One link, one friend, one good break

A friend has a free moment. A colleague is taking a break. You want to do something together without organising a full game night. Start with a playable game for two. OfficeGuilds lets most pairs join as Guests using nicknames and a shared link, without creating accounts. Office Mafia is the exception: it requires sign-in and four to ten colleagues.

Three approachable choices in the current catalogue are Connect Four, Memory and Tic-Tac-Toe. They ask for different kinds of attention, so let the other person help choose.

Start in three steps

1. Choose a game together and read its current rules and approximate duration.

2. Have one person set up a Guest game and share its link in your usual chat.

3. Join when you are both ready. Check the room clock and keep the chat handy for questions.

Which game suits this break?

Connect Four: a goal you can see

In Connect Four, take turns dropping discs into columns and build a line of four horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Discs fall to the lowest free space. Before placing yours, look for an immediate opposing line as well as your own opportunity. The catalogue suggests about ten minutes.

Memory: pay attention to both turns

In Memory, turn over cards and look for matching pairs. Your colleague's revealed cards can help you on your next turn, so this game rewards attention even while you wait. Remembering one useful card is enough to make a better choice than turning over two random cards. The catalogue suggests about five minutes.

Tic-Tac-Toe: a tiny board and a quick rematch

Tic-Tac-Toe asks you to make a line of three before your opponent does. Its board is small, so each move can both create a line and block one. Check your opponent's immediate threat before choosing a square. The catalogue lists roughly three minutes, though joining and talking take extra time. If both people want another round, ask rather than assuming.

Try one small decision

• Connect Four: your colleague has three discs along the bottom row. Can your next disc land at the open end to block the line, or is another threat more urgent?

• Memory: you saw a star in one position; a later card shows another star. Try the remembered position instead of opening an unrelated card.

• Tic-Tac-Toe: you can extend your own line or block a line your opponent could finish next turn. Check whether the block is necessary first.

These are illustrative positions, not promised game states. Ask whether your friend wants advice before commenting on their moves.

Send a simple invitation

Name the game, time and an easy way to decline: “Fancy trying one Connect Four game on our break? We can join as Guests. No worries if now is a bad time.” If they suggest a different game, read its rules together. A comfortable choice matters more than choosing the game you already know best.

Agree when each person needs to leave. A catalogue duration does not include joining or closing the conversation. Read the room's current timer rather than assuming an older guide lists the right limit. If one person is already waiting for a call, postpone the game.

If joining feels awkward

You have two different links

Both people may have created a room. Decide who will host, compare the links in your chat, and have the invited person use the same one. Check the game name and room state before making moves.

The board seems unchanged

Read the turn indicator and any visible message. It might be the other player's turn, a chosen space may be unavailable, or the move may still be processing. Ask what your friend sees before clicking repeatedly. If you reload, check the timer and turn again.

Someone has to leave

Say so in your usual chat and return to your work. If both people want to continue later, make a new plan rather than turning a break into an obligation.

Decide about accounts later

Guest play is enough for a first shared game. The features page explains what an account adds, including a profile and rated play. After this round, ask a simple question: another game, a different game, or back to the day? Any answer can make the break worthwhile.