Bored? Try These Simple Games to Play Through Text in 2025

I don't know about you, but I've had full-on conversations over text that were like watching paint dry. Like just throwing "wyd" and "lol" back and forth with someone until they ghost you. But it doesn't have to be like that.

Texting just a little bit of playfulness re-energizes the interaction. Here's a bunch of games perfect for chatting with friends, siblings, crushes, or long-distance partners that can be played without any special requirements—just a messaging app and a few creative prompts up your sleeve.

So go ahead—scroll down and pick one.

Fun Games to Play Over Text with Anyone

The best laughs often revolve around one simple message. It's a fun time that's not confined to the same room, let alone the same time zone.

1 Emoji Story Challenge

This game is a lot about your creative ability and a tiny bit of your emoji decoding mum. One player sends the other player a sequence of emojis, which can be a story, a movie, a TV show, or even a summary of the situation. The other one tries to guess what it is.

For instance, 🐍⚡🏰 would definitely give a clue of Harry Potter to you, and 🦸‍♂️🕷️ would be interpreted as Spider-Man. The less known (or funnier) the emoji combo is, the better the game is.

The game is great for several rounds of playing in a group chat or for one-on-one texts. And it has even more benefits because it adds some color and fun to your chat and is a perfect way to find out who is more familiar with your references.

2 Story Building Game

If you have tried writing a story with a friend, one sentence after another, you could agree that it can get weird and very funny. It is more than what the game is all about, the main charm. You, for example, can send the first sentence, then your partner sends the next, and so on.

Start with "Once upon a time, a duck became president…" and then go on with the plot according to the powers of your collective imagination. The part with the unexpected changes in the plot is the most fun, especially when everybody is more focused on telling a funny story than on the logic.

3 One-Word Story

This game proves that the shortest texts can make the biggest fun. You and your texting partner construct a story, but there is one condition. You can add only one word at a time.

You: "Once"

Them: "upon"

You: "a"

Them: "time…"

…and here you are, involved in such a weird and wonderful story about unicorns, time travel, and a toaster, which somehow seems to be alive and thinking.

It gets weird very quickly, and that was definitely the point. You don't need to make sense, just let the story come to life, one word at a time, and see where your combined intellects lead you.

4 Rhyme Chain

Speed and wordplay are the themes here. A person starts with a word, e.g. "cat," and the other has to find a rhyme for it. Once the other person responds, the turn goes back to the first person who continues: "hat," "mat," "flat," "chat," and so on… until someone repeats a word or gets stuck.

Once you are 10 rhymes in and suddenly "splaaaat" sounds like a real word, it won't be that easy anymore.

You can use it with a timer to turn it into a more exciting endurance competition, or if there is more than two of you, you can make it an elimination challenge. It is one of those funny challenges that can be low-stakes but can become strangely addictive.

Just wait until someone attempts to rhyme "orange." (Spoiler: they definitely can't.)

5 Categories Game

Simple rules, endless possibilities. One person chooses a category like "fruits," "movie villains," "Pokémon," or "things you can't bring on a plane." Then each player takes a turn naming a thing in that category until someone repeats an answer or can't come up with a new one.

You: "Fruits!"

Them: "Apple"

You: "Banana"

Them: "Kiwi"

You: "Uh… tomato?" (Debatable. But we'll allow it.)

The great thing about it is that you are tapping into each other's memory and creativity when you go into obscure categories. Make it fast-paced for more pressure, or add a twist like "no words starting with vowels."

6 Text-Based Riddles or Puzzles

If you are a brainiac, riddles are the best for you. One player sends a riddle, and the other has to answer it without using Google (only if you both get stuck and decide to cheat together).

Try something like:

"What has hands but can't clap?"

Answer: "A clock!"

You can also try to find some tricky riddles, old ones, or create some new ones. In addition, logic puzzles or "Who am I?"-type clues could add a bit of amusement and variety.

7 Make a Playlist Together

This one's really good for people who are into music or anybody who enjoys a thematic event. Begin by choosing a theme, "songs that describe our mood today," "throwback hits," or even "songs we'd play at a zombie apocalypse party." Then keep taking turns to send tracks to each other via Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube.

