How do you play Hot Button?
Hot Button is a free pass-and-play party game for 2 to 8 players aged 4 and up: flip a card, press the button that many times, pass the phone, and whoever sets it off is out until one player is left.
What do you need to play?
- One phone, tablet or computer with a web browser. Nothing to download or sign up for.
- 2 to 8 players sitting in a circle, so the device can be passed around.
- Sound on, for the full effect.
How does a turn work?
- Whoever holds the device flips the top card. The top of the screen always says whose turn it is.
- A number card means press the hot button that many times. Any press could set it off, and the button gets hotter with every press at the table.
- If you finish your presses safely, pass the device to the next player.
- If your press sets it off, pffft! You pass out: you’re out of the game, and the button cools right back down.
- The last player standing wins.
What cards are in the deck?
The deck has 40 cards and reshuffles when it runs out, so a game always ends with a winner.
- Press the button once.7 in the deck
- Press the button 2 times.7 in the deck
- Press the button 3 times.7 in the deck
- Press the button 4 times.5 in the deck
- Press the button 5 times.4 in the deck
- Safe turn: no presses.5 in the deck
- The pass direction reverses.5 in the deck
What else do parents ask?
- What age is Hot Button for?
- Ages 4 and up. The cards are just the numbers 1 to 5, an X and an arrow, so nobody needs to read. When the button goes off it plays a silly cartoon fart sound.
- Is Hot Button free?
- Yes. It plays in your web browser with no download, no account and no ads.
- How many people can play?
- 2 to 8 players, sharing one phone, tablet or computer. You can give each player a name (up to 14 letters) and one of 12 animal emoji, or just play as Player 1, Player 2 and so on.
- How likely is the button to go off?
- The first press after someone is out has a 1.2% chance. Every press anyone makes adds 1 more percentage point, up to 25%, so by about press 11 a pop is more likely than not. It resets when someone is out.
- Can I turn the sound off?
- Yes. The speaker button at the top of the game mutes it, and the game remembers your choice.
- Does Hot Button collect any data?
- No accounts and no player names leave the device. The website only uses Google Analytics if you click Accept on its banner. The privacy policy has the details. Read it.
Who makes Hot Button?
Hot Button is made by Paul Firmin, a parent in Aurora, Ontario, at Firmin Labs. More from Firmin Labs for families: