It was announced at WWDC, but Apple rolled it out ahead of iOS 26’s fall release date.
When iOS 26 is released this fall, it will introduce two new default apps to your iPhone’s Home Screen.
First, there will be a new Preview app that works very similarly to Mac’s Preview app, allowing you to view and edit various documents and images.
Second, there will be a dedicated games app, called Apple Games, which will act as a new home for Apple Arcade as well as all the other games you’ve installed on your iPhone.
When this was announced at June’s WWDC, Apple also unveiled a new original puzzle game, called the Emoji Game, which will be available in the Apple Games app.
This game was originally set to be released with the Apple Games app, along with the rest of iOS 26’s upcoming features. But, in celebration of World Emoji Day — which is today and, yes, apparently a thing — Apple has given select iPhone users early access to its new game.
Apple’s daily puzzle game
The Emoji Game is essentially Apple’s take on Wordle. The puzzle game requires users to fill in the blanks to complete phrases, but they must use emojis instead of normal letters and words. Hence, the Emoji Game.
The game requires users to fill in the blanks of three short phrases by using as few moves as possible.
According to Apple’s press release, “each phrase is accompanied by a clue, which the user can choose to reveal, but that will count toward the player’s total number of moves.”
Like with Wordle, Apple will release new Emoji Game puzzles daily. The results will be trackable on a Game Center leaderboard, which your friends and family will be able to see and compete against.
Wait, there’s a catch
The Emoji Game is now available on all iPhones running the latest software (iOS 18.4), as well as iPads and Macs. However, not everybody can play it.
In addition to having an up-to-date device, you also need to be a paying subscriber to Apple News+, which costs $13/month, in order to play it. (Apple does offer a one-month free trial.)
Right now, if you subscribe to Apple News+, you can play the Emoji Game via the News app and going to the Puzzle section.
When iOS 26 rolls out this fall, the Emoji Game will relocate to the all-new Apple Games app.
About the Author:
Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.
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