Classic ESL Classroom Games Ranked: From WORST to BEST (The SABCD Tier List)
Which ESL Games Actually Work?
Not all “fun” classroom games help students learn English. Some waste time. Some create chaos. Others quietly deliver powerful speaking practice.
In this guide, I rank classic ESL classroom games from WORST to BEST using the SABCD framework, based on:
student engagement
adaptability
and real language output
If you want games that actually teach English, not just entertain, this article is for you.
What Is the SABCD Tier List for ESL Games?
The SABCD tier list ranks ESL activities based on teaching value, not nostalgia.
Here’s what I look at when judging each game:
Student engagement – Are all students involved or just a few?
Versatility – Can it be used across levels, ages, and lesson aims?
Language practice – Does it meaningfully practise speaking, listening, reading, or writing?
Many popular ESL games feel effective but collapse under these criteria.
Let’s start at the bottom.
D–Tier: ESL Games That Hurt More Than They Help
These activities are common in classrooms worldwide, but from a language-learning perspective, they deliver almost nothing.
Musical Chairs
What it is:
Music plays, students walk around chairs, and one chair is removed each round until a winner remains.
Why Musical Chairs Fails as an ESL Activity:
No language output
Students don’t speak, listen, read, or write English in any meaningful way.High chaos, low control
Running, pushing, and shouting replace learning.Zero adaptability
Remove English completely and the activity still works exactly the same.No link to lesson aims
It does not practise grammar, vocabulary, or communication.
Verdict:
Fun at parties. Terrible for English learning.
Word Searches and Crosswords
What they are:
Students search for vocabulary in grids or fill in crossword clues.
Why They’re D-Tier in Class:
No communication — students work silently
Low engagement — slow, passive, individual
No speaking or listening practice
Poor use of class time — better suited to homework
Verdict:
If students can complete it alone at home, it doesn’t belong in precious classroom time.
C–Tier: Limited, Repetitive, or Superficial ESL Games
These games aren’t useless, but they have clear limits.
Simon Says
What it is:
Students follow commands only if the teacher says “Simon says”.
Why It’s Only C-Tier:
Excellent TPR for beginners
Useful for verbs and classroom instructions
But:
Engagement drops quickly
Students don’t speak
Not suitable for teens or adults
Extremely limited language range
Verdict:
Like chocolate milk — enjoyable, but not a daily diet.
Chinese Whispers (Telephone)
What it is:
A sentence is whispered around the class and compared at the end.
Strengths:
Initial listening challenge
Raises awareness of pronunciation
Weaknesses:
Quickly becomes nonsense
Students whisper instead of speaking clearly
Minimal language production
Low adaptability beyond simple sentences
Verdict:
Funny once. Weak learning value long-term.
B–Tier: Fun and Engaging, But Light on Real Language
These activities keep attention but don’t maximise output.
Bingo
What it is:
Students listen for words or phrases and mark them on a card.
Why Bingo Works (Partially):
Strong listening practice
Easy to prepare
Works for all ages
Why It’s Not A-Tier:
Students don’t speak
Limited use for grammar or fluency
Verdict:
A reliable warm-up, not a core teaching activity.
Memory Cards / Matching Pairs
What it is:
Students flip cards to match words, pictures, or definitions.
Strengths:
Great for vocabulary recall
Visual support for lower levels
Limitations:
Only a few students active at once
Speaking is optional, not required
Best suited to young learners
Verdict:
Helpful, but output is too light for top-tier status.
A–Tier: ESL Games That Actually Teach Communication
Now we’re talking. These activities force students to use English meaningfully.
Back-to-Back Information Gap
What it is:
Two students sit back-to-back with different information. They must describe, clarify, and negotiate to complete a task.
Example language:
“Is the triangle above the star?”
“Can you repeat that?”
“Do you mean the big one or the small one?”
Why It’s A-Tier:
Forced speaking and listening
Teaches clarification strategies
Highly adaptable (maps, shapes, schedules, directions)
Mirrors real-world communication
Verdict:
One of the most authentic classroom communication tasks available.
Pictionary
What it is:
One student draws a word while others guess.
Why It’s Strong:
High energy
Excellent for vocabulary review
Adaptable to almost any topic
Limitations:
Only a few students speak at once
Can get chaotic in large classes
Verdict:
A dependable classic — just manage participation carefully.
S–Tier: The Elite ESL Classroom Games
These activities deliver maximum engagement and maximum English.
Find Someone Who
What it is:
Students walk around asking classmates questions to complete a checklist.
Example prompts:
“Have you ever travelled abroad?”
“Do you like spicy food?”
“Can you play a musical instrument?”
Why It’s S-Tier:
Every student speaks
Natural fluency practice
Perfect for question formation
Builds classroom community
Works for all ages and levels
Verdict:
If you could only use one ESL activity forever, this might be it.
Hot Seat
What it is:
One student guesses a word while teammates describe it without saying the word itself.
Language practised:
Definitions
Synonyms
Paraphrasing
Gestures and negotiation
Why It’s Elite:
High energy and pressure
Everyone speaks simultaneously
Easily scaled for any level
Verdict:
One of the few games where loud classrooms equal effective learning.
Battleships (Grammar Edition)
What it is:
Students guess grid coordinates to produce full sentences.
Example:
A3 → “He is playing football.”
C1 → “They went to the beach.”
Why Battleships Is S-Tier:
Repetition without boredom
Excellent accuracy and fluency balance
Massive sentence production
Works for:
present continuous
past simple
conditionals
comparatives
modals
Verdict:
One of the most deceptively powerful grammar games ever created.
Final Thoughts: Fun Isn’t the Same as Effective
Many ESL games survive because they’re familiar, not because they work.
The best classroom activities:
force students to communicate
involve everyone
and clearly support lesson goals
If a game still works when English is removed, it probably isn’t teaching English.
Want to Teach ESL the Right Way?
If you’d like:
more high-impact ESL activities
real classroom techniques
or to become a certified ESL teacher
Explore our TESOL courses, available online or in-class with Inspire Training & Development.
Teaching isn’t about noise or fun alone.
It’s about learning that lasts.
Happy teaching — and let the debate begin.
