Phones are basically glued to our hands. But honestly, most of us just use them to scroll through doom-inducing news cycles or send dry "lol" replies to memes we barely looked at. It’s kinda boring. We’ve forgotten that your messaging app—whether it’s iMessage, WhatsApp, or Signal—is actually a low-key gaming console. Finding the right games to play on text isn't just about killing time while you wait for the bus; it’s about actually connecting with people when you're miles apart.
Remember the early 2000s? We had T9 texting and limited character counts, yet we still found ways to be creative. Now we have unlimited data and high-res screens, but we've gotten lazy. We send a reaction emoji and call it a day. It’s time to bring back the effort.
The Psychology of Text-Based Play
Playing over text works because it’s asynchronous. You don’t have to be "on" all the time. You can send a move, go grocery shopping, and come back to a hilarious response. According to Dr. Jane McGonigal, a renowned game designer and author of SuperBetter, games are a powerful way to build "social resilience." When you play with someone, you’re creating a shared reality. Even a simple word game creates a feedback loop that strengthens the bond between two people. It's not just "playing"—it's micro-investing in a relationship.
Most people get this wrong. They think you need a dedicated app like GamePigeon. You don’t. While those are fun, the best games to play on text are often the ones that rely purely on imagination and conversation. They require zero downloads and zero storage space.
Classics That Actually Hold Up (With a Twist)
We’ve all played 20 Questions. It’s the Honda Civic of text games—reliable but a bit plain. To make it actually interesting, you have to narrow the niche. Instead of "anything in the world," try "characters from 90s cartoons" or "objects found only in a kitchen."
Then there’s Truth or Dare.
On text, "Dare" is way more entertaining because it requires photographic evidence. "I dare you to walk into the kitchen and take a selfie with a piece of bread on your head." It sounds stupid. It is stupid. But when that photo hits the chat, it breaks the monotony of a Tuesday afternoon. It’s human.
Would You Rather: The High-Stakes Version
The key to a good "Would You Rather" is the dilemma. If one option is clearly better, the game dies. You need to create psychological friction.
- Example: Would you rather always have to speak in rhymes or always have to announce every time you enter a room by screaming your own name?
These prompts force the other person to explain why, which usually leads to a 20-minute tangent about embarrassing stories. That’s the goal. The game is just the bait.
Storytelling and Creative Chains
If you're dealing with someone who has a creative streak, One Word Stories are a classic, though they can get tedious. A better version is the Three-Sentence Story. You write three sentences to start a narrative, and the next person has to add three more.
Here’s why it works:
It’s enough space to build a plot but short enough that it doesn't feel like homework. I once spent three days writing a story with a friend about a time-traveling barista. We still reference the "Espresso Incident" years later.
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Then there's Emoji Translation.
One person sends a string of emojis representing a movie title, a song, or a specific life event. The other has to guess. It sounds easy until someone sends 🦡🎩🛶 and you have to figure out what on earth they’re talking about. (For the record, that was meant to be The Wind in the Willows, but I’m still not convinced).
Why Most People Fail at Text Gaming
The biggest mistake? Forcing it.
If the other person is busy or giving one-word answers, don't drop a complex murder mystery roleplay on them. Timing is everything. The best games to play on text happen when there's a natural lull—late nights, long commutes, or during a particularly dull Zoom meeting.
Another pitfall is "The Interviewer Trap." This is when you keep asking questions (20 Questions style) but never offer anything back. It stops being a game and starts feeling like an interrogation. Mix it up. If you're playing a guessing game, give them a hint that’s actually a funny anecdote.
The "Low-Stakes" Category
Sometimes you don't want to think. You just want to be silly.
- The Name Game: Pick a category (like celebrities). I say "Tom Hanks." You have to say someone whose name starts with the last letter of my choice—so, "S" for "Selena Gomez." It’s mindless and addictive.
- Song Lyric Pranks: Start texting someone lyrics to a popular song, one line at a time, and see how long it takes for them to realize what’s happening. Warning: this can actually annoy people, so use it sparingly.
- Trivia Roulette: Google a random fact. Tell the person the answer and make them guess what the question was. It’s Jeopardy, but via iMessage.
Transforming Your Daily Chat
We often overlook the "Games" section in iMessage or the various bots in Discord and Telegram. While these are technically "apps," they exist within the text ecosystem. 8-Ball Pool is a staple for a reason. It’s competitive but quick. However, if you really want to test a friendship, play Sea Battle (essentially Battleship). There is nothing quite like the saltiness of losing a destroyer to a lucky guess.
But let's be real. The most underrated "game" is actually just Collaborative Play.
This is where you aren't following rules. You're just riffing. It’s "What if" scenarios.
"What if we quit our jobs and opened a sanctuary for senior pugs?"
"What if the moon was actually made of cheese, but it was like, really expensive Gruyère?"
Technically, these aren't in a "Top 10 Games" list anywhere. But they are the most frequent ways humans play with language and ideas.
The Long-Distance Perspective
For couples or best friends in different time zones, text games are a lifeline. They bridge the gap. It’s a way of saying "I'm thinking of you" without the pressure of a two-hour FaceTime call. You can leave a "Truth or Dare" hanging for six hours, and the anticipation actually makes the eventual reply better.
Experts in digital communication often point out that "ghosting" or "breadcrumbing" happens because conversations become stagnant. Games to play on text act as a catalyst. They give you a reason to hit "send" when you don't have any actual news to share.
Turning This Into Action
Stop overthinking it. You don't need a manual. You just need to start.
If you want to move from "dry texting" to actually having fun, follow this simple framework:
- Check the Vibe: If they’re at work, stick to slow-burn games like "Three-Sentence Story."
- Establish the Rules Early: Especially for games like 20 Questions. Are we doing "People, Places, or Things" or is it a free-for-all?
- Don't Be Afraid to Lose: The point isn't to be the smartest person in the chat. The point is to make the other person laugh or think.
- Use Visuals: Texting isn't just characters anymore. Use GIFs, voice notes, and photos to enhance the "dare" or the "clue."
The next time you’re about to send a "Hey, what’s up?"—don't. Instead, send: "I’m starting a story. Sentence one: The pigeon wore a tiny tuxedo and looked like he meant business. Your turn."
See where it goes. Usually, it’s somewhere way more interesting than "nm, u?"
Next Steps for Better Texting:
Identify one person you haven't had a real conversation with in a week. Pick a game—start with something low-pressure like Would You Rather—and send the first prompt without any preamble. Breaking the ice with a game is almost always more effective than a standard greeting. Keep the stakes low, the humor high, and let the conversation evolve naturally from the game into a genuine catch-up.