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 (11–20)
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!
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 Story
If you’re looking for an English-learning app you can enjoy like a game, we recommend “Eigo Monogatari” (English Story).
In this app, you play as the protagonist and “use English” to defeat enemy characters: by answering multiple-choice English quiz questions correctly, your character deals damage to the enemies.
Since there’s a time limit, quick and accurate responses are required, helping you naturally pick up vocabulary as you get absorbed in the game.
Eigo Monogatari isn’t just for kids—it also lets you set the quiz difficulty and choose vocabulary categories, covering not only standard entrance-exam content but also options like Eiken and TOEIC.
There are many other customizable options as well, so even if you haven’t touched English since your student days, why not use your commute to relearn English with this game?
AGO card
Among card games that use English, have you heard of a game called “AGO Cards”? English doesn’t improve with input alone—you need to output as well.
And for children, simply studying from a textbook won’t lead to progress unless you also give them chances to actually speak.
That’s where AGO Cards come in handy.
It’s a very popular card game used even in English conversation schools.
There are various ways to play, but the basic rules are similar to the well-known card game UNO.
Its signature feature is that when you discard a card, you read the word aloud, producing the sound.
This lets you practice “phonics,” a method for mastering accurate reading and writing by learning English spelling and the rules of correct pronunciation.
Since acquiring a language ultimately comes down to steady, ongoing practice, AGO Cards—letting children learn English fundamentals without getting bored through a card-game format—are something I highly recommend!
Disney Now
Disney NOW is an all-in-one platform that brings together Disney animations for kids and more.
The games on the site are entirely in English and can be played right in your web browser.
You might feel a bit lost at first, but if you watch what happens when you press buttons, pay attention to the characters’ expressions, and observe how the screen reacts, you’ll start to get a sense of the meanings of unfamiliar English words.
That “sort of understanding” is key.
If you tense up, it can become oddly hard to approach.
Keep at it, and before you know it, that sense of difficulty will be gone.
Disney World English
Disney World English speaks when you touch the words and illustrations in the book with a special pen.
It’s a type of learning item you often see at toy stores and bookstores! Because it’s as simple as “just touch with the pen,” it’s easy to recommend even for very young children.
The appearance of cute Disney characters is another highlight, making it visually fun.
It’s perfect as a first step for kids who are just starting to encounter English.
Also recommended as a gift for friends who have children!
English Word Puzzle Nekotan
Boxes with letters of the alphabet are stacked up, and there’s a cat on top.
Nekotan is a puzzle game where you create English words to clear those boxes and rescue the cat that’s stranded above.
Despite the goal of “rescuing,” the app has a relaxed atmosphere, so anyone can jump in casually.
It features gentle touches like a hint function that tells you how many more English words you can make and a display of word meanings.
It’s perfect for enjoying in spare moments while also learning.
Go Fish
This Go Fish is also a card game through which children can learn English while playing.
You do need to get Go Fish cards designed for learning English, but you can also download them for free from the internet, print them out, and use them.
The rules are similar to Old Maid with a standard deck: shuffle the cards and deal five to each player.
Place the remaining cards in the center, and, as in Old Maid, if you have matching cards in your hand, you put them down.
From there, you keep making pairs to get rid of your cards—that part is the same as Old Maid—but this is where Go Fish’s unique rules come into play.
On your turn, choose someone who you think has a card you need and ask, “Do you have ○○?” If the person asked has it, they reply, “Yes, I do,” and hand over the card.
If they don’t, they say, “No, I don’t.
Go fish!” and the original asker draws one card from the central pile.
It’s a simple card game, but because players actually speak, it provides a chance to practice English output.
Give it a try with the whole family!