Finger chooser: how it works, games and house rules
A finger chooser settles "who goes first?" in about three seconds. Everyone puts a finger on one phone, and the screen picks one of them. No arguments, no straws, no counting rhymes.
Open Finger Selector →Free, works in your browser, nothing to install.
What is a finger chooser?
A finger chooser (also called a finger picker or finger selector) is a touchscreen game for groups. Each player rests one fingertip on the same screen. Every finger gets its own coloured circle, and after a short countdown one circle is picked and the screen fills with its colour.
It's the digital version of games like "nose goes" or drawing straws, and it works anywhere you have a phone: at the table, in the pub or in the back of a car.
How to use Finger Selector
- Open fingerselector.com on a phone or tablet.
- Everyone places one finger on the screen. Each finger gets a colour.
- Hold still. When nobody has added or lifted a finger for 2 seconds, one is picked.
- The screen floods with that finger's colour. Lift every finger to start a new round.
Tip: put your phone flat on the table first. Holding it in one hand while others reach in makes it easy for someone to lift off by accident and restart the countdown.
Best ways to use a finger chooser
Board and card games
Most rulebooks have a quirky "the youngest goes first" rule. A finger chooser replaces it and works for any game: Catan, Ticket to Ride, Uno, poker dealer, you name it.
Who pays, who drives, who orders
Settle the bill, the next round, the designated driver or who rings for the takeaway.
Chores at home
Washing up, taking the bins out or walking the dog. Play once a day and nobody can claim it's always them.
Teams and captains
Pick captains for five-a-side, then let the captains choose teams. Or play several rounds to pick an order.
Party and drinking games
Truth or dare, who answers next in a quiz, or who has to do the forfeit.
Classrooms and clubs
Teachers and group leaders use it for turn-taking with small groups gathered around a tablet.
House rules that stop arguments
- One finger each. Two fingers from the same person counts as cheating.
- No lifting. If you lift off after the countdown starts, the countdown resets. Agree that anyone who keeps lifting is automatically picked.
- Agree the stakes first. Decide whether the picked person wins or loses before anyone touches the screen.
- Best of three. For big decisions such as who pays for dinner, play three rounds.
Troubleshooting
Not every finger shows up
Phones can only track a limited number of touches at once, usually between 5 and 10. For bigger groups use a tablet, or split into two rounds.
The page scrolls or zooms
Open the game from the home page rather than this guide, and make sure everyone touches the screen, not the browser's address bar.
It doesn't work on my laptop
A finger chooser needs a multi-touch screen. Most laptops and mice can only register one point at a time, so use a phone or tablet.
Can I use it offline?
Once the page has loaded it doesn't need a connection to play. Add it to your home screen (Share → Add to Home Screen on iPhone, or ⋮ → Add to Home screen on Android) to open it like an app.
Finger chooser vs. other ways of deciding
A coin flip only works for two people, and drawing straws needs straws. Spinning a bottle needs floor space. A finger chooser works for any group size your screen supports, and everyone takes part at the same moment, so nobody gets left out of the decision.
Play Finger Selector now →