The Hitster alternative that fits in your pocket
The same thrill — hear a clip blind and place it before or after — but ready in one minute, anywhere: solo on your commute, remotely with friends, or around the table at a party.
Hitster vs Junban: the comparison
| Hitster | Junban | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Physical box (~£25) + Spotify | Free |
| Streaming subscription | Spotify required | None — clips built in |
| What you need | Cards + phone | Just a phone |
| Music playlists | One box per edition (~£25 each) | Included: country hits, movie soundtracks, rock… |
| Solo mode | No | Yes, with a worldwide leaderboard |
| Offline | No (streaming required) | Yes |
| Multiplayer | Around the table | Up to 4, online or on one phone |
| Beyond music | No | Over 50 themes: movies, history, sport… |
The same music quiz, ready in one minute
The heart of Hitster is intact in Junban: a music clip starts blind, you listen, and you place it before or after the previous one on your timeline. No dates to know — intuition is enough. And the clips are built into the game: no Spotify, no QR codes to scan, no cards to buy again.
Playlists for every party
Where every Hitster edition is another box to buy, Junban ships with its playlists: the hits that moved your country, international chart-toppers, movie and TV soundtracks, rock, and 100% local playlists depending on your language — updated regularly.
What Hitster does really well
Let's be honest: Hitster remains a great party game. The box makes a lovely gift, and physically laying cards on the table has a conviviality of its own. But you have to buy the box, have a Spotify account — and once the cards are memorised, the magic fades.
And when the night goes beyond music
That is Junban's real edge: the same move — before or after? — works across more than 50 themes: movies, TV shows, history, sport, inventions, and sagas like Harry Potter or Star Wars. Plus a ranked solo mode, an offline mode and daily challenges.
How does it work?
Download the app, pick a playlist, and your first game starts in under a minute: a clip plays, and you place it before or after the previous one on your timeline. That's it — and that is exactly why anyone can play, from 8 to 88.
Do you need to be a music expert?
No — and that is probably the most important point. You are never asked for a date: you only say whether an item comes before or after the previous one. You reason, you compare, you follow your intuition. That is what lets a whole family play together, including those who "know nothing" about a given theme.
The verdict
Keep Hitster if you love the physical object and music alone is enough for you. Choose Junban if you want the same fun without buying anything, with ten times more themes, a solo mode and the ability to play anywhere — your first game takes less than a minute.
To go wider: our 10 best music quiz apps and our comparison of timeline quiz games.
Frequently asked questions
Is Junban really free?
Yes: the app is free to download and includes a permanent free game — enough to fuel a whole evening. Optional premium themes extend it.
Do I need a Spotify or Deezer subscription?
No. Unlike Hitster, the music clips are built into the game: no streaming account is required.
Which music playlists does Junban offer?
From your country's hits to international chart-toppers, movie and TV soundtracks, rock and 100% local playlists. New playlists are added regularly — with no extra box to buy.
Can I play offline?
Yes, the offline mode lets you play on a plane, on the underground or in the car.
How many players can join?
1 to 4 players: everyone on their own phone remotely, or all around a single phone passed along.
Is the principle the same as Hitster?
For music, yes: hear a clip and place it in chronological order. Junban then applies the same principle to movies, history, sport and the great sagas.
Ready to play?
Download Junban and start your first game within a minute.