Running a live Gimkit session takes less setup time than most teachers expect. Pick a kit, choose a mode, configure a few options, share the join code — and the game runs itself. This guide walks through each step from the dashboard to the final leaderboard, so you know what to do as a Gimkit host before students even open their devices.
How to Be a Gimkit Host: The 5-Step Overview
The full process breaks into five steps. Get comfortable with this sequence and the whole thing becomes second nature after your first session.
To begin, you’ll need an account. If you haven’t set one up yet, open a Gimkit account first, then come back here.
Choosing a Kit to Play as the Gimkit Host
Go to your dashboard and find the kit you want to use. Click the green Play Live button to the right of any kit. You can also open a kit and click Play Live from the panel on the right side of the screen.
Any public kit works for a live session. That said, you’ll only receive game reports for kits you personally own. If you don’t have one ready, creating a kit in Gimkit takes just a few minutes.
Picking a Gimkit Game Mode
Clicking Play Live opens the Mode Picker. Browse through the available options — click “Learn More” on any mode to read what it involves before committing. Your selected mode gets a yellow outline. Hit the Continue button in the upper right corner to move forward.
The classic non-2D formats work well for fast recall sessions. Gimkit’s 2D game modes add movement and strategy on top of the questions, which changes how students engage with the content. If you run into rendering issues in those modes, you may need to enable WebGL in Gimkit’s 2D mode first.
Gimkit Host Game Options: What Each Setting Does
The game options screen is where you control how the session runs. Options differ depending on which mode you picked, but most sessions will let you:
- Connect Gimkit classes so students join without typing a code
- Turn on the Nickname Generator to block inappropriate names automatically
- Set a game goal — time limit, cash amount, or question count
- Allow or block late joins after the session starts
After everything looks right, click Continue to open the lobby.
What the Gimkit Host Sees in the Lobby
A Lobby tab opens once you hit Continue. Your game code sits front and center here. In 2D modes, your character appears in the lobby space and other characters show up as students arrive.
In non-2D modes, use the lobby time to scan player names and remove any that look inappropriate — just hover over a name and click to remove. In 2D modes, a toggle in the lower right corner lets you enter as a player or as a spectator.
How Students Join a Live Gimkit Game
Students have three ways to get into a session. Each is slightly faster than the last:
If you’re using Gimkit groups or classes, students can join instantly without entering anything at all. For long-running or repeated sessions, the join link is the fastest option to share through a class channel or LMS.
Starting and Ending the Game as a Gimkit Host
When everyone is in, click Start Game. In 2D games this button sits at the bottom center of the screen. In non-2D games, it’s in the upper right corner.
Once the session starts, a control panel in the upper right gives you access to music, sound effects, the leaderboard display, and the player list throughout the game. In non-2D modes, you’ll get a leaderboard screen you can cast to your projector or screen.
The game ends on its own when the goal you set is reached — usually a time limit in 2D modes. To stop early, hit End Game. Game reports appear in your dashboard after the session wraps up, but only for kits you own.
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, Gimkit assignments let you extend the same kits to async homework. Students play at their own pace and you still get the report. Gimkit Pro unlocks additional modes, unlimited sessions, and deeper class reporting tools.
FAQs
Do students need a Gimkit account to join a live game?
No. Students can join any live session using the game code, QR code, or join link. Accounts are optional for joining live games, though logged-in students get additional features like saved progress.
Can a Gimkit host use a public kit they didn’t create?
Yes — any public kit can be used for a live session. However, full game reports are only available for kits you personally own, not borrowed public kits.
What happens if students can’t join the Gimkit game?
Check that the Join Late toggle is enabled if students are arriving after the game started. If the code isn’t working, refreshing your host screen often reinitializes the connection. For persistent issues, see the guide on troubleshooting Gimkit game servers.
Can the Gimkit host join the game as a player?
In 2D modes, yes. A toggle in the lower right corner of the lobby lets you enter as a player rather than a spectator. In non-2D modes, you manage the leaderboard screen instead of playing directly.
How do you view the leaderboard during a Gimkit session?
In non-2D modes the leaderboard is available on your host screen and can be cast to a projector. In 2D modes, you can view the leaderboard on a student device separately.
