64 Fun Ideas: What Games to Play Over Text

Staying connected with friends, family, or even a new crush can be a lot of fun, especially when you bring a little creativity into your conversations. Texting isn’t just for casual chats or updates—it’s a great way to play games that can make you laugh, think, and learn more about each other.

Whether you’re bored at home or looking to pass the time during a long day, there’s always something fun you can do with a quick text. Wondering what games to play over text? Here are some exciting options to keep your conversations lively and entertaining.

64 Fun Games to Play Over Text

If you’re ever stuck wondering how to make your text conversations more lively, here are 65 exciting games you can play right from your phone. These games are designed to be simple yet entertaining, making them perfect for connecting with friends, family, or anyone you’re chatting with. Let’s explore these fun and easy text games that will keep your conversations buzzing!

1. 20 Questions

In this classic guessing game, one person thinks of an object, person, or place, and the other player has up to 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out what it is. Each question must be strategic to help narrow down the possibilities. The answers can only be “yes,” “no,” or “maybe,” which adds a layer of challenge to the game. It’s a simple yet engaging way to pass the time and keep each other guessing.

2. Would You Rather?

One player poses a “Would you rather” question, offering two choices that can be either tough or amusing. The other player must choose between the two options. The scenarios can range from fun and silly, like choosing between pizza or ice cream for the rest of your life, to more serious, like deciding whether you’d rather travel to the past or the future. This game is perfect for sparking interesting conversations and revealing hidden preferences.

3. Texting Trivia

One person starts by sending a trivia question on any topic—be it movies, history, sports, or anything else that interests you both. The other player responds with their best guess, and you can choose to keep score or just play for fun. The trivia questions can be easy or challenging, depending on how well you know each other’s knowledge base. It’s a great way to learn something new while having a bit of friendly competition.

4. Story Builder

Story Builder is a creative game where one person starts a story with a single sentence, and the other player continues it by adding their own sentence. The story develops as each person takes a turn, resulting in unexpected twists and turns. It’s a fun and imaginative way to create something unique together, with the final story often ending up much different—and more entertaining—than either of you anticipated.

5. Emoji Translation

In this game, one person sends a sentence or phrase using only emojis, and the other player has to translate it back into words. The challenge lies in interpreting the emojis correctly, as some combinations can be tricky or have multiple meanings. It’s a light-hearted and fun way to test your communication skills and see how well you can understand each other’s visual clues.

In Word Association, one player says a word, and the other player responds with the first word that comes to mind. The game continues back and forth, with each person reacting quickly to the previous word. It’s interesting to see where the chain of words leads, and the game often takes unexpected and funny turns. It’s a simple, fast-paced game that can reveal how your minds connect different ideas.

14. Alphabet Game

The Alphabet Game involves choosing a category—like animals, countries, or movies—and taking turns naming something in that category, starting with each letter of the alphabet in order. For example, if the category is animals, one person might start with “antelope,” and the next would follow with “bear.” The game continues until you reach “Z” or someone gets stuck. It’s a great game for testing your knowledge in different areas and can be surprisingly challenging.

15. Who Am I?

In this guessing game, one person thinks of a famous person, fictional character, or public figure, and the other player has to guess who it is by asking yes-or-no questions. The game continues until the player correctly identifies the person or gives up. “Who Am I?” is a fun way to see how well you know famous personalities and can spark interesting conversations about your favorite figures.

16. Movie/TV Quote Challenge

One player sends a quote from a movie or TV show, and the other player has to guess where the quote is from. The quotes can be iconic lines or obscure references, depending on how challenging you want the game to be. This game is perfect for film and TV buffs and can lead to a lot of nostalgic moments as you recall your favorite shows and movies.

17. Opposites Game

In the Opposites Game, one player texts a word, and the other player must respond with a word that has the opposite meaning. For example, if the word is “hot,” the response might be “cold.” The game continues back and forth, with each player trying to come up with new pairs of opposites. It’s a simple and educational game that can help expand your vocabulary while having fun.

