Updated October 2026
Dial It Up is the party game where you act out a number. Everyone except the guesser gets a secret number from 1 to 10. Then the whole group plays the same scene, each person at exactly their level: a 1 barely reacts, a 10 goes all the way. The guesser has to put every actor in the right spot on the scale. It is one of 11 games in the Cold Ones app, made for 3 to 11 players and one phone.
How to play Dial It Up
- Choose scenes and players. Pick one or more categories, then add 3–11 players. The app picks the first guesser at random.
- The guesser steps away. Everyone else gets a different secret number from 1 to 10. Memorize yours, then tap your card to lock it. Hold a locked card for one second to peek again.
- Read the scene. With every number locked, the actors see the scene plus a description of what a 1 and a 10 look like. Forgot your number? You can check it again now, while the guesser looks away.
- Pass the phone and act. Call the guesser back and hand them the phone. Now everyone performs the scene at the intensity of their number.
- Read the room. The guesser places each actor on a 1–10 timeline. Every number can be used only once, so if two performances both felt like a 6, one of them has to move.
- The reveal. The app shows each guess next to the real number and adds up the points. Next round, the next player becomes the guesser.
How scoring works
Points go to the guesser, for every actor they place:
- 3 points for the exact number
- 1 point for a guess one away
- 0 points for anything further off
With 6 players there are five actors, so a perfect round is worth 15 points. The guesser role rotates and everyone builds a session score, which settles who really reads the room best. If a round goes sideways, skip it: no points, and the next player guesses.
Standard mode vs. Hard mode
In Standard mode the guesser sees the scene and both ends of the scale while you perform. Only your numbers are secret. Start here.
Hard mode hides the scene, too. The actors memorize the scene with its 1 and 10, hide the screen and pass over a phone that shows nothing but the timelines. The guesser has to place everyone and, before the reveal, say out loud which scene they think you were all acting. The numbers still decide the score: 3, 1 or 0 per actor. Switch Hard mode on before you start.
A real scene from the game
This one comes from Party people, one of the two free categories:
- Your song comes on. Show the group how you react.
The scale says 1: One tiny head nod. 10: You think you are headlining Coachella. Now picture four friends doing it at a 2, a 5, a 7 and a 9, and the guesser trying to sort them into the right order.
119 scenes in 10 categories
Each language has 119 scenes, every one with its own 1 and 10:
- Free, 24 scenes: Everyday drama and Party people
- Classic, 48 scenes: Out of office, Main character, Tiny disasters and Absolutely believable
- Hot & Spicy, 47 scenes: Flirting badly, The ex factor, After dark and Walking red flags
The free categories are switched on by default, so you can play without a subscription. Classic categories unlock with the Classic or Premium subscription, Hot & Spicy ones with Hot & Spicy or Premium. Mix whatever you have unlocked: scenes don't repeat until your selection runs out.
Tips for a better round
- Commit to your number. A shy 9 confuses the guesser more than a wild 3.
- Use the anchors. The 1 and the 10 tell everyone what small and huge mean for this scene.
- Take turns in big groups. With seven or more actors, perform one after another so the guesser can keep track.
- Expect a full scale. With 11 players there are ten actors, so every number from 1 to 10 is in play.
One phone, no account, no ads
Dial It Up runs on a single phone that moves around the room. Nobody needs an account, it works offline, there are no ads on any tier, and you need no drinks or props. The game plays in English, German, Spanish and French.
Two more new games pair well with it: Going, Going! turns your friends into bidders, and Categories is the classic letter game with a timer. Planning a whole evening? Our house party games guide has the full lineup.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Dial It Up?
Everyone except the guesser gets a different secret number from 1 to 10. The group reads a scene with a description of what a 1 and a 10 look like, and each actor performs it at the level of their number. The guesser places every actor on a 1–10 scale, using each number only once, and the app reveals the real numbers.
How many players do you need for Dial It Up?
3 to 11. One person guesses each round and everyone else acts, so the smallest game has two actors. With 11 players, all ten numbers from 1 to 10 are in play.
How does scoring work in Dial It Up?
The guesser earns 3 points for every exact number, 1 point for a guess one away and 0 for anything else. The guesser role rotates every round, and points add up to a session score. Hard mode uses the same scoring but also hides the scene from the guesser.
Is Dial It Up free?
Two categories with 24 scenes are free to play, with no account and no ads. The other eight categories (95 scenes) come with the Classic, Hot & Spicy or Premium subscription.
