66 Fun ESL Games for Language Learners

Are your ESL classes lacking excitement? Are you tired of seeing bored faces and stifled yawns?

We’ve been there too. That’s why we’ve compiled a game-changing list of 66 fun ESL games that will transform your classroom into a vibrant learning hub.

Imagine your students eagerly participating, laughing, and absorbing language skills without realizing it. These games cover all aspects of language learning – from vocabulary and grammar to speaking and listening.

Ready to revolutionize your teaching approach? Dive into our carefully curated collection of ESL games. Whether teaching kids, teens, or adults, you’ll find perfect activities to energize your lessons and boost language acquisition.

Let’s make learning English an adventure!

66 Fun ESL Games for Language Learners

1. Charades

Charades is a classic game where players act out words or phrases without speaking while others guess what they are acting out. This game is perfect for practicing vocabulary and encouraging creative thinking.

How To Play

• Divide the group into teams.
• A player from one team selects a word or phrase (often related to vocabulary lessons).
• The player acts out the word without speaking, using gestures only.
• The team has a set time (e.g., 1 minute) to guess the word.
• Points are awarded for each correct guess. The team with the most points wins.

2. Pictionary

Pictionary is a drawing-based game where one player sketches a word or phrase, and their team must guess it within a time limit. This game enhances vocabulary recall and visualization skills.

How To Play

• Split players into teams.
• One player picks a word or phrase and draws it without using letters or numbers.
• The other team members must guess the word based on the drawing.
• Teams earn points for correct guesses, and the game continues with the next team.

3. Bingo

Bingo is a fun, quick-paced game used to review vocabulary, numbers, or any subject content. Players match items on their cards as the teacher or leader calls them out.

How To Play

• Create bingo cards with words or images from the lesson (e.g., vocabulary or numbers).
• The teacher or leader calls out words or shows images.
• Players mark the corresponding word or picture on their bingo cards.
• The first player to complete a row, column, or diagonal shouts “Bingo” and wins.

4. Simon Says

Simon Says is a great game for practicing listening and following instructions. Players must only follow commands prefaced by “Simon says,” sharpening their focus on language comprehension.

How To Play

• The leader gives instructions like “Simon says touch your head.”
• Players must follow only if the phrase starts with “Simon says.”
• If the instruction is given without “Simon says,” players must not follow.
• Players who follow incorrect commands are out. The last player standing wins.

5. Hangman

Hangman is a word-guessing game where players try to guess a word by suggesting letters. It’s a fun way to practice vocabulary and spelling.

How To Play

• Choose a word and draw dashes on the board to represent each letter.
• Players suggest letters one at a time.
• For each incorrect guess, draw a part of the “hangman.”
• The game continues until the word is guessed or the hangman is complete.

6. Twenty Questions

Twenty Questions is a guessing game where one player thinks of an object, and others ask yes/no questions to determine what it is. This game builds questioning and deductive reasoning skills.

How To Play

• One player thinks of an object, person, or place.
• The other players take turns asking yes/no questions.
• The goal is to guess the object within 20 questions.
• The player who guesses correctly gets to think of the next object.

7. Hot Seat

Hot Seat is a vocabulary game where one student sits facing away from the board, and the other students give clues to help them guess the word displayed. This game is ideal for reviewing vocabulary.

How To Play

• A student sits with their back to the board (in the “hot seat”).
• The teacher writes a word on the board.
• The rest of the class gives clues or descriptions without saying the word.
• The student in the hot seat tries to guess the word based on the clues.

8. Word Association

Word Association is a quick-thinking game where players say related words in sequence. It helps learners to improve vocabulary, fluency, and associative thinking.

How To Play

• A player says a word (e.g., “apple”).
• The next player must quickly say a word related to the previous one (e.g., “fruit”).
• The play continues with each player saying a related word.
• If a player hesitates or repeats a word, they are out.

9. Memory Game

In the Memory Game, players match pairs of cards with related words or images. It helps to reinforce vocabulary and memory skills through visual learning.

How To Play

• Lay out cards face down, each with a word or picture.
• Players take turns flipping two cards at a time, trying to find matching pairs.
• If the cards match, the player keeps them; if not, the cards are turned back over.
• The player with the most pairs at the end wins.

