Hot Potato
Toss-and-freeze — pass an object round the circle to music; whoever holds it when the music stops is out.
🌤both
What is Hot Potato?
Hot Potato is a Victorian children's elimination game. Players sit or stand in a circle and toss a small object (traditionally a potato — or a bean-bag, ball, or timer) around as fast as possible while music plays. When the music stops (or a hidden timer buzzes), whoever is holding the 'hot potato' is out. Play continues until one player remains.
Quick facts
Category
Party Games
Type
Individual
Players
3–20
Where played
both
Country of origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Estimated origin
Victorian-era parlour children's elimination game
Olympic
No
Popularity
global
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-24.verified