There are three ways to play games on Discord: launch an interactive Activity inside Discord, join a friend’s supported game, or stream a game running on your device with Go Live. Choose an Activity when you want to play a Discord app together, a game invite when you want to join someone’s game, and Go Live when friends should watch you play.
Which way to play games on Discord should you use?
| Method | Where the game runs | Best for | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discord Activity | Inside Discord | Playing an Activity together | A voice channel or call; each participant joins the Activity, and authorization may be required. Some Activities may not be available in every region. Discord Activities |
| Join a friend’s game | Outside Discord, on the player’s device | Joining a friend in a supported game | A game invite or a visible Join option; availability depends on activity visibility and game support. Game invites; Activity settings |
| Go Live | Outside Discord, on your device | Letting friends watch your game stream in voice chat | A voice channel and a game Discord recognizes or that you manually add. Screen sharing |
How to start a game Activity inside Discord
Activities are interactive app experiences, including games, that run within Discord. You can launch one from a voice call or from a text chat; the available controls depend on where you start it.
Launch an Activity from a voice channel or call
- Join a server voice channel, or start a direct-message or group call.
- Open the App Launcher, browse the apps, and select one that offers an Activity.
- Launch the Activity. If prompted, authorize the app.
- Ask friends to join the same voice channel and then join the Activity. They may also be asked to authorize it.
Launch an Activity from a text chat
Open the App Launcher from the chat bar and choose an app with an Activity. Apps do not all work the same way, so check that app’s profile or directory page for its instructions. Discord notes that some apps or Activities may be unavailable in certain regions. Discord Activities
How to join a friend’s game
This method is for a conventional game running outside Discord, rather than an Activity. Your friend can invite you in a text channel, a direct message, or a group DM. Depending on the game and visibility settings, you may also see a Join option on your friend’s profile.
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- Open the invitation your friend sent and follow its prompt to join.
- If you do not have an invite, open your friend’s profile and look for Join while they are playing.
- If no Join option appears, the friend’s activity may not be visible, or the game may not support joining this way. Activity-sharing and game-join settings affect what others can see or join. Game invites; Activity settings
How to stream a game with Go Live
Use Go Live when the game is running on your device and you want friends in voice chat to watch. It streams the game; it does not launch the game inside Discord or automatically let viewers join your session.
- Join a Discord voice channel.
- Open Discord’s screen-streaming control and select the game app.
- Press Go Live to start the stream.
Discord’s documented flow depends on the game being recognized by game detection or manually added. If Discord does not recognize the game, the documented game-streaming option may not be available. Discord screen sharing
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Can you play games on Discord without installing them?
Discord documents Cloud Play Quests as an experimental feature for playing selected games through cloud streaming without installing them. It is availability-dependent, not a standard way to launch any game: quests can be accepted on browser or desktop, but Discord says they can be completed only in the desktop app. Cloud Play Quests
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do you need a headset to play or stream?
No dedicated headset is required by these Discord features. A headset with a microphone is optional if you want to talk with friends while playing or streaming; Discord voice channels provide the conversation, while Go Live carries the game stream. Discord voice channels; Screen sharing
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