Hitster: Summer Party
Hitster: Summer Party Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Object of the Game
Be the first player (or team) to collect 10 music cards, correctly placed in chronological order on your timeline. You don't need to know the exact release year of a song — only whether it came out before, after, or in between the songs already on your timeline.
Contents
- 300 music cards, each with a QR code on one side and the artist, song title and release year on the other
- 37 HITSTER tokens
- Free HITSTER app
You also need the free HITSTER app (available for iOS and Android) and a Spotify connection to play the songs.
Preparation
- Decide if you're playing in teams or individually.
- Each player/team receives one music card (face up), which shows the song title, artist, and release year. This is the side without the QR code, and it starts their timeline. The player with the oldest song on their timeline starts, and the game continues clockwise.
- You can play without using tokens for a simpler game. However, if you want to make it more challenging, each player/team can receive 2 HITSTER tokens.
- A random player scans the card at the top of the deck. Whoever scans can still play along. Stick with the same player for scanning each turn or swap and take turns; it's up to you!
Important: Players playing as the DJ should not use smartwatches (e.g., Apple Watch) while playing, as they may display information about the song on the screen.
Music Set-Up
Spotify Free: You've got two ways to start the music (choose in the rules & settings menu):
- Gyrosensor — The track starts playing after you physically turn your phone face down.
- Countdown — The track starts playing after a short 3-second countdown, make sure your phone is facing down before the countdown ends.
Spotify Premium: You've got two ways to play:
- Full Tracks — Listen to the whole song from the start. Perfect for the full experience.
- 30s Previews — Quick mode! First flip your phone to start the music, then enjoy a 30-second teaser. Start options: Gyro Sensor or 3s Countdown (just like Free).
How to Play
Scan
A player scans a card using the HITSTER app and a song starts playing.
Place
The player to the left places the card (face down) on their timeline, guessing whether it fits before, after, or between the cards already there.
Flip
Flip the card to check if it's in the correct position. If yes, the player keeps it. If not, discard it. If the year matches an existing card, you can place it just before or just after that card, and it will still count as correct.
Winning the Game
The first player to correctly position 10 cards on their timeline wins.
HITSTER Tokens
For a more strategic game, tokens can be added:
- On Your Turn: Spend 1 token to skip the current song and draw a new card.
- On Opponent's Turn: Shout "HITSTER" and place your token on their timeline if you think they placed a card incorrectly. If you're correct, steal the card for your own timeline.
- Anytime: Trade 3 tokens for a music card from the deck, placing it directly on your timeline without guessing.
Earning Tokens
Name the song and artist correctly to earn 1 token (even if you misplace the card). Max 5 tokens per player.
Advanced Gameplay
If you want to increase the difficulty, each player can choose their own level:
- Pro: Follow the original rules, but you must name the artist and song title to win or steal cards. Each Pro player starts with 5 tokens. No new tokens can be earned.
- Expert: Follow the original rules, but you must name the artist, song title, and the exact release year. Each Expert player starts with 3 tokens, and no new tokens can be earned.
- Cooperative: Play together as one team. Start with 5 tokens and 1 music card to begin your timeline. Work together to place new cards in the right spot – if you're wrong, lose a token. Collect 10 cards before running out of tokens to win.
Token Usage Rules
Exchanging 3 HITSTER Tokens. If a player wants to exchange 3 HITSTER tokens to place a card directly on their timeline, they must do so before listening to the song. They cannot listen to the song and then decide to exchange the tokens. Additionally, once a player exchanges 3 tokens to place the card, they must skip their next turn. The game proceeds to the next player.
Token Betting on Correct Placement. If a player places a token on another player's timeline, betting that the card has been placed incorrectly, and the card turns out to be correct (even if the two cards share the same year), the player who originally placed the card keeps it. The player who bet the token loses their token, as the original player was correct. In cases where multiple players bet tokens, only the player who placed the card gets to keep it if they were right. All other tokens are lost.
Note: The first player to shout HITSTER gets to place their token first. However, if the next player to shout HITSTER also thinks the answer is incorrect, they can choose a different spot on the opponent's timeline to try and steal the card. No two tokens can be placed on the same spot on the opponent's timeline.