Snapchat, the popular multimedia messaging app, isn’t just about sending disappearing photos and videos. It’s also a surprisingly robust platform for playing games with your friends. While the official Snapchat Games platform is no longer available, there are still several fun and engaging ways to play games directly within the app and with creative workarounds. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about playing games on Snapchat, including how to find and access them, troubleshoot common issues, and explore alternative gaming options.
Understanding the Evolution of Snapchat Games
Snapchat officially launched its in-app gaming platform, Snapchat Games, in 2019. This feature allowed users to play multiplayer games directly within the Snapchat app with their friends. The games were designed to be quick, social, and integrated seamlessly with the Snapchat experience. However, Snapchat Games was discontinued in 2022, focusing the company’s efforts on other features and augmented reality experiences.
Despite the removal of the official gaming platform, the desire for gaming on Snapchat hasn’t disappeared. Users are still looking for ways to connect and compete with their friends through games. Fortunately, there are several alternative methods to enjoy gaming on Snapchat, which we’ll explore in detail below.
Method 1: Using Third-Party Games with Snapchat Integration
While Snapchat no longer hosts games directly, some third-party apps offer games with built-in Snapchat integration. This means you can play the game within the third-party app and then share your scores, challenges, or other game-related content directly to your Snapchat stories or to individual friends.
Steps to Play Third-Party Games with Snapchat Integration:
- Find Games with Snapchat Integration: Search the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) for games that specifically mention Snapchat integration. Popular examples might include quiz games, puzzle games, or competitive multiplayer games. Look for keywords like “Snapchat share,” “Snapchat integration,” or “share to Snapchat” in the app description.
- Download and Install the Game: Once you’ve found a game you like, download and install it on your smartphone.
- Play the Game: Open the game and start playing. Familiarize yourself with the game’s mechanics and controls.
- Connect to Snapchat (If Required): Some games might require you to connect your Snapchat account to the game. This usually involves tapping a button within the game’s settings or profile section and granting the game permission to access your Snapchat account. Be cautious about granting permissions and only connect to reputable games from trusted developers.
- Share Your Game Results on Snapchat: After playing a game, look for a “Share” button or a Snapchat icon within the game. Tapping this button will usually allow you to create a Snapchat story or send a snap directly to a friend with a screenshot, score, or other relevant game information.
- Customize Your Snap (Optional): Before sending your snap, you can add filters, text, stickers, or drawings to personalize it.
- Send Your Snap: Finally, choose who you want to send your snap to (your story or specific friends) and tap the send button.
Example Games with Potential Snapchat Integration (Subject to Change):
- Quiz Games: Many quiz games allow you to share your results with friends. Search for quiz games related to topics you and your friends enjoy (e.g., movies, music, trivia).
- Word Games: Some word games, like Scrabble or Boggle, allow you to share your scores or game progress on social media, including Snapchat.
- Puzzle Games: Certain puzzle games might offer features to share your accomplishments or challenge friends to beat your scores.
Important Note: The availability of Snapchat integration in third-party games can change over time. Always check the game’s description in the app store to confirm if Snapchat sharing is supported.
Method 2: Using Snapchat Lenses for Interactive Experiences
Snapchat lenses are augmented reality filters that overlay digital effects onto your face or the world around you. Many lenses offer interactive elements that can be considered mini-games or interactive experiences. While not traditional games in the strict sense, these lenses provide a fun and engaging way to interact with your friends on Snapchat.
Steps to Play with Interactive Snapchat Lenses:
- Open Snapchat: Launch the Snapchat app on your smartphone.
- Access the Lens Carousel: Tap on the screen to activate the lens carousel at the bottom.
- Explore Lenses: Swipe left or right through the lens carousel to browse the available lenses. Look for lenses that have interactive elements or game-like features.
- Use the Lens Explorer (Optional): Tap on the magnifying glass icon to open the Lens Explorer. This allows you to search for specific lenses or browse lenses by category. You can search for keywords like “game,” “challenge,” or “interactive” to find relevant lenses.
- Select an Interactive Lens: Once you’ve found a lens you like, tap on it to activate it.
- Follow the Instructions: Most interactive lenses will provide on-screen instructions on how to play or interact with them. This might involve tapping the screen, moving your head, or following visual cues.
- Record a Snap: While interacting with the lens, record a snap to capture your gameplay or experience.
- Send Your Snap: Send the snap to your friends or post it to your story.
Examples of Interactive Snapchat Lenses:
- Face Games: Many lenses involve using your facial expressions to control elements on the screen. For example, you might need to open your mouth to catch objects or blink to jump over obstacles.
- Trivia Lenses: Some lenses present you with trivia questions and require you to tap on the correct answer.
- AR Games: Certain lenses create augmented reality games in your environment. For example, you might need to tap on virtual targets that appear in your camera view.
- Collaborative Lenses: Some lenses allow multiple people to interact with the same AR experience. These are great for playing with friends in person.
Tips for Finding Fun Lenses:
- Explore Regularly: The Snapchat lens library is constantly updated with new and creative lenses. Check back frequently to discover new interactive experiences.
- Follow Snapchat Creators: Many talented lens creators publish their work on Snapchat. Follow them to stay up-to-date on their latest creations.
