Pictionary rules: how to play the drawing game
Pictionary rules in short: draw a secret word for your team, no letters or numbers allowed, and race the timer to the finish. Plus easy home drawing variants.
- Type
- Party game
- First released
- 1985
- Designed by
- Rob Angel
Pictionary is a team drawing game. One player sees a secret word and must draw it so that teammates can guess it before a short timer runs out. No letters, numbers or spoken hints are allowed: only pictures. The game was created by Rob Angel and first released in 1985, and it quickly became a favourite at family gatherings and parties. The pleasure lies in the gap between what you meant to draw and what your team sees. Even people who believe they cannot draw tend to enjoy it, because simple shapes and arrows often work better than artistic skill. The same idea can be played with only paper, a pen and a list of words.
Our verdict
Pictionary is pure fun with very little to learn. It breaks the ice in groups where people do not know each other well, and it gives quieter players a moment to shine without speaking. Drawings become shared jokes that last long after the game. It is also flexible: you can play with the board, or just with a whiteboard and a list of words chosen for the group, such as easy words for children or harder ones for adults.
What works
- Almost no rules to learn
- Funny for all ages
- Easy to play without the box
What does not
- Some players feel shy about drawing
- The board adds little to the core game
How to play Pictionary
Players form at least two teams. In the boxed game, teams move along a board whose squares show a category, such as objects, actions or difficult words. On a turn, one team member, the drawer, takes a card and looks at the word for the current category. When the sand timer starts, the drawer begins to draw while teammates call out guesses. The drawer may not speak, use letters or numbers, or make gestures that act out the word. If the team guesses correctly before time runs out, it rolls the die and moves forward, then continues with a new drawer. Some squares are all-play squares, where one drawer from every team draws the same word at the same time and the first team to guess wins the turn. The first team to reach the final square and guess its word wins.
Tips for new players
- Start with the big shape, then add details only if the team needs them.
- Break long words into parts and draw each part separately.
- Use arrows and simple signs, such as a cross to mean "not", agreed before the game.
- Guessers should call out many ideas quickly; silence wastes time.
Good for
Pictionary: common questions
Can you use letters or numbers in Pictionary?
No. The drawer may only draw pictures and symbols, without letters, numbers or spoken hints.
How many people do you need for Pictionary?
You need at least two teams. Two players per team is the minimum for the usual game, and larger teams work well.
Can I play Pictionary without the board game?
Yes. Prepare a list of words, use a timer and keep score by counting correct guesses.
Pictionary belongs to its owners. Playdonya is not connected to them and does not sell this game; the cover is our own illustration.
