12 games and puzzles to level up language learning

A group of friends sat around a table playing games

Enhancing your English skills doesn't have to be limited to studying textbooks and doing grammar exercises. One of the most enjoyable and effective ways to improve your proficiency in the language is by playing games and solving puzzles.

These interactive activities not only stimulate your mind but also provide a fun way to challenge your cognitive abilities and immerse yourself in the English language.

In this language learning blog post, we've put together a list of puzzles and games that can help you boost your vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and communication skills while having a great time.

Games and puzzles to help your language learning
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree ɫèAV can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

Ìý

1. Boggle

Shake up the letters and find as many words as you can within a set time limit. Boggle sharpens your vocabulary, speed, and pattern recognition skills. If you don't have the physical game, you can .

2. Hangman

This classic game involves guessing a word letter by letter. It's a fun way to learn new vocabulary and practice spelling while uncovering the hidden word. You can play it just with a pen and paper, or .

3. Taboo

In Taboo, you describe a word without using certain words or phrases. This game hones your ability to explain concepts and reinforces your vocabulary. If you don't have the game you .Ìý

4. 20 Questions

Play the 20 Questions game where one person thinks of an object, and others ask yes-or-no questions to guess what it is. It's an excellent exercise in constructing questions and practicing conversational English. This is super easy to play with friends and family; you can also play it .Ìý

5. Pictionary

In this drawing and guessing game, you have to illustrate words and phrases without using letters. Pictionary improves your descriptive skills and helps you understand context. This is easy to play with friends with little equipment needed; you can also play .

6. Story cubes

Roll dice with images on them and use the pictures to create a story in English. This game enhances your storytelling abilities and encourages you to think on your feet. You can buy or make your own story cubes with card and pens. There are also various .

7. Language learning apps

Perhaps an obvious one but, many language-learning applications use gamification, such as Mondly. These kinds of apps provide a range of interactive exercises, quizzes, and challenges to assist you in learning English in an engaging and interactive way.

8. Text-based Role-Playing games (RPGs)

Engage in text-based RPGs where you interact with characters and make decisions in English. This immersive experience enhances your reading, comprehension, and decision-making skills. There are online ones like and BBC's ''. If you're feeling creative, you can also write your own.ÌýÌý

9. Tabletop RPGs (TTRPGs)

As well as text-based ones online, if you have a group of friends interested, you can also look at getting into tabletop RPGs. You can find ones for every world or scenario you can think of. Ones like , and . There's lots of online tools to help you play like . You can host games online or in person, so it's very flexible. TTRPGs are great for learning new vocabulary and improving your story writing and world building.Ìý

10. Trivia quizzes

Participate in English language trivia quizzes to test your general knowledge and language proficiency. Trivia quizzes expose you to diverse topics and help you learn new words and concepts. For example, Sporcle, hosts a range of fun quizzes that can test your English skills, where you have to translate Shakespeare quotes into plain English.

11. Wordle

Wordle is a popular daily word puzzle game that challenges players to guess a five-letter word within six attempts. Each guess is met with feedback, indicating which letters are correct and in the right position, helping players deduce the hidden word. It helps with engaging with diverse word combinations and deciphering clues that helps develop language comprehension. .Ìý

12. Waffle

Waffle is somewhat similar to Wordle, but you have to shuffle around letters (within 15 moves) on the grid to complete the whole 'waffle'. Which can help with your spelling and word knowledge. It

Learning English doesn't have to be boring. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, using puzzles and games can help you improve your English language skills while having a good time. Remember to bookmark these sites for when you fancy mixing up your English studies.Ìý

Read more of our blog posts

More blogs from ɫèAV

  • A teacher stood at a table of students helping them

    Tips for keeping learners studying over the holiday season

    By Nicolas Chaparro
    Reading time: 3.5 minutes

    Nicolas Chaparro is a Colombian language teacher with a bachelor's degree in basic education, specializing in humanities and languages. After spending five years working as a systems technician, he discovered the potential of technology to enhance learning, which ignited his passion for dynamic, tech-driven education. He has the privilege of working at one of Colombia's most prestigious English institutions, where he currently leads a team focused on education, creativity and motivation.Ìý

    The holiday season is a magical time and the perfect moment to spark a teacher's creativity. I've always believed that learning a language isn't just about studying—it's about living it. As a learner, I loved the resources my teachers and institutions provided, but what truly captivated me was the opportunity to engage with the world using the language skills I had acquired.

