10 Pro Tips Every Gimkit Host Should Know Before Going Live

 You are about to press “Start Game” and your students are waiting in the lobby.

But wait, do you know which game mode works best for today’s lesson? Have you turned on the Nickname Generator? Did you test the join code? Are your questions set to the right difficulty?

If you are not sure about any of that, do not worry. Most teachers feel the same way the first few times they host a Gimkit game.

Being a Gimkit host is exciting. Your students earn virtual money for right answers, buy power-ups, and compete on a live leaderboard, all while learning real content. But there is a difference between a game that goes smoothly and one that turns into chaos.

This guide gives you 10 pro tips that every Gimkit host must know before going live. These tips are based on what actually works in real classrooms. Follow them, and your next Gimkit session will be faster, smoother, and a lot more fun for everyone.

Let us jump in.

What Is a Gimkit Host? (Quick Recap)

A Gimkit host is the person, usually a teacher, who creates and runs a live Gimkit game. As the host, you control everything:

• Which questions students answer (the Kit)
• Which game mode they play
• Who can join the game
• How long the game runs
• What happens during and after the game

Think of yourself as the game designer. Students are the players. Your job is to set up the game so well that everyone has fun and learns at the same time.

Now let us look at the 10 tips that will make you great at this.

Tip 1: Always Test Your Kit Before You Go Live

This is the number one mistake new Gimkit hosts make, they build a kit, press “Host,” and find a typo in question 3 in front of 25 students.

Before every game, do this:

1. Open your kit and click “Play Solo” or “Preview”
2. Read every question out loud
3. Make sure every correct answer is actually marked correct
4. Check that images load properly if you added any

Why this matters: A kit with wrong answers confuses students and kills the energy in the room. One quick test run takes 5 minutes and saves your whole lesson.

Pro tip: Build your kit one day early. Sleep on it. Come back and check it fresh the next morning before class.

Tip 2: Pick the Right Game Mode for Your Goal

Gimkit has many game modes, and this is where a lot of hosts get stuck. They use the same mode every time, and students get bored.

Here is a simple way to pick the right mode:

Classic Mode is the safest choice for beginners. Students answer questions to earn in-game money and spend it on upgrades. It is simple, effective, and students understand it right away.

Once you are comfortable, try The Floor Is Lava, earnings drop over time, so students have to answer fast. This adds pressure in a fun way and works great for test review.

Trust No One is based on the Among Us style of social deduction. It works well for older students and creates a lot of conversation.

The rule is this: Match the game mode to your student’s energy level and your teaching goal. Do not pick a complicated mode just because it looks cool.

Tip 3: Use the Nickname Generator (This One Surprises Everyone)

Here is a tip that most Gimkit host guides never mention, the Nickname Generator.

When students join a Gimkit game, they can type in any name they want. And sometimes, they type something silly, inappropriate, or distracting.

The Nickname Generator fixes this completely. When you turn it on, Gimkit automatically gives every student a random, safe nickname. Students cannot change it. No more funny names. No more lost time managing the lobby.

How to turn it on: Go to your game settings before hosting >> Find “Nickname Generator” >> Toggle it to ON.

This is especially useful for:

• Classes with younger students
• Remote sessions over Zoom or Google Meet
• Any time you want a smooth, professional start

Once you use it, you will wonder how you ever hosted without it.

Tip 4: Share the Join Code in Multiple Ways

You press “Host,” Gimkit gives you a 5-letter join code, and students go to gimkit.com/join to enter it.

Simple, right?

But here is what actually happens in class: some students do not see the code, some type it wrong, and a few are still figuring out how to spell the website. You waste 3–5 minutes getting everyone in.

Fix this by sharing the code in at least 2 ways:

1. Write it on the board in big letters
2. Share it in your class chat (Google Classroom, Remind, Teams)
3. Use the QR Code, hover over the game code on your host screen and a QR code pops up. Students can scan it with their phone camera and join instantly. No typing needed.
4. Use Instant-join if your students have Gimkit accounts linked to your class. They skip the code and name entry entirely.

The QR code tip alone can save you 3 minutes every single game. That adds up fast over a school year.

Tip 5: Set Up Your Game Settings Before Students Arrive

Do not open game settings in front of a full lobby. You will feel rushed, students will start getting distracted, and you may click the wrong thing.

Set up these settings before you ever share the join code:

• Game Goal: Do you want to play until a time limit, until someone hits a cash target, or until all questions are answered? Choose what fits your class period.
• Power-ups: Turn these on for engagement, or turn them off if you want a clean, fast review without distractions.
• Late Join: Turn it ON if students come in at different times. Turn it OFF if you want a locked roster and no interruptions mid-game.
• Question Shuffle: Turn this on so students next to each other do not see the same question at the same time.
• Read Aloud (Read to Me): Turn this on for younger students or mixed-ability groups. Gimkit reads each question out loud on the student’s device.

Taking 2 minutes to check these settings before class means your game starts clean, and you look confident in front of your students.

Tip 6: Use KitCollab to Get Students Involved Before the Game

This is one of the most underused features in all of Gimkit, and it is a game changer for engagement.

KitCollab lets you share a link with students, and they can submit their own questions to your kit. You review and approve the questions before the game starts.

Why this is powerful:

• Students who write questions learn the material at a deeper level
• The class feels invested in the game because it is their questions
• You get fresh content without doing all the work yourself

How to use it:

1. Open your kit
2. Click “KitCollab”
3. Copy the link and share it with students (1–2 days before game day)
4. Review and approve submitted questions
5. Host the game with the new questions included

This works especially well for review days before a big exam. Students prepare by creating questions, then compete by answering each other’s questions. Learning happens twice, once when they write, once when they play.

