Text games are the best answer to a quiet chat. You do not need an app, a deck of cards, or even a free hour. You need one starter message and someone who answers. This guide gives you 23 games that work in any messaging app, from iMessage and WhatsApp to Instagram DMs and group chats, and every one comes with a message you can copy and send right now.
Each game lists how many players it suits and about how long it takes. Where we already have a bigger resource, such as 200 Would You Rather questions, the game links to it so you never run out of material. If you are sitting next to each other instead of texting, our two-player games when bored guide covers the same energy in person.
On this page
- Which Text Game Should You Pick?
- Guessing Games
- Word Games
- Question Games
- Brain Games
- Score Battles With Free Browser Games
- House Rules That Keep Text Games Fun
- Sources
Which Text Game Should You Pick?
| Your situation | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Just two of you, short on time | Twenty Questions, Hangman, Would You Rather |
| Group chat with 4 or more | Most Likely To, Categories, One-Sentence Story |
| Long distance friend or family | Two Truths and a Lie, Desert Island Picks, Score Battles |
| Coworkers or a team chat | Odd One Out, Riddle Duel, Quick Math Duel |
| You want zero effort | Would You Rather, This or That, Emoji Decoder |
| You want to compete | Score Battles, Geography Chain, Text Tic-Tac-Toe |
The picker is the fastest way to start. Most “games to play over text” lists dump rules with no opener, so the chat dies while someone invents the first line. Below, every game already has that line written for you.
Guessing Games
Guessing games are the easiest to start because one message sets everything up.
1. Twenty Questions
One player thinks of something. The other asks up to 20 yes or no questions to work out what it is. The game is old: Wikipedia notes that Hannah More recorded playing it at a London dinner party in 1786. The traditional rule is that if 20 questions pass without a correct guess, the person who picked the secret wins, and a correct guesser becomes the next one to think of something. Lying is not allowed.
Send this: “Twenty Questions. I’m thinking of a thing. It’s an object, not a person or place. You have 20 yes or no questions. Go.” Players: 2 or more | Time: 5 to 15 minutes
2. Hangman
One player picks a word and sends a row of blanks, such as _ _ _ _ _ _. The other guesses a letter at a time. Each wrong letter costs a life. Agree on the number of lives first, because the rules vary: Wikipedia notes the number of wrong guesses is a house rule, and the earliest known version of the game, mentioned in a children’s games book from 1894, did not even use a drawing.
Send this: “Hangman. 7 letters, 6 lives: _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Guess a letter.”
Players: 2 | Time: 5 minutes
3. Emoji Decoder
Describe a movie, song title, food, place, or phrase using only emoji. The other player guesses. Pick a category first or the guesses get wild.
Send this: “Emoji Decoder, category: movies. 🦁👑 … guess it.” Players: 2 or more | Time: 10 minutes
4. Odd One Out
Send four items where three share something and one does not. Your friend names the odd one and explains why. The explanation is where the game happens, because some sets have two valid answers.
Send this: “Odd one out: lemon, banana, school bus, tomato. Why?” Players: 2 or more | Time: 5 minutes
Word Games
Word games work well when you only have a few minutes between other things.
5. Word Chain
The first player sends a word. The next player must reply with a word that starts with the last letter of the previous one. No repeats. A player is out if they take longer than the agreed window, or repeat a word.
Send this: “Word chain. My word: planet. Your word has to start with T. Go.”
Players: 2 or more | Time: 10 minutes
6. Categories
Pick a category and take turns naming something that belongs to it. First to repeat an answer or run out loses. Make it harder by adding a letter rule, such as “only things that start with S”.
Send this: “Categories: things you find in a kitchen. I’ll start: whisk.” Players: 2 or more | Time: 10 minutes
7. Rhyme Time
Send a word. Players take turns sending real words that rhyme with it. First to freeze or send a non-word loses.
Send this: “Rhyme time: light. Your turn.”
Players: 2 or more | Time: 5 minutes
8. One-Sentence Story
Start a story with one sentence. Each person adds exactly one sentence. The rule that makes it funny is that nobody can ask questions or steer the story, they just have to continue it.
Send this: “Story time. Sentence one: The lights in the building went out right as the elevator reached floor 13.” Players: 2 or more | Time: 10 to 20 minutes
9. Questions Only
Talk using only questions. The first person to answer instead of asking, or to repeat a question, loses.
Send this: “Questions only starts now. Why did you take so long to reply?” Players: 2 | Time: 3 to 5 minutes
10. Predictive Text Showdown
Both players type the same opening words, such as “Tonight I am going to”, then tap the middle suggestion on their keyboard 10 times without editing. Send the results. The funnier or stranger sentence wins. Your keyboard has learned how you write, so the results say a lot about you.
Send this: “Predictive text showdown. Start with ‘Tomorrow I will’ and tap the middle suggestion 10 times. Send me yours.” Players: 2 or more | Time: 3 minutes
Question Games
These need almost no setup because the questions carry the game. They are also the best way to learn something new about a friend.
11. Two Truths and a Lie
Send three statements about yourself. Two are true and one is false. The other player guesses the lie. The best statements are the ones that sound false but are true.
