If there’s one truth in entertainment, it’s that music connects us. The right song can instantly transport you to a high school dance, the front seat of your first car, even just a brief moment in time. No matter where you're from or how old you are, music is a universal language. 

That’s exactly what inspired Jumbo Group to create HITSTER, a fast-paced, music-driven party game that’s turning up the volume globally. Since its launch, the game has become an incredible phenomenon in Europe and is shaping up to have the same success here in the U.S.

HITSTER blends music with timeline strategy in an innovative way. Each card features a QR code, where once scanned, it plays a snippet of a hit song. Players compete to build a musical timeline by placing the songs in the correct order based on what year it was released. With 308 music cards featuring hits from legendary musical artists, there’s something for every generation. Jumbo Group has made sure that the selection spans decades and genres, pop, rock, hip-hop, disco, Motown, and more, so that every player gets a moment of recognition and nostalgia. 

The game’s universal theme makes it accessible to all ages. Jumbo Group has watched this game transcend demographics. It’s just as popular at college game nights as it is at family reunions. It doesn’t matter if you're 17 or 70; if you’ve ever had a favorite song, you’re going to feel something when you play.

It taps into the cultural sweet spot where music becomes a shared experience, a memory trigger, and a conversation starter. Gen Xers remember burning songs onto a CD, teens say it was the anthem of their first concert, and boomers recall listening to their favorite hits on 45s. You see eyes light up when people recognize a track they haven’t heard in years. 

That interaction is the real win, and it’s where it separates itself from typical trivia or strategy games. You don’t need to be a music expert or trivia buff to enjoy it, you just have to be ready to have fun. 

With high replay value and broad appeal, it holds its own in a competitive shelf space, and brings customers back for more. It stands out because it delivers what today’s consumers want from a game:

• It’s app-integrated, but doesn’t feel overly techy.
• It’s social, but doesn’t require acting, drawing, or trivia.
• It’s music-based, but not a karaoke game.
• It’s competitive, but still light and fun.
• It’s quick to learn, endlessly replayable, and cross-generational.
•  

Plus, it taps into what’s working now. Music is everything. It’s why theme park rides that incorporate special music tracks are a fan favorite, why TikTok trends shape the Billboard charts, and why one well-placed track in a streaming series can revive a song from the ‘80s overnight. Music is emotional, social, and unforgettable and HITSTER encompasses all of that packed into a music-filled adult party game.

Jumbo launched HITSTER in the U.S. in late 2023 after seeing how quickly it took off overseas. Globally, they’ve seen what happens when it becomes a household name. In Europe, where it’s one of the top-selling games, the cultural momentum went beyond store shelves and inspired a game show adaptation that’s in the works, built around the game play format of HITSTER.

HITSTER was the best-selling game in the Netherlands in both 2023 and 2024 (NPD), and it holds the top spot in Germany as of September 2024. In Canada, HITSTER has stayed in the “Top 5-10" on Amazon.ca in Dedicated Deck Card Games for nearly two years straight. Globally, it has achieved over 2.5 million app downloads and is now available in 50+ countries with 100+ versions. The game has also been honored with more than 10 industry awards across Europe, including Game of the Year and Toy of the Year and in the U.S. was a finalist for the “Game of the Year” TOTY.

This year, themed editions like HITSTER Guilty Pleasures, HITSTER Latino, and HITSTER All-American are hitting U.S. store shelves just in time for holiday gatherings where games and entertainment are at the forefront, while they’ve launched many local versions across Europe and Asia, including HITSTER Bingo, HITSTER Summer Party, HITSTER Rock, and many others!

In many ways, HITSTER is built for the moment we’re living in. People want real connection, they want playfulness, and above all, they want to feel something. Music does that, and HITSTER delivers it in a box.

HITSTER has earned its place globally in the game closet, the dorm room, and the vacation bag. It keeps people coming back, because no two rounds are ever the same. And this is just the beginning.