Standard vs OT scoring explained
Overtime is one of the most exciting things that can happen in sports, and it creates an interesting situation for squares games. When the game goes beyond regulation, what happens to the final score winner? The answer depends on which scoring format you chose when creating the game.
In Standard mode, overtime is simple. The game plays out normally through all four quarters (or two halves for college basketball, or three periods for hockey), and the final score after overtime determines the last winner. There is no separate overtime winner. The person whose square matches the last digit of the final score wins, regardless of whether overtime was needed to get there.
This is the most straightforward approach and works well for most casual games. If you are not sure which format to pick, Standard is the safe choice.
The With Overtime format adds an extra layer. Here is how it works:
If the game ends in regulation (no overtime), everything works the same as Standard. You get winners for each period and a final score winner. No difference.
If the game goes to overtime, the end-of-regulation score is recorded as a separate winner. Then the final score after overtime is used to determine an additional winner. This means you get one more winner than you would in a standard game, which is a nice bonus for everyone at the party.
For example, in an NFL game with the With Overtime format, you would normally have four winners (Q1, Q2, Q3, Final). If the game goes to OT, you get five winners: Q1, Q2, Q3, End of Regulation, and Final (after OT). The grid adjusts automatically to show the extra column when overtime is detected.
For most games, Standard is the way to go. It is simpler to explain, easier to follow, and works perfectly whether the game goes to overtime or not.
The With Overtime format is a good choice for big events like the Super Bowl or championship games where overtime would be a huge deal and you want to maximize the excitement. It is also popular for March Madness games, which go to overtime more frequently than football.
You choose the scoring format when you create the game, and you can change it from the admin settings before the game starts. For more on choosing the right setup, visit our Tips & Strategies page.
Different sports handle overtime differently, and our platform accounts for all of them:
NFL: Overtime periods are played until a winner is determined. In the With Overtime format, the tied score at the end of the fourth quarter becomes its own winner, and the OT final is another.
NBA: NBA overtime works similarly, with potentially multiple OT periods. The end-of-regulation score and the final score are tracked separately in the With Overtime format.
NHL: Hockey games that go to overtime or a shootout are handled the same way. The score at the end of the third period is one winner, and the final score after OT or the shootout is another.
College Basketball: College basketball overtime is particularly common during March Madness, making the With Overtime format a popular choice for tournament games.
Create a free game and pick the scoring format that fits your group.
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