Party GamesParty game timer
A big countdown for one-minute games and timed rounds. Choose a time and tap Start.
How to use the timer
Tap a time, or type your own number of seconds, then tap Start. The big numbers count down, the last ten seconds turn red, and a beep sounds at zero if your phone's sound is on. Pause holds the clock; Reset sets it back. Prop the phone where the players can see it, or cast your screen to a television for a large group.
The beep is made by your browser when you tap Start. Phones on silent may stay silent, so also call "Stop!" yourself.
Which time for which game
| Time | Good for |
|---|---|
| 30 seconds | Lightning rounds, tie-breakers, one clue in a word game |
| 1 minute | Straw and Rajma, Biscuit on the Forehead, a turn in Don't Say It or Hum That Tune |
| 3 minutes | Wrap the Mummy, Blindfold Makeover, planning time for a tower |
| 5 minutes | A round of table games at one station; writing cards |
| 15 minutes | Building in Newspaper Tower; the length of one whole game in your running order |
Why time your games
- Fairness. Every player gets exactly the same time, and nobody argues with a clock.
- Excitement. A visible countdown makes the dullest task thrilling. Count the last five seconds aloud together.
- Pace. A host who times each game finishes the party on schedule, with the cake cut before the youngest guests fall asleep.
One-minute games in a row
A set of "minute" challenges makes a good half hour: set the timer to one minute and run three or four table games back to back, with a new set of players for each. Keep a tally on the scoreboard. Change the order so that each team starts first once.
Tips
- Keep the screen awake: your phone may dim after a while, so tap the screen now and then during long timers, or change the screen time-out in your phone's settings for the party.
- For music games, use your music player's pause button instead; a timer makes the stop too easy to predict.
- Children love being the timekeeper. It is a perfect job for a child who has just gone out of a game.