Tech Reference

How to play iMessage games on an iPhone with your contacts

Written by Marissa Perino and William Antonelli
mac imessage iphone ipad
Before you can play iMessage games on your iPhone, you'll need to download the games. Aleksey Khilko/Shutterstock
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Along with sending ApplePay transactions and making Memojis, the keyboard in your iPhone's Messages app also gives you the option to play games with your contacts.

As long as your iPhone is updated to iOS 11 or higher (which it almost definitely will be, unless you've been putting off updates since 2017), you can download a number of different iMessage games to play with your friends.

These games are simple, and are designed to be played turn-by-turn. You take your turn, you wait for your contact to take a turn, and so on. It's all conducted entirely through iMessage texts.

Here's how to start playing.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

How to play iMessage games on your iPhone

1. Open the Messages app on your phone and tap or search for the contact you want to play with.

2. Scroll through the options directly above your keyboard until you find the App Store icon. Tap it.

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Open the App Store extension.  William Antonelli/Business Insider

3. This will open a special version of the App Store that exclusively shows extensions for the iMessage app. Most of these are stickers, but if you scroll down, you'll find a section titled "iMessage Games We Love." Tap the "See All" button next to that title.

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There are several games to choose from.  William Antonelli/Business Insider

4. You'll be presented with a full list of the games available for iMessage. Each one has its own page where you can check out pictures, videos, and other information about the game. Browse and find one you might like.

5. Once you find one that you want to download, tap the "Get" button next to its icon and download it like you would any other app.

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All the games are free to download.  William Antonelli/Business Insider

6. Tap the "X" icon in the top-right corner to exit the App Store and return to the iMessage screen.

7. Below your keyboard, scroll through the icons until you find the game app you just downloaded. Tap it. 

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Your games will be grouped together with the other third-party iMessage apps.  William Antonelli/Business Insider

8. This will open a menu where you can customize the game you play with your contact. When you've selected the game type, it'll be automatically loaded into your keyboard. as if you're sending a photo.

9. Your game will say "Delivered" just like a regular message. Tap anywhere on the message to begin your round.

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Once a game has been delivered, you'll have to tap on it to begin playing.  Marissa Perino/Business Insider

10. After you've completed your turn, you'll have to wait for your friend to play.

11. Whenever your opponent is able to complete their turn, you'll receive a new message from them with the game preview. Tap it open the game again to begin your next turn.

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Once your contact makes their move, you'll receive a text message notification.  Marissa Perino/Business Insider

12. Play until the game is over. Some games (such as basketball) only have a few rounds, while others (such as chess) go on for much longer. When a game is over, you'll have the option to tap "Play Again" from within the game, or your can send a new invitation in the same way you did before.

 

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mperino
Marissa Perino
Marissa Perino is a former editorial intern covering executive lifestyle. She previously worked at Cold Lips in London and Creative Nonfiction in Pittsburgh. She studied journalism and communications at the University of Pittsburgh, along with creative writing. Find her on Twitter: @mlperino.
WillAntonelli
William Antonelli
ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Consumer Technology (Laptops, PCs, video games and gaming consoles, smartphones, more)
  • Social Media (TikTok, X, Meta, more)
  • Internet Culture (Memes, influencers, viral trends)
  • Disinformation
EducationWilliam graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2018. There, he studied English, communications, and adolescent education, alongside reporting news for the university’s radio and TV stations.Outside workWhen he’s not reporting, you can usually find William biking through Central Park, playing video games, or at home listening to music and writing fanfiction. He’s also a co-manager of the New York Mandolin Ensemble, one of NYC’s premier string orchestras.You can contact him at w.antonelli322@gmail.com, visit his official website at williamantonelli.com, or follow him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher and BlueSky @wantonelli.bsky.social.