Create your own Mystery Box game and play in class today!
The Mystery Box Game is a fun team game of chance. Teams take turns choosing a box, saying the word or answering the question, and then making an important decision — keep the box or give it to the other team. The catch is, each box hides either positive points (e.g., +5) or negative points (e.g., -5), and the team won’t know which until after they’ve made their choice. This activity is a fantastic way to review vocabulary, get students speaking, and add a bit of excitement to your lessons.
To make your own Mystery Box game, just enter 16 words, questions, or phrases — or choose from a pre-made list. Then click “Start Game,” and you’re ready to play! If you enter fewer than 16 items, the app will automatically duplicate some to fill the grid.
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How To Play
Step 1: Choose “Custom” or “Pre-made”
Enter your own words, phrases, or questions — or choose a pre-made list to get started quickly. You can enter any kind of prompt that fits your lesson.
Step 2: Enter up to 16 items
You can enter fewer than 16, and the app will automatically duplicate some to fill all 16 boxes in the grid.
Step 3: Click “Start Game”
Once your list is ready, click “Start Game” to display the 4×4 mystery box game grid.
Step 4: Team 1 chooses a box
The first team picks a tile to reveal one of the words, questions, or phrases. The teacher can then ask a student from that team to say the word, use it in a sentence, or answer the question.
Step 5: Decide — Keep the box or give it away
After responding to the prompt, the team must choose to keep the box or give it to the other team. The points inside the box (e.g., +5 or -5) will only be revealed after they make their decision. The points are then automatically revealed and assigned to the correct team.
Step 6: Alternate turns until all boxes are opened
Teams take turns choosing boxes and repeating the process until all 16 boxes are opened. The team with the most points at the end wins the game.
Suggested Ways to Use This Tool
The Mystery Box Game is easy to adapt and can be used in all kinds of lessons. It’s great for vocabulary, grammar, speaking, or simply adding some fun to your class. Here are some of our favorite ways to use it in class.
Vocabulary Review
Use the game to review key vocabulary from your lesson. Enter 16 target words and ask students to say the word, spell it out loud, or use it in a sentence when it’s revealed. The added challenge of deciding whether to keep or give away the box keeps students engaged and makes vocabulary review more exciting.
Make a Quiz More Exciting
Turn a regular quiz into a team-based game using the Mystery Box format. Instead of entering single words, type in short quiz questions. When a team selects a box, they must answer the question before deciding to keep or give it away. It’s a great way to review content while adding a layer of unpredictability and fun.
Grammar Practice
Use the game to review grammar by entering incomplete sentences with a missing word or multiple-choice-style grammar prompts. When a box is revealed, the team must choose the correct word to complete the sentence. For example: “She ___ to school every day” (go/goes). It’s a fun way to reinforce grammar rules while keeping students actively involved.
Speaking Practice
Use the Mystery Box Game as a speaking activity by entering simple prompts or questions. When a box is revealed, a student from the team must respond — for example, “Talk about your weekend,” “Describe your favorite food,” or “What would you do if you had a million dollars?” It’s a great way to get students talking in a fun, low-pressure way.
Play Against the Teacher
Make it even more fun by letting the class play against the teacher! Instead of two student teams, have one team made up of students and the other “team” be the teacher. When a team reveals a box, they still have to decide — keep the box or give it to the teacher. This version adds lots of excitement and students love the chance to try to beat the teacher.
Ready to get started?