How to play draw and guess

How to play

You need: paper, a pen and a timer, or one phone.

1. Pick an artist and give them a secret word.
2. Start a one-minute timer. The artist draws; no letters, numbers, symbols or talking.
3. Everyone else calls out guesses. The first right guess scores a point for the guesser and the artist.
4. Pass the pen to the next player and pick a new word.

Rules

• No writing letters or numbers, and no arrows to things in the room.
• The artist may nod or shake their head, but not speak.
• If nobody guesses in time, nobody scores.
• Play in teams if the group is big: only the artist's team guesses.

Variants

Teams

Two teams take turns; only the artist's team may guess.

Speed sketch

20 seconds per drawing for fast, messy and very funny rounds.

One line

The artist may not lift the pen. Hard words become impossible, easy words become art.

Tips to play better

• Draw the big shape first, then one detail that gives it away.
• Break a hard word into parts and draw each part.
• Guessers: say everything you see. Wrong guesses help the artist steer.
• Start with easy words; hard ones are better once everyone knows the game.