Online hot potato · secret-step random picker
2–12 players secretly choose steps. A hidden random offset joins the sum, then cute 3D characters pass a potato to reveal the final holder. No download; numbered players supported.
Rules & fairness
- Who’s joining the circle?: 2–12 players, up to 20 characters per name. Numbers distinguish duplicate names.
- How many secret steps?: Turn the dial, tap a tick or use +/−. One step passes to the next player; your odds stay the same. The normal screen hides locked steps until the result. This is one-device turn-taking, not encrypted submission or connected phones. It cannot prevent developer-tool inspection or someone looking over your shoulder.
- Pass the potato!: No. This is a secret-step passing game. The result is fixed at start, followed by about 16 seconds of animation. There is no countdown, and clock timing does not decide the holder. Extra full circles are visual only. Player 1 starts holding it; each pass to the next player counts as one step.
Great for
- Passing turns at parties
- Random classroom selection
- Livestreams and icebreakers
Key features
- 2–12 players secretly choose steps. A hidden random offset joins the sum, then cute 3D characters pass a potato to reveal the final holder. No download; numbered players supported.
- Everyone has a 1/player-count chance. Personal steps affect the route, not anyone’s odds.
- Names and steps stay in page memory; refreshing clears them.
Randomness and privacy
Each player picks 1–12 steps. After summing S, Web Crypto uniformly draws R from 0 to player count−1. The zero-based final index is (S+R) modulo player count, starting with Player 1. Animation, skipping and device speed never change the result. Names and steps stay in page memory; refreshing clears them.
Frequently asked questions
- Can my steps improve my odds?
- Everyone has a 1/player-count chance. Personal steps affect the route, not anyone’s odds.
- Is this a random countdown timer?
- No. This is a secret-step passing game. The result is fixed at start, followed by about 16 seconds of animation. There is no countdown, and clock timing does not decide the holder.
- Are my steps private?
- The normal screen hides locked steps until the result. This is one-device turn-taking, not encrypted submission or connected phones. It cannot prevent developer-tool inspection or someone looking over your shoulder.