Party ideas · 4 min read
Seven players and ten mini-games. Here are five simple tournament formats that keep everyone involved, from quick casual rounds to a full championship.
The best thing about a game for up to seven players is that nobody has to sit out. The hard part is keeping the evening organised and fair. Here are five simple formats you can use with the hearts system on 7playergames.com.
1. The classic: hearts race
Press Play and let the site pick random games. Every win earns a heart. After a set number of rounds, press the Players button and the player with the most hearts is crowned champion. Ten rounds is a good length for a one-hour evening.
2. First to five hearts
Instead of a fixed number of rounds, play until someone reaches five hearts. It keeps everyone in the hunt until the very end because a comeback is always possible.
3. Pick-your-game rounds
Go round the group and let each player choose the next game from the menu. People naturally choose games they are good at, which makes the night more interesting. Add a house rule: nobody can pick the same game twice in a row.
4. Teams
With six or seven players, split into teams. Each team’s total hearts count as the team score. This is the best way to include players who are nervous about competing alone, and it adds a lot of table talk.
5. Handicap round for mixed ages
Playing with children and adults? Give the experienced players a small handicap: they need to win two rounds to earn one heart, or they must start a game from the second Quick Tap point. Younger players stay motivated and the adults still have a challenge.
Keep it fun
- Agree on a first-to-win target before the night starts.
- Rotate seats so nobody always sits next to the arrow keys.
- Keep a snack bowl away from the keyboard.
- Test the keyboard first. See our keyboard ghosting guide if some keys do not respond.
Ready to start? Head to the game, pick your colours and see who becomes champion.