Facebook Messenger Introduces Instant Games to Make Users Stay In The App

Facebook's Messenger app has gone beyond just letting people stay in touch with each other by sending messages and pictures. By launching a gaming feature called Instant Games, Facebook now wants users to not have to leave Messenger even when not chatting with anyone.

The current lineup of Instant Games, which has launched in 30 countries including the U.S., includes Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Wordalot, and ZooKeeper. Games are available in Facebook Messenger's message threads. The games load in mere seconds because they were designed using HTML5 mobile native standards, TechCrunch reports.

FB Messenger's Instant Games feature allows users to compete with their friends conveniently and at their own pace and time. Available on the latest iOS and Android devices, Instant Games can be accessed by hitting the game controller icon next to photos and stickers in message threads.

After finishing a game, scores will be visible to other people in a conversation, and they can compete and aim for a higher score, according to Facebook's newsroom page. Instant Games has score-based leaderboards, as well as group threads where users can challenge and congratulate each other.

Instant Games is not just for players. It also presents an opportunity for creators who want their games included in the feature. In fact, Facebook now has an online form for any game developer who wants their work to be part of Instant Games.

Instant Games is available on Facebook's News Feed as well, not only on the Messenger app. The game can work both on mobile and the web without users having to install any new app, according to Engadget.

It only has 17 games at present from various developers, but Facebook said it will add more in the future. Instant Games is also likely to be available in more locations around the world.

Have you played Instant Games yet? How do you find it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!