How do I run a live game?
Open an activity, press Play live and show the join code on the board. Students join on their own devices, with no accounts.
Updated
26 templates play live on the free plan, for up to 40 players a game. You don't need to sign in to host one, and students only type a first name.
Before you start
- An activity in a template that plays live, such as Quiz, Gameshow or Space race. Board-only templates show Board only under Play live, and offer to switch to a live template your content suits.
- Your page on a screen the class can see.
- A phone, tablet, laptop or Chromebook for each student, with a web browser. There's no app to install.
Step by step
- Open the activity. If you want, set the Game options first, such as a timer or lives: students' games use them.
- Press Play live. A window opens with the join address, a 6-digit code and a QR code. Show it on the board.
- Students go to the join page and type the code, or scan the QR code with a phone or tablet camera. Then they type their first name and press Join game.
- Names appear in your Players list as students join. To remove someone, press the × next to their name. Copy join link gives you a link to paste wherever your students can open it.
- Press Start game when everyone is in. The game opens on every student's screen.
- As students finish, their scores appear in your window, best first, with how many have finished. Anyone still playing shows as “Playing…”.
- Press End game and show the podium. The top three go on the podium, with everyone's score below.
- Press Play again for another round with the same players and code, or Close the game to finish.
What students see
After joining, students wait on a “You're in” screen until you press Start. Each plays the game on their own screen. When they finish, their device says their score is in and asks them to look up at the board. They can play again for fun, but their first score is the one that counts. When you end the game, each student sees their place and the top three.
How scores are ranked
Each game's score is ranked by its number, such as 7 in “7 / 10”, highest first. In Memory pairs, fewer turns is better. A tie goes to whoever finished first.
After the game
A live game saves nothing. The scores stay in the Play live window and in the activity's Leaderboard panel until you leave the page, so note them down or take a screenshot first. To keep each student's score, set the activity as homework instead. Where to see results has more.
Common problems
A student sees “There's no game with this code right now”
Check the code on the board. A code only works while your Play live window is open: if you closed it, press Play live again and use the new code.
A student sees “This game is full”
A game takes up to 40 players, and the latest to join are turned away. Students can play in pairs on one device.
Two students have the same first name
The join page asks the second one to add the first letter of their last name.
A student's page reloaded, or they joined late
A reload rejoins the same game. Anyone who joins during a round gets that round on their screen.
The game ended for everyone
A live game lasts while your page is open. Closing the Play live window, or leaving the page, ends it for every student.
For quick classroom jobs, try the free tools: spin the wheel, the random name picker, the team maker and the classroom timer.