18. What’s Missing?

In this game, one player texts a series of related words, leaving one word out, and the other player has to guess what the missing word is. For example, if the list is “red, green, yellow, …,” the missing word might be “blue.” This game tests your pattern recognition and knowledge of categories, and it can be as easy or as challenging as you make it.

19. Name That Tune

One person texts a line or a few lines from a song’s lyrics (without the title), and the other player has to guess the song title and artist. The difficulty can vary depending on how well-known the song is. This game is great for music lovers and can lead to a lot of “Oh, I know this one!” moments. It’s also a fun way to share your favorite songs and maybe discover some new ones.

20. Synonyms Game

In the Synonyms Game, one player texts a word, and the other player has to respond with a synonym—a word with the same or similar meaning. The game continues back and forth until someone can’t think of a new synonym. It’s a great way to challenge your vocabulary and can be surprisingly difficult as you exhaust the most common synonyms. This game helps sharpen your language skills while keeping the conversation light and engaging.

21. Pictionary via Emojis

In this creative game, one player describes an object, place, or concept using only emojis, and the other player has to guess what it is. For example, if someone sends an emoji of a sun, waves, and a drink, the answer could be “beach vacation.” This game challenges your ability to think visually and interpret symbols creatively. It’s a fun and modern twist on the classic Pictionary game, using the universal language of emojis.

22. Backwards Text Challenge

In the Backwards Text Challenge, one player sends a word or sentence with the letters or words reversed, and the other player has to decipher it. For instance, “dneirf” would be “friend,” or “?uoy era woH” would be “How are you?” It’s a playful way to communicate and can be surprisingly tricky, especially with longer phrases. This game is great for adding a bit of puzzling fun to your texting conversations.

23. Guess the Number

One player thinks of a number within a specific range (e.g., between 1 and 100), and the other player has to guess what it is. After each guess, the first player gives a hint by saying whether the guess is higher or lower than the chosen number. The game continues until the correct number is guessed. This simple yet engaging game tests your ability to use logical reasoning and can be surprisingly suspenseful as you get closer to the correct answer.

24. Alphabet Story

In Alphabet Story, players create a story together, but with a twist: each sentence must start with the next letter of the alphabet. For example, the first sentence might start with “A,” the next with “B,” and so on. The story could begin with “A giant appeared in the village,” followed by “But nobody knew where he came from.” This game challenges your creativity and forces you to think on your feet, often leading to funny and unexpected storylines.

25. Texting Acronyms

This game involves creating or guessing acronyms. One player texts an acronym, either a common one (like “BRB” for “Be Right Back”) or one they’ve made up, and the other player has to guess what it stands for.

Alternatively, you can make up acronyms that are personal or humorous, adding an extra layer of fun. It’s a game that not only tests your knowledge of texting lingo but also encourages creativity in coming up with new and funny abbreviations.

26. Finish the Sentence

In this game, one player starts a sentence, and the other player has to finish it. The sentence could be as simple as “If I won the lottery, I would…” or something more imaginative like “In a world where everyone could fly, I would…” The responses can be serious or silly, depending on the mood. This game is perfect for sparking creativity and seeing where your imagination takes you.

27. 20-Second Story

This fast-paced game involves creating a short story, but with a time limit. One player has 20 seconds to text as much of a story as they can before sending it to the other player, who then has 20 seconds to continue the story. The time limit adds pressure, often leading to spontaneous and hilarious results. It’s a fun way to test your quick thinking and storytelling skills.

28. What If?

In “What If?,” one player presents a hypothetical scenario starting with “What if,” and the other player responds with what they would do in that situation. For example, “What if you could live anywhere in the world?” or “What if you found a suitcase full of money?” The scenarios can be serious, funny, or completely outlandish.

