Gimkit is a classroom game platform where students answer teacher‑made questions to earn virtual cash, buy upgrades, and collaborate or compete inside 2D game worlds. Teachers can host live sessions, assign homework‑style games, import content, roster classes, and pull detailed reports.
Why teachers pick it: Gimkit, Official site, goes beyond buzzer quizzes with 2D modes like Don’t Look Down, One Way Out, and Snowbrawl. These add exploration, power‑ups, and strategy that sustain attention for middle and high school learners.
What is Gimkit?
Gimkit is a student‑built “game show for the classroom.” Educators create kits (question sets) or import them, pick a game mode, and students join on their devices via code or link. You can run live sessions or assign student‑paced games with due dates and goals.
Gimkit pricing — free vs Pro
- Gimkit Basic (free): Play rotating featured modes, host games, create classes, and access reports. Hard limit for live players is 500 per game; many 2D modes have their own lower hard cap.
- Gimkit Pro: Unlocks all game modes plus Assignments, images/audio in questions, and more. Pricing: $14.99 monthly or $59.88 annually. New educator accounts typically start with a 14‑day Pro trial.
- Group plans: Department and school licenses available through Group pricing (indicative pricing shown by Gimkit: Department $650/year; School $1,000/year).
Notes: Student accounts are optional. If your district uses Google SSO for under‑18 logins, your admin may need to mark Gimkit as a “trusted” app. Students can still join games without logging in.
Core features teachers actually use
- Live hosting: Select a kit and mode, set options, share code or QR, and start. Hard cap: 500 live players. Instant‑join lets rostered students auto‑join via
gimkit.com/play. - Assignments (asynchronous): Pro only. Students complete on their own time; Assignments currently work with select solo‑friendly 2D modes.
- 2D modes: There are several Game modes, including Platformers, co‑op escapes, and team battles, including Don’t Look Down, One Way Out, and Snowbrawl.
- Content creation: Build kits from scratch, paste flashcard text from third‑party sources, or use a question bank. Media in questions is part of Pro.
- Classes: Roster students, enable Instant‑join, and manage nicknames with a nickname generator.
- Reports: After‑game analytics with Student Overview, General Overview, and Question Breakdown; export or print for records.
Is Gimkit safe and age‑appropriate?
Gimkit states compliance with FERPA and COPPA in its privacy policy. Student accounts are optional, and schools using Google SSO can mark Gimkit as a trusted app so under‑18 students can sign in. Students can always join live games and assignments without accounts.
Gimkit vs Kahoot vs Blooket
Short answer: Choose Gimkit for strategy‑heavy 2D modes and homework Assignments. Choose Kahoot for fast classic buzzer quizzes and a huge public library. Choose Blooket for collection‑driven motivation with “blooks.”
| Platform | Best for | Free tier | Standout features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gimkit | Gamified review in 2D worlds, collaborative modes, homework Assignments | Yes — featured modes, classes, reports | 2D modes like Don’t Look Down, One Way Out, Snowbrawl. Assignments (Pro). Instant‑join at gimkit.com/play. Live cap 500; separate cap applies to many 2D modes. See the Limits here. |
| Kahoot | Quick in‑class quizzes with massive public library | Free Basic for K‑12 | Paid plans raise participant limits; AI‑assisted content on higher tiers. Check Kahoot plans. |
| Blooket | Quiz play with collectible “blooks” and seasonal packs | Yes | Mystical blooks via events; community play modes and seasonal content – Blooket rarity. |
How to use Gimkit in your class — quick start
- Create or import a kit with your questions. Paste flashcard text or build from scratch.
- Host a live game — choose a mode, set options, show QR or share the join link.
- Students join at
gimkit.com/joinwith your code or instant‑join with Classes atgimkit.com/play. - Assign as homework (Pro) — pick a supported solo 2D assignment mode, set goal and due date, share the link.
Best Gimkit modes for engagement
- Don’t Look Down — platforming race to the summit.
- One Way Out — cooperative escape with gadgets and keys.
- Snowbrawl — projectiles and knockouts on a compact map; great for large classes.
Pros and cons
- Pros: Deep engagement via 2D modes; Assignments for homework; classes and instant‑join; flexible reports; fair educator pricing.
- Cons: Full mode library requires Pro; Assignments limited to specific 2D modes; some modes have a learning curve.
Cosmetics, “gims,” and rarities
Avatars in Gimkit are called gims. Cosmetics are earnable or purchasable with in‑game currency and are visual‑only. Early cosmetics like Day One are considered rare by the community. Community wikis list Legendaries such as Dodge, with other popular Legendaries like Sketch and Riff. The Josh gim appeared as an April Fools item and isn’t a regular shop cosmetic. In One Way Out, Evil Eye is a late‑game weapon known for high damage and long range.
Related reading: Explore Wordle tips and Connections strategy.
FAQ
It depends on your goal. Gimkit offers strategy‑heavy 2D modes and Assignments for homework. Kahoot excels at quick buzzer quizzes and a huge public library.
For deeper engagement over longer sessions, Gimkit 2D modes like Don’t Look Down and One Way Out often keep students invested longer than traditional buzzer games.
All modes are not free. Assignments work with select 2D modes. Some modes have a learning curve for new players.
Blooket adds collectible blooks and seasonal packs. Kahoot focuses on rapid‑fire quizzing with higher participant caps on paid plans. Choose based on classroom goal.
Gimkit for strategy‑driven play and homework Assignments. Blooket for collection‑based motivation. Many teachers use both.
Kahoot has a free Basic plan for K‑12. Advanced features and higher participant limits require paid tiers.
Gamified review, formative checks, stations, and homework‑style Assignments that students complete asynchronously.
High engagement via 2D worlds and power‑ups, quick setup, class rostering and instant‑join, printable reports.
Yes. Gimkit states it adheres to FERPA and COPPA. Students can join without accounts. For Google SSO under 18, admins may need to mark Gimkit as trusted.
Yes. Gimkit Basic lets you host featured modes, create classes, and access reports. Pro unlocks all modes and Assignments.
They go to gimkit.com/join and enter your code or click the join link. With Classes, rostered students can instant‑join via gimkit.com/play.
Money is virtual in‑game cash earned by answering questions. It cannot be withdrawn or monetized.
Rarity shifts over time. Community trackers cite early cosmetics like Day One as rare. Some Legendaries such as Dodge are sought after.
Community sources highlight unobtainable or event‑exclusive gims like Josh or early Day One as rare. Availability can change with updates.
Community records list early Legendaries such as Dodge. Later Legendaries include Sketch and Riff.
Day One was an early cosmetic. It isn’t listed in current shop rotations and is generally treated as unobtainable now.
In One Way Out, Evil Eye is a late‑game weapon with high damage and screen‑spanning shots.
Yes. Community wikis list Dodge as a Legendary cosmetic which makes it rare and coveted.
Yes. It appeared as an April Fools item and isn’t a regular shop cosmetic.
It was applied during an April Fools event and later removed. It isn’t obtainable in normal shop rotations.
Gimkit was launched by Josh Feinsilber as a high‑school project. Check the company About page or press kit for current bio details.
A novelty cosmetic referencing the founder. Known from an April Fools event rather than regular releases.
In Blooket, the Mystical tier is the rarest. Tim the Alien is widely cited as the rarest Mystical with only a handful of owners from event awards.
