How to Play Games in iMessage with Your Friends: Step-by-Step

Get your game on with your friends in iMessage

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: September 7, 2024 Fact Checked

Did you know you can play games on iMessage with your friends? Thanks to the integrated App Store button in iMessage, you can download games and play back and forth with your friends right in your Messages app on your iPhone or iPad. In this article, we'll teach you how to start playing iMessage games like GamePigeon, Yahtzee, 8 Ball Pool, and Cup Pong with your friends.

Quick Steps

To play iMessage games, open iMessage and select the contact you want to play a game with.
Tap the App Store button next to the message box and install a game.
Tap on the app after it's installed to begin a new game with your friend.

Steps

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1
Open the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad. To play iMessage games with your contacts, you must have iMessage turned on and be texting someone with an iPhone or iPad who also has iMessage turned on.
- To turn on iMessage, go to your Settings app, scroll down to Messages and toggle on iMessage.
2
Tap a message with a contact who has an iPhone or iPad. You can't play iMessage games with users that don't have an Apple device.
- You may want to notify your friend that they need to turn on iMessage for the game to work.
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This icon is directly next to the message box and looks like an A, similar to your iPhone or iPad's typical App Store icon. A bar will pop up with several options.^{[1]
X
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It's the second icon in the bottom row. This opens the iMessage App Store, where you can download all sorts of fun games to play with your friends.
5
Browse or search for a game. Now that you're in a special version of the App Store designed for iMessage, you can browse for a game to play with your friends.
- GamePigeon is a collection of easy-to-play iMessage games, including pool, cup pong, darts, checkers, mini golf, and word games.
- Tap See All next to "Great iMessage Games" to view a list of top-rated games.
- You can also search for a game (or type of game) such as basketball, 8 Ball Pool, or Pictoword.
6
Tap Get next to your desired game. If the game has in-app purchases, it will be noted next to the Get button.
- Once the iMessage game is installed, tap the X at the top-right to return to your conversation.
It will be on the same bar as the App Store icon. Scroll until you find the icon for the game and tap it.
8
Play your move. Every game will have a different interface, so make your play and send it to your friend. Your friend will get an iMessage that says they have a move waiting for them in a game, where they can then install the game and play back.
- There are no time limits on the games, so you and your friend can play when convenient.