29. Hidden Word

In Hidden Word, one player sends a sentence that contains a hidden word within it, and the other player has to find it. For example, “Can you spot the mistake?” might hide the word “cat” within “spot.” The hidden word could be embedded within other words or spread across the sentence. This game challenges your attention to detail and can be a fun puzzle to solve.

30. Silly Rhymes

Silly Rhymes is a light-hearted game where one player starts by texting a simple sentence or phrase, and the other player has to respond with a rhyming sentence. The rhymes can be as silly or creative as you like. For example, one player might start with “The cat sat on the mat,” and the other could reply with “Then it found a big, red hat.” It’s a fun way to play with language and can lead to some very amusing exchanges.

31. Numbers Game

In the Numbers Game, one player texts a sequence of numbers following a particular pattern, and the other player has to guess the next number in the sequence. For example, the sequence might be “2, 4, 6, 8,” with the next number being “10.” The patterns can range from simple arithmetic sequences to more complex ones that require deeper thinking.

32. Word Scramble

In Word Scramble, one player texts a word with the letters scrambled, and the other player has to unscramble it to find the correct word. For example, “drow” would unscramble to “word.” The scrambled words can vary in difficulty depending on how challenging you want the game to be.

33. Fact or Fiction

In Fact or Fiction, one player sends a statement that could be either true or made-up, and the other player has to guess whether it’s a fact or fiction. The statements can be about anything, from personal anecdotes to general knowledge. This game is perfect for learning more about each other or testing how well you can spot the truth. It’s also a great way to share interesting or surprising facts in a fun and engaging manner.

34. Virtual Hide and Seek

Virtual Hide and Seek is a creative twist on the traditional game. One player describes a location where they are “hiding” within a familiar environment, such as “I’m in the place where we last had coffee together,” and the other player has to guess where they are. The locations can be real or imaginary, and the game encourages you to think creatively about spaces you both know.

35. Memory Test

In this game, one player texts a list of items, numbers, or words, and the other player has a few seconds to memorize them before they’re asked to recall as many as possible. For example, the list might include “apple, banana, orange, grape, pineapple.”

After a short pause, the other player has to list as many of the items as they can remember. This game tests your short-term memory and can be made more challenging by increasing the length of the list or the complexity of the items.

36. Coded Messages

Coded Messages involves creating a simple code or cipher and using it to send secret messages. For example, you might decide that each letter in the message is replaced by the next letter in the alphabet, so “hello” would become “ifmmp.” The other player has to decode the message to understand it. This game is perfect for those who enjoy puzzles and can add an element of mystery and fun to your conversation.

37. True or False

In True or False, one player sends a statement that could be either true or false, and the other player has to guess which it is. The statements can range from well-known facts to personal stories. This game is similar to Fact or Fiction but is often quicker and can cover a broader range of topics. It’s a great way to share fun facts and stories while testing how well you can discern the truth.

38. The Last Letter

The Last Letter game is a word chain game where one player says a word, and the next player has to come up with a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word. For example, if one player says “apple,” the next might say “elephant.” The game continues back and forth, and it can become increasingly challenging as you run out of words. It’s a fun and fast-paced way to test your vocabulary and quick thinking.

39. Who’s the Celebrity?

In this game, one player thinks of a celebrity and provides clues about them without revealing their name. The other player has to guess who the celebrity is based on the clues given. The clues can range from describing their appearance or famous roles to hinting at their personal life or achievements. This game is perfect for pop culture enthusiasts and can lead to interesting discussions about your favorite celebrities.

40. Color Description

In Color Description, one player describes an object by its color and any other distinctive features without naming it, and the other player has to guess what the object is. For example, “It’s yellow and round with a smiling face” could be describing a smiley face emoji. The descriptions can be as detailed or vague as you like, depending on how challenging you want the game to be.

