How to play iMessage games
on iPhone, the easy way
Apple hides iMessage games behind a small + button on iOS 17 and later, which is why so many people can't find them. Here's the simple modern way to install GamePigeon, send a challenge, take a turn, and fix things when they break.
TL;DR
Install GamePigeon from the App Store → open Messages → pick a friend with a blue bubble chat → tap the + next to the text field → tap More → GamePigeon → choose a game → tap send. Tap the game bubble whenever it is your turn.
Step-by-step: play games in iMessage
Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Both sides need to be on iMessage (blue bubbles).
Install an iMessage games app
Open the App Store and download GamePigeon (free). It is the most popular iMessage games pack and includes 8 Ball, Cup Pong, Mini Golf, Anagrams, Sea Battle, Knockout and many more. You can also install single-game apps like Words with Friends or Yahtzee with Buddies if they offer iMessage support.
Open Messages and pick a blue-bubble conversation
iMessage games only work between Apple devices. Make sure the chat bubbles are blue, not green. Green bubbles mean SMS / RCS, which cannot run iMessage apps. If your friend has an iPhone but bubbles are green, ask them to enable iMessage in Settings → Messages.
Tap the + button next to the message field
On iOS 17, iOS 18 and iOS 26 the apps drawer is collapsed. Tap the small grey + icon to the left of the text field. On iOS 16 and earlier, tap the App Store icon directly above the keyboard.
Tap More, then choose GamePigeon
Apple shows a few suggested apps in the popup; tap More to see everything you have installed. Tap GamePigeon (or any other iMessage games app) to open the picker. Tap Edit to pin your favourite apps so they appear at the top.
Pick a game
Tap the game you want to play. The game appears as a small preview bubble inside your message field. Some games (like Knockout) start a real-time match; most are turn-based.
Send the challenge
Tap the up-arrow send button just like a regular message. Your friend will receive a tappable game bubble. They tap it, take their turn, and the game gets sent back automatically.
Take your turn whenever you are pinged
Each time it is your move, you will see the game bubble update in the chat. Tap it, play your turn, then close the game — Messages automatically sends the new state back. Continue until someone wins or quits.
Where to find iMessage games on each iOS version
The Messages UI changed in iOS 17 and again with the Liquid Glass redesign in iOS 26. The games still work the same way — only the entry point has moved.
iOS 16 and earlier
Tap the App Store icon next to the text field → swipe horizontally to find GamePigeon → tap a game.
iOS 17
Tap "+" to the left of the text field → tap "More" → choose GamePigeon. The dedicated apps drawer was removed.
iOS 18 & iOS 26
Same flow as iOS 17: "+" → "More" → GamePigeon. iOS 18 added Edit / pinning. iOS 26 adds Liquid Glass styling but no functional change.
Best iMessage games to play in 2026
Most of the action is inside GamePigeon — one free download, dozens of bite-sized games. A handful of standalone apps are also worth installing.
| Game | App | What it's like | Players |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Ball | GamePigeon | Classic billiards. Sink your stripes or solids before your friend does, then pocket the 8 ball. | 2 players · turn-based |
| Cup Pong | GamePigeon | Beer-pong style flick controls. The most-played GamePigeon game by a mile. | 2 players · turn-based |
| Mini Golf | GamePigeon | Nine-hole mini golf with windmills, ramps and water hazards. Great for slow-burn rivalries. | 2 players · turn-based |
| Anagrams | GamePigeon | Two minutes to find as many words as possible from a shared letter pool. High-skill ceiling. | 2 players · timed |
| Sea Battle | GamePigeon | Battleship clone with planes, mines and submarines. The longest game on this list. | 2 players · turn-based |
| Knockout | GamePigeon | Top-down party brawler with weapon pickups. Surprisingly competitive. | 2 players · real-time |
| Words with Friends | Zynga | Long-form Scrabble-style word game. Has a dedicated iMessage extension. | 2 players · turn-based |
| Yahtzee with Buddies | Scopely | The classic dice game with a clean iMessage extension for one-tap matches. | 2 players · turn-based |
Troubleshooting iMessage games
99% of issues fall into one of these five buckets. Try them in order.
The bubble is green, not blue
iMessage games only work on iMessage. Green bubbles mean SMS or RCS, which cannot run iMessage apps. Both of you need iPhones with iMessage enabled in Settings → Messages → iMessage.
No internet on either device
iMessage requires Wi-Fi or cellular data on both sides. Move out of airplane mode, toggle Wi-Fi off and back on, and try sending a regular iMessage to confirm the connection works.
No "+" button or no apps drawer
On iOS 17+ the apps drawer is hidden behind +. If you do not see + at all, the conversation might be SMS only — confirm the bubble colour. On iPad in Stage Manager, rotate to landscape if the toolbar is cramped.
Stuck on "Waiting for opponent"
Your friend has not opened the latest move yet, or their push notifications are delayed. Ask them to open the chat and tap the bubble. If still stuck, both of you force-quit Messages and reopen.
GamePigeon installed but missing from + → More
Open Settings → Messages → iMessage Apps and make sure GamePigeon is enabled. If it isn't there, reinstall from the App Store and grant permissions when prompted.
Games crash or freeze the chat
Update iOS, then update GamePigeon from the App Store. If a single conversation is cursed, deleting and starting a new thread with the same person almost always fixes it.
Pro tips
- Pin your favourites. Tap + → More → Edit and pin GamePigeon and Words with Friends to the top so they appear in the suggestions strip.
- One game per chat. Multiple in-flight games in the same thread get confusing. Start a new thread for tournaments.
- Group chats work too. Some GamePigeon games (like Anagrams and Tanks) support 3+ players in a group iMessage. Try it on family chats.
- Mute the noisy threads. Long-press the conversation → Hide Alerts when a Cup Pong rivalry gets out of hand.
Make a turn-based game app
with friends, push notifications, and a leaderboard
You can't publish a brand-new GamePigeon-style extension without going deep into Apple's App Extensions APIs — but you can ship a full standalone turn-based multiplayer iPhone game in an afternoon with Newly. React Native, real push notifications, and your own back-end included.
Native iOS app
React Native + Expo, the same stack used by Discord, Shopify and Coinbase. Real native UI, real App Store distribution.
Multiplayer baked in
Liquid Backend (included) gives you Postgres, auth and real-time websockets so two players can share a game state instantly.
Full source code
You own 100% of the React Native code. Export to GitHub anytime, hire a developer to extend it, or keep iterating in Newly.
iMessage games — FAQ
The most common questions people ask about playing games in iMessage.
How do I play games on iMessage?
Why don’t I see the iMessage apps drawer in iOS 17, iOS 18 or iOS 26?
Are iMessage games free?
Why won’t my iMessage game send?
Can I play iMessage games on Android?
Can I play iMessage games on iPad or Mac?
What are the most popular iMessage games?
How do I delete or hide an iMessage game?
Why are my iMessage games stuck on "Waiting for opponent"?
Tired of waiting for your turn?
Ship your own game instead.
Newly turns a one-line idea into a complete native iOS & Android game. No Xcode, no Mac, no Swift. Real push notifications, real multiplayer, real App Store.