How To Play 8 Ball on iMessage [Tips and Strategies]

The digital version of the 8 Ball Pool game might not be as challenging, but it can be just as fun.

If you’re an 8 Ball Pool fan and have an iPhone, here’s how to play the 8 Ball game on iMessage and how to win. 

How To Get The 8 Ball Pool Game On iMessage

Making Memojis and sending ApplePay transactions are just two of the many features that iMessage offers. For those that prefer playing games right in their chat, iMessage has that too– and plenty of it.

The app boasts at least a dozen iMessage games (you can read more on our top 10 picks for the best iMessage games here) you can play on your iPhone, one of which is 8 Ball Pool.

8 Ball on iMessage is part of the GamePigeon extension, which you can download directly from the messaging app. 

To get the extension and the 8 Ball game on your iPhone: 

1. Open the Messages app from your home screen. 
2. Tap on any conversation head. 
3. Find the App Store icon from the options at the top of your keyboard. This will open a particular version of the App Store where you can find extensions for the iMessage app.
4. Search for GamePigeon in the search bar. When you find the game, click the Get button.

How To Play 8 Ball Pool on iMessage

Once the GamePigeon 8 Ball game downloads: 

1. Tap the X button to exit the App Store. If you closed the app entirely, open the iMessage app again.
2. Tap on the New Message icon in the screen’s top right corner. 
3. Find the person you want to play with and open the chat with them.
4. Find the game at the top of your keyboard. You might need to scroll through the icons to locate it.  
5. Once you find it, tap the GamePigeon Icon and select the 8 Ball Pool game for iMessage. 
6. Wait for the game to load and tap the Send button.
7. Tap on the game in the chat to start playing.

To start the game, you’ll need to tap the triangular Play icon. 

The first thing you need to do in the game is to find a ball you can pocket and put the cue stick in the correct position. (You can move the cue stick with your finger.)

When you get it in the position you like, pull the stick back (to take your shot). Before you release it, Here, you can use the power meter and adjust the power of the shot by dragging your finger.

Once everything is in place, release the stick.

On iMessage the 8 Ball game, follows the same rules as a regular game of 8 Ball Pool, including:

• Pocketing the white ball results in a foul.
• You can’t target your opponent’s cue balls.
• The player who first pockets all of his balls and the 8 (black) ball wins.
• Pocketing the black ball before the others (including indirectly) means the match is over.

If you don’t have an iPhone or are not in the mood for a classic mini-game, you may want to check out these games you can play with your friends over text. 

iPhone Pool: Tips and Strategies For 8 Ball Game on iMessage

If you’re new to the game, find it hard to advance, or are in the middle of what seems to be a never-ending losing streak, here are some tips you can use to take your iMessage 8 ball game up a notch:

• Always be mindful of where your cue balls are. The iMessage pool game makes it easy to aim and shoot, but it doesn’t tell you where your white ball will end after the shot. You don’t want your current move to jeopardize your next.
• Plan your shot beforehand. When playing the pool game on iMessage, follow your opponent closely and try to figure out what your next best move is. 
• Shoot faster. Tapping and dragging the pool table surface in front of the tip of the cue will let you move the cue faster. This will prevent you from losing the game to the clock. 
• Aiming is important. In the GamePigeon 8 pool game, fast shots matter, but it’s the accuracy that counts. If you’re new to the game, it’s better to take your time to make precise shot adjustments. 
• Power your shots accordingly. Just because you can hit a hard shot, doesn’t mean you should. In the iMessage pool app (and a real pool game) accuracy is just one part of the equation. If the white ball and the ball you’re aiming at are closer to the pocket, a gentle nudge is likely to work way better than a power shot.
• Take advantage of what the game offers. Players who open the app daily get a run at the Spin and Win, which earns them a few extra coins they can use to buy better cues in the game.  Most phone users check their phones up to 63 times daily, and even if you’re not that glued to your phone, you might want to spare a few minutes for some free coins.
• Practice makes perfect. If you’re new at the game, it will take you at least a couple of disastrous matches to get the hang of it. 

Bottom Line

If you’re wondering how to play 8 Ball on iMessage, the rules are simple: don’t pocket the white ball to avoid a foul or the 8 (black) ball before the others. You can find the game in the GamePigeon extension, which you can download via the App Store on your keyboard. From there, select the game, send it to the chat, and start playing.