Hot Seat in a minute
Hot Seat is the party game where one player takes the spotlight and answers questions about themselves. Everyone gets a turn in the seat. It is a simple way to find out a friend's favourite film, biggest dream or oddest habit, and it often turns up things even close friends did not know.
How to play Hot Seat
You need three or more people. Put one chair where everyone can see it, or simply take turns from where you sit.
- Pick the first player. One person takes the hot seat. Everyone else is a questioner.
- Ask questions one at a time. Go around the group, each person asking one question. Use a list, cards or your own ideas.
- Answer honestly and quickly. The player in the seat answers the first thing that comes to mind. Most groups allow one or two passes per turn.
- Swap when time is up. After a set number of questions, or a timer such as two minutes, the next player takes the seat.
- Finish when everyone has sat. The game ends once everyone has had a turn. In the classic version there is no score.
The guessing version
- Read a question about the player in the seat, like "What is their favourite dessert?".
- The player writes their real answer in secret, and everyone else writes what they think it will be.
- Reveal the answers. Each guess that matches scores a point.
- Whoever has the most points once everyone has been in the seat knows the group best. This is how the online room plays.
See Hot Seat on your phone
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The hot seat answers -
Everyone guesses -
See who nailed it
Playing Hot Seat online
Online, Hot Seat plays the guessing version. Each round one player, in turn, takes the hot seat and sees a question about themselves. They type their answer privately while everyone else types a guess at what they will say. Nobody sees anyone else's text until everyone has locked in or the 90-second timer runs out.
At the reveal, the room shows the real answer next to every guess. A guess that matches scores one point, and capital letters and punctuation do not matter. The scores carry through the match, and the end shows the best guesser. Rooms hold up to 8 players, and the game is best with three or more. The host picks 3, 5 or 8 rounds and a category of Favourites, Dreams & Wishes, Habits & Quirks or Just for Fun, or a mix of all four.
If you are in the same room, ask the player in the seat to explain their answer. If you are apart, turn on the built-in video call, or keep your usual FaceTime or Zoom call running and share the room link.
Tips and house rules
- Online, keep answers to one or two words. "Pizza" matches far more often than "a big cheesy pizza".
- Agree on a pass rule before you start, so nobody feels stuck on a question.
- Ask follow-up questions after a surprising answer. That is where the stories come from.
- For younger players, stick to favourites like food, animals, colours and games.
- In a big group, use a two-minute timer and let the player in the seat pick the next person.
- Online, choose 8 rounds with a full room so everyone gets a turn in the seat.
60 Hot Seat questions
Favourites
- What's their all-time favourite meal?
- Which season do they love the most?
- What's their go-to comfort movie?
- What's their favourite way to spend a weekend?
- Which drink do they order almost every time?
- What's the best gift they've ever received?
- What's their favourite kind of music to relax to?
- Which place would they most love to visit again?
- Which pizza topping would they defend to the end?
- What's their favourite board or card game?
- Which song would they pick on a karaoke night?
- What colour would they paint their bedroom walls?
- Which superhero would they want on their side?
- What's their favourite word to say out loud?
- Which dessert could they eat every single day?
Dreams & Wishes
- If they won the lottery, what's the first thing they'd buy?
- What's their dream holiday destination?
- What job would they do if money didn't matter?
- Which era would they most want to time-travel to?
- What skill do they secretly wish they had?
- If they could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?
- What would their ideal home look like?
- What's one adventure still on their bucket list?
- Which superpower would they choose without thinking twice?
- If they could be famous for one thing, what would it be?
- If any animal could be their pet, which would they pick?
- Which city would they move to tomorrow if they could?
- What invention would they create to make life easier?
- Which world record would they most like to break?
- Which film world would they most like to live in?
Habits & Quirks
- Are they an early bird or a night owl?
- What's the first thing they do every morning?
- What's a small habit that always gives them away?
- How do they take their coffee or tea?
- What do they always keep in their bag or pocket?
- What's their most-used app on an ordinary day?
- What snack could they never say no to?
- Which side of the bed do they sleep on?
- What do they do while waiting for the kettle to boil?
- How many alarms do they set each morning?
- What's their go-to excuse for running late?
- Which word or phrase do they say all the time?
- Are they a crust eater or a crust leaver?
- What do they always do right before falling asleep?
- What do they hum or sing when nobody's listening?
Just for Fun
- What would they be surprisingly good at on a game show?
- What nickname suits them a little too well?
- What's the most useless talent they're weirdly proud of?
- Which fictional character are they secretly most like?
- What would the title of their autobiography be?
- What's something silly that always makes them laugh?
- If they were an animal for a day, which one would they pick?
- What emoji do they use way too much?
- What's the one thing they'd grab for a desert island?
- What would their superhero name be?
- How long would they last in a zombie film?
- If they were a food, which one would they be?
- What would they name a pet goldfish?
- What would their catchphrase be in a sitcom?
- Which household chore would they happily never do again?
Hot Seat FAQ
How do you play Hot Seat?
One player sits in the hot seat and answers questions about themselves, one from each person in the group. After a set number of questions or a timer, the next player takes the seat.
How many people do you need?
Three or more works best. The online room holds up to 8 players.
How does scoring work?
The classic game has no score. In the guessing version, everyone writes what they think the player will say, and each correct guess scores a point. The online room uses the guessing version.
What are good Hot Seat questions for kids and families?
Ask about favourites, dreams and harmless habits, like a favourite meal or a dream holiday. The questions listed above are written for all ages.
Can you play Hot Seat on Zoom or FaceTime?
Yes. Keep your call running and share the room link, or use the video call built into the room. Answers and guesses stay private until the reveal.
Is it free to play Hot Seat online?
Yes. The room is free in any browser, with no app to download and no account to create.
