Games to play over text with friends, your crush or your partner

Text games that need nothing but your chat

These work in any messaging app, with one friend or a whole group. All the examples are ours; swap in your own.

Would you rather

Send two options and ask for one. Keep them close enough that it is a real choice. “Would you rather always know the time without a clock, or always know which way is north?” Our list of would you rather questions has plenty more.

This or that, in one message

Send five pairs at once and ask them to reply with only their picks: tea or coffee, beach or city, early or late, call or text, sweet or salty. Then compare. It takes ten seconds and almost always starts a conversation. There are more pairs in our this or that questions.

Twenty questions

One person thinks of a thing, a person or a place. The other gets twenty yes-or-no questions to work it out. It is perfect for slow texting, because each question can wait an hour.

Finish the sentence

Send half a sentence and let them finish it. “The best thing about Sundays is…”, “I would be a terrible spy because…”, “The thing I can never find in my house is…”. The answers are usually funnier than you expect.

Story chain

One person sends the first sentence of a story, and you take turns adding one sentence each. The only rule is that you cannot undo what the last person wrote. “A goat walked into the bank and asked for a loan.” See where it is by the weekend. With a group, go round in the order people joined the chat.

Rate it

Send something ordinary and ask for a score out of ten with one line of reasoning: pineapple on pizza, wearing socks with sandals, replying to messages with a voice note. You learn a surprising amount about someone from how they defend a seven.

Games to play over text with friends

Plain text games run out of steam because somebody has to keep score and the answers are all visible. A link game fixes both. You host a room on Letternerd, paste the link in the chat, and everyone joins in their browser as a guest. Choose over several days when you start it, and people take their turn when they get a minute.

• Secret drop: everyone drops a secret, and nobody knows whose is whose.
• Guess who: one friend answers, and everyone else guesses what they said.
• Great Minds: answer at the same time, and you only score if you side with the crowd.
• Best Answer: answer the prompt in one line, and a rotating judge crowns the best.
• Never have I ever: own up all at once. Standing alone is worth the most.

Most of these need at least three players. For a bigger group chat, see our guide to WhatsApp group games, which works the same way in any messaging app.

Games to play over text with your crush

With a crush, the best texting games are low-stakes and easy to say no to. You want a reason to keep talking, not a test.

• This or That: quick either/or for two or more, and you score when your answers match. Matching on “mountains” is a small thrill.
• Two of a Kind: four answers, one pick each, and you score when you read each other’s mind.
• Would you rather: two impossible choices. Pick a side and defend it.
• 16 choices that show who you really are: a solo personality quiz. Take it, send your result, and ask for theirs.

Games to play over text with your boyfriend or girlfriend

When you already know each other well, games can go a bit further. These are all built for two, on your own phones:

• Know Your Person: they answer about themselves, and you predict what they said.
• In Sync: answer at the same time, and you only score when you both pick the same thing.
• Truth or Dare for Two: truth or dare by voice note. Pick one, record it, and they pick their favourite.
• Sweet Talk: finish the sentence about each other, out loud. The best line takes the round.
• Show Me: send a photo of your day, and pick the one you wish you were in.

If you live apart, our long distance relationship games guide covers the games written for different time zones.

• Know Your Person2–6 players · 10 minThey answer about themselves. You predict what they said.
• In Sync2–8 players · 8 minAnswer at the same time. Score only when you both pick the same thing.
• This or That2–8 players · 6 minQuick either/or for two or more. Score when your answers match.
• Two of a Kind2–8 players · 7 minFour answers, one pick each. Score when you read each other’s mind.
• Secret drop3–12 players · 12 minEveryone drops a secret. Nobody knows whose is whose.
• Guess who3–12 players · 12 minOne friend answers. Everyone else guesses what they said.

How to send a game in a text

1. Open a game on Letternerd. All games are listed by type and player count.
2. Host a room, and choose live if you are both chatting now, or over several days if you are not.
3. Copy the link and paste it into your chat with a line like “quick game, your turn”.
4. They tap it and play in their browser. No app, no account, and it works on Android and iPhone alike.

If you have played games inside iMessage before, you will know they only work when everyone has an iPhone. A link works in any chat app; our GamePigeon alternative page goes into the differences.

Something to send when you are both bored

Not every texting game has to be played together. Some of the best are solo puzzles you both do, then compare. Play Word Race or Four Links on your own, or a round in the Arcade, which has a daily board you can compare with friends. Then send your score and wait for the reply.

• Letter WebArcade · 1 player · daily boardDrag through touching letters to spell words before the clock runs out.
• TesselArcade · 1 player · daily boardDrag three shapes onto the grid and clear full rows and columns.
• Double UpArcade · 1 player · daily boardSwipe the board so matching tiles merge into bigger ones.

Or make a game about yourselves. Our guide to the how well do you know me quiz shows how to write one in a few minutes and send it as a link.

Play the games from this post

Free in your browser. Share the room code and everyone joins from their own phone, no signup.

• Would you rather2–16 players · 8 minTwo impossible choices. Pick a side and defend it.
• This or That2–8 players · 6 minQuick either/or for two or more. Score when your answers match.
• Two of a Kind2–8 players · 7 minFour answers, one pick each. Score when you read each other’s mind.
• Know Your Person2–6 players · 10 minThey answer about themselves. You predict what they said.
• In Sync2–8 players · 8 minAnswer at the same time. Score only when you both pick the same thing.
• Secret drop3–12 players · 12 minEveryone drops a secret. Nobody knows whose is whose.
• Guess who3–12 players · 12 minOne friend answers. Everyone else guesses what they said.
• Truth or Dare for Two2–6 players · 12 minTruth or dare by voice note. Pick one, record it, and they pick their favourite.

More games like these

• Two-player games
• Party games
• Games for couples