Gimkit Host Guide: How To Make And Run Games

If you want to be a confident gimkit host, you can set up fast, engaging review games in minutes.
This gimkit host guide shows you exactly how to host a gimkit game, create kits, and fix common issues step by step.

You will learn:

• How to make a gimkit and build your first kit
• How to choose the right mode and settings
• How to host live games and homework
• How to use a simple gimkit creative game host setup

1. Get Ready

Before you open Gimkit, make sure you have:

• A laptop or tablet with stable internet
• A teacher email you can access
• Students with any device that opens a browser

Decide your main goal for this session:

• Quick review
• Graded quiz style
• Homework practice

Knowing the goal helps you pick the right mode and settings later.

2. Create Your Gimkit Teacher Account

Follow these steps to start as a gimkit host:

1. Go to the Gimkit website.
2. Click Sign Up.
3. Choose Teacher when asked for your role.
4. Enter your email and password.
5. Confirm your email from the message Gimkit sends.
6. Log in and check that your name and school details are correct.

Keep your login simple and safe. Do not share it with students.

3. Learn the Dashboard Layout

Once you log in, you land on the dashboard. Focus on three main areas:

• My Kits: your question sets
• Classes: groups of students
• Assignments: homework style games

You will also see buttons like New Kit and Play.
These two are the ones you use most as a gimkit host.

4. How to Make a Gimkit: Create Your First Kit

4.1 Start a New Kit

1. Click New Kit.
2. Add a clear title, for example, “Unit 3 Fractions Review”.
3. Pick the subject and language.
4. Click Continue.

4.2 Add Questions Manually

1. Choose a question type, usually multiple choice for beginners.
2. Type the question.
3. Add at least two answer options.
4. Mark the correct answer.
5. Click Save.
6. Repeat until you have 10 to 20 questions.

Ten to fifteen questions usually give you a five to ten-minute game.

4.3 Add Questions From The Question Bank

1. Click Question Bank in your kit.
2. Search your topic, for example “photosynthesis”.
3. Select suitable questions.
4. Add them to your kit and edit wording if needed.

This is the quickest method when you are still learning how to make a gimkit efficiently.

5. Optional: Import a Quizlet Set

If you already have a Quizlet set, you can reuse it instead of typing everything again.

1. Open your set in Quizlet.
2. Click the menu and choose Export.
3. Copy the exported text.
4. In Gimkit, open your kit and find the import or flashcard option.
5. Paste the text.
6. Check that terms and definitions look right, then save.

This saves time and keeps wording consistent with your other materials.

6. Choose a Game Mode

Gimkit offers several modes. Start simple while you learn how to host a gimkit game smoothly.

Common choices:

• Classic: straight quiz with in game money
• The Floor Is Lava: money slowly drops, students must answer faster
• Trust No One and other modes: more playful, good for high engagement

Pick the mode based on class mood and your learning goal.
For a first run, most teachers use Classic.

If you want broader ideas on game based learning, you can also check Edutopia’s game based learning resources.

7. Set Game Settings Correctly

Use this table as a quick setup guide.

Setting	Suggested Starting Value	Why it helps
Game length	5 to 10 minutes	Keeps focus high and limits off task time
Question count	10 to 20 questions	Enough practice, not overwhelming
Goal type	Time based or cash based	Time based is easier for first sessions
Shop and powerups	On for fun review, off for tests	Avoids chaos during serious assessments

You can adjust these later once you see how your class reacts.

8. Host a Live Gimkit Game

8.1 Start Hosting

To actually host a gimkit game:

1. Open your kit from My Kits.
2. Click Play.
3. Choose your game mode.
4. Click Host.

Gimkit shows a game code and a join link.

8.2 Get Students Into The Game

Ask students to:

1. Open a browser on their device.
2. Go to the Gimkit join page.
3. Enter the game code and their name.

When most students have joined, click Start.

8.3 Run And Wrap Up

During the game:

• Watch the leaderboard.
• Pause if many students struggle on the same question.
• Offer quick hints where needed.

At the end:

• Click End Game.
• Show the class summary and tricky questions.
• Highlight two or three key points to remember.

This is the core workflow for any gimkit host guide.

9. Assign Gimkit As Homework

1. Open your kit.
2. Click Assign or Assignments.
3. Choose a due date and time.
4. Decide how many attempts students get.
5. Copy the assignment link.
6. Paste it into your LMS or class chat.

Later, open the assignment again to see:

• Who completed it
• Scores and time spent
• Which questions students missed most

Use that information to shape your next lesson.
For general guidance on safe classroom tech use, Common Sense Education is also a helpful resource.

10. Gimkit Creative Game Host Setup

Creative mode lets you build a lobby and custom maps.
Use this simple gimkit creative game host setup to control where the host and players start. For ideas, you can check the Fandom page.

10.1 Create The Host Lobby

1. Open Gimkit Creative and create a new map.
2. Build a small lobby room with clear signs.
3. Place instructions so the host knows what each button does.

10.2 Place Spawn Pads

Use this table to set the Allowed Player Type and phase.

Location	Allowed Player Type	Use During Phase
Host lobby spawn	Game Host	Pre Game
Player start area	Players	Game
Shared casual area	Everybody	Pre Game

To set them:

1. Place a spawn pad.
2. Open its settings.
3. Choose the Allowed Player Type from the list.
4. Set the correct Use During Phase.

10.3 Connect Buttons, Relays, And Teleporters

For each game map:

1. Place a button in the lobby labeled Game 1, Game 2, and so on.
2. Connect the button to a relay device.
3. Connect the relay to a teleporter.
4. Place the teleporter target in the game map area.
5. Put spawn pads in that area for the host and players.

Pressing the button triggers the relay, then the teleporter, and moves the host to the correct map.

11. Troubleshooting Common Problems

Students cannot join

• Confirm the game code matches the code on your screen.
• Check that you are actually in Host mode, not preview.
• Ask students to refresh their browser.

Game feels too chaotic

• Shorten the game length.
• Turn off the shop and strong powerups.
• Reduce question count to ten or twelve.

Scores look strange

• Check that students did not use the same name.
• Review your goal type and settings.
• Run a short two minute test game to verify.

Homework results do not show

• Make sure you ended the assignment after the deadline.
• Refresh the results page.
• Check that you used the assignment link, not a live game.

12. Practical Tips From Experience

• Test every new kit by hosting a one minute game with yourself.
• Keep your first class game simple, short, and light.
• Use images for vocabulary or science concepts when possible.
• Reuse strong kits for mid term and final review.
• Let students suggest topics or create a small kit once they understand the format.

These habits make you a smoother gimkit host over time.

FAQs

How many questions should a Gimkit game have?

For a quick review, aim for 10 to 15 questions.
For a longer session, you can go up to 25, but keep the game under 15 minutes.

Which Gimkit mode is best for a first lesson?

Classic mode works best for your first lesson.
It is simple, easy to explain, and still fun for students.

Can I use Gimkit for graded quizzes?

Yes, you can.
Turn off powerups, set a clear time limit, and treat the results as a quiz score.

How do I keep students from using silly names?

Ask students to use first name and last initial only.
You can also remove players with inappropriate names from the lobby before starting.

Do students need their own accounts to play?

Students do not need accounts for live games or most homework.
They just need the join code or assignment link from you.