About This Game Congratulations! You’ve been accepted as the only human student at the prestigious St. PigeoNation’s Institute, a school for talented birds! Roam the halls and find love in between classes as a sophomore student at the world’s greatest pigeon high school. Would anyone be interested in a game pigeon basketball league? If yes text “GP 🏀” to (208) 353-8305, looking for at least 8 players, no more than 16. Edit: this would be over Christmas break, from 12/23-1/10. 8 regular season games, and an 8-team, single elimination tournament to determine the champion. Players: 5/8-16. To take a screenshot with your Mac, Command + Shift + 3 and then release all keys to captuer the whole screen, or press Command + Shift + 4 and press down.

Some of GamePigeon’s most popular games: Gomoku, Checkers, Sea Battle, Anagrams, 8-Ball, and Knock-out

Thanks to iOS 10, it’s now easier than ever to discreetly be off task during class. The software update, among other things, has incorporated a variety of apps directly into iMessage. One free app that has become especially popular among students is GamePigeon. GamePigeon allows players to challenge friends in 11 different games via iMessage.

Game Pigeon Games More Than 2 Players

Of course, not every game is created equal. To help fellow time-wasters, the Crier decided to rank the best and worst of what GamePigeon has to offer.

Multiplayer Game Pigeon Games

1. 8-Ball: The simplicity of 8-ball makes it outrageously addictive. Its instant popularity at Conant is a testament to that, which is why it earned its place at the top of this list. Like with other 8-Ball apps, the goal is aim and shoot the balls on the virtual pool table into the pockets while avoiding the black 8-ball, but playing the game against your iMessage contacts fuels the competition. Don’t bother with the difficult mode, as the gams immediately goes from fun to impossible and frustrating.
2. Anagrams: If you like word games, this is one of the best out there. You are given five letters and one minute to make more words than your friend. The game’s short length is convenient, and the face-off is highly competitive and fun.
3. Sea Battle: Again, the concept here is nothing new: attack your opponent’s grid to find all the ships they’ve placed. What takes this version to the next level are the graphics, particularly the “explosions” when you hit a player’s ship.
4. Gomoku: This severely underrated game has origins in ancient Japan.The object of the game is to get five pieces in a row before your opponent. It’s an easy enough premise, but there is a surprising amount of strategy required.
5. Knock-out: In Knock-out, you command your four penguins to try to knock your friend’s penguins off the block of ice you share while they try to do the same. It’s fun to watch the penguins slide around after being released. The game is usually finished after only a couple rounds.
6. Checkers: There isn’t much to say about this–it’s just a classic game of checkers. It’s pretty mindless, but a good way to kill time. Unfortunately, just like real checkers, it can drag on a bit towards the end.
7. 4 in a Row: Yes, you can now use a device intended for school work to play a game you probably mastered when you were in kindergarten. 4 in a Row is just as boring as you remember it being. Gomoku is a similar but more interesting option.
8. 9-Ball: This recently added game isn’t bad; it just feels unnecessary. It’s a lot like 8-ball, except it’s less fun and has more rules.
9. Dots and Boxes: I have never been a fan of this game, but the classic setting for it–in a restaurant with crayons on a paper tablecloth–is a lot better than the iPad.
10. 20 Questions: 20 Questions is a fine game, but there’s absolutely no reason to use GamePigeon to play it. The interface is cumbersome and takes away from the rapid-fire style of the game.
11. Poker: This virtual poker offers no tutorials, a major flaw that made it worthless for beginners like myself. For seasoned players, though, it may still provide decent entertainment value.