How to play Cackle

One screen. Everyone’s phones. About a minute to set up.

To play Cackle, open cackleparty.com on a TV or laptop everyone can see, then have each player scan the QR code with their phone. Nobody installs anything. Here is the whole thing, step by step.

What you need

• A screen everyone can see with a web browser: a TV, a laptop, or a TV with a laptop or phone mirrored to it.
• A phone for each player (iPhone or Android), with Wi-Fi or mobile data.
• 3 to 12 players. Sound on the big screen helps.

Step by step

1. Open Cackle on the big screenOn a TV or laptop everyone can see, go to cackleparty.com and tap “Host on this screen”. On a smart TV or Xbox, open cackleparty.com/tv in the web browser.
2. Pick a game and a vibeChoose The Lineup, Comeback, Rough Draft, Pick a Side, Chaos Deck or Party Mix, then pick a vibe: Chill, Party or Unhinged.
3. Everyone joins on their phonePlayers scan the QR code on the TV, or go to cackleparty.com/join and type the 4-letter room code, then pick a name. 3 to 12 players can join.
4. Start the gameWhen everyone is in, the host taps Start. The TV explains each game before its first round.
5. Play on your phone, watch the TVVote, write, draw or guess on your phone. The TV shows the reveals and the scores.
6. Crown the winnerAt the end, the TV shows the winners and awards, and you can share the results card.

Getting it on the TV

• Laptop + HDMI: the most reliable. Open cackleparty.com, tap Host, and press F for full screen.
• Smart TV or Xbox browser: open cackleparty.com/tv. Arrow keys and OK on the remote work the menus.
• AirPlay or Chromecast: mirror a laptop, iPad or spare phone to the TV.
• Coming soon: a Cast button, and a Fire TV and Android TV app.

More detail in our guide to party games on a TV.

How scoring works

Every game is points. Play with the room, guess well or get the votes and you score. Land in the minority, flop a dare or get the fewest votes and you lose 100 to 300 points, with a WOMP stamp on the TV. A leaderboard shows up between rounds, and the end screen hands out awards.

The rules for each game

• 👉 The LineupMost Likely To, Guilty or Not, Hot Take, Who Wrote It? and Hot Seat.
• 🎤 ComebackWrite the funniest answer. The room votes.
• ✏️ Rough DraftDraw on your phone. Everyone guesses live.
• ↔️ Pick a SideA or B. The minority takes the hit.
• 🃏 Chaos DeckHouse rules, dares, truths and mini-games.
• 🎛️ Party MixEvery game, rotating on its own.

Tips for a great game night

• New group? Start with Pick a Side on Chill, then move to The Lineup.
• Put the screen where everyone can read it from the couch. The phones only show what you need to tap.
• Want the night to run itself? Pick Party Mix. Breaks are built in.
• Phone died or dropped out? Open the same link again to get your seat back.
• Be kind to the room. Anyone can pass a dare, and the host can remove a player.

Questions? See the FAQ.