Have you ever seen your students get so excited about a lesson that they start cheering? If not, you probably haven’t tried to make Gimkit games yet! Gimkit is not just another quiz tool; it is a world where learning feels like a high-stakes video game. Instead of just picking A, B, or C, students earn virtual cash, buy cool power-ups, and even “sabotage” their friends in a friendly way. It was actually created by a high school student who wanted to make school more fun.
If you are looking for a way to turn a boring review day into the highlight of the week, you are in the right place. In this guide, I will show you exactly how to make Gimkit work for your classroom. We will cover everything from setting up your first “Kit” to picking the wildest game modes. Trust me, once you start, your students won’t want to stop. Let’s dive in and get your first game running!
What is Gimkit and Why Should You Use It?
Before we learn how to make Gimkit games, let’s talk about what makes it so special. Unlike other quiz apps, Gimkit uses a “money” system. When a student gets a question right, they earn virtual dollars. They can then go to the in-game shop to buy upgrades. These upgrades help them earn even more money per question!
This strategy layer keeps kids focused. They aren’t just memorizing facts; they are thinking about how to win. It is great for teachers because it provides deep data on what the kids know. Plus, it is very easy to use on any device, like a Chromebook or a phone.
Quick Biography Table: The Creator of Gimkit
| Feature | Details |
| Creator Name | Josh Feinsilber |
| Original Role | High School Student |
| Release Year | 2017 |
| Main Goal | To make classroom review more engaging |
| Platform Type | Web-based Educational Game |
| Popular Modes | Classic, Trust No One, Fishtopia, Snowbrawl |
How to Create Your First Account
To make Gimkit games, you first need a home base. Head over to the Gimkit website and click on the “Sign Up” button. You can use your Google account, which is the fastest way if your school uses Google Workspace.
During setup, tell the site you are an educator. This gives you the right tools to manage a class. You will pick your country and school name to finish. Once you are in, you will see your dashboard. This is where all the magic happens! It is very clean and easy to navigate, even if you aren’t a “tech person.”
Step 1: Start a New Kit
The core of every game is a “Kit.” To make Gimkit questions, click the big “New Kit” button on your dashboard. A window will pop up asking for a few basic details. Give your Kit a catchy name so students know what they are studying.
You also need to pick a language and a subject. You can even add a fun cover photo! I like to use images that match the topic, like a volcano for a science quiz. Once you hit “Next,” you are ready to start building the actual meat of the game.
Step 2: Adding Your Questions
Now comes the part where you add the learning content. When you make Gimkit content, you have a few choices. The simplest way is to click “Add Question” and type them in one by one. You will write the question and then provide a few answer choices.
Make sure you mark the correct answer with the green checkmark. If you want to be fancy, you can add images or even audio clips! This is perfect for world language teachers or for students who are still learning to read. You can add as many questions as you like, but I recommend at least 20 to keep things fresh.
Step 3: Using the Question Bank
If you are short on time, don’t worry! You don’t have to write everything yourself. To make Gimkit prep even faster, use the “Question Bank” feature. This lets you search for questions that other teachers have already made.
Just type in your topic, like “Multiplication” or “Civil War,” and browse thousands of questions. You can pick and choose the ones you like and add them to your Kit instantly. It is a huge time-saver and helps ensure your questions are high quality.
Step 4: Importing from Quizlet
Do you already have flashcards on Quizlet? Great news! You can easily make Gimkit kits by importing them. This is one of my favorite features. You just copy the export text from Quizlet and paste it into Gimkit.
In seconds, your entire flashcard set becomes a fully playable game. This is perfect for when you want to switch up the routine without spending hours rewriting your materials. It makes the transition from old-school studying to gamified learning totally seamless.
Choosing the Best Game Mode
Once your Kit is ready, it’s time to play! But wait—you have to pick a mode first. This is where you can really make Gimkit unique. There are many different ways to play, and the site often adds new ones for different seasons.
- Classic: The standard mode where everyone races to make the most money.
- Trust No One: Inspired by the game Among Us, students find “imposters” while answering questions.
- Fishtopia: A 2D world where students fish to earn points.
- Snowbrawl: A fun snowball fight that requires correct answers to throw snowballs.
Each mode changes the energy of the room. If you want something calm, go with Fishtopia. If you want high energy, try Snowbrawl!
Hosting Your Live Game
To start the fun, click “Play Live” on your Kit. You will pick your game mode and adjust some settings, like how much starting money students get. Then, a “Join Code” will appear on your screen.
Students go to the join link on their devices and type in the code. As they join, you will see their names pop up on the big screen. Once everyone is in, hit “Start Game” and watch the excitement begin. As the teacher, you can watch the leaderboard in real-time to see who is leading the pack.
Assigning Gimkit as Homework
You don’t just have to play live in class. You can also make Gimkit a homework assignment. Instead of a boring worksheet, students can play a Kit at their own pace at home.
To do this, click on “Assignments” in your dashboard. You can set a due date and a goal for the students to reach, like earning $5,000. This is a fantastic way to get students to practice their skills without it feeling like work. They will actually enjoy doing their homework for once!
Using Power-ups and Strategy
The best part of the game is the shop. To truly make Gimkit a strategic experience, encourage your students to use power-ups. These are items they buy with their earned cash.
Some power-ups, like “Multiplier,” help them earn more money. Others, like “Icer,” can temporarily freeze another player’s screen. While it sounds chaotic, it actually teaches kids about resource management and timing. It keeps them engaged even if they aren’t the fastest at answering questions.
Analyzing the Student Reports
After the game ends, the work isn’t quite over for the teacher. One reason to make Gimkit a regular part of your routine is the data. Gimkit gives you a detailed report of how the class did.
You can see which questions were the hardest and which students might need a little extra help. This “Formative Assessment” is pure gold for planning your next lesson. You can quickly see if you need to re-teach a certain topic or if the class is ready to move on.
Conclusion: Why You Should Start Today
Learning how to make Gimkit games is a total game-changer for any classroom. It turns a standard review session into an adventure that students look forward to all week. Whether you are using it for a quick five-minute warm-up or a full-period review, the engagement level is unmatched.
Remember, you don’t have to be a master to start. Just create an account, add a few questions, and hit play. Your students will likely help you figure out the rest—they are usually experts at these types of games! So, go ahead and make Gimkit your new favorite teaching tool today. Your students will thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Gimkit free for teachers to use?
Yes! There is a free version called Gimkit Basic. It allows you to create kits and play several popular game modes. There is also a “Pro” version if you want unlimited access to every single feature and mode.
2. Can I use Gimkit for any subject?
Absolutely! You can make Gimkit for math, science, history, or even gym class. If you can write a question about it, you can turn it into a Gimkit game.
3. How many students can play at once?
The free version usually supports up to 60 players in a live game. This is more than enough for a standard classroom. For larger groups, you might need a Pro account.
4. Do students need to create an account?
No, they don’t! Students can just enter a join code or scan a QR code to play. This makes it very fast to get started in the middle of a lesson.
5. Can I edit a Kit after I make it?
Yes, you can edit your Kits at any time. If you realize a question has a typo or you want to add more challenges, just click the “Edit” button on your dashboard.
6. What is the best game mode for beginners?
“Classic” is the best way to start. It is very simple to understand and focuses purely on answering questions and earning money. Once your class gets the hang of it, you can try the 2D modes like Fishtopia!
