The Amazon Echo ecosystem is branching out. Previously confined to the wide range of smart speakers, including everything from the tiny Echo Dot to the touchscreen Echo Show, one of the newest members of the family hits all the right buttons.
A fun way to play, Echo Buttons bring the joy of a quiz show to your living room or anywhere else. Compatible with all Echo devices except Echo Tap, the buttons are completely wireless and easy to use.
We'll take a closer look at the Echo buttons, what you'll need to get started, and six great games to play.
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It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but the Echo Buttons look like they came right out of a TV show.
Slightly smaller than a roller coaster, a black exterior gives way to clear lighting and the button portion. The light on the button can change color depending on the game you are playing.
At the bottom of the button is a battery compartment. Amazon includes the two AAA batteries for each button. Sold in two packs, a maximum of four buttons can be synced to a compatible Echo.
After unpacking each button, you will need to install the batteries. Just to note, you will need a small Philips screwdriver to unscrew the cover.
After screwing the battery cover back on, the button should light up. To sync with your Amazon Echo, just say “Alexa, pair my Echo button.” Then it's time for the action to begin.
Now that you've set up your Echo Buttons, it's time to play. Here are six games you'll definitely want to try. The full list of games compatible with Echo Buttons can be found here.
To activate each game, known as a skill, just say “Alexa, activate [skill name.]” You can also activate the games through the Amazon Echo app for iOS or Android devices and on the web.
Just say “Alexa, launch Trivial Pursuit Tap.”
Made specifically for use with the Echo Buttons, Trivial Pursuit Tap brings the popular family board game into the modern age. In this colorful trivia game, you can play from two to four players.
Alexa will start with a trivia question from one of six different categories for all players. If someone answers the first question correctly, they will move on to the next category. An incorrect answer will send the game to the whole group. The first person to correctly answer a question from all categories and a question bonus will win the game.
If you have a touchscreen-enabled device:Echo Show or Echo Spot Everything you need to know about the Amazon Echo Spot Everything you need to know about the Amazon Echo Spot Want a quick introduction to everything you need to know about the newest member of the Amazon Echo family? This is what Amazon Echo Spot can do for you! Read More
Just say “Alexa, play Full Count Trivia.”
It's time to step up to the plate and put your baseball knowledge to the test.
In Full Count Baseball Trivia with Buster Posey, the San Francisco Giants catcher will host one to four players in a trivia matchup. The surprisingly robust game features six questions per day and covers everything from the modern game to early baseball and everything in between.
If you're not a baseball fan, skill builder Ground Control also offers similar skills for both football and basketball:Fourth Down Down Trivia with Philips Rivers and Buzzer Beater Basketball Trivia with Karl-Anthony Towns.
Just say “Alexa, play Don't cut that wire.”
Echo buttons are also the star in Don't Cut the Wire! Anywhere from one to four players, you can tackle the game, but you'll need at least two Echo buttons.
Alexa will display a color pattern on your buttons. So everyone will need to work together to help replicate the pattern and color of the buttons so you can properly defuse the bomb. To help defuse some of that pressure, Alexa is full of jokes in this game, as you'll definitely laugh when she says zingers like "Hope you got this okay, I have a date tonight."
Just say “Alexa, launch Party Foul.”
See how well you know your friends and family with Party Foul.
For two or four players, one player starts the game on the hot seat. They will have to answer yes or no to a specific question. This can be done by choosing pink for yes or yellow for no. Everyone else will hide their button and try to guess how the person in the hot seat will respond. After Alexa tells everyone the results, the hot seat moves to the next player.
The questions strike a fun balance between too revealing and a little embarrassing.
Just say “Alexa, open Hanagram.”
Another game for two or four players, Hanagram is a fun word game. 11 free word games for a single player. You can not stop using. 11 free word games for a single player. You can't stop looking. Find a word game unique to you. Mobile you can enjoy alone? These are the best free word games that you don't have to play against anyone else. Read more and quiz mashup. Alexa will read a series of letter clues, and the first person to enter and correctly guess the word gets a point. Whoever is the first person with three points will win the game..
Alexa will provide a little help by letting you know how many letters are in the word and a general idea of what it is. For example, a seven letter word that is a color. She can also bring a pen and a piece of paper to help.
Just say “Alexa, play Rush Order.”
While Rush Order can be played by up to four different Echo Button users, this game is definitely fun as a solo experience.
Testing how fast you can press the button, you will be tasked with making smoothies with different ingredients. The Echo button will rapidly change color to indicate that ingredient to you. For example, green indicates celery and yellow means banana.
You will have to hit the correct colors to move on to the next round. And not surprisingly, each successive round increases the speed. It's a fun game that will get your adrenaline pumping..
Thanks to Amazon's first Amazon gadget, game night is taking a big step forward. Whether you're in the mood for some trivia action with friends, or a laid-back night of family fun The Best Family Board Games You've Never Heard Of The Best Family Board Games You've Never Heard Of Have your board game Nights fallen into a boring routine? Here are the best family board games that everyone will enjoy. No monopoly required. Read More
And Amazon isn't just doing it with Echo Buttons. The company promises even more devices that interact with the line of smart speakers.
