No, Facebook Messenger does not currently have a built-in feature that allows you to play multiplayer games directly within a video call. While some third party services and apps do enable playing games together during Messenger calls, there is no native support for this capability as of October 2023.
Does Messenger have built-in games you can play during calls?
Facebook Messenger does have some lightweight built-in games, like basketball shootout and chess. However, these games are not designed to be played simultaneously with multiple people during a video call. They are single player games meant to be played alone.
So if you want to play a game with friends over Messenger in real time, the built-in game options will not work. You’d need to utilize a third party app or service that enables multiplayer gameplay through Messenger.
What are some third party options for playing games in Messenger calls?
Here are a few options for playing multiplayer games with friends directly in Messenger calls:
Houseparty
Houseparty is an app owned by Epic Games that lets you video chat with friends while playing popular multiplayer games together. After linking your Facebook account, you can launch Houseparty video calls directly from Messenger.
Once in a call, Houseparty has built-in games like Heads Up!, Trivia, QuickDraw, and more that everyone in the call can play together simultaneously. This makes for a fun way to game with friends while face-to-face in a Messenger call.
Psych
Psych is another third party app that enables multiplayer gaming in Messenger calls. It offers classic games like draw-it, fill-in-the-blank, poll games, and more to liven up your conversations.
The app syncs across devices so that everyone in the call can participate together. You can launch Psych directly from an active Messenger video call for instant group gaming.
Champ Games
Champ Games is a platform that allows playing mobile games with friends in Messenger calls. It works by screen sharing the game in real-time so all participants can see and play together.
Popular titles like 8 Ball Pool, Bowling Club, Ludo King, and more are supported. To use Champ Games, you’ll need to first install the platform on your mobile device and link your Facebook account.
Are there any risks associated with third party gaming apps?
When using third party apps and services that connect with Facebook Messenger, it’s important to keep in mind potential risks:
– The app may request access to your personal information and Facebook data for registration and account linking. Be sure to review permissions being granted during setup.
– Your Facebook friends may also need to install the same third party app in order to participate, so be aware of asking them to provide access to their data as well.
– There is potential for bugs and glitches when linking apps from different developers compared to using Messenger’s native features. Quality can vary.
– Make sure to only use reputable apps with a strong reputation for privacy, security, and performance. Check reviews and research the developer first.
– Multiplayer game apps will use more bandwidth, which could incur high data usage charges if using cellular data instead of WiFi.
So just exercise some caution when enabling third party apps to work inside Messenger calls. Look for trusted brands that are transparent about data usage and security.
Is Messenger likely to add built-in multiplayer game features in the future?
Given Messenger’s focus on enabling rich communication experiences, they may be open to integrating multiplayer gaming directly into the platform in the future.
Gaming is becoming increasingly social and mobile, aligning well with Messenger’s capabilities. And competitors like Houseparty are demonstrating that demand exists for playing games while video chatting simultaneously.
That said, Facebook also owns standalone gaming apps like Facebook Gaming. They may prefer to keep gaming experiences there rather than cluttering up Messenger.
But as video calls continue to thrive, adding light multiplayer components could enhance the appeal for younger audiences that regularly socialize and game online together. Integrating games directly could also benefit Messenger commercially through sponsorships or in-app purchases.
So while there are no official plans announced yet, the pieces are there for Facebook to potentially develop first-party multiplayer game support inside Messenger someday. It will come down to whether they see it meaningfully driving engagement vs. distracting from core messaging functions.
Conclusion
While you currently can’t play multiplayer games natively within Messenger calls, options do exist through third party apps and services. Houseparty, Psych, Champ Games and others demonstrate the capability, even if not officially sanctioned by Facebook yet.
As video calling continues to grow, multiplayer mobile gaming with friends may be a logical next step for enhancing real-time social experiences. But for now, Messenger is still focused primarily on core communication functions rather than turning into a gaming platform.
Key Takeaways
- No native support in Messenger yet for playing games during calls – only single player built-in games exist currently
- Apps like Houseparty allow launching games directly from a Messenger video call
- Risks include granting access to personal data, requiring others to install apps, glitches
- Facebook may consider adding official multiplayer features in the future to drive engagement
- For now, third party apps bridge the gap if you want multiplayer games in calls