The message of this Quarter Quell was that not even the strongest of the districts could beat the Capitol. In June, his contract was terminated after he returned from holiday late and was returned to the second team. This does not alter the fact that only the sovereign United Kingdom plays a role in international relations. It is not known, but probably the arenas designed for these Quarter Afflictions are more special than usual. It is said that there are no official rules for the Hunger Games, other than not stepping off the plate until the first 60 seconds of the Games are up. If a Tribute steps off his or her plate during those 60 seconds, he or she will be blown up by mines planted in the ground around the plates. Then the 60 second countdown begins until the gong sounds and the Games begin. Each tribute must reside in an underground chamber until game time (the start of the Games).

If a Tribute doesn't progress fast enough or avoids conflict for too long, the Gamemakers will sometimes create hazards for more entertainment or drive him or her to the remaining Tributes. The last living tribute is the victor. About six months after the Games, the victor makes a "Triumphal Tour" through all twelve districts starting in the far districts and ending in his or her own district. The 75th Games had no winner, because on the third day, with only 6 tributes left, Katniss destroyed the force field around the arena by using a lightning strike with wires attached to her arrow. In the 75th Hunger Games, the game makers divided the arena into 12 segments, each with a different hazard, that were only activated at a certain hour. For example, at noon and at midnight, a thunderstorm would occur for an hour in the first segment. Since then, both clubs have met once for the Copa del Rey: Deportivo won 0-1 at Compostela in October 2003. Augusto made the decision: 5-3 for Portugal. Shortly before the end, Croatia equalized, after which it won on penalties and qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup.

A demo of the song "Blue skies are for free" had already been recorded, but due to the birth of his second adopted child, De Leeuw decided not to participate at the last minute in order to spend more time with his family. This eventually backfires when they try to poison themselves at the same time and the rule is reinstated at the very last second, resulting in both of them winning. In the first book, Katniss mentions that there is an unspoken rule against cannibalism in the Games. Unknown to Katniss and Peeta, some of the other tributes were part of a conspiracy (which included several high-ranking Capitol officials) to escape the Games and help with another uprising organized by District 13. Katniss was rescued from the arena as planned and taken to District 13, along with the surviving District 3 and 4 tributes, Beetee and Finnick. In each district, the winner receives a celebration and ceremony, usually accompanied by a victory rally and a dinner with the district's senior officials. In the confusion created by the force of the force field's explosion, the remaining tributes, Peeta, Enobaria of District 2, and Johanna of District 7, were captured by the Capitol.

In most Games, the best equipped and best trained tributes form a pact to hunt down other individual tributes together until they are the only ones left to fight each other. During the 74th Hunger Games, the rules are changed midway through to allow two tributes from one district to win, but when Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are the only two left, the rule is repealed in an attempt to force them to fight each other. These scores are shown on TV to show who has the best chance of survival, it can also influence the attraction of sponsors. Plans for future Quarter Quells were unknown, but the Hunger Games organizers had a whole box full of rules, intent on keeping the Games going for centuries to come. The arenas devised for the Quarter Quells turned out to be particularly spectacular. A new arena is built each year, and the former arenas are popular tourist attractions for the citizens of the Capitol.