Go play this secret game in your TikTok DMs

TikTok has rolled out an exciting new feature: a hidden emoji game that users can access directly through their direct messages. The objective is straightforward yet challenging: leap across alligators using your finger to reach new heights. However, players must steer clear of the skeletal alligators and be swift, as broken alligators vanish after a single bounce. To gain an advantage, players can aim for floating emojis that provide a speed boost, or land on propeller-equipped alligators for an extra lift. But be cautious—landing on an alligator or a skeleton that's out of bounds means it’s game over. The primary goal of the game is to outscore your opponent, with both players' scores visible in the upper right corner of the screen. TikTok confirmed to TechCrunch that the game is now available worldwide, functioning in both one-on-one and group chats. To start playing, users simply need to send any single emoji in a chat and tap on it to launch the game. The emoji you select will then appear on the screen to assist in your bounces. This playful addition aims to enhance the messaging experience on TikTok by introducing a competitive element. The strategy mirrors a similar initiative by Instagram, which launched a hidden emoji game in its DMs two years ago. In Instagram's variant, players control a paddle to keep an emoji bouncing until it falls. Moreover, TikTok isn't the only platform venturing into this territory. Meta has indicated that Threads is considering similar interactive games within chats, with a prototype basketball game currently in the works that allows users to shoot hoops with finger swipes.