christmas couples long distance holidays virtual date

Christmas Games for Couples Apart: How to Stay Connected When Distance Keeps You Separated This Holiday

Struggling with being apart from your partner this Christmas? Discover the best virtual date ideas and online games for couples to stay connected during the holidays. Perfect for LDR, military families, and anyone missing their person.

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7 min read
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Artbitrator Team
Couple connecting through online drawing games during Christmas holidays

The Hardest Part of the Holidays: Being Apart

Christmas is supposed to be about togetherness. The movies show us cozy fireplaces, matching pajamas, and loved ones gathered around the tree.

But for millions of couples, that’s not the reality.

Maybe you’re in a long distance relationship and flights were too expensive this year. Maybe your partner is deployed overseas, serving their country while you’re home with an empty seat at the table. Maybe work schedules, visa complications, or family obligations mean you’re spending December 25th in different places.

You’re not alone. And this article is for you.

Why the Holidays Hit Different When You’re Apart

Let’s be honest about something: holiday loneliness is real, and it’s not weakness to feel it.

Studies show that feelings of isolation spike during the holiday season, particularly for those in long distance relationships. The constant imagery of couples together - in ads, in movies, on social media - can make the distance feel even more painful.

Common reasons couples spend Christmas apart:

  • Military deployment - Over 200,000 service members are deployed during any given holiday season
  • Healthcare workers - Hospitals don’t close for Christmas
  • Immigration/visa issues - International couples often face long separations
  • Work travel - Some jobs require holiday coverage
  • New relationships - Not ready for the “meet the family” step yet
  • Financial constraints - Travel costs spike 300% during peak holiday season
  • Family obligations - Sometimes you each need to be with your own families

Whatever your reason, it’s valid. And the goal isn’t to pretend the distance doesn’t hurt - it’s to find ways to feel connected despite it.

Virtual Date Ideas That Actually Work for Christmas

Generic advice like “watch a movie together on video call” is fine, but let’s be honest - it’s passive. You’re both staring at separate screens, occasionally commenting.

The best virtual dates involve active participation together. Something where you’re both engaged, reacting, creating.

That’s where interactive games come in.

Why Drawing Games Are Perfect for Holiday Virtual Dates

Here’s something you might not expect: couples who play together stay together.

Research on relationship satisfaction consistently shows that shared novel experiences - doing something new and slightly challenging together - creates stronger bonds than passive activities.

Drawing games hit this perfectly because:

  1. They’re active - You’re both doing something, not just watching
  2. They create shared memories - You’ll remember “that time you drew me as a potato” forever
  3. They generate genuine laughter - The best medicine for missing someone
  4. They produce keepsakes - Save the drawings as holiday memories
  5. Zero skill required - Bad art is often funnier than good art

The Best Christmas Games for Couples Apart

1. Paint Your Partner Challenge (PaintYourDate.io)

The Paint Your Partner challenge went viral on TikTok for good reason - it’s genuinely hilarious and surprisingly intimate.

How it works:

  • Both partners draw portraits of each other simultaneously
  • Neither can see what the other is drawing
  • After 5-7 minutes, you reveal the results together
  • Genuine reactions (and usually hysterical laughter) follow

Why it’s perfect for Christmas apart:

PaintYourDate.io was built specifically for long distance couples. Unlike trying to coordinate paper drawings over video call, it offers:

  • Built-in video chat - See each other while you draw
  • Synchronized reveal - No peeking possible, true simultaneous reveal
  • No downloads needed - Just share a link and start
  • Save and share - Keep your Christmas portraits forever

Christmas twist: Draw each other in ugly Christmas sweaters, or as your partner’s favorite holiday movie character.

2. Artbitrator - Multiplayer Drawing With AI Judges

Want something more competitive? Artbitrator is a quick draw multiplayer game where everyone draws the same prompt simultaneously, racing to get an AI judge to recognize their drawing first.

What makes it special:

  • AI judges with personality - Choose Bob Ross (encouraging), Picasso (provocative), or Dalí (delightfully unhinged)
  • Real-time voice commentary - The AI talks WHILE you draw
  • 1-12 players - Perfect for just you two, or a virtual game night with friends
  • 5 game modes - Not just one way to play

Why it’s perfect for couples at Christmas:

The AI commentary creates a “third presence” in your call - someone reacting to both of you in real-time. It’s surprisingly good at making you feel like you’re in the same room, laughing at the same thing.

Christmas twist: Take turns picking holiday-themed prompts like “Santa stuck in chimney” or “reindeer traffic jam.”

👉 Play Artbitrator Free

3. Holiday Drawing Challenges

Beyond the games themselves, here are themed challenges perfect for Christmas:

“12 Days of Drawings” Each day leading up to Christmas, draw something for each other:

  • Day 1: Your favorite memory together
  • Day 2: Where you want to travel next
  • Day 3: Your partner as a Christmas elf
  • Day 4: Your future home together
  • …and so on

“Gift Reveal Drawings” Draw clues about their Christmas gift. They have to guess what you got them based on your (probably terrible) artistic interpretation.

“Christmas Movie Scenes” Take turns drawing scenes from holiday movies. First to guess correctly wins.

Making Virtual Christmas Feel Special

Beyond games, here are ways to make your virtual Christmas meaningful:

Synchronized Activities

  • Open presents together on video - Mail each other gifts early
  • Cook the same recipe - Prepare the same dish in your respective kitchens
  • Watch the same sunrise/sunset - If time zones allow
  • Wear matching pajamas - Order them in advance

Creating Presence

  • Leave the call running - Background presence matters
  • Send voice notes throughout the day - More personal than texts
  • Share mundane moments - “I’m making coffee” texts create intimacy

Planning the Reunion

Sometimes the best way to handle being apart is to focus on when you’ll be together. Spend part of your virtual Christmas planning:

  • Your next visit
  • A future trip together
  • The things you’ll do when you’re in the same place

The Truth About LDR Holidays

Here’s something nobody tells you: getting through hard moments together strengthens relationships.

The couples who survive long distance often describe their relationships as stronger because of it. You learn to communicate better, to be intentional about quality time, to never take presence for granted.

This Christmas might be hard. The empty space beside you at dinner is real. The longing is real.

But so is what you’re building.

Your Christmas Connection Toolkit

Here’s everything you need for a connected holiday:

For Drawing Together:

For Video Calling:

  • Whatever platform you normally use (the games have built-in video or work alongside your call)

For Shared Watching:

  • Teleparty (Netflix Party)
  • Disney+ GroupWatch
  • Amazon Watch Party

For Staying Connected:

  • Marco Polo for video messages
  • Couple apps for countdowns and shared lists

This Year Is Temporary

If you’re reading this on Christmas Day, phone in hand, missing your person - know that this is a moment in time, not forever.

The distance is temporary. The connection you’re building isn’t.

Take a breath. Send them a message. Start a drawing game. Laugh together, even through the screen.

And next year? Maybe you’ll be drawing each other in person, laughing at how bad your artistic skills still are.

Start Your Virtual Christmas Date Now

Don’t let the distance win today.

👉 For couples: PaintYourDate.io - Draw each other, reveal together, laugh forever

👉 For competitive fun: Artbitrator - Race to draw while AI roasts your art

No downloads. No signups. Just connection.

Merry Christmas to everyone spending it apart from someone they love. You’ve got this. ❤️

Join Others Who Get It

Find community with others navigating long distance relationships and virtual connection:

Share your Paint Your Partner reveals! We love seeing couples connect through art.