Countdown — Support
Need help with Countdown? You’re in the right place.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a game? Tap “Create Room” to get a four-letter room code. Share that code with your friends. They enter it on the home screen to join. Once everyone is in the lobby, the host starts the game.
How many players do I need? Countdown works best with 2 to 4 players. You need at least 2 to start a game.
What does the vote at the start of each round mean? Each player votes on how many cards to deal for the round. The game uses the minimum vote — so if three players vote 5 and one votes 3, everyone gets 3 cards. This is a safety mechanism: a cautious player can keep the round manageable.
When should I play a card? That’s the game. There’s no explicit signal — you have to feel when it’s your turn. If you’re holding the highest card anyone has, you should go first. But you don’t know what anyone else is holding. Trust your instincts, watch the rhythm, and wait for the right moment.
I got disconnected. Is my game lost? No. If your connection drops, just rejoin the same room with the same code. The server holds your seat and catches you up automatically when you reconnect. No progress is lost.
What is spectator mode?
Enter the code PILE_VIEWER instead of a room code. Your device will show a read-only view of the game — the discard pile, lives remaining, and round number. Put it in the middle of the table as a shared display while everyone else plays on their own devices.
Can I play on different devices? Yes. Countdown runs in any modern browser. Each player joins from their own device. You can also play on the same network or across the internet — the server handles the connection.
Is there a single-player mode? Not yet. Countdown is designed as a multiplayer experience. A solo mode with bots is planned for a future update.
Reporting a bug
If something isn’t working as expected, please open an issue on GitHub:
Include what device and browser you’re using, the room code if applicable, how many players were in the game, and what happened. Screenshots or screen recordings help.
Contact
For anything else, reach out via email: