How Game Shows ONLINE works
The TV is the stage, everyone's phone is their buzzer, and the host runs the night from their own phone. Nobody needs to install anything to play.
How Game Shows ONLINE works: your TV is the show, your phone is the buzzer
Arnold (the virtual host) and Lily (the virtual co-host) show it all in 75 seconds: only the host needs an account, everyone else scans the TV and joins on their phone, how to answer (tap, type or say it), and the three ways to play a quiz.
Read the video transcript
Arnold: Game Shows ONLINE!
Arnold: Welcome to Game Shows ONLINE! Your TV is the show, and everyone’s phone is their buzzer. Here’s how it works.
Lily: Only the host needs an account. Everyone else just joins on their phone: no account, and no app to download.
Arnold: To join, scan the code on the TV with your phone’s camera, or go to game shows dot online slash play and type the room code.
Lily: Then type your name, and take a selfie or pick a cartoon character. That’s it, you’re in!
Arnold: The host runs the night from their phone: pick a game, start it, and skip ahead whenever you like.
Lily: When it’s time to answer, your phone shows you what to do. Most of the time you just tap your answer, or type it in.
Arnold: Some games want you to say it! Tap the big blue button, say your answer, then tap again to stop. Check what we heard, and tap Yes. And when someone’s answering, everybody else, shhh!
Lily: Quizzes can be played three ways: everyone guesses, buzz in first, or say it out loud to a Quizmaster in the room.
Arnold: That’s all there is to it. Grab your phones, join in, and pick a game!
Three steps to your first game
- 1
Put it on the TV
Open gameshows.online/screen in the TV's web browser, or our app on an Android TV. Scan the code it shows to link it to your account, once.
- 2
Everyone joins
Players scan the QR code on the TV with their phone camera and type a nickname. No app and no account for them.
- 3
Play
Pick a game or a whole show from your phone. The TV shows the game and keeps the score.
What you need
- A TV with a web browser, or an Android TV with our app. A laptop plugged into the TV works too. Not sure about your TV? Open gameshows.online/tvcheck on it: Check my TV tests it in about 20 seconds.
- A phone for each player. Any phone with a web browser. Up to 20 players (10 for Spin & Solve).
- One host account. The host signs up; players never need an account. See the plans.
Joining takes seconds
The TV shows a QR code and a four-letter room code. Players scan the code, or go to gameshows.online and type the letters, then choose a nickname and a picture: a selfie or one of our cartoon characters.
Players only ever type a nickname. There are no player accounts, no emails and no ads, and nothing about the players is kept after the party.
The host's phone runs the show
The host has a remote on their phone, called Backstage. From there they start games and quizzes, set the rules, pause, skip and keep an eye on the scores.
Hosts choose how they play. Playing along means you host and play too, and the answers stay hidden from you. Quizmaster means you run the game without playing, and you can see the answers to judge them.
Teams, or everyone for themselves
Play in teams, with the TV adding up each team's score, or have everyone play for themselves. A few games, like the secret-role games, are always played one person each.
A host with a voice
Many games have a host who talks: Arnold (the virtual host) and Lily (the virtual co-host) read out questions, cheer the winners and keep the night moving, with short cartoon clips between rounds.
In some games you say your answer out loud into your phone, and the AI checks it.
A game, a quiz or a whole show
Play one game at a time, run a quiz (one of ours, your own, or one AI writes for you), or put games and quizzes in a running order as a show (make your own show). Each one is explained below, with a short video.
What are the three ways to play a quiz?
Everyone guesses: every phone answers and everyone who is right scores. Buzz first: the fastest buzzer answers. Say it out loud: players answer to the room and a Quizmaster judges, so the Quizmaster does not play that quiz.
Read the video transcript
Arnold: There are three ways to play a quiz! Let's take them one at a time.
Arnold: First… Everyone guesses! Every phone picks an answer at the same time. Everyone who's right scores. The game does the marking.
Lily: Second… Buzz first! Race to hit your buzzer. The fastest player answers on their phone. The game does the marking.
Arnold: Third… Say it out loud! Shout your answer to the room. The Quizmaster sees the right answer on their phone, and taps Right or Wrong. They know the answers, so they sit that game out.
Lily: That's all three! Want to play along too? Pick Everyone guesses or Buzz first.
How do I make a quiz about my guests?
Send your guests a private link before the party. They answer at home (baby photos, whose voice is this, two truths and a lie), and on the night the TV turns their answers into the quiz.
Read the video transcript
Arnold: Make a quiz about your guests! Pick baby photos, whose voice, two truths and a lie, or who said this.
Lily: Email each guest their own private link, or send it to a parent, partner or friend to keep the surprise.
Lily: At home, they send answers, photos or a voice clip from their phone.
Arnold: See who's finished on your progress page, with an automatic reminder the day before.
Arnold: On party night, the TV turns those answers into the quiz. Your guests are the questions!
What are the Who’s Who Hullabaloo options on the guest list?
Three optional cards for the guest quiz: someone who knows each player answers their questions so it stays a surprise, people who know everyone (like a coach or a teacher) can answer about any player, and video messages let someone who can’t come say hello on the night. Leave them empty and every other game works the same.
Read the video transcript
Arnold: Who’s Who Hullabaloo options! Here’s what they’re for.
Arnold: Our guest quiz is all about your players. Switch these options on, and three cards appear. Every one is optional.
Arnold: Someone who knows them: a parent, partner or friend answers that player’s questions, so the answers stay a surprise.
Arnold: People who know everyone, like a coach or a teacher, can answer about any player.
Arnold: And video messages let someone who can’t make it say hello on the night.
Arnold: On party night, I turn all those answers into a quiz on the TV, and everyone guesses who’s who!
Arnold: Leave them empty, and every other game works just the same. Easy!
What is a show?
A show is your whole night, set up in advance. Put games and quizzes in a running order, and the night flows from one to the next with music and the host talking.
The points add up across every game to one big winner. One whole show counts as one play.
Read the video transcript
Arnold: A show is your whole night, set up in advance. Pick the games, then set their rules, age groups and players before the night.
Lily: Then it flows from game to game. No stopping for setup! The points add up all night, to one big winner.
Arnold: Or pick a one-off game: choose its options when you play, and its points count just for that game.
Questions
Do players need to download an app?
No app needed: players join in their phone's browser. There's an optional Game Shows ONLINE app if you prefer.
Which TVs work?
Any TV with a web browser, or an Android TV with our app. You can also plug a laptop into the TV and open gameshows.online/screen. To check yours before the party, open gameshows.online/tvcheck on the TV.
How many people can play?
Up to 20 players in most games, and 10 in Spin & Solve. Some games need a minimum, like the secret-role games.
Can the host play too?
Yes. Choose Playing along and the answers stay hidden from you, so it's fair.
What does it cost?
Basic costs nothing and includes Imposter. The Trial has every game and show for a month or 5 plays, whichever comes first. Unlimited is US$50 a month or US$540 a year. See the plans.
Ready for game show night?
Start your trial and put the first game on the TV in a couple of minutes.
Start your trial