41. Jumbled Sentence

In Jumbled Sentence, one player sends a sentence with the words scrambled, and the other player has to unscramble the words to form a coherent sentence. For example, “cat the on mat the sat” would unscramble to “The cat sat on the mat.” The difficulty can be adjusted by using longer or more complex sentences.

42. Character Quiz

In Character Quiz, one player describes a character from a book, movie, TV show, or even a video game without mentioning their name, and the other player has to guess who the character is. The description can include details about the character’s appearance, personality, or significant actions they took in their story. This game is perfect for fans of various media and can lead to interesting discussions about your favorite characters and stories.

43. Text-based Sudoku

Text-based Sudoku involves creating a simple number puzzle that resembles a Sudoku grid but communicated through text. For example, you might send a partial grid with some numbers filled in and others left blank, with the goal for the other player being to complete the grid.

44. The Riddle Game

The Riddle Game is a classic brain teaser where one player sends a riddle, and the other player has to solve it. Riddles can range from easy and straightforward to complex and tricky, depending on the challenge you want to pose. For example, a simple riddle might be, “What has keys but can’t open locks?” with the answer being “a piano.”

45. Opposite Day

In Opposite Day, the challenge is to communicate by saying the opposite of what you mean. For example, if you mean to say “I’m happy,” you might text “I’m sad.” The other player then has to interpret what you really mean based on the context. This game is a fun way to play with language and can lead to some hilarious misunderstandings and creative thinking. It’s a great way to add a bit of playful confusion to your conversations.

46. Guess the Recipe

In Guess the Recipe, one player describes the ingredients and cooking process of a dish without naming it, and the other player has to guess what the dish is. For example, you might describe “a mixture of eggs, flour, sugar, and butter, baked until golden brown,” and the answer would be “cake.”

47. One Word Story

One Word Story is a collaborative storytelling game where each player contributes just one word at a time to build a story. For example, one player might start with “Once,” and the next player adds “upon,” followed by “a,” and so on. The story develops word by word, often leading to funny, unexpected, or even nonsensical narratives.

48. Celebrity Gossip

In Celebrity Gossip, one player invents a fake news headline about a celebrity, and the other player has to come up with a funny or creative backstory to explain it. For example, “Famous actor spotted buying 100 cats” might lead to a humorous story about the actor’s new feline-themed movie.

49. Texting Relay

Texting Relay is a game where one player starts with a single word, and the next player adds another word, continuing the sentence. The game continues back and forth until you have a complete sentence or paragraph. For example, one player might start with “The,” followed by “cat,” and so on. The goal is to create a coherent sentence or even an entire story, with each player only knowing their part of the sentence until it’s fully revealed.

50. Picture Challenge

In Picture Challenge, one player sends a random picture (it could be something from their camera roll, a screenshot, or a meme), and the other player has to come up with a funny or creative caption for it. The caption can be as serious or as silly as you like, depending on the picture. This game is perfect for those who enjoy visual humor and can lead to some hilarious exchanges.

51. Three-Word Text

In Three-Word Text, each player is only allowed to send text messages that consist of exactly three words. For example, one person might start with “I am hungry,” and the other could respond with “Let’s get pizza.” The challenge is to keep the conversation going while adhering to the three-word limit, which can lead to some creative and concise exchanges. This game is a fun way to test your communication skills and see how well you can express yourself with minimal words.

52. Word Chain

Word Chain is a vocabulary game where one player starts with a word, and the next player must say a word that starts with the last two letters of the previous word. For example, if the first word is “apple,” the next word might be “lemon,” followed by “onion.” The game continues until someone is stumped or repeats a word. This game is great for expanding your vocabulary and thinking quickly, making it both challenging and educational.

53. Guess the Celebrity by Their Real Name

In this game, one player texts the real name of a celebrity, and the other player has to guess their stage name. For example, if someone texts “Stefani Germanotta,” the answer would be “Lady Gaga.” This game is perfect for pop culture enthusiasts and can be surprisingly challenging, especially with lesser-known real names. It’s a fun way to test your knowledge of celebrities and learn something new.