10. I Spy

“I Spy” is a classic observation game where one player describes an object they can see, and others must guess what it is. This game encourages descriptive language and attention to detail.

How To Play

• One player says, “I spy with my little eye something that is [color/shape/etc.].”
• The other players take turns guessing the object based on the clues.
• The first player to guess correctly becomes the next “spy.”

11. Spelling Bee

A Spelling Bee is a competitive game where students spell words aloud. It is an excellent way to improve spelling and phonetics.

How To Play

• The teacher says a word, and a student must spell it aloud.
• If the student spells the word correctly, they stay in the game; if not, they are out.
• The last student standing wins the spelling bee.

12. Odd One Out

Odd One Out is a game where players must choose the item that doesn’t belong in a group. It helps with categorization and critical thinking skills.

How To Play

• The teacher gives a group of words (e.g., “apple, banana, chair”).
• Students must identify which word doesn’t fit (in this case, “chair”).
• The game can continue with different categories, such as food, animals, etc.

13. Story Cubes

Story Cubes is a storytelling game where players roll dice with pictures and create stories based on the images. This game boosts creativity and helps with sentence construction and vocabulary.

How To Play

• Each player rolls the dice, revealing several pictures.
• The player must create a story incorporating all the pictures shown.
• Players can take turns to build on each other’s stories.

14. Musical Chairs (Vocabulary Edition)

This fast-paced game involves players walking around chairs while music plays. When the music stops, they must answer a vocabulary question. It makes vocabulary review fun and dynamic.

How To Play

• Set up chairs in a circle (one fewer than the number of players).
• Play music while players walk around the chairs.
• Each player must find a seat and answer a vocabulary question when the music stops.
• The last player standing without a chair is out.

15. Word Scramble

In Word Scramble, students race to unscramble letters to form words. It’s a fast-paced vocabulary game that challenges spelling and word recognition.

How To Play

• The teacher writes scrambled letters on the board (e.g., “tca” for “cat”).
• Students work individually or in teams to unscramble the letters into words.
• The first team to correctly unscramble the word wins a point.

16. Jumbled Sentences

Jumbled Sentences is a grammar game in which players must unscramble words to form correct sentences. It improves understanding of sentence structure.

How To Play

• The teacher writes words in a scrambled order on the board (e.g., “is cat a the”).
• Students must rearrange the words to form a correct sentence (“The cat is a…”).
• The student or team who unscrambles the sentence first wins.

17. Board Race

Board Race is a competitive game where teams race to write as many correct words as possible on the board. It’s perfect for reviewing vocabulary and spelling under pressure.

How To Play

• Divide the class into two teams.
• Write a category (e.g., animals) on the board.
• One student from each team runs to the board and writes a word that fits the category.
• The team with the most correct words in a set time wins.

18. Guess The Word (Taboo)

Guess The Word is a game where players give clues to help their team guess a word without saying certain “taboo” words. This game enhances descriptive skills and vocabulary.

How To Play

• One player draws a card with a word (e.g., “teacher”) and a list of taboo words (e.g., “school,” “student”).
• The player must describe the word without using the taboo words.
• The team has a set time to guess the word.

19. Category Game

The Category Game involves naming words that fit within a specific category. This game enhances quick thinking and vocabulary recall.

How To Play

• The teacher announces a category (e.g., fruits).
• Students take turns naming items in the category.
• Students are out if they repeat an item or cannot think of one.
• The game continues until only one student remains.

20. Crossword Puzzles

Crossword Puzzles are written word games in which players fill in blank spaces based on given clues. This game helps with vocabulary recall and spelling.

How To Play

• The teacher provides a crossword puzzle with clues related to vocabulary.
• Students work individually or in pairs to complete the puzzle.
• The first to finish correctly wins.

21. Alphabet Game

The Alphabet Game requires players to come up with words for each letter of the alphabet within a certain category. It’s a great way to practice vocabulary.

