How to Host a Gimkit Game: Step-by-Step for Teachers (2026)

To host a Gimkit game, log in at gimkit.com/login, click Play Live next to a kit, pick a game mode, set the game options, then click Start Game once students have joined with the game code, join link or QR code.

Hosting needs a Gimkit account and a kit. This guide covers each step, the options that matter, how students join, and what to do when a game won’t start. Last checked against Gimkit’s help center on October 31, 2026. GimkitJoin.uk is an independent guide and is not run by Gimkit.

How to host a Gimkit game in 6 steps

1. Pick a kit. Click the green Play Live button next to a kit on your dashboard, or use Play Live inside the kit.
2. Pick a game mode. Choose a mode in the Mode Picker, then click Continue.
3. Set the game options. Decide whether to connect classes, use the Nickname Generator, set the goal that ends the game, and allow late joiners. Options vary by mode. Click Continue.
4. Share access in the lobby. The lobby shows your game code. Students join with the code, the join link or the QR code.
5. Click Start Game. In 2D modes the button sits at the lower center; in other modes it is in the upper right.
6. End the game. Click End Game to stop early, or let it finish when the goal is reached.

These steps follow Gimkit’s Host a live game guide.

What you need before you host

• An Educator account. Gimkit’s sign-up guide says the Educator account is the one used to create kits and host games. New here? Our Gimkit login guide covers sign-up and sign-in.
• A kit. A kit is your question set. Pick one already on your dashboard, or build one (see the make-a-game section below).
• Devices and a stable connection. Gimkit says it cannot control the devices or networks players use, and larger games need faster, more reliable connections.

How to choose a Gimkit game mode

Click Play Live on any kit to open the Mode Picker. Each mode shows a short description and Mode Labels. Click Learn More for a full explanation of how it plays.

Use the labels to match a mode to your class. Gimkit’s own example: for a calm game built on strategy and teamwork, look for the Calming, Strategic and Collaborative labels.

Gimkit’s game-option guide names five 2D modes: Snowbrawl, Fishtopia, Tag: Domination, Capture The Flag and Farmchain. Their balance options control how much players earn per correct answer, such as snowballs, bait or energy.

Which modes you see changes over time. Gimkit says featured and Pro Exclusive modes rotate every few weeks, so treat your Mode Picker as the current list.

Game options to check before you start

These four options appear for every live game mode, per Gimkit’s game-options guide. Mode-specific options vary.

Option	What it does	Watch out for
Game goal	Sets how the game ends: time, cash, investigations, difficulty level or questions answered	Options differ by mode
Connect a class	Links a class to the live game	Students in the class join instantly at gimkit.com/join
Join in late	Lets students join after the game has started	On by default; turn it off to help prevent game-crashers
Nickname Generator	Gives players random nicknames	Not available when you use classes

Join in late carries over to your next game. If you switch it off once, it stays off until you switch it back on, so check it every time.

Need more time mid-game? Click the time left to add one minute, up to 59 minutes in total.

How students join your Gimkit game

The lobby shows your game code. Students have three ways in:

• Game code. Students without a class go to gimkit.com/join and type the code.
• Join link. Click the game code on your screen to copy a direct link.
• QR code. Hover over the game code to show it, so students can scan it.

If you connected a class, students in it go to gimkit.com/join and join instantly. Students who need help with the code step can follow our Gimkit join page.

In the lobby of a non-2D mode you can review player names and remove any that are inappropriate. In a 2D mode, a toggle in the lower right lets you join as a player or as a spectator.

Host live or assign homework?

Host live when the class plays together now. Assign homework when students should play on their own time. Both start from a kit on your dashboard.

	Live game	Assignment
Start with	Play Live	Assign HW
Who sets the pace	You, from the lobby	Each student
How students get in	Game code, join link or QR code	The assignment link you send, or their class dashboard
What ends it	The game goal, or you click End Game	The first goal a student reaches: a cash goal, or an optional question goal
Extra setup	Game options	Due date and class

Source: Gimkit’s guides to hosting a live game and creating an assignment.

How to make a Gimkit game (create a kit)

The game you host is built from a kit. To make one from scratch:

1. On your dashboard, click New Kit.
2. Enter the kit’s name, language and subject.
3. Choose a cover image. You can search Unsplash or paste an image link.
4. Select Add a Question. Type the question, then the correct and incorrect answers. Click Check next to an answer to switch it between correct and incorrect. Add media if you want, then click Add.
5. Repeat for every question, then click All Done to return to your dashboard.
6. Find the kit on your dashboard and click Play Live.

A kit can have more than one correct answer. Audio questions need a paid Gimkit plan. To skip typing, Gimkit’s help center also has guides for the Question Bank, importing flashcard sets and creating a kit from a CSV file.

Free vs Pro: what limits your hosting

You can host on the free Gimkit Basic plan. The difference is mostly which modes you can play and whether you can assign homework. This table follows Gimkit’s Pro FAQ, updated May 20, 2026.

	Gimkit Basic (free)	Gimkit Pro
Live games with featured modes	Yes, with as many students as you want	Yes
Game modes	About three free modes at a time, rotating	All modes, including Pro Exclusives
Assignments	Gimkit’s Basic announcement says new assignments can’t be created	Included
Image uploads and audio	Not listed	Included

Gimkit’s player-maximums page lists hard limits of 500 students for live games and 60 for 2D modes. That page was last updated in January 2023, so confirm the numbers before a large session.

Gimkit host problems and fixes

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
A student can’t join after the game starts	Join in late is off, and it carries over from your last game	Turn it on in Game Options before you start
No Nickname Generator option	A class is connected, and the generator is unavailable with classes	Host without a connected class if you want random nicknames
The mode you want isn’t listed	Basic shows about three free modes at a time, and featured modes rotate	Pick a listed mode now, or check again later; Pro unlocks all modes
The game ends too soon	The game goal was reached	Click the time left to add a minute, up to 59 in total; set a longer goal next time
The game lags or players drop	Gimkit can’t control players’ devices or networks	Use a faster, more reliable connection and keep the player count down
A player has an inappropriate name		In the lobby of a non-2D mode, review names and remove that player

FAQs