Articles on: Hosting

🕹 Host a live game

Host a live game in class to bring your kits to life and create engaging review experiences!

To host a live game, you'll just need to

Select a kit
Select a game mode
Set up your game options
Share your game code or join link
Start your game

In case you need a little more guidance, here's details on how to start hosting a live game.


You'll start by picking out the kit you want to use. You can host any public kit, but you'll only get game reports for kits you own.

To host a kit, click the green Play Live button to the right of any of your kits in your dashboard or click "Play Live" from the right-hand pane from inside any kit.

Play Live Button - Dashboard

Play Live from Inside Kit

Next, you'll see the Mode Picker where you can browse the mode you want to use with your kit.

Mode Picker - Scroll to Explore Modes

Select any mode and click "Learn More" to read details about that mode.

Mode Picker - Learn More

Once you've selected the game mode you want to use, it'll be outlined in yellow. Click the big Continue button in the upper right-and corner to move to the game options screen.

Mode Picker - Select a Mode

The game options screen is where you'll set up your game. You can decide if you want to connect classes, turn on the Nickname Generator, which game goals you want to use to end the game, whether students can join late, and more.

Game options are different depending on the mode you're playing. Learn more about game options here.

Game Options - Set Up Your Game

Once you've set up your game, click Continue again to get your game started.

Game Options - Set Up and Continue

A new Lobby tab will open with your game code. If you're playing a 2D mode, you'll see your character in the lobby and more characters will join as students join.

Lobby - 2D Modes

The Lobby is where your students will gather while you wait for everyone to join. In non-2D modes, the Lobby is where you'll want to take a look at everyone's names and kick anyone with inappropriate names.

In 2D modes, you can decide if you want to join the game as a player or spectator. Use the toggle in the lower right-hand corner to change how you join.

Lobby - Join as Player or Spectator

Students can join your game using the game's QR code, join link, or game code.

To pull up a QR Code for your students, just hover over the game code on your host screen.

QR Code for Live Games

Students joining without Classes will visit Gimkit.com/join and enter your game code to join.

You can also click the game code to copy a link directly to your game. Share that link with your students and they'll be able to join your game without entering the game code.

If you're using Classes, your students can visit gimkit.com/join to join your game instantly.

Lobby - Game Link

When you're ready to get the game going, click Start Game. this button will be in the lower center for 2D games and in the upper right-hand corner for non-2D games.

Lobby - Start Game

Once you click "Start Game," you and your students will be taken to your game. In non-2D modes, you'll have a leaderboard screen you can cast to the room. in 2D modes, your screen will show wherever you are on the map.

In the upper right-hand corner, you'll see a panel with game controls. Use these to manage your game, including music & SFX volume, displaying the leaderboard, viewing players, managing your own game if you joined a 2D game as a player, and ending the game.

Hosting - Game Controls

If you want to end the game early, just click the End Game button. Otherwise, your game will end when you reach the game goal you set up, usually a time limit for 2D games.

Hosting - End Game

And that's it - happy hosting!

Updated on: 14/03/2024

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