How To Play

• Choose a category (e.g., animals).
• The first player says a word beginning with the letter “A” (e.g., “ant”).
• The next player must say a word starting with “B” (e.g., “bear”), and so on.
• The game continues until all the letters are used.

22. Shout It Out

In Shout It Out, players must quickly shout a word that fits a given topic. This game helps with vocabulary recall and quick thinking.

How To Play

• The teacher announces a category (e.g., colors).
• Students shout out words related to the category (e.g., red, blue, green).
• The teacher keeps track of who shouted first and awards points for correct words.

23. Relay Race (Vocabulary)

This is an active, competitive game where teams race to answer vocabulary questions or spell words. It’s a fun way to combine physical movement with learning.

How To Play

• Divide the class into two teams.
• Write vocabulary words or questions on flashcards.
• One student from each team races to the front, answers the question or spells the word, and runs back to tag the next teammate.
• The first team to complete all the questions wins.

24. Find Someone Who

Find Someone Who is an interactive game where students ask each other questions to match descriptions on a worksheet. It builds conversation skills and helps practice question formation.

How To Play

• The teacher prepares a worksheet with statements like “Find someone who likes pizza.”
• Students walk around the room asking each other questions to find someone who fits each statement.
• The first student to complete their worksheet wins.

25. Tongue Twisters

Tongue Twisters is a pronunciation game where students try to say difficult phrases quickly. It’s a great way to improve fluency and pronunciation.

How To Play

• The teacher provides tongue twisters (e.g., “She sells seashells by the seashore”).
• Students take turns saying the tongue twister as fast as they can.
• The student who says it correctly without mistakes wins.

 26. Chain Story

Chain Story is a creative game where players add a sentence to a developing story. It builds creativity, grammar skills, and sentence structure.

How To Play

• The first player starts the story with one sentence.
• Each subsequent player adds another sentence to the story.
• The game continues until everyone has contributed, creating a complete story.

27. Two Truths And A Lie

In this game, players take turns sharing two truths and one lie, while others guess which statement is false. It’s an engaging way to practice sentence formation and personal expression.

How To Play

• Each player thinks of two true statements and one false statement about themselves.
• The other players guess which statement is the lie.
• The player reveals the correct answer, and the game continues with the next person.

28. Ball Toss Q&A

Ball Toss Q&A is a question-and-answer game where players toss a ball and answer a question when they catch it. This game helps practice conversational skills and quick thinking.

How To Play

• The teacher asks a question and tosses a ball to a student.
• The student who catches the ball answers the question, then tosses it to another student.
• The game continues with each player answering a different question.

29. Scrabble

Scrabble is a classic word-building game where players create words on a board using letter tiles. It enhances vocabulary, spelling, and strategic thinking.

How To Play

• Each player has a set of letter tiles.
• Players create words on the board by connecting their tiles with existing words.
• Points are awarded based on the letters used and their placement on the board.
• The player with the most points at the end wins.

30. Role Play

Role Play involves acting out real-life situations, such as ordering food or asking for directions. It’s a great way to practice speaking and improve fluency.

How To Play

• The teacher assigns roles to students (e.g., customer and waiter).
• Students act out a scene, using relevant vocabulary and phrases.
• The game can be adapted for various scenarios, such as shopping, traveling, or meeting new people.

 31. Whisper Chain (Telephone)

In Whisper Chain, players pass a whispered message along a line, and the final person says it aloud. This game helps with listening and pronunciation skills.

How To Play

• Players sit or stand in a line.
• The first player whispers a sentence to the next player.
• The sentence is whispered down the line until it reaches the last player.
• The last player says the sentence aloud, and the group compares it to the original.

32. Find The Difference

In Find the Difference, students compare two pictures and describe the differences between them. It helps practice descriptive language, especially comparative adjectives.

How To Play

• The teacher provides pairs of similar pictures with small differences.
• Students work in pairs or teams to find and describe the differences between the pictures.
• The team that identifies the most differences wins.

33. What’s Missing?

What’s Missing is a memory game where students try to recall missing items from a set. It helps with vocabulary recall and descriptive language.

How To Play

• The teacher shows students a set of objects or pictures, then covers them.
• The teacher removes one or more items and asks, “What’s missing?”
• Students must recall the missing items from memory.

