How to host a GeoHide game night with friends

GeoHide is at its best with a group. It needs no downloads, no accounts, and works on any phone or laptop with a browser, which makes it a perfect pick for a games night, a long car journey, or a remote hangout over video call. Here's how to run a session that keeps everyone laughing.

Getting everyone in

One person creates a lobby and shares the six-character code, or just sends the invite link. Everyone else picks a nickname and joins, no sign-up required. The game plays great with anywhere from two to eight players; four to six is the sweet spot for keeping rounds snappy while still having plenty of hiding spots to guess.

Choosing settings

• Rounds per player. For a casual night, one or two rounds each keeps the whole game under half an hour. Bump it up for a longer session.
• Time limits. Shorter hide and guess timers make for a frantic, funny game; longer timers reward careful detective work. Match it to your group's mood.
• No Move mode. Turning this on stops guessers from walking around the panorama, which levels the playing field between veterans and first-timers.

Keeping it fun for mixed skill levels

Not everyone will be a geography buff, and that's the point. Encourage people to think out loud, "those look like European plates, and it's driving on the right...", so the group learns together. New players catch on within a round or two, and the reveal screen, showing everyone's guesses and the true location, turns every round into a talking point.

House rules that spice things up

• Ban famous landmarks when hiding, so nobody wins on a lucky Eiffel Tower.
• Award a bonus point for the funniest wrong guess of the night.
• Play a "home countries only" round where everyone hides somewhere they've lived.

However you play it, the formula is the same: quick to start, easy to learn, and endlessly replayable because the whole planet is the board. Grab a few friends and start a lobby.