Learn English through fun! English games
In today’s world, where interactions with people from other countries are increasing, English has become very important for Japanese people as well.
It’s now a compulsory subject in elementary school, and children have more opportunities to be exposed to English.
That said, studying English can still be quite difficult…
So in this article, we’ll introduce games that make learning English fun for lower-grade elementary school children!
We’ve gathered a variety of games—from ones you can play with friends to smartphone games and card games.
By engaging with English while playing, kids can pick it up without developing a strong dislike for it!
We hope you’ll find a game you like and enjoy talking lots in English!
- English will become more fun! A collection of trivia and fun facts about the English language.
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- [For Kids] Let’s Play in English! A Collection of Fun Recreational Activities and Games
- Fun activities for junior high school students. Recreation games.
- Fun Quiz Questions That Will Liven Up the Office [2026]
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- [List] A roundup of games and recreational activities kids love
- Exciting! Recreational Activities to Enjoy at a Christmas Party
- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
- [For Kids] Fun Either Way: A Collection of Rock-Paper-Scissors Game Ideas
- [For Elementary School Students] Cipher Quiz: Fun Puzzle Riddles
- [Playable from lower grades] Japanese language games and activities
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
Learn while having fun! English games (1–10)
Touching Game Karuta
It’s often said that the earlier you start learning a second language, the better.
Children’s brains are far more flexible than adults tend to think.
That said, being very young also means they’re not as strong in quick, on-the-spot comprehension.
If you want 2- to 3-year-olds to pick up English, I recommend the ‘Touching Game Karuta.’ It makes learning English words easier than English shiritori, and the pictures help even children who aren’t interested in English enjoy it.
If you have little ones at home, be sure to check it out.
What am I drawing?
If you want an easy way to train your English at home, I recommend this game, “What am I drawing?” All you need is very simple: just paper and a pen.
The game itself is straightforward—you ask questions to guess what the other person has drawn.
It may seem simple, but it’s extremely effective for improving your questioning skills, and if you play it repeatedly, you’ll naturally build your language ability.
With a bit of adaptation, it’s a highly versatile game that can help strengthen language skills across various areas.
What’s missing?
If you have very young children, like 2- or 3-year-olds, we recommend “What’s missing?” This game is easy for anyone to play as long as they can read English, and the rules are very simple.
First, show the child 3–4 cards with English words on them.
Then have the child cover their eyes.
While they can’t see, the parent randomly flips one card face down.
When the child uncovers their eyes, they guess the word on the face-down card.
It’s simple, but it trains both vocabulary and memory.
Learn while having fun! English Games (11–20)
UniUni ABC
UniUni ABC is an immersive learning app that goes beyond just reading English words.
The wobbly, AI-powered character UniUni responds in English to your taps and even to your own voice.
That feeling of actually conversing with the character is what sets it apart from typical apps.
And if you look closely, UniUni’s mouth movements match how your lips should move when pronouncing each word.
In other words, by mimicking it, you can learn the correct pronunciation.
Give it a try!
3 hints quiz
“3 Hints Quiz” is a learning method for kids who understand very basic English grammar, where they learn English through a quiz format.
As the name suggests, it’s a quiz game in which you give three hints to lead to the correct answer.
For example, you can download and print animal illustrations from sites that offer free images, place them face down so the child can’t see, and only the hint-giver checks the card.
Then the hint-giver gives three hints in English, and the child answers in English.
When the child gets it right, switch roles so the child becomes the quiz master.
This also trains them to think of English expressions that describe animals without using the animal’s name.
It isn’t limited to animals—you can adapt it in many ways.
Adjust it according to the child’s level of English, and give it a try!
Gesture Game
Even if you don’t understand English, many people have probably had the experience of being asked for directions by a foreign visitor and somehow managing with gestures.
By adapting a “gesture game,” which makes powerful use of gestures as a communication method, children—who have rich imaginations—can enjoy learning English.
The person teaching English expresses actions and the like using only gestures without words, and the children watching try to guess them in English.
Along with the image from the gesture, the children can firmly remember the vocabulary.
Verbs like “run” or “walk” are easy, but nouns and adjectives are more challenging, so try incorporating this at home as well, adjusting the level accordingly!
English riddles
“English riddles” are a game-like method of learning English that lets you improve listening skills while having fun solving riddles, and can also help boost creativity and expressive ability.
It’s a fairly challenging game unless you’ve reached a certain level of English comprehension, but you can learn idiomatic expressions unique to English, and by thinking about and solving English riddles in English, you can train your so-called “English brain.” If you memorize riddles commonly used in the English-speaking world, they might even serve as a handy communication tool when you meet people from overseas!