- Browse the Lens Explorer: The Lens Explorer is a great way to discover trending and popular lenses.
Method 3: Sharing Screenshots and Videos of Mobile Games
While not directly integrated into Snapchat, a simple and effective way to play games with your friends on Snapchat is to share screenshots or videos of your gameplay from other mobile games. This allows you to show off your skills, challenge your friends, or simply share your favorite gaming moments.
Steps to Share Game Screenshots or Videos on Snapchat:
- Play Your Favorite Mobile Game: Choose any mobile game you enjoy playing on your smartphone.
- Take a Screenshot or Record a Video: During gameplay, take a screenshot or record a video of an interesting moment. On most smartphones, you can take a screenshot by pressing the power button and volume down button simultaneously. To record a video, you might need to use a screen recording app (many smartphones have built-in screen recording features).
- Open Snapchat: Launch the Snapchat app.
- Access Your Camera Roll: Tap on the photo icon at the bottom to access your camera roll.
- Select the Screenshot or Video: Choose the screenshot or video you want to share.
- Add Captions and Effects (Optional): Add captions, text, stickers, or drawings to your snap to provide context or add humor. You can challenge your friends to beat your score, ask for advice, or simply share your excitement.
- Send Your Snap: Send the snap to your friends or post it to your story.
Tips for Sharing Engaging Game Content:
- Highlight Exciting Moments: Focus on sharing moments that are particularly exciting, funny, or impressive. This could be a high score, a difficult challenge you overcame, or a funny glitch.
- Provide Context: Add captions or text to explain what’s happening in the screenshot or video. This will help your friends understand the significance of the moment.
- Challenge Your Friends: Encourage your friends to play the same game and try to beat your score. You can even create friendly competitions.
- Use Hashtags (Optional): If the game has a popular hashtag on social media, consider including it in your snap to reach a wider audience.
Method 4: Using Snapchat Group Chat for Collaborative Games
Snapchat’s group chat feature can be used creatively to play collaborative games with your friends. This method relies on text-based interaction and imagination, but it can be a surprisingly fun and engaging way to pass the time.
Examples of Collaborative Games to Play in Snapchat Group Chat:
- “Would You Rather” One person asks a “Would you rather” question, and everyone in the group chat answers. This can lead to interesting discussions and debates.
- “20 Questions” One person thinks of a person, place, or thing, and the other members of the group chat can ask up to 20 yes/no questions to try to guess what it is.
- “Story Time” One person starts a story with a sentence or two, and each subsequent person adds a sentence or two to continue the story. The goal is to create a collaborative and often hilarious story together.
- “Guess the Song” One person posts lyrics from a song, and the other members of the group chat try to guess the song title and artist.
- “Emoji Pictionary” One person creates a phrase, movie title, or song title using only emojis, and the other members of the group chat try to guess what it is.
Steps to Play Collaborative Games in Snapchat Group Chat:
- Create a Group Chat: Create a group chat with the friends you want to play with.
- Choose a Game: Decide on which collaborative game you want to play.
- Explain the Rules: Clearly explain the rules of the game to everyone in the group chat.
- Take Turns: Take turns being the game master or the person who initiates the game.
- Have Fun: Remember to be creative, have fun, and enjoy the collaborative experience.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
While playing games on Snapchat using these methods, you might encounter some common issues. Here’s how to troubleshoot them:
- Game Not Loading: If a third-party game isn’t loading properly, try the following:
- Check your internet connection.
- Close and reopen the game.
- Restart your smartphone.
- Update the game to the latest version.
- Clear the game’s cache (if possible).
- Snapchat Integration Not Working: If you’re having trouble sharing game results on Snapchat:
- Make sure the game has the necessary permissions to access your Snapchat account.
- Check that you’re logged into your Snapchat account.
- Try reinstalling the game.
- Contact the game developer for support.
- Lens Issues: If a Snapchat lens isn’t working correctly:
- Make sure your Snapchat app is up-to-date.
- Try a different lens.
- Restart your Snapchat app.
- Clear Snapchat’s cache (in settings).
- General Snapchat Issues: If you’re experiencing general issues with Snapchat:
- Check Snapchat’s server status to see if there are any known outages.
- Restart your smartphone.
- Reinstall the Snapchat app.
Tips for Enhancing Your Snapchat Gaming Experience
Here are some tips to make your Snapchat gaming experience even better:
- Use a Fast Internet Connection: A stable and fast internet connection is essential for playing online games smoothly.
- Keep Your App Updated: Make sure you have the latest version of Snapchat and any third-party games installed.
- Manage Your Storage: Ensure you have enough storage space on your smartphone for games and other apps.
- Protect Your Privacy: Be mindful of the permissions you grant to third-party games and be cautious about sharing personal information.
- Be Creative: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different lenses, games, and collaborative activities to find what you and your friends enjoy the most.
Conclusion
While the official Snapchat Games platform is no longer available, there are still plenty of ways to play games on Snapchat with your friends. By using third-party games with Snapchat integration, exploring interactive lenses, sharing screenshots and videos of mobile games, and engaging in collaborative games in group chat, you can create fun and engaging gaming experiences on the platform. Remember to troubleshoot any issues you encounter and follow the tips provided to enhance your Snapchat gaming experience. So gather your friends, get creative, and start playing!