How to Play a Word Game with Friends Online

A word game with friends online is a game where you take turns placing words on the same board from different phones and collect points. On KeliMax you can do it in two ways: start a one-on-one match with someone on your friends list, or create a private room in Room Mode and share the room code so your friends can join. KeliMax is free to download, and friends on iPhone and Android can play in the same game.

Two ways to play with friends: one-on-one and Room Mode

If you are looking for a two-player word game, a one-on-one match is the one for you. You send your friend an invite and the match is played between the two of you only. In the default 24 Hours mode you have up to 24 hours for each move, so you can play whenever it suits you: at work, at school or on the bus. If you want a faster pace, pick 1 Hour or one of the quicker modes. Nobody waits for anyone, and a match stays fun even with just a few moves a day.

If you want to play with a bigger group, use Room Mode. 3 or 4 players play in the same room, and the game is live: everyone is in the game at the same time, the turn passes around the table, and each player has 60 seconds for a move. It is a practical way to set up a 3–4 player word game for a group of friends, family or colleagues who cannot get together in person.

Joining a room with a code: step by step

You have two options when you create a room. A Public Room is open to anyone; if you only want to play with your friends, choose Private Room. Only people who know the room code can enter a private room, so whoever you give the code to gets a seat at the table.

Open KeliMax and go to Room Mode from the home screen.
Tap Create Room, choose Private Room and set how many players will join.
The room code appears in the lobby. Use the Share button to send the code and the room link via WhatsApp or any app you like.
You can also use Invite Friends to send an invite straight to people on your friends list; friends who are online see it instantly, and friends who are offline get a notification.
Your friend types the code into the Join with Code field on the Room Mode screen, or taps the link you shared.
When everyone is in the lobby, tap Start Game as the room host.

If KeliMax is installed on your friend's phone, the shared link opens the app and takes them to the room. If it is not, the room page on kelimax.app shows the room code and the download links; after installing the app and signing in, your friend only needs to type the code into Join with Code.

Two-player match: send a friend a one-on-one invite

To send a one-on-one invite you first need to be friends. Adding friends, creating rooms and sending invites require a KeliMax account; if you are playing as a guest, sign up with email, Google or Apple first. Then follow these steps:

On the Friends screen, use Search Users to find your friend's username and send a friend request.
Once your friend accepts, they appear on your friends list.
Tap the Invite button next to their name and choose the match length: 24 Hours, 12 Hours, 1 Hour, 5-Round Fast or Blitz.
The match starts when your friend accepts. An invite that is not accepted closes on its own after 24 hours.

24 Hours and 12 Hours matches are free; the faster modes are unlocked with coins you earn by playing. You can have only one pending invite to the same friend at a time, so wait for the previous one to be settled before sending another.

Chat, emoji and watching a friend's match

During a match you can chat with your opponent or with everyone in the room. There are ready-made quick messages, emoji and message reactions, so celebrating a great move or asking for a rematch takes one tap. Chat Privacy in Settings decides who can message you: Everyone, Friends Only or Disabled.

If a friend shows "In game" on your friends list, tap Watch to follow their one-on-one match live. Spectators see the board, the words played and the score; they never see the letters in the players' racks. In friend matches you can read and write in the chat from the moment you start watching, but not the messages before that.

If you are the one being watched, you will know: a notice appears when someone starts watching your match, you can see who is watching, and you can tap Remove to take anyone out of the match. The "Let friends watch my matches" option in Settings is on by default; turn it off and your friends cannot watch your matches. Club tournament matches are not affected by this setting.

Invite your friends to KeliMax

If your friend is not on KeliMax yet, send them your invite code or invite link. Your friend enters the code while signing up; once the reward conditions are met, both the person who invited and the person invited earn a reward. You can see the conditions and your invite history on the Invite Friends screen in the app.

If you have a group that plays regularly, you can create a club, gather in the same club and talk about your matches in the club chat. That way one-on-one matches, room nights and your club all come together around one circle of friends.

A few small tactics to beat your friends

Friend matches are often decided by small margins. Placing high-value letters on letter multipliers, avoiding moves that open a triple-word square for your opponent, and using all seven of your letters in one turn for the 50-point bonus are what make the difference. With four players in a room the board fills up fast, so keep an eye on the open multiplier squares before your turn comes.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to play an online word game with my friends?

Yes. KeliMax is free to download, and creating a room or playing a 24 Hours or 12 Hours one-on-one match does not require payment. The faster one-on-one modes are unlocked with coins earned in the game.

How many people can play together?

A one-on-one match is for two players. In Room Mode 3 or 4 players play in the same room. If there are two of you, a one-on-one match fits best; for a bigger group, use Room Mode.

My friend uses an iPhone and I use Android. Can we play together?

Yes. Matches run on the same server, so friends on iPhone and Android meet in the same room or the same one-on-one match. Everyone just needs to sign in with their own KeliMax account.

Which language is a room played in?

In Room Mode the game is played in the language chosen by the person who created the room: English or Turkish. Everyone who joins with the code plays in that language; you can pick your language under Language in Settings before you create the room.

Ready to set up your first room with friends? Get KeliMax from the App Store or Google Play: download links