Send this: “Two truths and a lie. 1) I’ve been on a plane 3 times. 2) I once won a spelling bee. 3) I can’t whistle. Which is the lie?” Players: 2 or more | Time: 5 minutes per round
12. Would You Rather
Send two options and make the other person pick one and defend it. The defence is the game. We have a full list of 200 Would You Rather questions sorted by mood and group.
Send this: “Would you rather always be 10 minutes late or always be 20 minutes early?” Players: 2 or more | Time: 10 minutes
13. This or That
Even faster than Would You Rather: just two single words or short options. Send five in a row and see how many of your answers match. Start with our 150+ This or That questions, then keep going with the 500+ This or That mega list.
Send this: “This or that, 5 quick ones. Coffee or tea. Beach or mountains. Sunrise or sunset. Pizza or burgers. Books or movies.” Players: 2 or more | Time: 3 minutes
14. Never Have I Ever
Send a statement beginning with “Never have I ever”. Anyone who has done it loses a point or has to confess. Keep the statements friendly if you are in a mixed group. Browse 150 Never Have I Ever questions or use our free Never Have I Ever game for fresh prompts. If you like the dare side of things, our clean Truth or Dare questions work well in text too.
Send this: “Never have I ever fallen asleep on public transport. Have you?” Players: 2 or more | Time: 10 minutes
15. Most Likely To
Built for group chats. Someone posts “Who is most likely to…” and everyone replies with a name. The most-named person gets a point, and the reasons are where the jokes live.
Send this: “Most likely to forget their own birthday. Everyone vote with a name.” Players: 3 or more | Time: 10 minutes
16. Desert Island Picks
You can bring three things to a desert island. Send yours with a one-line reason and ask for theirs. It is a quick, low-pressure way to see how someone thinks.
Send this: “You’re stuck on a desert island and can bring three things (no phone). What are they?” Players: 2 or more | Time: 5 to 10 minutes
Brain Games
When you want something sharper than chat, try these.
17. Riddle Duel
Take turns sending a riddle. The other player has a fixed time to answer, such as five minutes, before the answer is revealed. Our collection of 80+ riddles and brain teasers with answers saves you from digging for new ones.
Send this: “Riddle duel. Five minutes to answer, no googling. What has keys but can’t open locks?” (The answer is a piano.) Players: 2 or more | Time: 15 minutes
18. Text Tic-Tac-Toe
You can play tic-tac-toe in a plain text message. Send a numbered grid, then each player replies with the grid updated using X or O.
1 | 2 | 3
---------
4 | 5 | 6
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7 | 8 | 9Take turns sending the grid back with your mark in place. If you want to play to win, our guide explains why Tic-Tac-Toe is always a draw with perfect play, and you can practice first on the free Tic-Tac-Toe game.
Send this: Paste the grid above and say “You’re O. I’ll go first: X in 5.” Players: 2 | Time: 5 minutes
19. Geography Chain
Name a country, city, river, or other place. The next person names a place that starts with the last letter of the previous one. No repeats. It is word chain with a map attached, and the rules are easy to follow.
Send this: “Geography chain. My place: Portugal. Yours has to start with L.” Players: 2 or more | Time: 10 minutes
Score Battles With Free Browser Games
This is where text games get competitive. Pick a free browser game, each play a round, and screenshot your score into the chat. Highest score wins. It works because the game does the judging, so there are no arguments about rules. Our full list of free online games has more options.
20. Speed Typing Duel
Both play the speed type test once and send the result. Best of three decides the winner.
Send this: “Typing duel. Best of 3 on the speed type test. Screenshot your score each time.” Players: 2 or more | Time: 5 minutes
21. Reaction Time Showdown
Use the reaction test and send your best time. If you want to know what a good score looks like, check average reaction time by age. A click-based version works too with the click speed test.
Send this: “Reaction test showdown. Lowest time after 5 tries wins.” Players: 2 or more | Time: 5 minutes
22. Quick Math Duel
Play Quick Math at the same time and compare scores. It is a great pick for a friendly rivalry with coworkers.
Send this: “Quick Math duel. Highest score in one run wins. Go.” Players: 2 or more | Time: 5 minutes
23. Size Estimation Challenge
Each play a few rounds of Size It Up, where you resize an object to its real-world scale, and compare your best score. If you want to know the name of the game and see others like it, read our guide to the size comparison game.
Send this: “Size It Up challenge. 10 rounds each, send your best score.” Players: 2 or more | Time: 10 minutes
House Rules That Keep Text Games Fun
Text games fall apart in predictable ways. Agree on a few rules at the start and they run smoothly.
- Set a reply window. Decide how long each turn can take, such as five minutes for brain games or a day for slow games. Without a window, a game that needs quick replies just fades out.
- No googling. For riddles, trivia, and word games, say it out loud first. It keeps things fair.
- Keep score the lazy way. Use an emoji tally such as ⭐⭐⭐ in a pinned message, or just count in the chat.
- Know when to end. Play a set number of rounds, or stop when the energy drops. It is better to end on a good round than drag it out.
- Match the game to the person. In a group chat with people you do not know well, stick to guessing and word games. Save personal ones, such as Never Have I Ever, for people you are comfortable with.
- Take a break from the screen too. If you are texting because you cannot sit still, our guides to things to do when bored without your phone and two-player games for when you are both bored cover the offline side.
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