No TV? Play with just your phones

How phones-only games work

1. 1

   Start a phones game

   Pick “Phones only” and share the code.

2. 2

   Play it for the room

   Open your pick in your music app, or let the host’s phone play previews.

3. 3

   Score and reveal

   Secret scores, then the Big Reveal.

What you need

• A phone each, with the game open in the web browser. Nothing to install.
• Something to play the music: one phone playing previews for the room, or a Bluetooth speaker, soundbar or room speaker players can send their track to.
• A music app on each phone, if you’d rather play full tracks than previews.
• Between 3 and 10 players, or up to 20 if the host has a lifetime tier.

A phones-only round, step by step

1. The host picks “Phones only” and shares the code. If one phone is going to play the previews, the host switches on “Play previews on this device”.
2. A card is dealt on every phone. Everyone picks a track in secret and locks it in. You can change your mind until the playing starts.
3. On your turn, play your track for the room. “Open in” takes you straight to it in your music app, and you can send it to the speaker from there. With previews on, the host’s phone plays a 30-second preview instead.
4. The title appears on everyone’s screen a few seconds after you start, and the others score it in secret: 3, 2 or 1 hearts.
5. When everyone has played, the next card is dealt. No scores are shown until the Big Reveal at the end.

Tips

• Pair the speaker before you start, so nobody is fiddling with Bluetooth on their turn.
• The host can set the reveal delay: how long after a player starts their track its title appears, from 10 to 30 seconds.
• Tap “Done” when you’ve heard enough. Nobody has to play the whole song.
• Loving a track? During the countdown to the next one, tap “Keep listening”. If at least half of the others tap it too (and never fewer than two), the song gets an extra 30 seconds.
• “Open in” opening a website instead of the app? On Samsung Internet, turn on “Open links in other apps” under Useful features in Settings.
• Put players in seating order with the arrows in the lobby, so whoever’s next can get their track and the speaker ready.

Variations to try

• One phone, no music apps

  Switch on “Play previews on this device” and nobody needs a music app. Turn that phone’s volume up, or connect it to a speaker.

• Shuffle cards

  In the full game, the Anything goes level adds action cards. On a Shuffle card there’s no picking: hit shuffle in your music app and play whatever comes up.

• Found a TV after all?

  You can still connect one. The host enters its pairing code under “Got a TV?” in the lobby, or under TV screens in Host controls once the game’s on.

Questions people ask

Do we need a speaker?

It helps: send your song to a Bluetooth speaker from your music app.

Which music apps?

Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music and more.

How long is a game?

It depends on how many play and how many rounds; the lobby shows an estimate before you start.

Can we play without any music apps?

Yes. Switch on “Play previews on this device” and the host’s phone plays each track’s 30-second preview from Apple Music.

What if someone picks my song first?

First to lock it in keeps it, so pick another one. The difficulty setting can rule out even more songs.

What if my phone dies mid-game?

Open Top Tracks again in the same browser and tap “Rejoin game”, or tap the invite link. Your seat, your pick and your points are kept.