20 Best Instagram Story Games to Increase Engagement (2026)
TL;DR - Quick Answer
8 min readTips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.
Instagram Story games = instant engagement. Interactive Stories tend to get significantly more replies than regular Stories, and replies improve your algorithmic reach.
Skip to: Poll Games | Quiz Games | This or That | Bingo | Challenges
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Start your free trialPoll & Emoji Slider Games
1. "Rate This" Emoji Slider
Post a photo and use the emoji slider sticker. Ask followers to rate it.
Examples:
- Rate this outfit (fire emoji slider)
- How badly do you want this? (heart eyes slider)
- Rate my morning coffee setup (coffee emoji slider)
2. Two Truths and a Lie
Share 3 "facts" about yourself using the Poll sticker. Two true, one false. Followers vote on the lie. Need help setting up polls? Check our guide on how to make an Instagram poll.
3. Predict the Outcome
Before an event (sports game, product launch, award show), ask followers to predict the result with a Poll.
4. "Would You Rather" Polls
Use the Poll sticker for would-you-rather questions:
- Beach vacation or mountain trip?
- Early bird or night owl?
- Coffee or tea?
Quiz Sticker Games
5. Trivia Time
Use the Quiz sticker to test followers on a topic:
- Brand trivia ("When was our company founded?")
- Industry facts
- Pop culture questions
- Niche knowledge
6. "Guess the Price"
Show a product and use the Quiz sticker with multiple price options. Great for e-commerce brands.
7. "Who Said It?"
Share a quote and quiz followers on who said it, a team member, a celebrity, or someone else.
8. "Name That Song"
Play a clip using the Music sticker, then quiz followers on the song title or artist.
This or That Games
9. Classic This or That
Create a graphic with two options on each side. Followers screenshot and circle their picks, or reply with their answers.
Popular this-or-that templates:
- Summer vs Winter
- Netflix vs Cinema
- Morning person vs Night owl
- Sweet vs Savory
- City vs Country
10. "Build Your Perfect Day"
Series of this-or-that choices that build a perfect day:
- Slide 1: Wake up at sunrise or sleep in?
- Slide 2: Coffee or smoothie?
- Slide 3: Beach or mountains?
- Slide 4: Dinner out or cook at home?
11. Product Edition This or That
For brands: show two products side by side and ask which one followers prefer. Great market research disguised as a game.
Which Instagram sticker lets you start a chain that followers can add to?
Bingo & Template Games
12. Instagram Bingo
Create a 5x5 bingo grid with relatable items. Followers screenshot, mark off what applies to them, and share to their Stories.
Bingo themes:
- "Have You Ever" bingo
- "Monday Mood" bingo
- "Traveler" bingo
- Industry-specific bingo
13. "Put a Finger Down"
List statements starting with "Put a finger down if you've ever..." Followers count how many apply to them and reply with their number.
14. Fill-in-the-Blank Templates
Create a template with blanks for followers to fill in:
- "My dream vacation is ___"
- "I can't live without ___"
- "The best advice I ever got was ___"
Challenges & Interactive Games
15. Screenshot Challenge
Post a fast slideshow of options (colors, places, foods). Followers screenshot and share what they landed on.
16. "Add Yours" Sticker Chains
Use the "Add Yours" sticker to start a chain:
- "Show your workspace"
- "Your pet right now"
- "Last photo in your camera roll"
17. Countdown Guessing Game
Post a series of clues over multiple Stories. Followers guess the answer. Reveal at the end.
18. Emoji Story Challenge
Post a sentence using only emojis. Followers translate it in their replies.
19. Caption Contest
Post a funny or interesting photo. Followers submit their best caption via the Question sticker. Share the best ones.
20. "Spot the Difference"
Post two similar images. Followers find and reply with the differences. Good for brands (product photos with subtle changes).
How to Create Story Games
Tips for Maximum Engagement
- Post games during peak hours, check when your audience is most active
- Keep it simple, one tap or screenshot should be enough to participate
- Share responses, repost follower answers to encourage more participation
- Be consistent, run a recurring game (e.g., "This or That Tuesday")
- Mix game types, alternate between polls, quizzes, and template games
How often should you post Instagram Story games?
FAQ
Do Instagram Story games increase engagement? Yes. Interactive Stories (polls, quizzes, games) tend to get significantly more replies than regular Stories. More replies = more algorithmic reach = more Story views. See our full Instagram engagement guide for more tactics.
How often should I post Story games? 1-2 times per week is ideal. Too many games and followers get fatigued. Mix games with regular content.
What's the best Instagram Story game for businesses? "This or That" product comparisons and quizzes about your industry work best for businesses. They're engaging AND provide market research.
Can I schedule Instagram Stories with games? Yes. Pre-create game graphics and schedule your Instagram Stories in advance. Interactive stickers (polls, quizzes) need to be added manually when the Story publishes.
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