How to Play Jeopardy on Zoom

Jeopardy is a classic tv quiz game show, where contestants get to show off their general knowledge and win money; its online version is available to play via a video Zoom call. If you want to host an online game of Jeopardy, this article will take you through how to do it.

We’ll show you how to create a Jeopardy game, how to share your screen with your contestants, and go through the rules of the game. Plus, our FAQs include other fun virtual party games to play on Zoom with your friends, colleagues, and family.

Play Jeopardy on Zoom Using Screen Sharing

Set Up Your Jeopardy Game

First, you’ll need to visit the game’s official website,  jeopardylabs.com, to set up your game using a free account:

1. Select “Create a Jeopardy Game.”
   
2. Enter a password in the “Create a password” text field, then select “Start Building!”
   
3. Click on “Enter Title” to enter the name of your game.
   
4. Click on “Enter Category Name” to enter a category.
   
5. Select the first cell to enter your easiest question and the correct answer.
   
   • Phrase your questions as statements.
     
   • Phrase your answers as questions.
     
   • As you populate each cell, the questions should become slightly harder e.g., the cell labeled 500 should be the most difficult question of the category.
     
6. Click “Continue” to return to the game template; the number in the cell will turn white.
   
7. Once complete click on “Save and Finish.”
   
8. Enter the number of teams playing, then click “Start.”
   

Alternatively, to use a game created by someone else:

1. From the home screen, click on “Find a Jeopardy Game.”
   
2. In the keywords text field, enter keywords for the subject.
   
3. From the list of results, hover over a result to see a preview of the game displayed on the right-hand side.
   
4. Click the link for the game you want to use.
   
5. Enter the number of teams playing then click “Start.”
   

Set Up a Meeting

• Launch the Zoom desktop app and sign in.

For an instant meeting:

1. Click on the “New Meeting” button to start the video straight away.
   
2. Click on the “Join with computer audio” option.
   
3. To invite people, click on the little green shield icon found at the top left-hand corner of the screen.
   
4. Click on “Copy link” to copy the invitation link to your clipboard, then send it to your contestants.
   

To schedule a meeting for the game in advance:

Note: Consider setting up the teams and appointing team leaders yourself, or, add a note in the invites reminding contestants that they need to get into teams and appoint team leaders before the game starts.

1. Click on the “Schedule” button.
   
2. Enter the meeting details then “Save.”
   
3. Before the meeting is due to start, a preview of the details will display on your Home page.
   
4. Click on the three-dotted menu icon beside the “Start” button to copy the meeting invitation link, then send it to your contestants.
   
5. You can click on the “Start” button before the scheduled start time if you wish.
   

Share Your Zoom Screen

To share your screen with your contestants in Window and MacOS:

1. Make sure you’ve closed all apps on your desktop, leaving only your Jeopardy game open.
2. Click on the “Share Screen” button from the meeting controls located at the bottom of your screen.
   
3. From the “Basic” category, click your Jeopardy game then “Share” to share it directly. This will only share the Jeopardy game; if you were to open another application it won’t be shared.
   

To share your screen with your game players in Linux

1. Make sure you’ve closed all apps on your desktop, leaving only your Jeopardy game open.
2. Click on the “Share Screen” button from the meeting controls located at the bottom of your screen.
3. From the “Basic” category, click your Jeopardy game then “Share” to share it directly. This will share only the Jeopardy game; if you were to open another application it won’t be shared.

If you’re hosting the game from a mobile device, here are the steps for sharing your screen using an Android device:

1. Close all your open apps and browser sessions apart from the Jeopardy game, then sign into the Zoom mobile app.
2. Once you’ve started the meeting, click on “Share” from the control’s menu found at the bottom of the screen.
   
3. Select “Screen.”
   
4. You will see a notification letting you know what the screen share will have access to, select “Start Now” to confirm.
   
5. From the control’s menu at the bottom of the screen, select “Stop Share” once the game has ended.
   

To share your screen using an iOS device:

First, you’ll need to set up “Screen Recording:”

1. Press the home button or swipe up on the home bar.
2. Select “Settings.”
   
3. Select “Control Center,” > “Customize Controls.”
   
4. Click on the plus sign beside “Screen Recording” to add it to the “Control Center.”
   

To start sharing your screen:

1. Close all your open apps and browser sessions apart from the Jeopardy game, then sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
2. Once you’ve started the meeting, click on “Share Content” from the control’s menu found at the bottom of the screen.
   
3. Select “Screen” then press down on the record button until the Screen Recording option displays.
   
4. Select “Zoom” then “Start Broadcast.”
   
   • After three seconds, your screen will be shared with your contestants.

How to Play Jeopardy on Zoom

The objective of the game is to ask the right questions and accumulate the most money after three rounds:

• Jeopardy
• Double Jeopardy
• Final Jeopardy

Once your Jeopardy screen has been shared:

1. Let the first team choose the category and the value amount, then click on that cell to display the question.
   • The team leaders can shout out the answer; the rest of the team should private message what they think the answer is to their team leader.
2. Press the space bar to reveal the answer.
3. If the first team is correct, use the plus sign next to the team’s name to accredit the equivalent points. The team who answers correctly will choose the next question and amount value.
   • If Team One answers incorrectly, the equivalent points are deducted from their total, and Team Two is offered the chance to answer or pass it on to Team Three. Team Two will not lose points for doing this, but if they answer it incorrectly the equivalent points are deducted.
   • The round is completed after a team answers the question, or it has been offered to each team once.
   • If the question hasn’t been answered during the round, the last team to answer a question correctly starts off a new round.
   • When a team chooses a “Daily double” question, it has to be answered by that team and cannot be passed on. The team can place a bet on the question; the amount must be less than their total, and multiples of the question amount.
   • E.g., for a 300-point question, the team can either bet 300 or multiples of 300 (600, 900, 1200, etc.) up to the total number of points they have. So, if they have 900 points, the wager can only be up to 600; if they answer incorrectly, 600 points will be deducted from the total.
4. Press ‘’ESC’’ to go back to the game board.

Zoom Jeopardy FAQs

As the Zoom Jeopardy host, can I play the game too?

As the game host, you have access to the answers, so you will not be allowed to participant in answering any questions in the game.

How do players respond in Zoom Jeopardy?

The appointed team leaders should answer the questions either by, shouting out an answer straight away, or, by responding with one of the answers provided by their team member via private chat.

What other games can you play on Zoom with friends?

Here are some suggestions for other games that translate easily on Zoom to play with friends, family, and colleagues:

Lightning Scavenger Hunts

For this game, create a list of characteristics or items, then challenge the participants to gather corresponding items to show and earns points. Winners of each round can be encouraged to share backstories about them. Here are some examples of things to find:

· Something yellow

· A book you didn’t enjoy

· An item you’ve had the longest

· Your favorite mug or plate

The more obscure the items are the better!

Pictionary

In Zoom, share your screen then click on the “Whiteboard” option from the “Basic” category.  The drawing team member will be prompted with a word to draw. For words inspiration, use an online Pictionary word generator. The other team will have one minute to correctly guess what the drawing is.

Zoom Trivia

To play Trivia on Zoom you can use a random trivia generator tool. As the host, you can read out the questions and set a timer for them to be answered. Each person can provide their answers using the chat; whoever sends the correct answer first wins the point.

Charades

You can split the players into two teams and use a charades idea generator for phrases inspiration, and/or can come up with them yourself.