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By
Jack Webb
@JackWebb9224 March 2020
Y
ou know the situation is pretty desperate when you're turning to iPhone's iMessage app to keep you entertained - but that's exactly what many of us are doing thanks to social distancing.
But did you know that there are games you can play within the messaging app? You can play the games by yourself or with a friend, and it's a great way to kill some free time.
From classics like Connect Four, Chess and Darts, it's easy to gain access to plenty of iMessage-compatible games which you can download directly from the app store for free. The function was introduced with the release of iOS 10, allowing users to play games with their contacts.
Here's what you need to know.
What are iMessage games?
They're exactly what you might expect - games that you can play on iPhones using Apple's default messaging app.
Ranging from games of Darts, Connect Four, Pool and Boggle, there are numerous fun apps you can get playing with your friends.
Where can I find them?
Almost hidden away in your iMessage app, you might notice a little bar above where you type your message that features the logo of the Apple App Store.
This is where the games are located. Tap on the icon to bring up the App Store and from there you can search for a game. They're even on the same screen as your conversation so you don't have to navigate away from the iMessage app once.
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What We Like
Frequent updates include new games and bug fixes.
Some games support more than two players.
Lots of cool optional in-app purchases.
What We Don't Like
Some games are confusing and don't have instructions.
Most games are limited to two players.
A lot of content is behind a paywall, and you must pay to remove ads.
Game Pigeon packs over a dozen classic games into one app. Challenge your friends to a friendly bout of Checkers, Poker, Gomoku, or Battleship from iMessage. All games are free to play, but most games contain in-app purchases.
Download Game Pigeon
02
of 10
Best iMessage Word Game: Wordie
What We Like
Over 600 classic levels with more to come.
Create puzzles and play levels made by others.
Integrates with social media, so you can ask friends for help.
What We Don't Like
Lots of ads.
Some puzzles are too easy.
Difficult to play on Apple Watch.
Wordie is a free word-trivia game similar to Pictionary. Players are presented with a jumble of letters and four pictures that serve as hints for the mystery word. It's possible to create groups of up to 40 players. Plus, you can sync your game across all your other Apple devices, including your Apple Watch.
Download Wordie
03
of 10
Best Basketball Game for iMessage: Cobi Hoops
What We Like
Lots of cool characters and courts from which to choose.
Every character looks unique due to the outstanding pixel art.
What We Don't Like
Not very competitive since there's no way to block an opponent's shots.
Must pay to unlock additional characters and game modes.
If you feel like shooting hoops with your friends, Cobi Hoops lets you play some serious b-ball without breaking a sweat. In this free game, players compete to see how many baskets they can make in 30-second rounds. Take advantage of trick shots to raise your score and unlock new challenge modes.
Download Cobi Hoops
04
of 10
Air Hockey With a Twist: Let's Puck It!
What We Like
An interesting concept with lots of possibilities.
A great tool for settling disputes.
What We Don't Like
The turn-based gameplay doesn't match the excitement of real air hockey.
Some of the built-in bets are a bit crude.
Let’s Puck It! puts an interesting spin on an old American pastime by encouraging players to wager bets. You can choose from a list of options like "loser buys dinner," or you can make up your own stakes. Be careful what you wager because the pace of the puck increases with every volley.
Download Let's Puck It!
05
of 10
Word Game Tournaments for iMessage: Boggle With Friends
What We Like
Has multiple gameplay modes and live tournaments.
It's fun to play alone or with others.
What We Don't Like
It requires iOS 11 or higher.
Must pay to participate in tournaments.
If you've never played Boggle, it's a board game that gives players two minutes to spell as many words as possible from a collection of random letters. It's basically a fast-paced version of Scrabble. Download the Boggle With Friends app to practice on your own, then challenge your friends in iMessage.
Download Boggle With Friends
06
of 10
Mind-Bending Mini-Golf on iMessage: Mr. Putt
What We Like
The unique themes for each course keep things interesting.
The challenging and addictive competitive gameplay.
What We Don't Like
Has a limited number of courses.
The annoying background music.
The iOS 12 version is buggy.
Made by a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Mr. Putt has become the most popular mini-golf app on iMessage. Although the game puts up a challenge, sleek graphics and fluid controls keep things from getting too frustrating. Mr. Putt is free to play and exclusively for iMessage.
Download Mr. Putt
07
of 10
Best Icebreaker Game for iMessage: Truth Truth Lie
What We Like
There's a text-only mode if you don't feel like recording videos.
Two Lies and a Truth mode.
What We Don't Like
You don't need an app to play Two Truths and a Lie.
It requires iOS 11 or higher.
Two Truths and a Lie is a game people play in groups to get to know each other better. Each player makes three statements about themselves, and everyone else has to guess which statement is false. Truth Truth Lie brings this classic icebreaker to iMessage so that you can learn more about people from all over the world.
Download Truth Truth Lie
08
of 10
Best iMessage Chess Game: Checkmate!
What We Like
Sync your game across multiple devices.
It tracks your move history.
What We Don't Like
The bare-bones graphical interface.
It requires iOS 11 or higher.
Although Game Pigeon features a version of Chess, Checkmate! offers a superior experience. For $0.99, you can chat as you play and play multiple games at once. There's no timer between turns, so you can take as long as you need to think about your next move.
Download Checkmate!
09
of 10
Make Your Own iMessage Slide Puzzles: WIT Puzzles
What We Like
Make puzzles as simple or complex as you like.
Create puzzles out of photos or text.
What We Don't Like
It requests access to iCloud.
Has occasional bugs and glitches.
WIT Puzzles turns your photos into slide puzzles for your friends to unscramble. The app keeps track of how many moves players take to put the pieces in the right place. In addition to iMessage, WIT Puzzles is available for WhatsApp and Facebook.
Download WIT Puzzles
10
of 10
Candy Crush Clone for iMessage: Bubble Bop
What We Like
It's highly addictive.
The intuitive controls and gameplay.
What We Don't Like
It's not very original.
Must pay to remove ads.
Bubble Bop may look like another knock-off of the arcade hit Bust-a-Move, and that's because it is. Nonetheless, anyone who has played Candy Crush or anything similar will immediately know what to do: Match up balloons of the same color to pop them before they fill up the screen.
Can you play iMessage games with yourself?
So then it occurred to me, as the rest of my friends were apparently resting their eyes,“Why not try to invite myself into a game of 8 ball?!” Thus, I typed my number into the recipients box for an iMessage, selected the game I wanted to play, and voila, like magic, I began to play 8 ball with myself!How do you play iMessage games alone on iPhone?
It's very easy:.When texting someone in iOS 10, you will see the text box, along with the small bar at the bottom of your messages..Here, you have the picture icon, then tap the message icon and the app store icon..Go ahead and click the app store icon..From here, you will see a section called 'Games in Messages..Can you play iMessage games with someone who doesn't have GamePigeon?
Although this launches the game, you can't actually start playing it until the recipient taps on the message you sent. If they don't have GamePigeon installed, they'll be prompted to install it from the App Store.How do I get more games on iMessage?
The first is through the App Store. Simply open the App Store and search for "iMessage games." This search will bring up a list of all available titles. Find one that looks interesting and tap Get to download it. You can also download iMessage games in the Messages app.