Apple News+ just got a bit more playful. You see, starting today, subscribers in the United States and Canada can tap into Emoji Game, a new daily puzzle that turns emoji into mini brainteasers. The feature is live now inside the Apple News app and will roll out to the upcoming Apple Games app this fall.
Emoji Game asks users to complete three short phrases using emoji, some of which are Genmoji created by Apple Intelligence. Each puzzle includes clues to help players along, but using those hints will increase their final move count. It’s simple enough to try on your coffee break but designed to keep you coming back to shave a move or two off your personal best.
Like other Apple News+ puzzles, Emoji Game integrates with Game Center so players can climb the leaderboard or share scores via Messages, Mail, or social media. Subscribers also get access to archived puzzles if they want to catch up or revisit earlier ones.
Apple’s editor-in-chief for News, Lauren Kern, called it a “brainteaser that’s approachable and fun,” saying the game is a natural fit alongside existing News+ puzzles like Quartiles, sudoku, and crosswords. It’s worth noting that Apple has been slowly building up its puzzle offerings to appeal to casual gamers and boost subscriber retention.
Emoji Game isn’t the only recent addition. Apple News+ now includes a dedicated Sports section with coverage tailored to favorite teams, and a Food section packed with recipes and stories from major culinary publishers. This comes on top of access to over 400 publications, including The Washington Post, Tampa Bay Times, and Star Tribune.
The game requires iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, or macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later. Apple News+ costs $12.99 per month in the U.S.
