Skip to main content

The best iMessage games for 2022

Did you know you can play games on your iPhone using iMessage? Well, you do now because Apple’s inter-device messaging platform lets you play games with friends on your iPhone or your iPad. As long as a contact of yours has an iPhone or iPad, and so long as they have iMessage enabled, you’ll be able to play games with them. That said, you’ll have to download each iMessage game first, which is why we’ve put together a list of the best iMessage games available right now.

From chess and word games to crazy golf and bowling, you’ll be surprised at how much variety iMessage games offer. To download any of them, simply start a new conversation in Messages, tap the gray App Store icon (next to the iMessage text box), and then tap the blue App Store icon. Search for and download the game you want, and once it has finished downloading, go back to your iMessage conversation and scroll right along the apps tab until you see the game. Easy!

GamePigeon

GamePigeon best iMessage games

If you’re not too sure what to download as your first iMessage game, then GamePigeon is probably the best place to start. It’s a compendium of over 20 mini-games, including 8-Ball pool, mini-golf, basketball, archery, darts, chess, 20 Questions, Four in a Row (Connect 4), and checkers. All of the games are simple and pretty fun to play, and while few of them offer the depth of some of the other games on this list, the ability to switch from one game to another gives you plenty of options for a weekend or evening spent at home.

Checkmate!

Checkmate! best iMessage games

GamePiegon may offer its own version of chess, but if you’re serious about capturing kings across 64 squares, then Checkmate! should be your port of call. It’s a correspondence version of chess, meaning that you don’t have to sit down and play together at the same time. Rather, you send your latest move much like you send your latest message. It’s pretty much as simple as that, although helpfully, the app does keep your move history while also letting you send actual messages in order to taunt or goad your opponent. It does cost $1 to download, but if you intend to play it more than once, it’s certainly worth the money.

Mr. Putt — Mini Golf

Mr. Putt game

It may not be realistic, but Mr. Putt is a fun way of having some golf-themed madness with friends. It’s a turn-based crazy golf game where you can play against friends over four different space-themed locations. Putts are controlled by swiping, which can be fiddly for some, but they help to make games more open and entertaining.

Cobi Hoops

Cobi Hoops

Cobi Hoops is a basketball iMessage game that presents you with the challenge of seeing how many baskets you can score in 30 seconds. Each player takes turns to see who can outdo the other, with the game also offering extra players, locations, trick shots, and a bonus mode as in-app purchases. It’s all delivered via a charmingly retro graphic style, making it seem as though you’re playing an old NES game from the late ’80s or early ’90s. Also check out Cobi Hoops 2 if you want a puzzle-themed version of the game.

Moji Bowling

Moji Bowling

If you like bowling, Moji Bowling might end up being one of your favorite iMessage games. It lets you test your 10-pin skills against friends, with you swiping your ball at the pins and then texting the result to your rival, who then gets to take their turn. Unlike some iMessage games, it can also be played as a stand-alone app, letting you practice in single-player mode before taking on your friends and family.

Letter Fridge

Letter Fridge

Letter Fridge is an addictive iMessage game where you’re given numerous virtual fridge magnets and have to use them to spell out words on the crossword-style grid above. Players are given a time limit and are tasked with finding as many words as possible before the clock runs down. It’s simple, but the time-constrained nature of it makes it more engaging and compelling than it would be otherwise.

Let’s Puck It!

Let's Puck It!That’s right, you can now play air hockey with friends via text message. Let’s Puck It! is a turn-based version of air hockey where you hit the puck toward your opponent’s goal, send your move to them, and they take their go afterward. However, the game spices up this formula by allowing you to choose from a list of pre-set bets before playing. This means the loser may end up having to buy the winner dinner or do the winner’s laundry. You can even set your own custom bets to make things more interesting.

Pictoword

Pictoword

Here’s a nice drawing game where you have to guess words based on two line drawings, with one player drawing the pictures and the others trying to guess. The words range from familiar household items to films, landmarks, and more abstract concepts, with easy and hard moded providing challenges for all skill levels. The basic premise is pretty simple, but Pictoword will provide you with plenty of mileage, thanks largely to its range of game modes.

Words for iMessage

Words for iMessage game

Do you like Scrabble? Then you’ll probably like Words for iMessage, which works along similar lines. You’re given a random assortment of seven tiles, which you then have to use to spell out words on the game’s board. The only real difference from Scrabble is that bonus tile spaces — double/triple words or letters — are positioned randomly with each game, so you may have to shift your strategy each time. Overall, the game does a very good job of transferring the Scrabble format to iMessage, so wordsmiths will have plenty of fun playing it.

Simple Trivia

Simple Trivia game

In what must be a perfect fit for the iMessage format, Simple Trivia lets you compete against friends in quizzes that test your general knowledge. You start by choosing to compete in one of six categories, including sport, history, geography, entertainment, and science. Each question is multiple choice, giving you some chance of guessing correctly if you don’t know, but over the course of an entire game, the most knowledgeable player almost always emerges. It offers a great way of learning something new while having fun.

Editors' Recommendations

Simon Chandler
Simon Chandler is a journalist based in London, UK. He covers technology and finance, contributing to such titles as Digital…
The best RPGs for iPhone and iPad in 2023: our 16 favorite games
A scene showing the main character, Red, in Transistor on iOS.

Mobile gaming has matured a lot in recent years. While casual titles like Angry Birds and Cut The Rope are still around, you also now have access to deep and rich role-playing games filled with hours of gameplay. This is especially true if you own an iPhone or iPad.

The gaming scene for Apple devices has always been strong, and in 2023, that point remains true. Whether you're looking for a fantasy adventure, a rich sci-fi setting, or something in between, there are numerous RPGs for you to sink your teeth into. But which ones are the best RPGs for the iPhone and iPad? We've rounded up 16 of our favorites below -- so let's get right to it.
Fantasian

Read more
The best Android games in 2023: 30-plus must-play games we love
Playing a game on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Our Android phones can be used for so many things — from connecting with friends on social media to video-calling faraway family members and getting remote work done. More importantly, your Android phone is a fantastic portal to a world of countless Android games.

Want to rise to the top of the multiplayer leaderboards in a first-person shooter? Looking for an in-depth RPG to sink countless hours into? What about a calm, relaxing, story-driven title? Whatever you're searching for, there's something just for you on the Google Play Store.

Read more
The Pixel 7’s best camera trick is coming to the iPhone and all Android phones
Erasing items in Magic Eraser.

The Google Pixel series of phones, specifically the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7, have an exclusive feature called Magic Eraser. With Magic Eraser, you can get rid of unwanted objects in a photo, such as people in the background or things like power lines. As of today, Magic Eraser is becoming available to all Android phones and iPhone users through Google One.

Magic Eraser debuted on the Pixel 6 lineup, which includes the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and the more affordable Pixel 6a, which is still available to purchase (the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have been discontinued). If you have a Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro, you also have the Magic Eraser feature. One of the reasons I had always wanted a Pixel device is because of Magic Eraser, and it is something that I desperately wished Apple would implement.

Read more