Google Slides can’t automatically hide a Jeopardy point value after it’s been played. Unlike PowerPoint, it doesn’t change the color of visited links, and clicking a linked box follows the link instead of triggering an animation. The easiest workaround is to run the game in edit mode and cover each used value with a dark rectangle (or delete it) when you return to the board. Alternatives are to play the game in PowerPoint, where visited links change color, or use a Google Slides add-on built for quiz games.
How the Jeopardy board is set up
- Create a board slide with a grid of point values, like a table or a set of shapes.
- Make one question slide for each value.
- Link each value to its question: select the box, press Ctrl + K (Cmd + K on a Mac), click Slides in this presentation, and choose the question slide.
- On each question slide, add a Back to board button linked to the board slide.
Method 1: Cover used values in edit mode (easiest)
- Before the game, draw a rectangle the same size as a value box, fill it with a darker color, and remove the outline.
- Copy it several times and park the copies just off the edge of the slide.
- Play the game from the editor instead of Slideshow. Use View > Full screen and hide the filmstrip to make the slide bigger.
- To open a question, hold Ctrl (or Cmd) and click the value’s link, or click the question slide in the filmstrip.
- When you come back to the board, drag a rectangle over the value you just played.
Want to reuse the game? Remove the covers at the end, or make a copy of the presentation for each class with File > Make a copy.
Method 2: Delete or recolor values as you go
Also in edit mode, you can click a used value and press Delete, or change its text color to match the box. Press Ctrl + Z to undo if you remove the wrong one. This is quick, but it changes the file, so play from a copy.
Method 3: Use PowerPoint instead
If you have PowerPoint, you can download your deck with File > Download > Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx). In PowerPoint, visited hyperlinks change color automatically during a slideshow, so played values look different without extra work. You may need to adjust the theme’s Followed Hyperlink color under Design > Variants > Colors > Customize Colors.
Method 4: Use a quiz game add-on
Some Google Workspace Marketplace add-ons create Jeopardy-style games in Slides and track which questions have been used. Check an add-on’s permissions and reviews before installing it, especially on a school account.
Tips for a smoother game
- Put the answer on a second slide right after each question, with a Back to board link on the answer slide.
- Keep score on a whiteboard or in a small table on the board slide that you edit as you go.
- Use large, high-contrast text so students can read from the back of the room.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use animations to hide values in Google Slides?
Not reliably. Animations play in order when you advance, not when you click a specific box, and clicking a linked box follows the link.
Why don’t my links work in edit mode?
In the editor, clicking a link shows a link preview. Click the link in the preview, or hold Ctrl or Cmd while clicking.
Does this work in Slideshow mode?
Links work in Slideshow, but you can’t move or add shapes while presenting, so covers only work in edit mode.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.