How to Play iMessage Games [10 Top iMessage Games]

Playing games like Draw Something or Words With Friends 2 comes with the extra step of having to download the app.

In fact, 25% of all downloaded apps on iPhones are games. But, if you can’t be bothered to do that, iMessage has a couple of games that you can play while texting your family and friends. 

In this article, we’ll explain how to play iMessage games and take a look at the hottest titles in 2022.

Let’s dive in.

What Are iMessage Games?

iMessage games are games you can play with your contacts in your iPhone's Messages app.

They are designed to be played turn-by-turn, are simple to follow, and are free to play, though, some of them feature in-app purchases.

You can play a number of different games in the messaging app as long as your iPhone is updated to iOS 11 or higher (which is probably the case unless you’ve been putting off updates on your phone since 2017).

How To Get iMessage Games

To get iMessage games on your iPhone, you need to add them as extensions within the messaging app. 

Before you start your gaming spree, you’ll need to enable iMessage on your phone.

To enable iGames on iPhone:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Messages and turn on iMessage.
3. Go to Send & Receive in the same tab and choose “You can receive iMessages to and reply from” to select the email addresses and phone numbers you want to use with iMessage.

To download games through iMessage:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Search for the contact you want to play and open the chat with them. 
3. Scroll through the options directly above the keyboard to find the App Store icon and tap on it.
4. This will take you to a special version of the App Store that shows extensions for the iMessage app. Most of these are stickers, but you can also find games under the “iMessage Games We Love” section. To see the games available tap the “See All” button next to it.
5. Once you find a game you like, tap the “Get” button next to it and download it like any other app.

How To Play iMessage Games on Your iPhone

To start a game after you’ve downloaded it on iMessage:

1. Exit the App Store by tapping the “X” icon in the top right corner. This will send you back to the iMessage screen.
2. To find the iMessage game you’ve downloaded, open the keyboard and scroll through the icons. 
3. Tapping on the game will open a menu where you can customize the game. Once you do, the game will load into your keyboard.
4. Tap the Send button and then tap anywhere on the iMessage games app in the chat to start playing. 

Once you make your move, you’ll have to wait for the person on the other end to complete their turn. When the game is over, you can tap Play Again or send another invitation to your friend.

Top 10 iMessage Games of 2022

iPhone users can currently choose from a pool of more than 20 titles in the messaging app. 

The top 10 iPhone message games are:

GamePigeon

If you’re looking to play mini games on iMessage without having to download each separately, you should consider GamePigeon.

The title hosts a collection of 24 two-player mini-games, including:

• 8-Ball
• 9-Ball
• 20 Questions
• Archery
• Basketball
• Cup Pong
• Crazy 8!
• Darts
• Dots and Boxes
• Filler
• Sea Battle
• Anagrams
• Mancala
• Mini Golf
• Knockout
• Shuffleboard
• Chess
• Checkers
• Four in a Row
• Gomoku
• Reversi
• Tanks
• Word Hunt
• Word Bites

Let’s Puck It!

If you’re up for a challenge, then a Let’s Puck It game with someone you live with– whether it’s your brother, sister, or roommate– might be exactly what you need. 

This fast-paced hockey game lets you choose from a list of bets, such as “loser buys dinner” and “loser does winner’s laundry,” or create custom bets that can help you settle disagreements.

Let’s Puck It is also one of the iPhone games messages that gets trickier the more you play it– the speed increases on every volley.

Pictoword

If you and your friends or family members are fans of word puzzles and iPhone text games, you should give Pictoword a go.

The game shows two pictures, based on which you’ll have to guess the world that they make together. For example, if you see a picture of an ear and then a ring — the answer is “earring.” 

If that’s too easy for you, you can train your brain with trivia challenges, like guessing worlds from movies and TV shows and from pictures of landmarks, among other things.

Mr. Putt

Mr. Putt is a mini golf game that’s simple, addictive, and exclusive to iMessage.

As with all golf games– virtual or otherwise– the goal in Mr. Putt is to get your ball in the hole in the smallest amount of swings possible.

The game lets users choose from four available locations: Frost, Blaze, Retro, and Nebula– and play against one friend or in a group. 

Checkmate!

With Checkmate! you can play chess and chat at the same time for just $0.99.

Unlike a typical chess game, where players not only work on a strategy to win but also compete against the clock, Checkmate! lets players play the game at their own pace.

You can play multiple matches against different opponents simultaneously — and the game is available on other devices too, which means the person on the other end doesn’t have to own an iPhone. 

Cobi Hoops

If you’re looking to play iMessage games that remind you of those you played on your Game Boy– which you can still get with the right iPhone emulator–you should get Cobi Hoops.

This game has a pixel aesthetic that’s inspired by old NES titles and just like those, it is simple and fun to play, especially with a friend. 

In the game, you have thirty seconds to score as many baskets as you can. You can do trick shots and unlock extra players and locations, and even gain access to a bonus mode.

Truth Truth Lie

Truth Truth Lie! is the iMessage version of the well-known icebreaker game “Two Truth and a Lie,” where you tell two truths about yourself and one lie and let the others guess which is which.

You and your friends can decide whether you prefer the video version (where you record yourself telling the two truths and the lie) or you can opt for the text version. The latter lets you collect coins and use them to get hits in the next rounds.

There’s also a separate mode where you tell two lies and one truth for an extra challenge.

Bubble Witch 3 Saga

The bubble shooter game Bubble Witch 3 Saga, which comes from the creators of the popular Candy Crush Saga, follows the adventure of Stella the Witch who is on a quest to find the magical dust that she needs to rebuild her home destroyed by Wilbur.

To do that, you’ll need to shoot your way through the levels by matching three or more bubbles and keep them from building up.

You also collect points on the way, which allows you to put your name on the scoreboard.

WIT (Puzzles)

WIT is the perfect game for those who enjoy classic jigsaw puzzles.

The game, which is free to play, lets you upload a photo from your gallery that the other person can then solve. You can adjust the difficulty level by choosing the number of pieces (2-144 pieces). There’s also an option to blur the puzzle pieces and make it extra challenging for the person on the other end.

The recipient will only see the full picture once they correctly assemble the puzzle.

 Letter Fridge

Letter Fridge is one of those text games on iPhone that will bring you back to your childhood. 

In this game, you need to spell words by sticking magnets on a fridge before the time runs out. You start off with only a handful of magnets, but the game will assign you more as you progress through the game.

Since you’re playing against another person, Letter Fridge keeps score so you don’t have to.

Bottom Line

The games on iMessage are a fun way to pass time, challenge your family members to a bet, test your vocabulary knowledge, and get to know your friends better. The best part about these games is that you can play them directly in the chat, without having to download a separate app to your phone and they’re all free to download and play, though there are some that come with in-app purchase options.