A music game for retirement homes and shared memories
Songs from the fifties, sixties and seventies bring stories with them. A big screen, a few friendly voices and a group that enjoys talking about when it first heard a tune.
Free to try. Whoever starts the game logs in with an email code, no password. Players who join a party room need no account and no app.
Many people remember the music of their youth very well, and a song can start a conversation that a question never would. This game is a simple excuse for that: a 30 second preview plays, the group says when they think it came out, and the year appears on screen. Often the talk about where they were then is the most valuable part of the afternoon.
The game is meant to be run with a carer or a volunteer who guides the group. The screen is large and the game is turn based, so the pace follows the group. Participants can answer out loud while a carer joins on a phone as a player and taps for the group, or they can play on a phone or tablet themselves. The game is a pastime and makes no claim about health.
Best way to play it Party room: Timeline. Party room: Timeline is turn based and calm, with the title, artist and year shown large on the big screen after each song.
How a game works
- 1
Pick a deck
Choose a popular public deck, or turn your own playlist into a deck.
- 2
Choose how to play
Pass one phone around the table, or open a party room where everyone plays on their own phone.
- 3
Listen and guess
A 30 second preview plays and nobody sees the year. Place the song on a timeline or lock in a year.
- 4
Reveal and score
Title, artist and year come out, the timeline grows or the points go up, and the next song starts.
The timeline in one look
A timeline is a row of songs in release order. You hear a new song, never its year, and decide where it fits between the songs already on the row. Get it right and the row grows.
How to run it
Use the big screen in the day room
Open hitify.app/host on a laptop or a TV with a browser. The title, artist and year are shown large after each song.
Let one person tap for the group
A carer or volunteer joins as a player on a phone and taps the answer while the group decides together. Anyone who wants to can use a phone of their own.
Pick decks from their years
Choose a deck of hits from the decades the residents grew up in, or build one from a playlist the residents suggested.
Tips for a better game
Keep the group small
A Timeline room holds 2 to 8 players. Use more rooms or alternate groups for a bigger activity.
Leave time to talk
After each reveal, ask where people were in that year. The stories are the point, the score is not.
Check the sound
The 30 second previews play on the host device. Set the volume for people with hearing aids before you start.
Why it works at a party
No cards needed
Everything happens on screen, so there is nothing to print, shuffle or lose under the sofa.
Works in the browser
No app to install, not even for a party room. Open the page and play.
Three ways to play
One phone for a small group, or a party room with a big screen for a bigger crowd.
Frequently asked questions
Is this meant as care or treatment?
No. It is a music pastime that some groups enjoy because songs from their past are familiar, and nothing more is claimed. For questions about care, ask a professional.
Do residents need a phone?
No. One person can play on a phone for the whole group. Residents who prefer to can join the party room with their own phone or tablet.
What does it cost to play?
Popular public decks are free to play. If you turn your own playlist into a deck, the first 100 cards of that deck are free.
Do players need an account or an app?
No app is needed. Whoever starts the game logs in with an email code, no password. Players who join a party room scan a QR code or type the 4 letter room code, then pick a name.
Ready for the first song?
Pick a deck, choose how you want to play and have the first round running within a minute.
Hitify is not affiliated with Hitster or Jumbo. Hitster is a registered trademark of Koninklijke Jumbo B.V.