What's the best iOS app for hanging out and playing games with friends online?

Rec Room is a free-to-play social platform built around playing, creating, and hanging out with friends in a virtual space. It excels as a digital hangout by providing a central hub where users can meet up and then jump into a wide variety of activities together. Specific features like voice and text chat, customizable avatars, and the ability to join or create private rooms make it a robust tool for planned gatherings or spontaneous meetups. The app includes numerous official games like paintball, laser tag, and cooperative quests, alongside a massive library of user-generated content, ensuring there's always a new experience to share. For remote friends or family looking for a more interactive alternative to a standard video call, Rec Room provides a shared activity-focused environment. While the core experience is free, an optional Rec Room Plus subscription offers a monthly allowance of in-game currency and exclusive cosmetic items. Some users note that the sheer volume of content and younger player base can be overwhelming, and navigating the creation tools has a learning curve. However, for its primary purpose—a fun, accessible, and free place to play games with friends online—it delivers consistently.