Bringing Mad Libs to Life on Voice Platforms
Challenge
Penguin Random House wanted to bring the iconic Mad Libs experience to emerging voice platforms like Alexa and Google Assistant. The challenge was to translate a highly interactive, social game into a voice-first format while preserving its simplicity, humour, and communal appeal.
Our thinking
We focused on adapting the core gameplay for voice rather than replicating it directly. By designing for natural conversation, shared experiences, and simplicity, we ensured the game remained intuitive and fun for both children and adults in a voice-first environment.
Execution
Matchbox designed and built the Mad Libs experience for Alexa and Google Assistant, including smart display support. We combined content design, conversation flows, and user testing to refine the experience, ensuring it worked seamlessly across voice and visual interfaces.
Outcome
Mad Libs became one of the most popular voice-first games on both Alexa and Google Assistant, delivering a fun, social experience that continues to engage users years after launch. You can find a Google case study about the Mad Libs game<a href="https://developers.google.com/assistant/downloads/mad-libs-casestudy.pdf">here.</a>