Learning English doesn’t have to be boring! There are many engaging games that can help you develop your vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and reading skills. Here’s a list of 30 of the best games for English learners, along with detailed descriptions of how each game can improve your language abilities.
30 English Games to Study English Skills Better
Vocabulary & Word Games
1. Scrabble
Scrabble is a classic word game that challenges players to form words using letter tiles on a game board. It enhances vocabulary, spelling, and strategic thinking. English learners benefit from exposure to new words and their meanings. Since the game uses a points system, players are encouraged to use more complex words to score higher. Scrabble can be played with friends or against AI opponents, and digital versions offer hints and word definitions, making it an excellent educational tool.
2. Words With Friends
This popular mobile game is similar to Scrabble but played online with friends or strangers. It allows players to learn new vocabulary in a fun, competitive setting. Words With Friends provides built-in word suggestions and definitions, helping learners expand their English knowledge. Since the game is turn-based, players have time to look up unfamiliar words and understand their meanings.
3. Wordle
Wordle is a word puzzle game where players must guess a five-letter word within six tries. After each guess, the game provides feedback by highlighting correct letters and their positions. This game enhances vocabulary, spelling, and logical thinking. Because it encourages repeated exposure to words, learners can develop better word recognition skills. Please try Wordle Unlimited!
Wordle is simple yet highly engaging, making it an excellent tool for English learners. The game’s limited number of guesses forces players to think strategically about letter placement and word structure. The daily challenge aspect keeps learners engaged and motivated. Moreover, it introduces new words and reinforces spelling patterns, helping players improve their linguistic intuition. Many English teachers recommend Wordle as a fun supplemental exercise for language learning. Since it’s easy to play and requires only a few minutes a day, it’s a practical way for learners to develop their vocabulary and problem-solving skills in a relaxed, enjoyable manner.
4. Boggle
Boggle is a fast-paced word search game where players create words from a random grid of letters. The game promotes quick thinking, spelling accuracy, and vocabulary expansion. It’s an excellent game for English learners because it encourages them to spot and recognize different word formations.
5. CodyCross
CodyCross is a crossword puzzle game that challenges players with different word clues across various categories. The game helps learners build vocabulary, improve spelling, and reinforce word definitions. It also includes educational trivia, making it both informative and entertaining.
6. Wordscapes
Wordscapes combines crosswords and word searches into a relaxing puzzle game. Players must connect letters to form words and fill the crossword grid. This game is great for improving vocabulary and spelling while exposing players to new words in a stress-free environment.
What makes Wordscapes particularly useful for English learners is its progressive difficulty and variety of word challenges. The game encourages players to experiment with different letter combinations, helping to reinforce spelling patterns and word recognition. Since the game often includes lesser-known words, it can significantly expand a player’s vocabulary over time.
Another advantage of Wordscapes is its stress-free nature. Unlike timed word games, Wordscapes allows players to think carefully and analyze letter patterns at their own pace. This makes it perfect for those who want to improve their English without the pressure of a countdown timer. Many learners use Wordscapes as a daily brain exercise to enhance their linguistic skills in a fun, engaging manner.
7. Text Twist
Text Twist provides a set of letters, and players must create as many words as possible from them. This game enhances spelling, vocabulary, and word formation skills. It’s particularly beneficial for English learners looking to expand their word knowledge and improve their anagram-solving abilities.
8. 4 Pics 1 Word
4 Pics 1 Word is a popular puzzle game where players are shown four images that have a common theme and must guess the word that connects them. This game is excellent for improving vocabulary, word association, and critical thinking. By analyzing different images and identifying their shared meaning, learners develop a deeper understanding of word relationships and context.
The game is simple yet highly effective for English learners because it reinforces visual learning and deductive reasoning. Since words are often linked to real-life objects, emotions, or abstract concepts, players can improve their ability to recognize and recall words quickly. The progressive difficulty keeps learners engaged while gradually expanding their vocabulary. Moreover, the game introduces words in an interactive way, making it a fun and engaging tool for language acquisition. It is particularly useful for visual learners who benefit from associating words with images.
Reading & Story-Based Games
9. Lifeline
Lifeline is an interactive text-based adventure where players communicate with Taylor, a stranded astronaut, and guide them through a survival mission. The game unfolds in real time, requiring players to carefully read and analyze Taylor’s messages before responding. This format encourages critical thinking, reading comprehension, and decision-making, as every choice influences the storyline. Because the text mimics real-life communication, players also gain exposure to conversational English.
10. The Oregon Trail
This historical simulation game places players in the role of pioneers traveling across 19th-century America. The game presents detailed descriptions, decision-based scenarios, and survival challenges that require players to read, comprehend, and analyze information. Vocabulary related to history, geography, and survival is reinforced through engaging storytelling. The game also teaches cause-and-effect relationships, as each choice impacts the journey’s outcome.
11. 80 Days
Inspired by Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days, this interactive fiction game lets players take on the role of Passepartout, the valet of Phileas Fogg. The game features rich storytelling, dialogue-driven choices, and immersive descriptions of locations and cultures worldwide. It’s ideal for improving vocabulary, reading comprehension, and cultural literacy. The branching narrative structure ensures that players engage deeply with the text as they strategize their journey.