It's a very low-effort way to feel connected, particularly if you're not in the same place. Besides that, the playlist turns into a joint effort in creating the mini time capsule of your current whatever-ship you're sailing.

Bonus: If your playlist is very long, you can save it. You'll be happy to come back to it weeks or months later and to remember the odd mood you were both in.

8 Would You Rather 

This is a timeless game for sure. It's quick and easy, yet it allows you to get to know the other person just enough to keep things interesting. One player poses the other a decision between two alternatives, and the latter is supposed to choose only one. No going around it, no "both" allowed.

Example:

"Would you rather have a pet dragon or a flying car?"

"Would you rather always have to sing instead of talk, or dance everywhere you walk?"

The way you frame this question can totally change it from being a witty and casual one to a flirtatious and playful one, all depending on who you are texting. It is excellent for engaging in long conversations, or even during those silent moments, or when you discover that the person you thought you knew is not at all and has some surprises for you.

9 This or That

Think of this as the fast-food version of "Would You Rather." You rapid-fire pairs of options, and the other person replies with their pick. No explanations, just instinct.

"Coffee or tea?"

"Cats or dogs?"

"Beach or mountains?"

"Netflix or YouTube?"

In a nutshell, this game is so fast and easy, along with it making you feel connected. It is best when you feel tired for deep conversations, but definitely want to interact. Once you reach the end of all your rounds, you will not only get to know more about his/her likes and dislikes but will also not feel like you have gone through an interview.

10 Typo Speed Test/Fast Typing Challenge

Want to put those texting thumbs to the test? This game is all about speed and accuracy. One person sends a tricky sentence, and the other has to type it back as fast as possible, and no copy-paste, typos not allowed.

Try something like:

"The five boxing wizards jump quickly."

or

"Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow."

Set a timer if you want to raise the stakes. Or challenge each other with harder and longer sentences round by round. You'll quickly find out who types like a machine… and who autocorrect betrays at every turn.

11 "Wrong Answers Only"

This one's pure comedy gold. You pose a query or give a signal, and the other person answers with a reply full of fun and the most absurd one they can come up with. The more ridiculous, the better.

You: "What's the capital of France?"

Them: "Disneyland."

You: "Who invented gravity?"

Them: "My dog, when he dropped his ball."

It's quick, simple, and guaranteed to spark laughter.

12 20 Questions

this classic guessing game never goes out of fashion and it turns out to be unexpectedly enjoyable via text. One of the players invents a character, for example, a person, a place or a thing. The other then gets up to 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out what it is. And that's all. Totally straightforward, but very addictive.

Most of all, it fits perfectly well in situations like downtime, when you wait for an answer or just kill some time between your meetings. You can play it with various themes like "movie characters" or "things you'd find in a fridge" to make it more interesting. If someone manages to guess it in less than 20 questions, then the point is theirs.

13 WhatsApp Truth Bombs

This game is a great option for WhatsApp users who want to get into a quick, very honest, and sometimes funny conversation. While one person sends a one-word prompt, such as "crush," "regret," or "dream," the other replies with the very first thing that comes to mind.

It is quite simple, as you get to scratch a little below the surface without going into a deep conversation. It also works well with friends, crushes, or anyone who is curious about what is really in the other person's head. Besides, it is really quick.

Try swapping prompts back and forth or even turning it into a rapid-fire round. It's one of the best games to play on WhatsApp when you want to mix meaning with fun.

14 Games to Play Through iMessage

If both of you have iPhones, it's even better. Because iMessage packs in-game apps that can convert your chat into a mini-game night with your friend. Classics such as 8 Ball, Cup Pong, or Dots & Boxes are just as simple as having a chat, as you are not obligated to exit the chat in order to play them.

Tips to Make Text Games More Fun

So I've found that text games are way more fun with just a few simple tweaks, for example, sending a quick voice note adds so much expression. Sometimes tone says more than words ever could, and I'm never shy about throwing in emojis or GIFs.

"Memes are sent by the loser" or "next answer has to rhyme," with the penalties, and it does jazz things up a bit. It's those little "bets" that keep it lively and keep everyone bringing their A-game. 

Quite frankly, a little bit of creative thinking turns even the most basic games into something I actually look forward to in my daily discussions.