Plan three games, not eight
Hosts overpack. Three games is plenty for an evening: something quick to start, something long in the middle, something loud to finish. Anything more and you spend the night explaining rules instead of playing.
The first twenty minutes
- Start before everyone arrives — latecomers can join a survey round mid-game.
- Open with a game that needs no explanation.
- Keep the first game under fifteen minutes.
- Don't wait for a perfect number of players; add bots or pair people up.
Order of play
Warm up with a survey round while people are still arriving and pouring drinks. Move to your longer board or card game once everyone has settled. Finish with something short and loud so the night ends on a high rather than trailing off during turn eleven of a strategy game.
Host details that matter
- Food that can be eaten one-handed.
- A visible scoreboard, or a game that keeps score itself.
- A stated end time — people relax when they know the shape of the night.
- One spare device charged and ready.
Ready to play?
Pick a nickname, share a code, and the board deals itself. Free, no download, 2–6 players.
Question packs mentioned
Set it up for your group
Read next
Frequently asked questions
What is Survey Smash?
Survey Smash is a free multiplayer survey game. You get a survey-style prompt like “Name something people do before bed”, and you score points by guessing the answers most people gave. The more popular your answer, the more points it's worth.
Is Survey Smash free?
Yes. Every question, every game mode and every question pack is free to play.
How many people can play?
2–6 players. One person creates a game, everyone else joins with the room code. You can also play solo against the bots.
How long does a game take?
You choose 3–10 rounds per game, with 30 seconds per turn, so a five-round game usually runs 15–20 minutes.