Apple is turning your favorite little smiley faces into a whole new kind of brain teaser. Just in time for World Emoji Day (celebrated every July 17), the tech giant has launched an all-new daily puzzle called Emoji Game exclusively for Apple News+ subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
Think Wordle, but instead of guessing letters, you’re dragging and dropping emoji to solve clever phrase puzzles.
What Is Emoji Game?
Emoji Game challenges players to complete three short phrases using a selection of emoji including Apple’s new Genmoji, custom emoji generated by Apple Intelligence. Each emoji set can represent words, concepts, or even multiple meanings. Your goal? Pick the best match for each phrase and solve the puzzle in as few moves as possible.
Here’s a quick example:
Clue: “- – – – – of my – – -”
Answer: 🍏 👀 → “Apple of my eye”
Each puzzle comes with optional clues but beware! Using them adds to your move count.
How Scoring Works
Efficiency is key. You’re judged by how few moves it takes to solve all three phrases:
- ✅ Perfection – 6 moves (1 per emoji set, no clues)
- 💖 Love It – 7 moves
- 😎 Very Cool – 8 moves
- 👍 Great Job – 9 moves
- 🙂 Nicely Done – 10+ moves
Dragging emojis or revealing a clue both count as moves. If you reveal all the words, the puzzle won’t count toward your streak so choose wisely!
Where to Play
Emoji Game is available in the Puzzles section of the Apple News app. Later this year, it will also appear in the upcoming Apple Games app, a hub for casual Apple-designed games.
It joins an impressive lineup of brainteasers already on Apple News+:
- Crossword
- Mini Crossword
- Quartiles
- Sudoku
You can also browse archived Emoji Games dating back to July 1, 2025 if you’re in catch-up mode.
Early Reactions
The internet is already buzzing. Over on Reddit, Apple fans are enjoying the fresh twist:
“I just tried it — it’s pretty fun.”
“I love the NYT games. I’d like to try Apple ones.”
“Looks like fun!”
Why This Matters
Apple News+ continues to grow far beyond just news. With the addition of Emoji Game, it’s clear that Apple is investing in casual gaming experiences that blend language, visuals, and logic perfect for fans of puzzles and word games.
It’s also a clever move to compete with platforms like New York Times Games, offering a fresh, emoji-fied alternative that feels distinctly Apple.
Requirements & Access
To play Emoji Game, you’ll need:
- An Apple News+ subscription ($12.99/month after free trial)
- A device running iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, or macOS Sequoia 15.4
- Location: U.S. or Canada
A few daily puzzles may be available to non-subscribers, but full access requires a subscription.
Final Thoughts
Emoji Game is more than just a gimmick, it’s a smart, fun way to rethink puzzles using the visual language we all use every day. Whether you’re a casual solver or a daily streak chaser, it’s a fresh reason to check out Apple News+.
So go ahead and fire up the app, tap those emojis, and see if you can hit “Perfection” in just six moves.
Want more puzzle game news, reviews, and weekly word search downloads?
👉 Subscribe to the GoodStuffGames Newsletter for updates every week!