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?
- Recommended players
- 4–25
- Session length
- 15–20 min
- Best for
- Groups that share cultural references, creative teams
Before you host
Always free · no account needed. During beta, accounts receive Pro access free: up to 30 players and unlimited sessions. No payment card is required. Guest hosts use the Free game list, up to 8 players and 2 sessions per week on this browser. The engine requires at least 2 players to start this game. Recommended group sizes describe the experience, not a plan entitlement; the host’s plan sets the room limit, including the host.
Participants join with a room code and display name; no account or download is required. Hosts can use Free games without an account. Other games require a host account and the relevant access.
Play in a current browser on a laptop, tablet or phone. A larger screen helps with images and matching. Use your usual video or voice call to talk; Fun Friday does not include a call. Everyone plays on their own device. Screen sharing is optional; keep private answers and roles off a shared screen.
The hosting button opens setup with Emoji Story selected. Enter a display name or sign in if needed, then choose Create room. Invite colleagues with the link or code, check the settings and press Start when the group is ready. Opening setup creates no room.
Full plan detailsWhat 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?
Participants join with a room code and display name; no account or download is required. Hosts can use Free games without an account. Other games require a host account and the relevant access.
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.
Is Emoji Story free?
Yes. Emoji Story is one of the Free games: anyone can host it without an account, and players always join free with just a room code.
How many people can play Emoji Story?
Emoji Story plays best with 4–25 players and needs at least 2 to start. That range describes the game; how many can join one room depends on the host’s plan. A guest host can have up to 8 players in a room; during the beta, a host with an account can have up to 30.
How long does a game of Emoji Story take?
A typical game of Emoji Story takes 15–20 min.
Can we play Emoji Story on Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet?
Yes. Emoji Story runs in the browser, separately from your call: start your Zoom, Teams or Google Meet meeting as usual, share the room code in the chat, and everyone plays on their own screen. Nothing needs installing or connecting to the call.
More team games
See all 22 games →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.
Set up Emoji Story →