• 1. The photo. One group photo works. Or describe them: "tall guy with a cap, girl with green hair."
• 2. The game. "Obby," "zombie survival," "battle royale in our school."
• 3. The roles. "Max is the boss, Lena is the medic, Tom is the loot."
• 4. Play, then send. Play it alone first, then send it. Multiplayer when they join, solo when they are offline.

Questions people ask

Can I put my friends in a game?

Yes. In Roam you add a photo of your group or describe them, and they become characters, hazards or the boss.

Can I play it alone first?

Yes. Play solo while they are offline, then send it. It turns multiplayer when they join.

Is it free?

Yes. Roam is a free iPhone app.