How to play hearago

Setting up

Open hearago on a phone or tablet that will stay in the middle of the table. Pick a theme, then set up two to six teams. Each one gets a name, a crest and a colour, all of which you can change.

Then choose the music service the QR code will open, and when the game ends: at a score between 2 and 12 points, or with no target. Every team starts with one dated track in its timeline.

Playing a turn

The phone on the table shows a QR code. Someone scans it with their own phone and starts the track: they are the DJ for this turn. They can see the title, so they keep their opinion to themselves.

The team whose turn it is listens and decides where the track goes: before the oldest, after the newest or between two tracks in its timeline. A track from the same year as its neighbour is right on either side.

Scoring

In the wrong spot, the track is revealed and leaves the game, at no cost. In the right spot, it stays in the timeline and scores one point.

Before the reveal, the table ticks what the team called out: the title is worth one more point, and so is the artist. The table decides, not the screen, so a missing accent or “feat.” doesn’t spoil the call.

The wheel

After every correctly placed track, the team spins the wheel. It can give one or three points, make the next team skip its turn, take three points from the leading team or reverse the direction of play. Teams that are behind get slightly better odds.

A team under attack takes the phone and chooses: take the hit, or spin the counter wheel, which can block the attack, send it back or make it count double. You can play without the wheel by switching it off during setup.

Ending the game

The first team to reach the target wins. With no target, stop whenever you like at the end of a turn and the standings decide. The game also ends when the tracks run out.