Hidden Eleven
Beginner's guide: your first match, step by step
New to Hidden Eleven? This walkthrough follows one complete match from the home screen to the final results, so you know what each screen is asking you to do. The quickest way to learn is to follow along in a match against the AI.
On this page
1. Enter your name and start a room
On the home screen, type a display name. It's how other players will see you. Then choose one of three options:
- Host a Room to create a room and invite friends.
- Join a Room if a friend has sent you a six-letter code.
- Play vs AI for a practice match against a computer opponent. We recommend this for your first game.
2. Room settings
Hosting takes you to the room setup screen. You can leave everything on the defaults for your first match, but it helps to know what each setting does:
- Leagues: which leagues the player pool is drawn from. Leaving it empty uses all allowed leagues.
- Turn time limit: 15 to 90 seconds per turn, or no limit. If time runs out, a pick is made for you automatically.
- AI opponents: how many computer managers to seat in the room.
- More settings: options such as the formation and tournament mode. The default formation is random.
When you're ready, tap Open Lobby.
3. The lobby
The lobby shows the room code, the players who have joined, and the card rating range. To invite friends, tap Copy code and send it to them. Once there are enough players for every position, the host taps Start Game. The game then reveals the formation for the match.
4. The ability draft
If abilities are on, you start by choosing one face-down ability card. Your card is revealed only to you. Keep it secret. Examples include:
| Ability | What it does |
|---|---|
| Captain | Doubles the chemistry a starting card has already earned |
| Yellow Card | Applies a penalty to a targeted opponent |
| Red Card | Cancels a targeted opponent card's chemistry |
| Sub | Swaps one of your cards with an opponent's card in the same position |
| Coach | Gives a card an extra playable position |
| Extra Bench | Gives you more bench space |
You'll decide whether to use or discard it after the draft.
5. Drafting your players
The draft is played in rounds. On your turn the panel says Tap a position on the pitch: tap any empty slot in your formation, and a set of players who can play there appears. Each card shows the player's rating, position, club and nation. Tap Pick under the one you want and the card is revealed onto your pitch.
While you draft, the Squad panel shows your estimated score and chemistry, and the chips underneath list chemistry challenges such as having enough players from one nation. On a phone you can fold this panel away, or hide the whole bottom panel to see your full pitch. It reopens when it's your turn again.
Beginner tip: before you pick, read the club and nation on each card, not just the rating. Players who share a club or nation with your other picks complete chemistry challenges and earn bonus points.
6. Sealed dossiers (hidden picks)
Some rounds offer sealed dossiers instead of visible cards. You pick a dossier without knowing who is inside, and your opponent can't see your pick either until the reveal. It's a gamble for you, and it leaves your opponent guessing about your squad.
7. Bench, abilities and final lineup
When the draft is complete you pick your substitutes. Then abilities are resolved: you'll see a summary of what each manager played, in order. Finally you get time to rearrange your starting eleven, swapping bench players in where they improve your chemistry or cover a weak slot, before tapping Submit Final Lineup.
8. Reading the results
The results screen shows the final standings and your points breakdown:
- Defence, midfield and attack averages: the strength of each line of your team.
- Challenges completed: points from the chemistry challenges your squad met.
- Card chemistry: the bonus earned by individual cards.
- Line leader bonus: extra points for a standout player leading a line.
Open Squad & chemistry details to see exactly where your points came from. Comparing it with your opponent's breakdown is the fastest way to learn what to do differently next time.
Next steps
Once you've finished your first match, the strategy guide covers draft order, chemistry planning and hidden-pick timing in more depth, and the formations guide explains how each shape changes your priorities.
Play your first match →