You can now play a game in your TikTok DMs
What's the story
TikTok has added a new feature in its direct messages (DMs) - a secret emoji game. The objective of the game is simple: use your finger to bounce as high as possible by hopping across alligators. However, you need to avoid skeleton alligators and be quick, because broken alligators disappear after just one landing. If you guide your jump to a floating emoji/land on an alligator with a propeller, you'll get a speed boost that helps you climb faster.
Gameplay mechanics
The game ends when you fail to land on alligator
The game ends if you fail to land on an alligator or land on a skeleton. The main objective is to bounce higher than your opponent. As you play, both your score and your opponent's high score are displayed in the top-right corner of the screen. TikTok has confirmed that this feature can be accessed in one-on-one DMs as well as group chats.
Access guide
How to access the new DM game
To play the game, you have to send an emoji in any chat and click on it. The clicked emoji will float across the screen to give you a boost. You can use any emoji but can only access the game by sending a single one at a time. This new feature is part of TikTok's effort to make messaging more fun and introduce a competitive element into DMs on its platform.
Competitive edge
Instagram launched similar game in 2024
With this new launch, TikTok is following in the footsteps of Instagram, which launched its own hidden emoji DM game two years ago. The gameplay is similar as players use their finger to move a paddle and keep an emoji bouncing. However, unlike TikTok's version where you can compete against others, Instagram's version ends when the emoji falls.