How to Play Team Games on a Smart TV Without a Laptop or Console

You're in a conference room, a hotel meeting space, or someone's living room. There's a big smart TV on the wall. There's no laptop. Someone says "can we play something on the TV?"

Most people's first instinct is to look for an HDMI cable and a laptop to plug in. Or to download a smart TV app. Or to try casting from someone's phone - which works about 40% of the time and takes 10 minutes of troubleshooting the other 60%.

There's a simpler way. Most smart TVs made after 2018 have a built-in web browser. You don't need a laptop, a console, a casting setup, or an app download. You open the browser, go to the game, and the TV becomes your shared screen. Everyone else plays on their phones.

Here's exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Open the Browser on the TV

Every major smart TV brand has a built-in browser:

Samsung: Press the Home button → find "Internet" in the app bar
LG: Press the Home button → find "Web Browser"
Android TV / Google TV (Sony, Philips, TCL): Open "Chrome" or install a browser from the Play Store
Fire TV (Amazon): Download "Silk Browser" or "Firefox" from the app store
Roku: Roku doesn't have a built-in browser - you'll need a laptop or phone for this one. Skip to the casting option below.

Use the TV remote to type in the URL. Yes, typing on a TV remote is annoying but you only have to do it once.

Step 2: Go to the Game

Navigate to gamesforcrowds.com in the TV's browser. Pick a game. A few that work especially well on a TV screen:

Rock Paper Scissors — the results play out visually on the big screen. Perfect for the TV format.
Letter Storm — the floating letters are designed for a large display. The bigger the screen, the better the experience.
Logo Quiz Race — logos appear on the TV screen, teams race to identify them. Built for projectors and big screens.
True or False — the leaderboard looks great on a TV. Players see questions on their own phones.

The host screen (the one you want on the TV) shows the game visuals, leaderboard, and QR code. The player screen (on everyone's phone) is where they actually answer and interact.

Step 3: Share the QR Code

Once the game loads on the TV, a QR code appears on screen. Everyone in the room points their phone camera at the TV, taps the link, and they're in the game. No app download. No account. No typing a URL on their phone.

The TV shows the shared game screen. Each player's phone is their personal controller. That's the whole setup.

What If the TV Doesn't Have a Browser?

Option A: Cast from a phone. On most modern TVs, you can screen-mirror from a phone. On Android, look for "Cast" or "Screen Mirror" in your quick settings. On iPhone, use AirPlay if the TV supports it. Open the game on your phone, cast the screen to the TV, and your phone becomes both the host device and the display source. Other players still join on their own phones.

Option B: Use an HDMI cable from someone's phone. A USB-C to HDMI adapter (about €15) lets you plug a phone directly into the TV. Open the game on your phone, and the TV mirrors it. This is the most reliable method when WiFi casting is being difficult.

Option C: Use a cheap streaming stick. A Chromecast or Fire TV Stick (€30–40) plugged into any TV gives you a browser instantly. It's the permanent fix if you're in a venue that has a TV but no smart features.

Why This Works Better Than Most Smart TV Gaming Options

Most "play games on your smart TV" guides suggest downloading apps, connecting controllers, or setting up Steam Link. That's fine for home gaming. It's useless when you're standing in front of a TV at a team offsite with 15 people waiting.

Browser-based games skip everything: