How to Play Guess the Drawing: Rules, Scoring and Tips to Win
In guess the drawing, players take turns as the artist: you pick a secret word and draw it without letters or numbers while everyone else tries to guess it. Faster guesses score more, the artist scores for every right guess, and after everyone has drawn the highest score wins. Play it free with 2 to 8 friends in Hopsketch.
What you need
Two to eight players and something to draw on. On paper you need slips with words and a timer; online, Hopsketch does the words, the timer, the hints and the scores, and everyone guesses from their own phone or computer. Two players works, but three to six is the sweet spot.
Rules step by step
- Pick who draws first; after that, the turn passes round the table so everyone draws the same number of times.
- The artist sees three words, easy, medium and hard, and picks one. Nobody else sees it.
- The artist has 60 to 100 seconds to draw it. No letters, numbers or spoken clues; gestures don't count either.
- Everyone else guesses (in Hopsketch they type). Letters in the right place fill in, and wrong guesses cost nothing.
- The turn ends when someone gets the whole word or time runs out. The word is shown, and the next person draws.
- After the last turn, add up the points: the highest score wins.
How scoring works
Points reward speed. In Hopsketch the first person to type the word wins the turn: 150 points straight away, falling to 70 at the buzzer. Before that, every letter you get in the right place fills in your blanks and is worth 5 points. Medium words are worth 1.25 times as much and hard words 1.5 times. The artist gets half of the winner's points, so a clear drawing pays.
| Easy | Medium | Hard | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typing the word, straight away | 150 | 190 | 225 |
| Typing the word, at the last second | 70 | 90 | 105 |
| Each letter in the right place | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Artist, when it's guessed straight away | 75 | 95 | 115 |
How to win as the artist
- Big shape first. Draw the outline in a few seconds; most words are guessed from the shape.
- Then one telling detail. Whiskers make a cat, a sail makes a boat, a flame makes a candle.
- Draw parts for hard words. A sandcastle is a bucket, sand and a castle; draw them side by side.
- Use colour and arrows. A yellow circle is the sun; an arrow points at the bit that matters.
- Pick a hard word when you have an idea. It's worth more for you and the guessers, but only if someone gets it.
How to win as a guesser
- Guess early and often. Wrong guesses cost nothing, and letters in the right place fill in your blanks.
- Count the blanks. The number of letters and spaces rules out most ideas.
- Say the category, then narrow it. Animal, then bird, then penguin.
- Watch for hints. A letter appears at half time and another with a quarter left.
- Listen to the close calls. In Hopsketch, Hops tells you privately when you're one letter off.
Playing on one device
No phones for everyone? Choose Same device in Hopsketch. Pass the device to the artist, who peeks at three words and picks one. While they draw, guessers tap their name under the canvas and type; letters fill in for them, and the first to type the word wins the turn. The timer, hints and scores work the same way.
Variations to try
- Teams: play in two teams; only your team may guess, the other team steals if you run out of time.
- One line: the artist may not lift the pen.
- Silent party: nobody speaks; guesses are typed only.
- Speed round: 30 seconds a turn and easy words only.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play guess the drawing?
One player picks a secret word and draws it without letters or numbers; the others guess. Letters in the right place fill in, the first to get the whole word wins the turn, and the artist scores too. Everyone draws in turn and the highest score wins.
How many people do you need?
Two at least, up to eight in Hopsketch. Three to six is the most fun: enough guessers to make it a race, short enough waits between your turns.
Can you use letters or numbers in your drawing?
No. Letters, numbers and spoken clues are out. Arrows, colours and simple symbols like a question mark or a heart are fine.
How long should each turn be?
60 to 100 seconds. Use 60 for easy words and quick groups, 100 for hard words or younger players.
Can you play guess the drawing online?
Yes. In Hopsketch choose Online, then Play a friend, and send the link. Everyone plays from their own phone or computer, free and without sign-up.