6 Best ESL Games & Activities for Adults

There’s a sad tale that learning English can’t be fun in any way, and it’s especially not that much fun left out there for adult learners. It’s a popular myth that must be debunked!

Not only is this belief outdated, but it also goes against everything we know about how the brain actually learns. And here are three good reasons why:

Dopamine is a hormone and a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure, reward, and motivation. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. This chemical also enhances memory formation, attention, and the brain’s ability to retain new information.

Next time you catch yourself thinking that playing a silly word game or having a lively debate in class is a “waste of time”, or “adult brains are wired differently”, remember this: forcing language into someone’s brain under pressure is like running a high-performance car on the cheapest fuel. It might still move, but it won’t get far, and it won’t run well for long.

The adult brain, just like any brain, needs quality fuel: curiosity, connection, and a sense of reward. Fun isn’t a luxury in learning, nor is it a silly distraction for kids. That’s why ESL games for adults matter — they are scientifically sound.

The first thing we often hear from adult students is: 

“I have been learning English my whole life: through books without pictures, grammar tables, rote learning, translating texts. Don’t bother trying to engage me, nothing works better than that. Old but gold.”

What these students often don’t realise is that constant pressure or boredom during learning triggers cortisol (the stress hormone), which disrupts learning processes. Cortisol narrows focus, impairs memory, and makes people more likely to respond to learning as if it were a potentially threatening activity. The result? 

Fight, flight, or freeze: from avoidance and resistance to conflict and burnout.

That’s all on top of language anxiety, perfectionism, and fear of judgement from past experiences.

If laughter is a social lubricant, then all opportunities to laugh together lay the groundwork for a consistent, bonded group. Once learners feel like they belong, they contribute more — and support one another’s growth.

What’s more, shared positive moments gradually boost participation. Learning becomes something that unites the group in a safe space, where social masks can be dropped. When an activity is both enjoyable and purposeful, learners forget to be self-conscious. That’s when real progress happens. It arises from the internal desire to stay and engage, not from external pressure to pass a test or earn a certificate.

If you’re still clinging to the thought that adult learners are too serious or “too grown-up” to enjoy ESL games for adults, you simply haven’t found the right game yet.

Judges, doctors, engineers — they all carry a lot on their shoulders. If studying becomes just another burden, it won’t produce results, no matter how often they show up.

Let’s explore some of the most popular ESL games for adults that can be easily adapted to suit your learners’ needs:

Categories

Give students a category (e.g., colours, animals, food, or something more advanced like verb forms or vocabulary from a previous lesson). Their task is to list as many related words as they can.

Taboo

Like Charades, the goal is to help teammates guess a word. However, the clue-giver must avoid certain ‘taboo’ words. This encourages paraphrasing and creative language use.

Call My Bluff

In this bluffing game, students are given obscure words. Each group writes fake but plausible definitions; one is real. The others guess which is correct.

Countdown/Scrabble

Inspired by the popular TV show or classic board game, students compete to create the longest or highest-scoring words from a random selection of letters. Can be played individually or in teams.

Jeopardy

In teams, learners choose categories and point values to answer questions. Adaptable for grammar, vocabulary, culture, and more.

It’s a perfect way to review and have fun at the same time — no matter the topic or level. Few ESL games for adults bring as much energy and learner engagement in such a short time.

If I had to summarise the point, I’d say this: fun is not reserved for children. Adults have more to deal with, which is precisely why they deserve enjoyable learning experiences.

View ESL games for adults not as time-fillers, but as meaningful, structured opportunities to explore language actively and safely. Whether it’s a low-pressure vocabulary race or a spontaneous guessing challenge, these tasks deliver repetition, variation, and authenticity — the essential trio of effective learning.

A well-chosen game doesn’t just warm up a lesson — it can unlock fluency, build community, and create lasting motivation. In short: ESL games for adults aren’t a break from learning. They are learning, in its most human form.

And remember: while ESL activities for adults require careful scaffolding, your role is crucial. With adult students, you’re not just facilitating a game – you’re providing a safe space. You become the guide who helps learners lower their affective filter, making room for English to become part of their lives.

By the way, if you're also someone who’s always looking to grow and develop as a teacher, Grade University is here to support you.