Shelf Pitch · HOW WE PLAY
Host a Shelf Pitch game night from anywhere
Set up a remote room, write a memorable 16-word pitch, and keep the whole group involved.
One room, separate screens
Shelf Pitch is a live game for three to eight people. Everyone opens the same room link on their own phone, tablet, or computer. The room creator also plays. You can sit together or play from different places; a voice or video call is optional and runs separately from the game. Share room invitations with people you want to play with.
Choose the right pace
Quick games give each player one judging turn. Full games give each player two. Use the timed pace to keep remote rounds moving, or choose relaxed play when people want extra time to read and talk. Players can mark themselves ready in the lobby. A returning group can rematch in the same room without exchanging another code.
The judge sets the challenge
The judge chooses from three questions. Other players receive separate hands of real products, choose one, and optionally add a pitch of 16 words or fewer. The judge then sees the submitted pitches without author names and chooses a favorite. The winning player earns 100 points. Each submitting player can like one other pitch for a 20-point bonus, including during the 12-second reveal. Both awards double during the second judging cycle of a full game. It is a game of persuasion, not a test of product facts.
Give the product a job
A good pitch connects one recognizable product trait with the situation in the question. For an imaginary “first day on the moon” question, a pack of cookies might become “One small snack. One giant morale boost.” A clear twist often lands better than a long explanation. You can also submit the product without any written pitch.
Keep the surprise fair
Let the anonymous reveal happen before saying which product is yours. Judge the connection that makes you smile, rather than trying to identify a friend. Short reactions can celebrate a reveal without turning the room into a chat feed. Avoid using the pitch field for personal information or comments aimed at another player.
When someone loses connection
Refresh on the same browser to return to your saved room. The server keeps the round and each private hand so a brief interruption does not require a restart. A connected player can cover a disconnected judge, and a room controller can move past missing submissions. Timed submissions close on the server, so every device follows the same deadline. Question choice has a 40-second fallback, judging has 60 seconds, and results advance after 12 seconds. If judging times out, the crowd favorite wins; with no likes, there is no winning pick.
Make the next game feel different
The default question mix is family-friendly. After aisle is an optional pack for teens and adults, with awkward dates and mild innuendo. Each player also has three full-hand rotations per game, usable before submitting. Try a different question pack, change between quick and full play, and give different people a chance to set the tone. Rematches retain the group and use fresh rounds. Keep invitations within your group: temporary names and pitches are visible to everyone who joins that room, and the room expires after inactivity.
Put it into practice. Every game is free to play in your browser.
Play Shelf Pitch ↗See something confusing in a puzzle? Include the game name and puzzle date when you contact Shelf Hunt. Never include a room reconnect token or private player information.