    As a teacher, I strive to give my students that same experience. I didn't expect the holiday season to become the perfect setting to turn my teaching philosophy into reality. This blog post shares a personal story of how I used a creative activity to keep my students learning and practicing English during the holidays with the support of the Global Scale of English (GSE).

    The challenge I faced: Mixed levels and ages

    The activity I designed, Christmas Carols, presented two main challenges:

    1. Diverse proficiency levels: My group included students ranging from beginners to advanced learners, all participating in the same activity. I wanted to have them all working together; that's what language means to me.Ìý
    2. Varied age groups: The students also spanned different age ranges, which required an effective approach to engage everyone. It was a Christmas gathering meeting with all the institution's students.

    Basic students worked on identifying vocabulary that is similar to their native language and then used it in a short text. Intermediate students solved riddles to guess words that could be included in the lyrics. Advanced students completed questionnaires to build sentences and find synonyms to refine the text. The carol was divided into three sections: the first paragraph was for basic students, the second for intermediate students and the third for advanced students. I also included French students in the activity, which was designed for both languages.

    After the students completed their tasks in separate groups, I mixed them so they could explain the vocabulary they had learned to one another. To facilitate communication without relying on Spanish, I used pictures and Christmas props to help them express themselves visually.

    Finally, we all came together and sang the carol as one group.

    Turning challenges into opportunities with the GSE

    For me, a successful language activity needs three essential components: clear instructions, engaging resources and opportunities for interaction. With these principles in mind, I crafted an inclusive and dynamic activity, using the GSE to guide my planning.

    Step 1: Defining the goal

    I realized that most of my students didn't know specific Christmas-related vocabulary or any traditional English carols. This activity was also an opportunity to learn by myself and then share with them. This gap was my opportunity to introduce them to the holiday spirit in English.

    Step 2: Planning with the GSE

    I identified suitable goals for each proficiency level using the GSE Learning Objectives. These objectives helped me design tasks that targeted key skills—listening, speaking, reading and writing—while considering the ages and abilities of my students.

    Step 3: Preparing a scavenger hunt

    To make the activity interactive and fun, I organized a scavenger hunt. Students had to solve riddles and follow clues to find words essential for completing a Christmas song. The GSE objectives ensured that the tasks were appropriately challenging for each level.

    Step 4: Pairing students effectively

    Knowing my students well, I paired them strategically based on their proficiency and age. This pairing encouraged collaboration and allowed them to support each other throughout the activity.

    Making language visible and memorable

    One of my priorities was to make the language come alive. I brought visual aids like cards, games, and even a Christmas tree and a nativity scene—elements that most students recognized but had never explored in English. These visuals became valuable tools for teaching vocabulary in a tangible, engaging way.

    To add another layer of interaction, I used my guitar to sing along with the students. By the end of the activity, not only were we singing, but they also understood the meaning behind every word. Watching them take pride in their learning was incredibly rewarding and I knew this vocabulary wouldn't stop there; they would take it home and make it real for them, for the season, for their life.

    Reflections and an invitation

    This experience reminded me of the power of teaching through real-life experiences. Holidays provide a unique opportunity to teach without teaching and to help students study while living the language. Tools like the GSE make it easier for us as educators to plan meaningful and impactful activities.

    My invitation to fellow teachers is twofold:

    1. Explore the GSE resources to enrich your teaching strategies.
    2. Share your ideas and activities with the teaching community. Together, we can create opportunities for our students to use the language in real and virtual contexts that inspire learning and cooperation.

    Let's make 2025 the year we bring language to life in every classroom.