Today marks World Emoji Day, and in honor of this special occasion, Apple has launched an exciting new puzzle game available exclusively on its Apple News+ app in the U.S. and Canada. The game, titled Emoji Game, invites players to engage in a fun and interactive word challenge that involves filling in incomplete phrases using emoji.
Emoji Game is an innovative word game that has players dragging emoji into blank spots to complete phrases. Developed internally by Apple, this new addition becomes the fifth puzzle game available to subscribers of Apple News+. It now joins the ranks of other popular offerings such as the daily Crossword, Mini Crossword, Sudoku, and the original Quartiles introduced last year.
What sets Emoji Game apart from its counterparts is its unique integration with iOS features. Players receive a new puzzle every day that consists of six words or phrases to solve. A selection of emoji is presented at the bottom of the screen, which players must utilize to fill in the blanks. For instance, if the clue reads "Disap_ _ _ _," and a pear emoji is available, players would drag the pear into the empty spaces to spell "Disappear." The game cleverly allows for multiple interpretations of emoji, adding depth to the puzzles.
Complexity is a significant aspect of the Emoji Game. Players might encounter multi-word phrases that require creative thinking and interpretation. For example, one puzzle might present the clue "_ _ _ _ _ _ Year _ _ _ k," where players would use a fish and ghost emoji. By dragging the ghost into the second word, they would form "Yearbook" (with the ghost representing the letters “boo”), while the fish would fill in the word "school," resulting in the final answer: "School yearbook." To assist players, each puzzle includes quick hints that guide them in the right direction.
The game also leverages iOS 18’s Genmoji feature, enhancing the gameplay experience. In one particular puzzle, an eaten apple emoji is cleverly used to complete the word "core," demonstrating how Apple is effectively blending technology with gaming. This format appears to emulate the success of Wordle and similar games that have captured the attention of players worldwide.
In true daily puzzle format, Emoji Game offers an archive dating back to July 1 at launch, along with player statistics, streaks, and social features that allow up to 16 participants to compete for high scores. The overarching objective challenges players to solve the daily puzzles in just six turns, echoing the core mechanics of Wordle.
While Emoji Game may not be a reason to subscribe to Apple News+, it certainly adds another layer of daily entertainment for existing subscribers. The game is now available on all iOS devices via the Apple News+ app, so why not dive into the fun and challenge your friends today?
