After a long day of meeting and crafting in cozy MMO Palia, it’s nice to relax. A great way to do this is with its Hotpot mini-game, so read on for everything you need to know about Hotpot.
How to win the Palia Hotpot mini-game
The Palia Hotpot mini-game is a set collection card game played over a variable number of rounds and by up to four players. To join a game, simply approach a table to get an in-game prompt (you can find information about the table’s location below). If you are the first to a table, it will start a short timer during which other players can join (up to four players). Any spaces not taken by players will be played by some (rather useless) AI players, so don’t worry.
When the game starts, every player will be dealt eight cards. Yours will be at the bottom of the screen (see A, above) and while they will be face-up for you, the other players will not know who they are. Players take turns clockwise around the table taking one card and then whether discard one card or end the game.
When it’s your turn to take a card, you can take one from the top face-up cards from another player’s discard pile (B, above). Alternatively, you can take a card blind from the top of the draw (in the middle of the scrap piles). Then, if you have not won (see below), you must discard any of your nine cards by clicking it.
When it’s your turn, you have 30 seconds take and then discard a card. If you don’t draw, your a turn will simply be skipped. If you draw but do not discard within 30 seconds, the a card you drew will be discarded.
While playing, you have four non-playable options to choose between you and the other players, which are in the lower right corner of your screen:
- Check for discards: This is great for card counting because you can look at all the cards that have already been played.
- Examine: Get a close-up of your hand if you’re playing on a small screen or if you’re visually impaired.
- Leave it: Leave the table early. You won’t get any rewards but the game will continue without you.
- Tutorial: Check out a very basic rules guide.
End of the game and scoring
You can only finish the game (selecting ‘Let’s Eat’) if you have three sets of three identical cards. You will have nine cards at that moment, not eight, like you will not throw away on your turn if you finish the game. If no one has won after 30 rounds, the game will end automatically and everyone will win their sets.
Each player earns rewards, but you will get a nice bonus for winning (see all rewards above). Exact sets of three are superior and are the only way to finish the game. However, if you don’t win, you will get points for each identical set you collected but also for some sets of three whose color matches, even if the food on it doesn’t. These score half, but that still works pretty well, so best to hold on to those while trying to get a completely identical set if possible.
Where to find the Palia Hotpot mini-game
There are two places where you can find the Hotpot mini-game. The original location is at the May Marketbut this is only accessible at the Marketplaces during special events. Second place, in Zeki’s Underground Black Marketwas introduced as part of patch 0.180.
When the Marketplaces are open, you can access them with the far southeast corner from the Kilimar Valley map (A, above). This is usually only open around the Lunar New Year. Zeki’s Black Market can either be accessed through the back of Zeki’s Store (B, above), or via the Sewer Entrance (C).
If you don’t know the entrances to Zeki’s Underground Black Market, I’ve marked the secret entrances below.
- The Sewers: Simply go to the location marked on the map above by following the path along the side of the water, and enter through the sewer grate.
- The secret door in Zeki’s store: Go behind the counter in the store, follow the linear corridor, and you will come to a dead end. Approach the bookshelf marked above and use the book to enter.
Note that the Fairgrounds Hotpot tables, when available, and the Zeki Black Market tables are only open for play from 6pm to 3am in-game time. If you have already started a game when the clock strikes three, you will be allowed to complete your game as usual.
All prizes in the mini-game Hotpot – Palia
By playing the Hotpot minigame at the Marketplaces, you will be rewarded Fair Ticketswhile playing at Zeki’s Black Market will reward you with Gold. In both cases playing the game is free and exists there is no way you can lose money. As you will see in the picture above, despite being one card short of winning, I still walked away with 180 Gold.
Your premium depends on how many sets you collectHow many other players collectand how good are the sets. In the Fairgrounds you will also get a bonus for having the winning hand, as well as a table bonus based on how well everyone competed. At Zeki, you will only earn your rewards.
- Tickets: Each Tri-type is 120 Tickets, and each tri-category is 60 Tickets (you only get the larger amount). The win bonus is 360 Tickets.
- Gold: Each Trio is 30 Gold, and each triple is 15 Gold (you only get the larger amount). The win bonus is 90 Gold.
Everyone wins the sets of all participating losing players, including the winner, but only the winner wins their own sets. In the example above, the rest of the table got 5 sets, for which I also won Gold, but only I got the 90 bonus Gold for my own three identical sets.
For more Palia help and information here at Pro Game Guides, check out How to get Muujin Plushies in Palia (Map Location) and our Palia Romanceable Characters Guide.
