How to host a Sofa Showdown game night

A good game night needs surprisingly little equipment. Sofa Showdown runs in a web browser, so there is nothing to install and nothing to buy. You need one shared screen, one computer to drive it, and a phone for every player. This guide walks through the setup from start to finish, and then covers the softer skills that turn a few rounds into a night people talk about.

What you need

The host screen is the stage. It shows questions, drawings, votes and scores to the whole room. Hosting needs a laptop or computer, because hosting from a phone is not supported. You can play right on the laptop screen for a small group, but a TV is much better. Connect the laptop to your TV with an HDMI cable, or use screen casting if your setup supports it. Turn the TV volume up: several games use sound, and one of them, Hum Dinger, depends on it completely.

Every player needs their own phone with a web browser. Players do not need an account, an app or a download. They just need to be able to open a web page and type a code.

Starting a room

On the computer connected to the TV, open Sofa Showdown and choose Host a Game. You will land on the game shelf, organised into Party & Social, Brain Teasers and Live Action. Pick a game. Some games have a short setup screen, for example choosing a prompt pack or a trivia category, before the lobby opens.

The lobby shows a four-letter room code on the big screen. Players go to Sofa Showdown on their phones, choose Join, type the code and pick a nickname. Their names appear on the TV as they arrive. When everyone is in, start the game from the host screen.

Check the player count first

Every game lists its supported player range on its page and on the shelf. Most games handle up to ten players, while Sketchy Whispers is capped at eight. Some games need a minimum: Most Likely To, In Sync and Understudy need at least four. Counting heads before you pick saves an awkward restart. If you have a big crowd, our guide to games for big groups has suggestions; for a smaller table, see games for small groups.

Explain less, play sooner

Every game shows short instructions on screen before the first round starts, so you do not need to deliver a rules lecture. A single sentence is usually enough: "You will each get a prompt on your phone, write the funniest answer, then vote." Most rules click after the first round. If someone is confused, the second round fixes it faster than any explanation.

Each game page explains scoring, the question players ask most once the scoreboard appears.

Arrange the room

Seat people so everyone can see the TV without twisting. Phones should be charged, and it helps to turn off auto-lock or increase the timeout so screens do not go dark mid-round. For games that use motion, like Be on the Level, clear some floor space and move drinks out of the way. For microphone games, ask everyone to allow microphone access when prompted.

Pace the night

Most games last between five and fifteen minutes. A two-hour evening easily fits six to eight games with breaks. Start with something quick and easy to learn, put the bigger, more personal games in the middle, and finish with something loud. Our game night order guide goes into detail.

Watch the room rather than the scoreboard. If people are laughing, let the game run. If the energy dips, switch to something physical or something quick. You are the host, not a referee, and it is fine to call a game early and move on.

Latecomers

When someone arrives late, let them join the next game rather than interrupting one in progress.

Keep it friendly

Some games, like Most Likely To, are built around gentle roasting. Know your audience. If one person keeps being the target, steer the group toward a skill game for a while. And if you play one of the adult drinking games, such as Police Sketch or Brush Troll, make sure everyone has opted in, and remember that water counts as a drink.

One screen, a handful of phones and a room code. The rest is your friends.