That's You! Beginner Tips

That’s You! works best when you treat it like a party activity first and a videogame second. The PS4 runs the show on the TV, but every player answers, votes, takes photos, draws, and writes from a phone or tablet. That makes setup more important than it is in a normal couch game: if one device cannot join, the whole room waits.

The heart of the game is not finding the objectively correct answer. It is reading the room. Most prompts ask which player best fits a situation, then the scoring rewards agreement. A good player thinks about how the group sees everyone, keeps answers playful, and knows when to use the game’s softer options so the session stays funny instead of awkward.

Essential Tips

1. Check Every Phone Before The Party Starts

That’s You! needs the companion app on each iOS or Android device, and the store page recommends older minimum versions rather than modern universal compatibility. Before you invite people, confirm each player can install or already has the app, can launch it, and can stay on the same network as the PS4.

Do this before snacks, guests, and expectations are involved. If someone arrives with an incompatible phone, a dead battery, or no app access, you may need to share a device, swap players between rounds, or choose a different party game.

2. Keep A DUALSHOCK 4 Nearby

Phones handle the game actions, but the PS4 still needs a DUALSHOCK 4 for setup and system functions. Do not bury the controller across the room once everyone joins. You may need it to start the game, adjust the connection method, handle PS4 menus, or recover if the phone group disconnects.

The best host keeps the controller charged and visible, then lets the phones carry the session once the room is stable.

3. Use The Same Router First

The cleanest setup is usually simple: connect the PS4 and every phone or tablet to the same home network. If the PS4 is wired by LAN, the phones can still use the same router over Wi-Fi. Once the app is open, pressing Play should let it find the console and sync.

This is the method to try before changing anything more complicated. It keeps normal internet features available and avoids confusing players who are not used to swapping Wi-Fi networks on their phones.

4. Use PS4 Hotspot Only When It Solves A Real Problem

The game also supports a PS4 Wi-Fi hotspot from the in-game menu. This can help in a room where the router is unreliable, the network is crowded, or guests cannot reach your home Wi-Fi. Start the game, open the hotspot option, then have each phone join the PS4’s temporary network.

The tradeoff is important: while the hotspot is active, internet and PSN features are unavailable, and the hotspot does not give internet access to phones. Use it as a local connection fix, then turn it off when you are done.

5. Play With A Group That Knows Each Other

The listed player range supports small and larger groups, but the game is livelier when several players know each other’s habits, jokes, and stories. Three or four familiar players usually creates more interesting votes than two quiet players guessing politely.

If you mix close friends with newcomers, use the first few prompts as warmups. Keep the tone light, explain that agreement matters, and avoid turning the early rounds into private jokes that leave one player outside the fun.

6. Treat Voting As Consensus, Not Truth

Many prompts are subjective, and the scoring rewards players who land on the same person. That means the smartest vote is often the answer you think the room will choose, not the answer you could defend in court.

Watch for patterns. If everyone sees one player as the planner, the risk-taker, the mess-maker, or the dramatic storyteller, those table reads matter. You can still vote honestly, but winning usually means predicting group instinct.

7. Retake Selfies Until They Are Usable

Selfies are not just profile pictures. They feed photo challenges, filters, doodles, and jokes throughout the session. Take a clear, well-lit photo where the face is easy to draw on, then retake it if the app offers a bad angle or a blurry image.

Funny photos are welcome, but unreadable photos make later rounds weaker. The best selfie gives other players something recognizable to edit without needing five minutes of explanation.

8. Use Doodles For Fast, Obvious Jokes

Drawing rounds are quick party prompts, not art contests. Go for bold shapes, big expressions, readable props, and simple labels when the tool allows it. A clear moustache, crown, badge, suitcase, or speech bubble will land better than a tiny detailed sketch no one can see from the sofa.

If you are drawing on someone else’s selfie, aim for playful exaggeration. The room should laugh because the joke is instantly legible, not because the target has to decode what you meant.

9. Use Custom Questions Carefully

Custom prompts can make a session feel personal and fresh, especially with friends who have already seen many built-in questions. Write prompts that everyone can answer, and make sure the joke does not depend on one person knowing old history.

Keep custom questions short. The best ones create instant debate: who would survive a chaotic road trip, who would become mayor by accident, or who would overpack for a one-night stay. Long setup drains the energy before voting begins.

10. Adjust The Personal Tone Early

The game can lean into personal, cheeky, or mildly suggestive humor. If the group includes relatives, coworkers, younger players, or people who do not know each other well, use the available softer filtering options and set the room tone before a prompt gets uncomfortable.

Party games succeed when people want another round. Protect that. A slightly gentler question set is better than one awkward prompt that makes players stop participating.

Setup Checklist

Start with the practical items: PS4 installed copy, charged DUALSHOCK 4, TV visible to everyone, phones charged, companion app checked, and all devices on the same router. Put chargers within reach because phones are active throughout the session.

Once everyone is ready, have players join one at a time instead of all tapping through at once. Ask each person to confirm their name and selfie on the TV. If the app cannot find the PS4, check whether the phone is on mobile data, a guest network, or a different Wi-Fi band. If the room’s Wi-Fi keeps failing, switch to the PS4 hotspot and tell everyone that their phone internet will pause while connected.

How To Play The Room

That’s You! rewards observation. Listen to how people react after each reveal. If the room laughs because everyone picked the same person, remember why. The next similar prompt may point the same way.

For photo and doodle tasks, speed matters more than polish. Make the joke readable from across the room, then move on. For text prompts, write the shortest answer that still has a punchline. For voting prompts, consider who the room will choose, who the prompt is spotlighting, and whether a safer answer keeps the mood better than a sharper one.

Pace also matters. The game can feel repetitive if you chain too many sessions in one night, so stop while people are still laughing. A short, lively game leaves a better memory than one extra round after everyone starts checking messages.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Do not assume the app will be available on every phone - Check installation and launch before guests arrive.

2. Do not put the PS4 controller away - Keep it nearby for setup, menus, and connection fixes.

3. Do not split devices across different networks - Put the PS4 and phones on the same router unless using hotspot mode.

4. Do not use hotspot mode without explaining the tradeoff - Phones will connect locally, but internet access pauses through that connection.

5. Do not play every prompt as literal truth - The score favors group agreement and room reading.

6. Do not rush through bad selfies - Clear faces make later photo and drawing rounds funnier.

7. Do not overdraw tiny details - Use big, readable doodles that everyone can understand from the couch.

8. Do not write custom questions for only two people - Make prompts broad enough for the whole room.

9. Do not ignore comfort settings - Tone down personal prompts when the group needs a softer session.

10. Do not keep going after the energy drops - Stop before repetition takes over.

Summary

Category	Top Tip
App prep	Confirm every phone can install and launch the companion app.
Controller	Keep a charged DUALSHOCK 4 close for setup and PS4 menus.
Network	Try the shared router first, then use hotspot only as needed.
Player count	Choose a group that knows each other well enough to vote quickly.
Scoring	Vote for the person the room is most likely to agree on.
Photos	Retake selfies until faces are clear and easy to edit.
Drawing	Make doodles bold, fast, and readable from the sofa.
Custom prompts	Write short questions that everyone can answer.
Tone	Use softer options when the room needs a lighter touch.

That’s You! is at its best when the host handles setup calmly and the players focus on each other. Check phones first, connect everyone cleanly, take usable selfies, and remember that the winning answer is often the one the room already knows. Keep the pace brisk, keep the jokes readable, and end the session while people still want another round later.