12. Choice of Games
Choice of Games is a publisher specializing in text-based interactive fiction, offering a variety of narrative-driven games spanning genres like fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery. These games require players to carefully read and make decisions that shape the story. Because of their text-heavy format, they are excellent for improving reading fluency, comprehension, and exposure to diverse writing styles. Many of the stories include complex sentence structures and advanced vocabulary, making them suitable for intermediate and advanced learners.
13. Undertale
Undertale is a role-playing game known for its unique narrative and player-driven dialogue interactions. Players engage in conversations with characters, solve puzzles, and make moral choices that affect the story. The witty and sometimes cryptic dialogue encourages players to pay close attention to tone, wordplay, and implied meanings. Since the game offers multiple endings, players often replay it, reinforcing their understanding of the text.
14. To the Moon
To the Moon is a deeply emotional, story-driven game following two doctors who traverse a dying man’s memories to fulfill his last wish. The game is heavily dialogue-focused, making it excellent for improving reading comprehension and understanding emotional language. Since the story deals with themes of memory, regret, and relationships, players also gain exposure to nuanced expressions and figurative language.
15. The Walking Dead (Telltale Series)
Based on the hit TV series, this interactive drama game presents players with moral dilemmas and dialogue choices that shape the storyline. The game’s text-based conversations, combined with voice acting, provide an immersive way to improve reading comprehension, decision-making, and emotional intelligence. The script includes slang, informal speech, and idioms, helping learners understand conversational English in a natural context. The game’s emotional depth also helps players grasp different tones, moods, and narrative styles.
Speaking & Listening Games
16. ESL Monika
ESL Monika is an AI-driven chatbot that helps English learners practice conversational English in an engaging way. The chatbot uses natural language processing (NLP) to simulate realistic conversations, providing instant feedback on grammar, vocabulary, and fluency. It encourages real-time speaking and listening practice, making it ideal for improving spontaneous communication skills.
17. FluentU
FluentU transforms real-world video clips—such as movie trailers, music videos, news, and inspirational talks—into interactive English lessons. Each video includes subtitles, definitions, and quizzes that allow learners to engage with authentic spoken English. The platform also uses spaced repetition to reinforce vocabulary and pronunciation.
18. ELSA Speak
ELSA Speak is an AI-powered pronunciation training app that listens to a user’s speech and analyzes pronunciation accuracy using speech recognition technology. It provides instant feedback on individual sounds, stress, and intonation, helping learners sound more natural in English. It also includes structured courses tailored to different proficiency levels.
19. Siri/Alexa Games
Voice assistants like Siri and Alexa offer interactive games that help learners practice speaking and listening skills. Examples include:
- 20 Questions – The assistant tries to guess an object based on the user’s responses, encouraging clear pronunciation and logical thinking.
- Trivia Games – Learners answer general knowledge questions aloud, improving listening comprehension and verbal responses.
- Storytelling Games – AI-generated interactive storytelling where users contribute to the plot, practicing sentence structure and fluency.
20. Echoes of the Fey
Echoes of the Fey is a fantasy visual novel with fully voiced dialogues that enhance listening comprehension. Learners can follow the story, pick dialogue options, and immerse themselves in spoken English within a rich narrative. The game also introduces idiomatic expressions and contextual vocabulary in an engaging format.
Grammar & Sentence Structure Games
21. Grammar Pop
Grammar Pop is a word-matching game where players classify words into their grammatical categories, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and prepositions. The game progressively increases in difficulty, reinforcing grammar rules and sentence structure in a fun, interactive way.
22. Knoword
Knoword is a fast-paced vocabulary and word association game where players must guess words based on their definitions. This game improves vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension skills by challenging learners to think quickly and recall words accurately.
23. Ba Ba Dum
Ba Ba Dum features five different mini-games designed to help learners practice vocabulary, pronunciation, and sentence structure. The games involve matching words with images, listening to pronunciations, and typing the correct answers, making it an enjoyable way to reinforce language skills.
24. The Sims (with English settings)
Playing The Sims in English immerses learners in a simulated world where they interact with in-game characters, read dialogues, and make choices that affect gameplay. This exposure to everyday phrases, contextual dialogues, and written instructions helps reinforce grammar, sentence structure, and practical vocabulary.
25. Influent
Influent is a 3D language-learning adventure where players explore a virtual world, interact with objects, and learn vocabulary by associating words with real-world items. The game uses native speaker audio and spaced repetition techniques to improve word retention and comprehension.
Spelling Games for English Learners
26. Spelling Bee
A classic spelling competition where players must correctly spell words aloud. Many online versions provide different difficulty levels, making it great for learners at all stages.
27. Hangman
Players guess letters to form a hidden word before they run out of chances. This game reinforces spelling and vocabulary while improving word recognition skills.
28. Spelling City
An educational website and app that offers interactive spelling games and exercises tailored for different skill levels.
29. Word Ladder
Players change one letter at a time to form new words, helping with spelling patterns and word structure.
30. Spelling Quest
A fun RPG-style game where players must spell words correctly to advance in their quest.
Conclusion
Games are an excellent way to improve English skills while having fun. Whether you’re focusing on vocabulary, reading, listening, or speaking, these 30 games offer engaging ways to practice. Choose the ones that fit your learning style and start playing today!
