Where and when
Hotpot is played in The Underground, Zeki's night shop, and at the Fairgrounds during Luna New Year. The tables are open 6 PM to 3 AM Palia time: every real hour from :45 to :07. What time is it in Palia?
How to play
- Join an open table. Play starts after 90 seconds; empty seats get computer players.
- Deal: everyone gets 8 cards. Play goes counter-clockwise.
- Draw the top card of the draw pile, or the top discard of another player.
- Discard one card, back down to 8.
- Win by holding three sets after you draw.
Sets and scoring
| Set | What it is | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Three of a kind | three copies of the same ingredient | 120 |
| Category set | three different ingredients of the same colour | 60 |
Table points are every set in every hand at the end, added up, and everyone at the table gets them. The winner gets a bonus on top.
- The Underground: gold by the table total, 1 Prize Wheel Coin, +1 for winning.
- Luna New Year: Lucky Envelopes by the table total, and a Luna New Year Coin for the winner.
The cards 96
8 colours, 3 ingredients each, 4 copies of every card. The game shows only the art, so the names below are ours.
| Colour | Cards | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Noodles beige | Egg Noodles, Hand-Pulled Noodles, Rice Noodles | |
| Fish blue | Fish, Crayfish, Shrimp | |
| Greens green | Bok Choy, Napa Cabbage, Green Onion | |
| Spices orange | Wild Garlic, Spice Sprouts, Dari Cloves | |
| Veggies yellow | Corn, Potato, Carrot | |
| Meat red | Pork Belly Rolls, Steak, Sliced Beef | |
| Mushrooms purple | Mountain Morel, Brightshroom, Enoki | |
| Carbs gray | Tofu, Rice Cakes, Dumplings |
Card art © Singularity 6.
Tips to win
- A pair can become three of a kind or anchor a category set: keep pairs.
- Watch discards and pickups: they show what everyone else is collecting.
- Don't discard into a colour the next player is collecting.
- Table points are shared, so your sets count even when you lose.
- Each card has 4 copies. Count what's already been discarded before you wait on one.
Practise in Palia Pal
Palia Pal has a free practice game: you against three villagers on easy, normal or hard, with a Hint button for your best move and no account needed. Signed in, you can open online tables with friends (public, or private with a code), with a leaderboard of wins.
Questions
Where do you play Hotpot in Palia?
In The Underground, Zeki's shop that opens at night, and at the Fairgrounds during the Luna New Year event. The tables are open from 6 PM to 3 AM Palia time.
How do you win Hotpot?
Hold three sets after you draw. A set is three of a kind (the same ingredient, 120 points) or a category set (three different ingredients of the same colour, 60 points).
How many cards are in Hotpot?
96: 8 colours, 3 ingredients each, 4 copies of every card. Everyone holds 8.
What do you get for playing Hotpot?
Everyone at the table gets the table points: every set in every hand at the end, added up. The winner gets a bonus on top. In The Underground that pays gold and a Prize Wheel Coin (+1 for winning); at Luna New Year it pays Lucky Envelopes, and the winner gets a Luna New Year Coin.
Can I practise Hotpot outside the game?
Yes. Palia Pal has a free practice game against three villagers (easy, normal or hard, with hints), and online tables you can play with friends.
What time does Hotpot open?
At 6 PM Palia time, which is 45 minutes past every real hour, until 3 AM Palia time (7.5 minutes past the next hour). A Palia day is one real hour.