Have you ever wanted to play a quick game like chess or pool within your conversations, without needing to switch apps? Or get notifications drawing you back into an adventure game with friends right from iMessage? Well now you can!
Apple‘s iMessage platform supports a growing catalog of mini games spanning trivia, billiards, RPGs and lots more. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to start playing iMessage games.
So What Are iMessage Games?
iMessage games are small game applications that can be installed directly within your iMessage conversations on iPhone, iPad and Mac devices.
You can browse a Game Center right in the app, install titles that interest you, and then launch games instantly when chatting someone, without ever needing to leave iMessage.
It saves you from constantly switching between standalone games and messenger apps when you just feel like a quick game with friends.
A Little Background
The iMessage app launched in 2011 as Apple‘s enhanced messenger system to replace SMS/MMS, offering features like:
- End-to-end encryption
- Read receipts
- Photo/video sharing
- iPhone/Mac/iPad sync
- Much more
It uses internet data rather than your cellular plan for messaging other Apple devices.
In 2016, Apple announced App Store integration, allowing users to install apps like games, to-do lists, and stickers right within iMessage.
This instantly made conversations more engaging – now you could challenge friends to pool, poker or even mini golf straight from any chat!
One of the first and still most popular titles was 8 Ball Pool, a simple billiards game. But many more interactive games across genres have launched since.
Let‘s explore some of the top picks!
10 of the Most Popular iMessage Games
The iMessage Game catalog has grown to hundreds of titles – here are 10 must-try suggestions across genres:
| Game | Genre | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Ball Pool | Sports | Billiards simulator with 1v1 multiplayer matches |
| Word Hunt | Word | Fast-paced word search game. Connect letters before time runs out! |
| Sea Battle | Strategy | Classic battleship game. Strategically bomb your opponent‘s ships. |
| Lily Story | RPG | Choice-driven gamebook adventure with hand-drawn art |
| Cupid‘s Arrow | Simulation | Raise affection with cute characters by shooting their sweet spots lol |
| Texas Hold‘em | Card | Poker simulator to test your skills and bluffing ability |
| Chess | Strategy | The game of kings. Prove your tactics on the checkered battlefield. |
| Heads Up! | Party | Fun charades-style game with wild challenges |
| Temple Run | Action | Famous endless runner gets miniaturized into iMessage! |
| Letter Zap | Puzzle | Lightning-fast reflexes to tap letters in order |
With so many to choose from, there‘s bound to be great options for action gamers, RPG fans, puzzle solvers and more!
Now let‘s get into how to access these games…
Enabling iMessage on Your Device
Before installing any games, you first need to make sure iMessage itself is enabled.
iMessage is the underlying messenger platform that supports these game applications behind the scenes. It allows users with iPhone, iPad, Mac and certain iPods to exchange messages over WiFi or mobile data, complete with read statuses, encryption, media sharing and more.
Here is how to enable iMessage:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap on "Messages"
- Turn on the switch next to "iMessage". It will display green when activated.
Under the hood, this connects to Apple‘s servers to authenticate your device and sync your account.
With iMessage now ready, you can access games from any conversation screen. Next I‘ll cover browsing and installing titles from the integrated App Store.
Accessing the iMessage App Store
Apple provides an App Store directly within the iMessage interface, allowing you to browse, install and manage a variety of applications like games.
To access it:
- Tap the App Store icon above the keyboard (blue icon with a white ‘A‘)
- Scroll down and select "Play Games on iMessage"
- Browse titles and tap "Get" to install any you want
From here you can access Game Center which shows the full catalog of available downloads.
Some lightweight games like chess come preinstalled, but tapping into the App Store lets you select from hundreds more options. Most are free downloads with optional in-app purchases.
Once installed, game icons will appear along the menu bar over your keyboard when returning to any conversation – making them easily accessible.
Next up, let‘s discuss actually starting a game…
Initiating a Game
The process of starting a new game will vary slightly by title, but follows a straightforward flow:
- Tap the game‘s icon in the menu bar (for example, the 8 Ball logo for pool)
- Choose either single player or multiplayer mode
- If multi, it sends a special invite message to your friend
- Once they accept, both parties enter the game
So if you wanted a quick match of pool, simply tap the 8 Ball icon, select multiplayer, and pick your desired opponent from the conversation list.
The game executes natively within iMessage using a split-screen layout, with no app switching needed.
Now let‘s explore gameplay, controls and taking turns!
Taking Turns and Making Moves
The way turns are structured varies based on game, but generally alternates between players with notifications guiding the flow. Here is an example sequence:
- After starting a new game session, Player 1 takes the first move
- A push notification gets fired off to Player 2 indicating it‘s now their turn
- Player 2 taps the notification to open iMessage and take their move
- Play continues to switch back and forth through notification prompts
NOTE: To keep games flowing smoothly, I recommend enabling iMessage notifications within your device settings!
Controls vary widely depending on the genre and complexity of each game. For example:
- Pool games use swipe gestures to aim shots and pull strength
- Chess relies on tap selections for moves and placements
- Trivia buzzers use button holds similar to TV gameshows!
Over time you‘ll get familiar with conventions across titles. Half the fun is learning new mechanics!
Now that we‘ve covered Apple‘s native platform, what about options for non-iPhone users?..
Can You Play iMessage Games on Android Devices?
Unfortunately because iMessage is Apple‘s proprietary messenger system, it does not officially support Android devices.
The encryption protocols used are designed specifically for Apple hardware and operating systems. So Android devices are generally unable to install or interact with iMessage apps.
However, over the years a few clever workarounds have emerged for accessing iMessage remotely from other devices.
The most robust solution currently is an app called weMessage which essentially bridges communications between your Android phone and Apple hardware you also own.
Here is a quick overview of how it works:
- Install weMessage app on your Android device
- On a Mac, install the weServer companion app
- Link Android app to Mac server via your Apple ID
- Connect both devices to the same WiFi network
- Manage iMessage conversations from your Android!
So by relaying messages through your Mac acting as a middleman server, the Android client can trick iMessage into thinking it‘s native Apple hardware.
With everything connected, you can then access iMessage games on an Android phone as if it were an iPhone or iPad! Albeit with some slight lag based on your WiFi reliability.
Do note call and audio messages may not relay properly due to middleware complexities. But for casual gaming fun with friends, weMessage delivers!
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
Hopefully this guide served as your complete roadmap to discovering games on iMessage – from learning how it works under the hood to installing top titles to kicking off multiplayer matches with friends new and old!
Here are some closing thoughts:
- Don‘t underestimate how engaging iMessage games make staying in touch! Games bring conversations alive.
- Explore fresh Game Center releases often as new titles launch frequently
- Encourage chat partners by gifting games and starting friendly competitions
- Improve gaming literacy by mastering titles across genres and mechanics
As next steps I recommend poking around the App Store within your iMessage app and sampling games that catch your eye. Discover new ways to interact beyond just texting.
I also suggest screen recording some gameplay sessions to share on social media! Given how vertically oriented iMessage displays are on our phones, they lend perfectly for sites like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Have fun and let me know if any other questions come up!
