Emoji Story
Describe a film, a song or a phrase using nothing but emojis.
Emoji Story
Describe a phrase using only emojis. Can your team decode the message?
- Players
- 4–25
- Session length
- 15–20 min
- Best for
- Groups that share cultural references, creative teams
What is Emoji Story?
One player gets a prompt — a film, a song, a well-worn phrase — and has to render it in emojis alone. Everyone else races to decode it before the timer runs out.
It rewards a completely different kind of thinking to trivia: not what you know, but how well you can predict how other people read a picture. Teams that share cultural reference points tear through it; teams that do not have a very funny time discovering that.
How to play Emoji Story online
- 1
The host starts a session and shares the room code.
- 2
One player receives a secret prompt to translate.
- 3
They build their clue using only emojis — no words, no numbers.
- 4
Everyone else submits guesses against the clock.
- 5
Points go to correct guessers and to the clue-giver whose emojis actually landed.
New to Fun Friday? See how a session works or compare plans.
Example clues
Prompts come from a bank of idioms, sayings, films and songs. The clue-giver sees the phrase; everyone else sees only the emojis:
- 🌧️ 🐈 🐕 → Raining cats and dogs
- 🐦 ⏰ 🪱 → The early bird catches the worm
- 🐷 ✈️ → When pigs fly
- 🕯️ 🌙 🛢️ → Burning the midnight oil
- 😿 🥛 → Crying over spilled milk
When to run Emoji Story
A team that shares cultural reference points
The clue only works if the room reads the picture the same way you do. Teams that have worked together a while tear through it; teams that have not have a very funny time discovering that.
Fifteen minutes, no preparation
There is nothing to explain and nothing to set up. It is the shortest creative game here and the easiest to slot in after a heavier agenda item.
Writers and people who claim they are not creative
The emoji-only constraint removes the advantage eloquent people usually have. Everyone is equally bad at it, which is exactly what makes it work.
Emoji Story questions
Do players need an account or a download?
No. Only the host needs a Fun Friday account. Everyone else joins from any browser with a 6-character room code and a display name — no app, no install, no IT ticket.
Does it work with an international team?
Mostly — but prompts lean on shared cultural references, so a team spread across very different markets will find some rounds harder. Caption This or Zoomed In travel better across regions.
More team games
See all 21 games →Trivia Blitz
Fast-paced team trivia. Answer quickly for bonus points, build a streak, and spend your one 50/50 wisely.
Imposter
One player is the imposter who does not know the secret word. Find them before time runs out!
Two Truths & a Lie
Share two truths and one lie. Can your teammates spot the lie?
Run Emoji Story with your team this Friday.
Create a session, share the room code, and everyone joins from their browser. No downloads, no IT tickets.
Get started free →