Spare Chair GamesFree beta
Everything can change.
Spare Chair Games is a free, experimental beta. Every game here is still being playtested, and titles, rules, balance, availability, and presentation may change or disappear without notice. Nothing is for sale and no price has been set.
Room conduct
Use a display name appropriate for the people in your room. The host controls the shared screen and should end a session if somebody is disruptive.
No account or purchase
No account, subscription, purchase, prize, or paid feature is part of this beta. Joining a room from a phone is free and always will be during testing.
Availability
Rooms are temporary. A restart, deployment, connection problem, or inactive-room cleanup can end a session without recovery.
Questions people actually ask
What do I need to play?
One person needs a screen everyone can see — a TV with a browser, or a laptop — and everyone else needs a phone with a browser. That's it. Nothing to download, no accounts to make.
How do my friends join?
The shared screen shows a four-letter room code. Friends open this site on their phones, type the code and a name, and take a seat. Joining is free.
Why can't I host most of the games?
Honesty over shelf appeal: a Host button appears only after a game passes a complete human playtest and a documented rights review. Most of the shelf hasn't cleared that bar yet, so those games stay visible as works in progress instead of pretending to be finished.
Does it cost anything?
No. The beta is free, with no prices set and nothing for sale. If that ever changes, it will be said here plainly first.
How many people can play?
It varies by game — most play best with 3 to 8, and some seat up to 15. Each game on the shelf lists its real range.
What happens if someone's phone dies mid-game?
Rooms hold a seat for a short while so a player can reconnect by rejoining with the same code. A long disconnect may end their part of the session, depending on the game.
Who is this for?
This is a general-audience beta for people 13 and older. Some games involve bluffing and accusations — great for a party, not aimed at young kids.