Gartic Phone
New
- Genre Educational games
- Players 1–2
- Session 8 min
- Price Free
- Updated
A party game built on the old telephone format, run through drawings. Somebody writes a sentence, the next person draws it, the next describes the drawing, and so on around the group — and the reward is the album at the end showing how a straightforward sentence became something unrecognisable in six steps. It requires no drawing ability whatsoever, which is the key design decision. Bad drawings produce better results than good ones because the ambiguity is where the comedy comes from, so the players who worry about their art are missing the point. Rounds take a few minutes, the group size is flexible, and everything happens in the browser with a shareable link. It is one of the few genuinely good multiplayer party games that works without anybody installing anything, and it is best with four or more people.
| Mouse or finger | Draw |
|---|---|
| Keyboard | Type sentences and descriptions |
| Tool palette | Colours, brush size and undo |
| Menu | Create or join a room |
How to play Gartic Phone
- Write an opening sentence that is specific rather than clever; specific ones distort better.
- Draw the whole sentence rather than the easiest part of it.
- Describe exactly what you see, not what you think was meant — that is where the comedy lives.
- Do not worry about drawing quality; ambiguity produces better albums.
- Play with four or more people; smaller groups do not distort enough.
Tips
- Literal descriptions of odd drawings are funnier than attempts to guess the original.
- Time pressure helps, so resist the urge to polish a drawing.
- The album at the end is the point; watch it through rather than starting another round immediately.
Questions about Gartic Phone
Do I need to draw well?
No, and drawing badly usually produces better results.
How many players?
Flexible, though four or more is much better.
How long is a round?
A few minutes.
Do I need an account?
No, rooms are shared by link.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, drawing with a finger is fine.
Does it need installing?
No, it runs in the browser.
Is there a single player mode?
No, it needs a group.
