Make your own game show night
A show is your whole night, set up in advance: games and quizzes in a running order, each with its rules, age groups and players ready. On the night it flows from one to the next, the points add up, and there's one winner at the end.
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.
How to make a show
- 1
Name it and choose how it runs
With a Quizmaster (a host who doesn't play sees the answers and judges), or Everyone plays (one of the players hosts, nobody sees the answers, and the AI judges).
- 2
Drag in the games
Drag games and quizzes in from the library, in the order you want, and drag them around until it's right.
- 3
Set each game's options
Tap a game to set its rules. On the night it starts straight away with them, so the show never stops for setup.
- 4
Run it
On the night, open the host remote on your phone, tap Play show and Run it.
Choices for your show
- Where everyone is: all together in one room (more than one TV in the room is fine), or more than one place: several homes, or people on their own, over the internet.
- How they play: in teams, where teams win the points, or every man for themself.
- Fair scoring: every game is worth the same in a show. Its winner gets 100 show points and the rest get points by how close they came, so a game scored in thousands never outweighs one scored in ones.
- Between games: automatic timing, or the host moves the show on from Backstage.
- The hosts: Arnold (the virtual host) and Lily (the virtual co-host) present it, with music and short cartoon clips between games.
Running orders to try
- Family night (about an hour): Tick Tock Boom, a quiz, Survey Showdown, Doodle Dash. More in family game night.
- Christmas Day: a warm-up, the Christmas quiz, Survey Showdown, Imposter. See Christmas party games.
- Work party: a quiz about the team, Who's Who Hullabaloo, Question Quest. See work party games.
- Grown-ups' party night: Imposter, Mind Meter, Emberbrook, then a poker hand or two (play chips only).
Games that make a good show
Quiz
A quiz on the TV with phones as buzzers or answer pads. Choose a ready-made quiz, write your own or build one with AI.
- 1–30 players
- Depends on the quiz
Survey Showdown
Try to name the answers people gave in a survey. Popular answers score more. A good game for people who like talking and quick guesses.
- 2–30 players
- About 15–25 minutes
Question Quest
Pick a clue from the TV board, buzz in and answer in the form of a question. For 2 to 8 players, each playing for themself, who enjoy trivia and a little risk.
- 2–8 players
- About 20–35 minutes
Spin & Solve
Spin the wheel, find the letters and solve the hidden phrase. Good for word lovers and families.
- 2–10 players
- About 15–25 minutes
More help
Questions
What is a show?
Your whole night, set up in advance: games and quizzes in a running order that plays one after another, with the points adding up to one winner.
Can the host play too?
Yes. Choose Everyone plays: one of the players hosts, nobody sees the answers, and the AI judges.
Can people in different homes play the same show?
Yes. Choose More than one place, and players join over the internet from wherever they are.
How many plays does a show use on the Trial?
One whole show counts as one play. See the plans.
Make your first show
Start your trial, drag in a few games and put it on the TV.
Start your trial