34. Picture Dictation

Picture Dictation is a listening and drawing game where students draw a picture based on a description. It helps with listening comprehension and vocabulary.

How To Play

• The teacher describes a picture (e.g., “There is a tree on the left and a house on the right”).
• Students listen and draw the picture based on the description.
• The student with the most accurate drawing wins.

35. Dice Games

In Dice Games, students roll dice to determine their task or answer a question. This game can be adapted for different grammar points or vocabulary themes.

How To Play

• The teacher assigns different tasks or questions to each number on the dice (e.g., 1 = describe an animal, 2 = use a past tense verb).
• Students roll the dice and complete the task based on the number they rolled.
• The game continues with each student taking turns.

36. True Or False Quiz

In this game, students answer true or false questions based on statements given by the teacher. It’s a simple and effective way to review content.

How To Play

• The teacher reads a statement (e.g., “The Earth is flat”).
• Students must decide whether the statement is true or false.
• Points are awarded for correct answers, and the student with the most points wins.

37. Number Bingo

Number Bingo is a variation of the traditional Bingo game, but instead of words, students mark numbers on their cards. This game is useful for practicing number recognition and listening skills.

How To Play

• The teacher calls out numbers, and students mark them on their bingo cards.
• The first student to complete a row, column, or diagonal shouts “Bingo!” and wins the game.

38. Who Am I? (Guessing Game)

In this guessing game, players ask yes/no questions to identify a famous person, character, or animal they are “pretending” to be. It encourages question formation and logical thinking.

How To Play

• A player thinks of a famous person, character, or animal.
• The other players ask yes/no questions to figure out who or what the player is.
• The player who guesses correctly gets to choose the next identity.

39. Pass The Parcel

Pass the Parcel involves passing a wrapped parcel around the circle, and when the music stops, the student holding the parcel answers a question. This game is great for review and group participation.

How To Play

• Play music while students pass a parcel around the circle.
• When the music stops, the student holding the parcel answers a question or completes a task.
• Continue until everyone has had a turn.

40. Word Hunt (Scavenger Hunt)

Word Hunt is a scavenger hunt for vocabulary words, either hidden in the classroom or around the school. It’s a fun and active way to reinforce vocabulary.

How To Play

• Hide vocabulary word cards around the room.
• Give students clues or a list of words to find.
• Students search for the hidden words and must match them with their definitions or use them in sentences.

41. Picture Puzzle

In Picture Puzzle, students work in teams to complete a jigsaw puzzle of a picture related to the lesson’s vocabulary. It encourages teamwork and reinforces vocabulary recognition.

How To Play

• The teacher provides each team with a jigsaw puzzle or a cut-up picture.
• Teams work together to complete the puzzle.
• The first team to finish and describe the picture correctly wins.

42. Tic-Tac-Toe (Vocabulary Edition)

Tic-Tac-Toe is adapted for vocabulary practice, where players must correctly use or identify vocabulary to place their X or O.

How To Play

• Draw a Tic-Tac-Toe grid on the board.
• In each turn, a student must answer a vocabulary question correctly to place their X or O in a square.
• The first team to get three in a row wins.

43. Running Dictation

Running Dictation combines reading, writing, and listening skills. Students work in pairs, one reads a text from a distance, and the other writes it down.

How To Play

• Place a short text at the front of the classroom.
• One student runs to read the text and then returns to dictate it to their partner, who writes it down.
• The team that accurately completes the text first wins.

44. Vocabulary Ladder

Vocabulary Ladder involves creating a chain of related words, starting with a base word and linking them by associations. This helps reinforce vocabulary categories.

How To Play

• The teacher provides a base word (e.g., “dog”).
• Each student adds a word related to the previous word (e.g., “dog” → “bark” → “tree”).
• The game continues until no more related words can be added.

45. Stop The Bus

Stop the Bus is a fast-paced game in which players must write down words that fit specific categories starting with a particular letter. This game encourages quick thinking and vocabulary recall.

How To Play

• The teacher chooses categories (e.g., animals, countries, foods).
• The teacher announces a letter, and students must write a word for each category that starts with that letter.
• The first player to finish shouts, “Stop the bus!”