54. Odd One Out

Odd One Out is a game where one player sends a list of items, with one item that doesn’t belong, and the other player has to identify which one is the odd one out. For example, “apple, banana, car, orange” would have “car” as the odd one out. The lists can be as straightforward or as tricky as you like, making it a great game for testing your logical thinking and pattern recognition skills.

55. Personality Quiz

In Personality Quiz, one player creates a fun personality quiz with a series of questions, and the other player answers them. The quiz can be about anything—favorite foods, ideal vacation spots, or even what type of animal you’d be. After answering, the quiz creator gives a playful “result” based on the answers. This game is a fun way to learn more about each other’s preferences and personality traits, and it can lead to some light-hearted and revealing conversations.

56. Guess the Landmark

In Guess the Landmark, one player describes a famous landmark without naming it, and the other player has to guess what it is. For example, “A tall iron structure in Paris, known for its lights at night,” would refer to the Eiffel Tower. The descriptions can vary in detail depending on how challenging you want the game to be. This game is perfect for those who enjoy travel and geography, and it can lead to discussions about favorite places or bucket-list destinations.

57. Random Facts

In Random Facts, players take turns sharing little-known or interesting facts. For example, one might text, “Did you know that honey never spoils?” The goal is to share the most surprising or fascinating tidbits of information. This game is a great way to learn something new and can spark curiosity and conversation about various topics. It’s both educational and fun, making it perfect for those who love trivia.

58. Text Message Bingo

Text Message Bingo involves creating a bingo card filled with different text-related tasks, such as “Use an emoji,” “Send a GIF,” or “Ask a question.” Each player creates their own card and then tries to complete a row by sending messages that fulfill the tasks. The first player to complete a row wins. This game adds an extra layer of fun to your texting conversation and encourages you to be creative in how you communicate.

59. Puns Challenge

In Puns Challenge, players take turns sending puns back and forth, trying to outdo each other with the funniest or most clever wordplay. For example, “I’m reading a book about anti-gravity—it’s impossible to put down!” The game continues until someone can’t come up with a pun or repeats one. This game is perfect for those who enjoy playing with language and can lead to lots of laughs as you try to one-up each other.

60. Guess the Year

In Guess the Year, one player texts an event, trend, or popular culture reference, and the other player has to guess the year it happened. For example, “The release of the first iPhone” would have the answer “2007.” The events can be from any time period, making the game as easy or challenging as you like. This game is great for testing your memory and knowledge of history, and it can lead to interesting discussions about the past.

61. Dream Interpretation

In Dream Interpretation, one player describes a dream they had (real or fictional), and the other player interprets its meaning. For example, if someone describes dreaming about flying, the interpretation might be related to freedom or a desire to escape. The interpretations can be serious, humorous, or completely imaginative. This game is a fun way to explore the world of dreams and can lead to some intriguing and creative discussions.

62. Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks is a game where one player sends a sentence with missing words, and the other player has to fill in the blanks. For example, “The ______ jumped over the ______” could be filled in as “The cat jumped over the moon.” The missing words can be chosen to create funny, serious, or even nonsensical sentences. This game is perfect for sparking creativity and seeing how the other person’s mind works.

63. This or That?

This or That? is a simple game where one player sends two options (e.g., “coffee or tea?”), and the other player has to choose between them. The options can range from everyday choices to more significant or hypothetical scenarios. It’s a great way to learn more about each other’s preferences and can lead to some interesting discussions about why you chose one option over the other.

64. Guess the Animal Sound

In Guess the Animal Sound, one player describes an animal by texting what its sound might look like in words (e.g., “moo” for cow, “woof” for dog), and the other player has to guess the animal. The sounds can be obvious or more difficult, depending on the challenge you want to present. This game is a fun way to test your knowledge of animals and can lead to some amusing attempts at spelling out animal sounds.