Rat Roulette
Help and support
How the game works, answers to the questions people ask most, and how to reach us.
A round in four steps
- Add everyone at the table, 2 to 12 players. Or tap Deal them in to replay with last time's crew.
- Pass the phone around. Each player secretly types what they're willing to pay and locks it in. Nobody else sees it.
- Enter the bill when the check arrives, as a total or as a subtotal plus tax and tip.
- Reveal. Every bid flips over at once and the app works out who pays what.
Who pays what
The bids match the bill exactly Dead on
Everyone pays what they said. Nobody is the rat.
The bids come up short Short
Whoever bid the least is the rat and pays the whole difference on top of their bid.
| Player | Said | Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Ana | $25 | $25 |
| Ben | $25 | $25 |
| Cal | $25 | $25 |
| Dee rat | $25 |
The bids go over the bill Over
Players pay in order of how far their bid was from the bill, furthest first, until the bill is covered. Whoever is paying when it's covered pays only what's left, and anyone after them pays nothing. In practice the lowest bids pay first and the closest guess can pay less than they offered.
| Order | Player | Said | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | P3 | $20 | $20 |
| 2nd | P4 | $30 | $30 |
| 3rd | P2 | $40 | $40 |
| 4th | P1 saves $20 | $30 |
Distance counts both ways, so a bid far above the bill is also "far away" and pays early.
Ties
If two or more players tie for the lowest bid when the table comes up short, the app asks you to either split the difference evenly or pick one loser, by playing rock-paper-scissors and tapping them in, or by letting the app draw at random. If players tie on distance when the table goes over, you set the order they pay in the same way. The app never picks a loser unless you ask it to draw.
Common questions
How do I change the currency?
On the Play tab, tap the currency button at the top (for example $ USD), or open Settings. Past rounds keep the currency they were played in.
How do I play again with the same people?
After a round, tap Play again. Later on, the Play tab shows Same crew as last time: tap Deal them in.
Someone typed the wrong amount. Can they fix it?
Yes, as long as the next player hasn't started. On the "Pass the phone" screen, tap Previous player wants a redo.
How do I delete history or remove a saved player?
In the History tab, use the … menu to clear everything, or long-press a round to delete it. To forget a saved player, long-press their name under Regulars when starting a new crew. Stats are calculated from history, so they update too.
Can I add tax and tip?
Yes. On the bill screen, switch to Add tax and tip, type the subtotal and pick the percentages. The app remembers them for next time.
Does the app need internet or an account?
No. Rat Roulette works completely offline, with no sign-up. Everything is stored on your phone. See the Privacy Policy.
The result doesn't look right. How is it calculated?
Check whether the table came up short or went over. The rules for each are above, and in the app you can tap How was this worked out? on the results screen. If it still looks wrong, email us the bill and every bid and we'll look into it.
Contact us
Found a bug or have an idea? We read every email. Telling us your phone model and what you tapped helps us fix things fast. The app's Contact the developer button in Settings adds those details for you.