46. Flashcard Memory

Flashcard Memory is a matching game where students flip over cards to find pairs of words and pictures or synonyms and antonyms. It enhances memory and vocabulary retention.

How To Play

• Lay out flashcards face down, each with a word or picture on one side.
• Players take turns flipping over two cards, trying to find matching pairs (e.g., picture of an apple and the word “apple”).
• If they match, the player keeps the cards; if not, they flip the cards back over.
• The player with the most pairs at the end wins.

47. Story Retelling

Story Retelling involves listening to or reading a story, and then students must retell it in their own words. This game helps with comprehension and vocabulary.

How To Play

• The teacher tells or reads a short story.
• Students listen carefully and, then in pairs or small groups, retell the story using their own words.
• The teacher may give prompts if necessary, and the game can be done as a competition to see who remembers the most details.

48. Dictogloss

Dictogloss is a listening and writing activity where the teacher reads a text, and students must reconstruct it from memory in their own words. It helps with grammar and comprehension.

How To Play

• The teacher reads a short passage at normal speed.
• Students listen without writing the first time.
• After a second reading, students take notes and work in pairs or small groups to reconstruct the passage.
• The teacher compares the reconstructed versions with the original.

49. Matching Game (Memory Cards)

The Matching Game, similar to Flashcard Memory, involves finding pairs of cards with matching words, pictures, or opposites. It reinforces vocabulary and memory skills.

How To Play

• Place all cards face down on a table.
• Students take turns flipping over two cards, trying to find a match (e.g., “hot” and “cold” for opposites).
• If they match, the student keeps the cards; if not, the cards are flipped back over.
• The player with the most pairs wins.

50. Vocabulary Auction

Vocabulary Auction is a fun, competitive game where students bid on words they think are correct in sentences. It helps improve grammar and vocabulary understanding.

How To Play

• The teacher writes incomplete sentences on the board with multiple vocabulary options.
• Students bid on the word they believe correctly completes the sentence.
• The group with the most correct answers wins the auction.

51. Alphabet Relay

Alphabet Relay is an active game where students run to the board to write words beginning with a given letter. It reinforces alphabet recognition and vocabulary.

How To Play

• Divide the class into two teams.
• Call out a letter (e.g., “S”).
• The first player from each team races to the board and writes a word starting with that letter.
• The game continues with different letters, and the team with the most correct words wins.

52. Guess The Picture

Guess The Picture involves describing a picture to the class while they try to guess it. This game practices descriptive language and vocabulary.

How To Play

• One student describes a picture without revealing it to the rest of the class.
• The other students ask questions or make guesses based on the description.
• The game continues until the picture is correctly guessed.

53. Picture Descriptions

In Picture Descriptions, students describe a picture using as much detail as possible, focusing on vocabulary, adjectives, and prepositions. It enhances speaking and descriptive language skills.

How To Play

• The teacher shows a picture to the class.
• Students take turns describing what they see (e.g., “There is a cat sitting on the table next to a vase”).
• Points can be awarded for using a variety of descriptive words.

54. Word Ladder

Word Ladder is a word-building game where players change one letter of a word at a time to form new words. It’s a great way to practice spelling and word recognition.

How To Play

• Start with a base word (e.g., “cat”).
• The next player changes one letter to form a new word (e.g., “cat” → “bat”).
• The game continues with each player forming a new word by changing one letter.
• The game ends when no new words can be formed.

55. Spin The Wheel

Spin the Wheel is a game in which students spin a wheel to select a vocabulary or grammar task. It’s a fun way to review various language points.

How To Play

• Prepare a wheel with different tasks (e.g., “use a new vocabulary word in a sentence” or “describe a picture”).
• Students take turns spinning the wheel and completing the task they land on.
• Points are awarded for each correct answer.

56. Interactive Quizzes (Kahoot)

Interactive Quizzes, like those on Kahoot, involve students answering multiple-choice questions online in real-time. It’s a fun and engaging way to review material.

How To Play

• The teacher prepares a quiz with questions based on the lesson.
• Students use their devices to select answers in real-time.
• Points are awarded based on speed and accuracy; the winner is displayed at the end.

