How to host and play Kahoot! Coding

Kahoot! Coding is a math game that helps kids practice algorithms and coding logic through playful solo puzzles and fast-paced multiplayer battles in Coding Multiplayer arena. The gameplay looks the same in the Kahoot! mobile app and on the web - this article shows how to play on the web platform, and you can follow the same steps on mobile too.

In this article, you'll learn:

• How to access Coding
• How to play Coding solo (puzzle mode)
• How to host and play Coding Multiplayer
• How to join a Coding Multiplayer
• What are Codies
• Playgame elements
• FAQ

How to play Coding solo (puzzle mode)

In solo puzzle mode, learners solve step-by-step coding challenges by building a sequence of commands for their character.

1. Open Coding from the Math Games section and select Solo.
   
2. Choose a world, then tap a level you want to play.
   
3. At the bottom of the screen, drag and drop coding blocks (arrows) into the main track/program bar to build your sequence of moves.
4. Tap the Play button to run your code and watch your character (Codie) move on the grid.
   

The goal of each level is to collect stars and reach the target tile using a correct sequence of coding blocks.

As you progress, you unlock new worlds and more challenging puzzles that gradually increase in difficulty.

How to host and play Coding Multiplayer

Coding Arena is the multiplayer mode of Coding, designed for kids to play together, each on their own device, without needing a shared screen.

How to host a Coding Multiplayer game

Coding Arena is the multiplayer mode of Coding, designed for kids to play together, each on their own device, without needing a shared screen. The person who hosts the game also plays as a regular player in the Arena, solving the same puzzles and competing on the leaderboard.

1. Open Coding in the Kahoot! app or on the web and select Multiplayer mode.
   
2. Enter your nickname.
   
3. Share the PIN, join link, or QR code with the players so they can join from their own devices.
4. When everyone is ready, start the Multiplayer game.
   

How a Coding Arena round works

• Once everyone has joined the lobby, the host taps Start.
• All players get the same coding puzzle on their own devices and race to solve it correctly using coding blocks and any available power-ups.
• After each round, players see scores and rankings based on how well they solved the puzzle, encouraging friendly competition and repeated practice.

How to join a Coding  Arena

If someone else is hosting a Coding Arena game, learners can join from their own device.

Joining from the Kahoot! app

1. Open the Kahoot! app 
2. On the bottom bar, tap Join.
3. Enter the game PIN shared by the host, or scan the QR code on the host’s screen.
4. Confirm your nickname and tap Ready.

When the host starts the game, use the coding blocks (and any power-ups you collect) to solve each puzzle as quickly and accurately as you can - your performance affects your ranking.

Joining from a browser

1. Go to kahoot.it and enter the game PIN.
2. Choose your nickname and wait in the lobby until the host starts the round (gameplay works the same as in the app).

What are Codies

Codies are the collectible rewards and characters you unlock in Coding through booster packs. They make progression more exciting and let kids personalize their experience.

How Codies work

• While playing solo puzzles and Multiplayer, players earn Booster XP.
• Every time they reach the XP threshold, they unlock a booster pack in the Codies collection.
• When a new booster pack is ready, a Codies icon with a counter appears (for example, on the splash or rewards screen).
• Opening Codies plays a booster-pack animation where cards are revealed and new characters or items are added to the player’s collection.

Codies are designed to reward progress, keep learners motivated, and introduce new ideas (like loops and special effects) in a playful way - without requiring any text-based coding.

Gameplay elements

Name and description	Symbol
Cody: a playable character. It’s possible to pick an avatar among different codies
Stars: move your cody on stars to collect them. In solo, collect all stars. In multiplayer, collect more than the opponents across multiple turns
Ice: the cody slides on ice until it meets an obstacle or the ice stops
Rock: a tile where codies can’t move
Dock: where players create their program each turn. Divided into slots
Action: any kind of card that can be used in a slot to perform a certain action
Basic moves: in a program, they will make your cody move one step in a direction
Double moves: in a program, they will make your cody move two step in a direction
Composite moves: in a program, they will make your cody move one step in a direction and one step in a another direction
Magnet: action that collects all stars around a character
Parametric actions: cards that need other cards inside to function
Jetpack: it moves the character in given direction until it meets and obstacle
Mirror: it moves in the opposite of the given direction
Loop: it repeats all actions inside it for the specified number of times
Damage powers: actions that destroy crates, free follows and make opponents drop stars.
Tornado: Deals damage in 3x3 area around the character.
Fireball: shoots a fireball in given direction. The fireball explodes when it meets an obstacle, dealing damage in 3x3 area.
Laser beam: shoots 3 beams in the given direction. Each beam stops on the first obstacle/player, dealing damage
Crate: a tile where codies can’t move, can be destroyed with damage
Follow cage: a tile where codies can’t move, can be destroyed with damage and award 1 star at the end of the game
Power up bubbles: moving on them grants the shown action, or a random one if it has quesiton mark icon
Reactions: while waiting for other players turns, click a reaction to make the cody play the chosen animation
Booster pack: at end of a game, players gain points and can unlock a booster, with a new Cody inside
CPU: get one each solo level completed. Needed to unlock new worlds
Collection: see the unlocked codies

FAQ

1. Can I use Coding both on web and in the Kahoot! app?
   Yes. Coding is available in the Kahoot! app and on the web, and the gameplay experience looks almost the same on both platforms. This article focuses on how to play on the web, but the same logic applies on mobile.
    
2. Why can’t I find Coding or Math Games in my account?
   Availability depends on your segment, plan, and device. If you don’t see Math Games or Coding, check the article How to play math games in Kahoot! for detailed access flows and eligibility by segment and device.
    
3. Do I need a paid plan to play Coding?
   The first world in Coding is free, and Arena multiplayer is available for free and across Kahoot!+ plans. If you want unlimited practice in solo mode and access to more sessions without waiting, you need a paid plan that includes Math Games and Coding.
    
4. Can I use Coding with my class or group of students?
   Yes. You can:
   - Let learners practice solo in puzzle mode on their own devices.
   - Host Coding Arena games so they play together in small groups.
    
5. How is Coding different from other math games like Wash-Wash or Duck-Duck Fractions?
   Coding focuses on algorithms and coding logic, using arrows and loops to move a character on a grid. Other math games focus on topics like operations (Wash-Wash Operations), fractions (Duck-Duck Fractions, Snoopy Fractions) or multiplications (Pop-Pop Multiplications). To compare gameplay across experiences, check the individual articles:
   How to play Wash-Wash Operations
   How to play Duck-Duck Fractions
   How to play Pop-Pop Multiplications
   How to play Numbers Adventure
    
6. What’s the difference between Coding solo puzzles and Coding Arena?
   In solo puzzle mode, one learner solves progression-based levels at their own pace. In Coding Arena, 2–6 players join the same game with a PIN and race to solve the same puzzle on their own devices, with scores and rankings after each round.
    
7. What are Codies and do I need them to play?
   Codies are collectible rewards (characters, reactions, cosmetic items) you unlock through booster packs as you play Coding. They make the experience more fun and personalized, but you can still fully enjoy Coding even if you don’t focus on collecting them.