A music game for the Christmas gathering at home
After the meal everyone is full and nobody wants to move. A turn-based game on the TV gives the table something to do together without anyone needing to be quick.
Free to try. Whoever starts the game logs in with an email code, no password. Players who join a party room need no account and no app.
Pick a decade or a deck to set the mood, or a broad mix if the family is large. You do not need festive songs, any deck works, and the timeline gives everyone something to say about songs from their own youth. The host opens the room on the TV and relatives join with a QR code on their own phone.
The turn-based format fits a long afternoon: one player at a time listens and places, and the others cheer or groan from the sofa. Set the target to 6 or 7 cards for a game that lasts over coffee. Players who prefer not to use a phone can share one with a neighbour, who can whisper advice.
Best way to play it Party room: Timeline. Party room: Timeline is the best fit because the turns are slow and easy to follow, so everyone from the youngest to the oldest gets their moment.
How a game works
- 1
Pick a deck
Choose a popular public deck, or turn your own playlist into a deck.
- 2
Choose how to play
Pass one phone around the table, or open a party room where everyone plays on their own phone.
- 3
Listen and guess
A 30 second preview plays and nobody sees the year. Place the song on a timeline or lock in a year.
- 4
Reveal and score
Title, artist and year come out, the timeline grows or the points go up, and the next song starts.
The timeline in one look
A timeline is a row of songs in release order. You hear a new song, never its year, and decide where it fits between the songs already on the row. Get it right and the row grows.
Tips for a better game
Let the table pick a decade
A single decade makes the small differences matter, and a mix gives each generation something to win.
Decide on stealing up front
Steal tokens add rivalry that some tables love. Turn them off if the mood is more cosy than competitive.
Pair up with a neighbour
Someone who does not want a phone can sit beside a player and place songs together.
Why it works at a party
No cards needed
Everything happens on screen, so there is nothing to print, shuffle or lose under the sofa.
Works in the browser
No app to install, not even for a party room. Open the page and play.
Three ways to play
One phone for a small group, or a party room with a big screen for a bigger crowd.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need festive songs in the deck?
No. Any deck works, so pick a decade or a playlist the family likes. The game is about guessing when a song came out.
Can relatives in another house join?
The party room is built for one location with one big screen, so it suits a gathering where everyone sits together.
What does it cost to play?
Popular public decks are free to play. If you turn your own playlist into a deck, the first 100 cards of that deck are free.
Do players need an account or an app?
No app is needed. Whoever starts the game logs in with an email code, no password. Players who join a party room scan a QR code or type the 4 letter room code, then pick a name.
Ready for the first song?
Pick a deck, choose how you want to play and have the first round running within a minute.
Hitify is not affiliated with Hitster or Jumbo. Hitster is a registered trademark of Koninklijke Jumbo B.V.