57. Rhyming Words Race

Rhyming Words Race is a game where students quickly think of words that rhyme with a given word. This game helps with phonetics and vocabulary.

How To Play

• The teacher says a word (e.g., “cat”).
• Students take turns saying words that rhyme with the given word (e.g., “bat,” “hat”).
• The student who cannot think of a rhyming word or repeats a word is out.

58. Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt is a game where students search for hidden vocabulary items or clues around the classroom. It’s a great way to practice prepositions and directions.

How To Play

• Hide vocabulary flashcards or objects around the classroom.
• Give students clues or a map to find the hidden items.
• The student or team that finds the most items wins.

59. Grammar Jeopardy

Grammar Jeopardy is a quiz game where students answer questions related to grammar, vocabulary, or language rules. It adds a competitive edge to grammar practice.

How To Play

• Create a Jeopardy-style board with different categories (e.g., past tense, adjectives, prepositions).
• Each category has questions worth different points.
• Students choose a category and point value then answer the question.
• The team with the most points wins.

60. Interview Role Play

Interview Role Play involves students practicing conversational skills by pretending to interview each other. It’s useful for practicing question formation and answering.

How To Play

• Assign students roles as interviewer and interviewee.
• Provide the interviewers with a set of questions to ask (e.g., “What is your favorite hobby?”).
• The interviewees answer the questions, and the roles switch after a set time.

61. Karaoke (English Songs)

Karaoke involves students singing English songs to practice pronunciation, fluency, and vocabulary. It’s a fun way to improve listening and speaking skills.

How To Play

• Choose a popular English song with clear lyrics.
• Students take turns singing or performing parts of the song as a group.
• Focus on pronunciation, rhythm, and understanding the meaning of the lyrics.

62. Name Three Things

Name Three Things is a quick-thinking game where students must name three items within a category. It helps with vocabulary recall and fluency.

How To Play

• The teacher announces a category (e.g., “name three fruits”).
• Students take turns quickly naming three things within that category.
• The first student to answer correctly wins that round.

63. Complete The Sentence

Complete The Sentence is a grammar game where students must fill in the blanks in sentences. It helps practice sentence structure and vocabulary.

How To Play

• The teacher writes sentences with missing words (e.g., “I like to ____ on the weekend”).
• Students must fill in the blanks with the appropriate word.
• Points are awarded for correct answers, and the game continues with different sentences.

64. Word Chain

Word Chain is a vocabulary game where players must quickly think of a word that begins with the last letter of the previous word. It enhances vocabulary recall and quick thinking.

How To Play

• The teacher starts by saying a word (e.g., “apple”).
• The next player must say a word starting with the last letter of the previous word (e.g., “elephant”).
• The game continues until a player cannot think of a word, and they are out.

65. Word Bingo

Word Bingo is a variation of traditional Bingo where students mark vocabulary words on their cards instead of numbers. It’s great for reinforcing new vocabulary.

How To Play

• The teacher creates Bingo cards with vocabulary words.
• The teacher calls out definitions or gives clues, and students mark the corresponding word on their cards.
• The first student to complete a row, column, or diagonal shouts, “Bingo!” and wins.

66. Describe And Draw

Describe and Draw is a listening and speaking game where one student describes an image, and another draws it based on the description. It helps with communication and descriptive language.

How To Play

• One student is given a picture that they must describe to a partner.
• The partner listens and draws the picture based on the description.
• The goal is to create a drawing as close to the original image.

Conclusion

As we wrap up our exploration of these 66 engaging ESL games, we hope you’ve found a wealth of inspiration for your language classroom.

Remember, the key to successful language learning is creating an environment where students feel comfortable, motivated, and excited to participate.

These games offer more than just fun; they provide valuable opportunities for authentic communication, skill reinforcement, and confidence-building.

By incorporating these activities into your lessons, you’re not just teaching English – you’re fostering a love for language learning that can last a lifetime.

So choose a game, adapt it to your student’s needs, and watch your classroom transform into a dynamic space where language acquisition happens naturally and joyfully.