Play a game

1. Open a game on the big screen

On a laptop, a computer plugged into the TV, or a smart TV's browser, go to ctrllr.com/games and pick a game. The bigger the screen, the better: everyone looks at the same one.

Press F (or click "Full screen") to fill the screen. On a TV with no keyboard, any player can press Start on their phone to switch the game to its TV layout.

2. Everyone scans the code

The game shows a QR code. Each player points their phone's camera at it and taps the link that appears. The controller opens in the phone's browser: there is nothing to download.

The first time, the phone asks for a name. After that, scanning is all it takes. A player can also open app.ctrllr.com/play and tap Scan to Play.

Players can join at any time, and up to 8 can play at once. Most games let you add computer players (bots) from the lobby to fill the seats.

3. Play

Hold the phone sideways. The stick on the left moves, A, X, Y, Z on the right are the game's actions, and Start pauses. Each game explains its buttons on its lobby screen.

Some buttons can aim: press and drag in a direction, then let go. A quick tap uses the direction you are moving instead.

Menus and leaving a game

• Every menu is driven from the phones: the stick moves the selection, A chooses, Z goes back.
• Start pauses. The pause menu has "Game select" to go back to the list of games; everyone stays connected.
• In a game's lobby, hold Start for about a second and a half to go back to the list of games.

If a phone drops out

The game pauses and shows the code again. Scan it with the same phone and you are back in your seat, with your score. The others can also carry on without you from the pause menu.

Tips

• Keep the phone's screen on and the browser in front while playing.
• For the smoothest play, install the controller on your home screen: it runs full screen with no browser bars.
• Phones and the screen don't need to be on the same Wi-Fi.