Tip 7: Watch the Host Dashboard During the Game

Many teachers start the game and then just wait. They walk around the room or look at their phone while students play.

Big mistake.

Your Gimkit host dashboard shows you real-time data while the game is running. Use it.

What to look for:

• Leaderboard: Who is winning? Who is far behind? If one student is miles ahead, maybe the questions are too easy. If everyone is struggling, maybe too hard.
• Question accuracy: If most students get a certain question wrong, that is a signal. Pause the game and teach that concept right then.
• Player list: Is someone not answering? Check on them. Is a player not even logged in? Use the host panel to remove inactive players.

The pause button is your friend. You can pause any non-2D game at any time by clicking the pause button in the upper right. Use it to:

• Re-explain a question students are confused about
• Give a quick hint
• Reset the energy in the room if things get too chaotic

Hosts who actively watch their dashboard run better, smarter games. They do not just supervise, they teach.

Tip 8: Match the Difficulty of Questions to Your Students

Nothing kills a Gimkit game faster than questions that are way too hard or way too easy.

If questions are too hard:

• Students guess randomly
• They lose money and get frustrated
• They stop trying

If questions are too easy:

• The game is over too fast
• Students get bored
• Nobody learns anything new

The sweet spot: About 70% of students should be getting about 70% of questions right. This keeps the game competitive and challenging without being discouraging.

Tips to balance difficulty:

• Mix easy, medium, and hard questions in every kit
• Use 10–15 questions for a 20-minute class game (fewer questions = faster rounds)
• For review games, include questions from several weeks back, not just last week’s lesson
• For advanced students, reduce the time per question and increase the number of hard questions
• For younger students or beginners, start with a lower question count and simpler answers

Also: make sure every question has only one clearly correct answer. Ambiguous questions cause arguments and slow everything down.

Tip 9: Assign Homework Mode for Students Who Missed the Live Game

Gimkit has also a homework/assignment mode that is just as powerful.

Here is how it works:

Instead of hosting a live game, you assign the kit as homework. Students complete it on their own time before a deadline you set. Results come back to your dashboard automatically.

When to use homework mode:

• Before a live class game (students practice the material first, then compete live)
• After a live game (students who struggled can replay the kit for extra practice)
• For absent students who missed the live session
• As a low-pressure way to introduce new vocabulary or concepts

The best strategy: Combine both modes. Assign the kit as homework the night before the game. Students come to class having already practiced. The live game then becomes a competition where everyone has a fair chance, even shy or slower students.

This strategy builds confidence AND engagement. Quiet students who practiced at home often shine during the live game.

Tip 10: Read the Post-Game Report Every Single Time

The game is over. Students are buzzing. You close the tab and move on.

Please do not do this.

The Gimkit post-game report is one of the most valuable tools in the entire platform, and most hosts never look at it.

What the report shows you:

• How each student performed question by question
• Which questions had the most wrong answers (these are your teaching gaps)
• How long students spent on each question
• Who earned the most and who struggled
• Overall class accuracy trends

How to use it:

1. Open your Gimkit dashboard after the game
2. Go to “Reports” and find the most recent session
3. Look for the questions with the lowest accuracy
4. In your next lesson, reteach those specific concepts
5. Host a follow-up game in 1 to 2 weeks to check if retention improved

Teachers who use post-game reports consistently see measurable improvement in student test scores. The report does not just show who won the game, it shows you what your class does not understand yet.

If you want to be a truly great Gimkit host, this is the habit that separates good hosts from great ones.

Common Mistakes Every Gimkit Host Should Avoid

Before we wrap up, here are the most common mistakes, and fast fixes:

1. Starting the game with too many students still joining Fix: Wait until 90% of students are in the lobby. Late joins mid-game interrupt the flow.
2. Using the same game mode every time Fix: Rotate modes. Try a new one every 2 to 3 weeks. Students stay curious.
3. Never checking the host dashboard during the game Fix: Keep it open on your screen. Glance at it every few minutes.
4. Making kits too long Fix: 10 to 15 questions is enough for a standard class session. Quality beats quantity.
5. Forgetting to review the post-game report Fix: Block 5 minutes after class to look at results. It makes your next lesson better.
6. Not preparing for tech issues Fix: Always have a backup join link copied. Use Chrome for the best performance. Ask students to close extra browser tabs before joining.

Final Thoughts

Being a great Gimkit host is not just about pressing “Start.” It is about planning ahead, picking the right mode, using the right settings, and learning from every game you run.

Start with the basics. Try Classic Mode for your first few games. Then add one new tip at a time until all 10 feel natural. Your students will notice the difference, and so will their grades.

Now go host your best game yet.

FAQs

Q.1: Is Gimkit host free? 

Ans: Yes, the basic Gimkit host features are free. You can create kits, host live games, and use Classic mode at no cost. Gimkit Pro unlocks unlimited kits, additional game modes, and advanced reports. Pro starts at around $9.99/month or less with an annual plan.

Q.2: Do students need a Gimkit account to join? 

Ans: No. Students only need the join code to enter a live game. However, if students have accounts linked to your class, you can use Instant-join and track their progress over time.

Q.3: Can I host a Gimkit game online for remote students? 

Ans: Yes. Share the join link or join code through Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. Gimkit works on any device with a browser. Chrome is recommended for the best experience.

Q.4: Can I host a Gimkit game on my phone? 

Ans: You can, but it is strongly recommended to use a laptop or desktop. The host dashboard gives you the most control and visibility on a larger screen.

Q.5: What is KitCollab? 

Ans: KitCollab is a Gimkit feature that lets your students contribute questions to your kit before a game. You approve the submissions. It increases student engagement and ownership of the material.